Śrī Chiṁtāmaṇī Maharaj Deo I

Traditions

Śrīman Mahasadhu Śrī moraya Gosavi Maharaj completed his incarnation on Mārgaśīrṣa Vadya Shashti (sixth day of dark half of the Mārgaśīrṣa month) in the year 1561 AD by taking Sanjeevan Samadhi on the banks of Pavana. After him, the tradition was succeeded by his son Śrī Chiṁtāmaṇī Maharaj. Śrī Chiṁtāmaṇī Maharaj was born in 1481AD. Śrī Chiṁtāmaṇī Maharaj was 80 years old when Śrī Moraya Gosavi Maharaj took a Sanjeevan Samadhi. He was also a great ascetic and Devotee of Gaṇeśa like Śrī Moraya Gosavi Maharaj. He had possessed divine powers. He removed the sufferings of many Devotees by fulfilling their desires and engaged them in the path of Devotion. Like his father, he was also very detached from worldly pleasures. At his eighth year of age, Śrī Moraya Gosavi Maharaj performed the thread ceremony of Śrī Chiṁtāmaṇī, by which the Gayatri Mantra (most sacred spell) was given to Chiṁtāmaṇī. Along with Gayatri Mantra, Śrī Moraya Maharaj taught him worship of Surya and Gaṇeśa.
Later, after completing his Vedic study, Śrī Chiṁtāmaṇī Maharaj accepted Gṛhasthasrama (householder stage). He practiced spirituality under the guidance of Śrī Moraya Gosavi Maharaj till the age of 80 years. Śrī Moraya Gosavi was his Mokshaguru (a master who bestows grace for liberation). At his 120 years of age i.e. in 1601 AD he had a son. He Named the child ‘Nārāyaṇa’.

One day, Tukaram Maharaj and Samarth Ramdas Swami came to meet Chiṁtāmaṇī Maharaj. Maharaj welcomed them and urged them to take Prasada. Tukaram Maharaj and Samarth asked him to place two more leaves (as plates). Tukaram Maharaj said to Chiṁtāmaṇī Maharaj that I am calling Lord Vitthal-Rakhumai. Samarth Ramdas said I will call Lord Śrīram and Sitamata.

Everyone sat down to eat. Pandurang – Rukmini, Śrī ram – Janaki came to accept Prasad as soon as the appeal was made. At that time, Tukaram Maharaj said to Chiṁtāmaṇī Maharaj, “Now you should invite Gaṇapatī.”

Chiṁtāmaṇī Maharaj meditated on Gaṇapatī and invoked him. To everyone’s amazement Chiṁtāmaṇī Maharaj himself became Gaṇapatī. Everyone could see the image of Lord Gaṇeśa in his robes, he had a trunk, and a gold jeweled crown on his head adorned with Durvankur. Four arms were decorated with Pasa i.e. a noose used as a weapon and Ankusha i.e. a curb or a goad etc. He was wearing red clothes. His beauty was doubled due to single teeth. On one hand there was a modak of Brahmarasa (symbol of bliss) and on the other hand was Abhyankara (sign of assurance, fearlessness). Everyone bowed down, seeing Śrī Chiṁtāmaṇī Maharaj in such a radiant form of Gaṇapatī symbolizing non-duality of God and Devotee. Tukaram Maharaj praised Śrī Chiṁtāmaṇī Maharaj. Those five compositions of praise are found in Tukaram Maharaj’s Gatha (a book of all his compositions). Chiṁtāmaṇī Maharaj had reached the Advaita state of consciousness. There was nonduality between him and Gaṇapatī. Tukaram Maharaj said, “You yourself are God. From today onwards people will call you ‘Deo” (God). From that moment Chiṁtāmaṇī Maharaj’s Śālīgrāma surname was replaced by Deo.

Like his father, he also wanted to take Sanjeevan Samadhi (Supreme, Pure & transcendent state of consciousness) but Śrī Moraya Gosavi Maharaj in divine vision ordered him not to do so. He changed his decision as per his (Guru) Master’s order. He had prepared a cave for his Shrine next to the Shrine of Śrī Moraya Gosavi Maharaj and told his son to cremate him there after his death. Accordingly, after the cremation an image of Lord Gaṇeśa appeared supernaturally at that place. One can see it even today.

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