NathSampradya believed in Lord Shiva and practised Yoga and GagangiriMaharaj was one of the most respected sages of this Sampradaya, who lived in the modern times.
Profile
GaganagiriMaharaj was born as Sripad in Mandure in Maharashtra in 1911 or 1912. The year or day of birth is not found. Both his parents died by the time he became six. At the age of seven, in 1918, he left home to stay in the ashram of ShriChitranandMaharaj in Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh. In this ashram NathSampradaya was followed and he took sanyasa at a very young age. As a young sanyasi he began to travel with other sages and travelled with them to the Himalayas. After constant travelling on foot he was so tired and decided to rest in a cave nearBadrika Ashram. One day a saffron clad man came from the mountains, sprinkled some water on his face and gave Gagangiri some grass to eat. It was some kind of initiation to Tantric practices. He did numerous Kaya Kalpa, which was a rejuvenation process and he invented many tantric techniques which were proved time and again with people. Travel, penance and meditation were his lifestyle. All the power he developed with this was used for the welfare of the people and he had a large following of devotees.Many political luminaries and kings were his devotees. What was most remarkable about GagangiriMaharaj was he remained untouched with the huge devotees he had. He travelled on foot, stayed mostly in caves, riverbanks forests or in the city, near the graveyard. He took Samadhi on February 4th during the early hours in 2008 at his ashram in Khopoli.
Philosophy Propounded
Though he never quoted the scriptures GagangiriMaharaj embodied the spirit of the scriptures. Through his rigorous and persistent he was a realized soul. He worshipped Lord Dattatreya, Lord Shiva and believed in the immense powers of Yoga. Since he was a tantric exponent he used the techniques to bring happiness into lives of scores of people.GagangiriMaharaj did not advocate renunciation.
Work Done to Spread the Philosophy
GagangiriMaharaj inspired youngsters to be brave, industrious and to live with spiritual values. He worked towards creating a society which had a holistic vision and upheld values the whole life. Inspired by his teaching there are ashrams in Dajipur, Manori, VesrafKhopoli and Gagangad. The ashrams are limited to a place but his teachings are spread all over the world as his devotees are found all over the world.
