Bankat Sadan Mandir

Shegaon, Taluka Shegaon, District Buldhana

‘Bankat Sadan’ in Shegaon is the residence of Shri Bankatlal Agrawal, a supreme devotee of Sant Gajanan Maharaj. Maharaj resided here for the initial two years of His manifestation. During this period, He performed many divine *leelas*, such as igniting a *chilim* without fire and curing Janrao Deshmukh, who was on his deathbed, of his ailments. It is also said that He fulfilled the wish of a *gosavi* who had brought a packet of *prasad* from Kashi Kshetra, by accepting it here. The descendants of Bankatlal ji later handed over this residence to Shri Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan. To preserve the sanctity of this place, a grand three-storey memorial building has now been erected on this very site. Here, devotees can have *darshan* of Maharaj’s *padukas* (sacred sandals) and idol.

According to the sacred text ‘Shri Gajanan Vijay’, Gajanan Maharaj manifested in Shegaon on the twenty-third of February, eighteen seventy-eight, on the day of Magh Vadya Saptami. On that day, the son of Devidas Paturkar, the head of the village *math*, was undergoing the *Rutushanti* ceremony. Feasts were organised for the occasion. In the afternoon, the virtuous villagers, Bankatlal Agrawal and Damodarpant Kulkarni, noticed Gajanan Maharaj, in a *digambar* (sky-clad) state, picking and eating leftover rice grains from discarded *patravalis* (leaf plates) outside Paturkar’s *math*.

Thereafter, Gajanan Maharaj drank water from the trough kept for cattle and then departed. Realising that He was a great saint and yogi, Bankatlal and Damodarpant both followed Him to touch His feet. However, Gajanan Maharaj disappeared from there. After this incident, Bankatlal ji felt a great longing. The desire for Gajanan Maharaj’s *darshan* made even food and water unpalatable to him.

After searching for Him for four days, while going to the Shankar Mandir in Shegaon for the *kirtan* of the renowned *kirtankar* Govindbuwa Takalikar, accompanied by Pitambar Shimpi from the village, Bankatlal ji had *darshan* of Gajanan Maharaj on the way. When he approached Gajanan Maharaj and asked, ‘Shall I bring something for You to eat?’, Gajanan Maharaj commanded him to bring *pithle-bhakri* from the house of a *malin* (gardener woman). Thereafter, Bankatlal ji brought half a *bhakri* and *pithle* from the *malin*’s house. While eating, Maharaj asked Pitambar to go to the stream and fill a *tumba* (gourd container) with water. However, even after Pitambar asked, ‘There isn’t much water in the stream, and the water there has been muddied by cattle; how can one drink this water?’, Maharaj still instructed Pitambar to bring water from the stream. Accordingly, Pitambar went to the stream and placed the *tumba* in it. Although the water in the stream was muddy, the water that filled the *tumba* was as clear as crystal. After drinking this water, Gajanan Maharaj told Bankatlal ji to go to the temple for the *kirtan*. In the *kirtan*, Govindbuwa had chosen a *shloka* from the ‘Hansageeta’ of the ‘Ekadash Skandha’ of the Bhagavat Purana for his discourse. After Govindbuwa recited the first half, Gajanan Maharaj narrated the latter half of the *shloka*. Astonished, Govindbuwa stated that the person who narrated this latter half must be a great spiritual authority and asked for Gajanan Maharaj to be brought to the temple. Accordingly, Bankatlal and Pitambar, along with other people, went to Maharaj. Despite their earnest pleas, Maharaj did not move from His spot. Finally, Govindbuwa himself came to Maharaj and requested Him to come to the temple. At that time, Gajanan Maharaj gave him spiritual counsel and told him to go to the temple and complete the *kirtan*. Thus, Govindbuwa, who returned to the temple, advised those present, ‘Lord Panduranga Himself has manifested in Shegaon. Serve Him, and consider His command as a Vedic utterance, abiding by it.’ After the *kirtan* concluded, Bankatlal ji returned home and narrated the incident to his father, Bhavani Ram. Bhavani Ram then asked him to bring Maharaj home. Four days later, when Maharaj was seen in Manik Chowk, Bankatlal ji respectfully brought Him home. Maharaj partook of the food offered by Bankatlal ji’s father and stayed there that night. The next day, Bankatlal ji gave Gajanan Maharaj a sacred bath with indescribable grandeur. At that time, there was a huge crowd of devotees. Bankatlal ji’s house seemed to have transformed into Dwarka itself. Chapters one and two of the sacred text ‘Shri Gajanan Vijay’, written by the saint-poet Dasganu Maharaj, contain a detailed description of these events.

Gajanan Maharaj resided at Bankatlal ji’s home for two years, in eighteen seventy-eight and seventy-nine. During this period, countless devotees came for His *darshan*. This Sadan is located a short distance from the place of Gajanan Maharaj’s manifestation. Preserving the importance of this old structure, the Shegaon Sansthan has recently renovated it. Some parts of this three-storey building are still inhabited by Bankatlal ji’s descendants. On the ground floor of this building, in a large hall with ornate pillars, is Gajanan Maharaj’s bed, and His *padukas* can be seen there. An idol of Maharaj is also installed here. A rare original photograph of Gajanan Maharaj can also be seen on one of the walls here. In this hall, there is also a statue of Bankatlal ji and items used by him. The *kund* (sacred tank) in which Gajanan Maharaj was given His sacred bath is also in the vicinity. Remains of the old *wada* (mansion) structure are also visible here. As one of the five sacred *dhams* in Shegaon, many devotees visit this Sadan daily to have *darshan* of Gajanan Maharaj’s bed and *padukas*.

Various religious programs are celebrated here throughout the year. The most important of these is the ‘Prakat Din’ (Manifestation Day) festival of Shri Gajanan Maharaj, celebrated on Magh Vadya Saptami. On this day, when the Sansthan’s main *palkhi* (palanquin) sets out for the city procession, it invariably comes to Bankat Sadan. Here, it is welcomed and worshipped. In addition, during the ‘Rishipanchami’ festival, which falls on Bhadrapad Shukla Panchami and marks Maharaj’s *punyatithi* (death anniversary), a sea of devotees gathers here. Since Shri Ram is Maharaj’s revered deity, the Ram Janma (birth of Ram) ceremony is celebrated with great enthusiasm here on Chaitra Shukla Navami, which is Ram Navami, and *prasad* is distributed to devotees. Similarly, on Guru Purnima, thousands of devotees visit this sacred Sadan to have *darshan* of their Sadguru’s *padukas* and express their gratitude at His feet. In addition to these special festivals, *arati* is performed here every morning and evening. Every Thursday, there is a large gathering of devotees here.

Useful Information:

• Three kilometres from Shegaon Bus Stand
• Sixty-eight kilometres from Buldhana
• State Transport bus facilities available to Shegaon from many cities in the state
• Private vehicles can reach up to Maharaj’s manifestation place
• Many options for stay and breakfast in the vicinity