Shri Kshetra Shraddhasagar

Daryapur Road, Akot, Taluka Akot, District Akola

A beautiful temple dedicated to Vasudev Maharaj, who dedicated his life to the propagation and dissemination of the principles and ideals of the Warkari Sampradaya, is located in Akot. In this temple, known as ‘Shri Kshetra Shraddhasagar’, one can have the darshan of the idols of Vasudev Maharaj as well as Vitthal-Rukhumai. Thousands of followers of Vasudev Maharaj, who preached the adoption of an attitude of effort over fatalism, visit this place regularly for darshan. The premises of this temple also house the first recognized branch of the Shri Jog Maharaj Warkari Shikshan Sanstha from Dehu Alandi in the state.

Vasudev Maharaj was the grandson of Shri Sant Bhaskar Maharaj, the prime disciple of Gajanan Maharaj of Shegaon. The ‘Gajanan Vijay’ scripture records the story of how Gajanan Maharaj, through his yogic powers, restored water to a well in Akoli Jahagir that had been dry for 12 years. Gajanan Maharaj had personally performed the Samadhi of Bhaskar Maharaj at Adgaon (Budruk) in Telhara Taluka. Vasudev Maharaj was born on 24 February 1917 (Phalgun Shuddha Tritiya) to Bhaskar Maharaj’s son, Pundlik Maharaj Jayle, and daughter-in-law, Chandrabhagadevi. Vasudev Maharaj was intellectually brilliant from childhood. In his early years, he received lessons in religion, Vedas, Shastras, and Puranas from his father.

At the tender age of five, he performed a kirtan on the birth of Lord Rama on the day of Ram Navami at Kalgavhan. However, he lost his eyesight shortly thereafter. Legend has it that Gajanan Maharaj appeared in the guise of a Hakim, applied ointment to his eyes, and tied a talisman around his waist, after which his vision was restored.

After losing his father’s protection some years later, Vasudev Maharaj performed penance in a forest. Upon receiving divine realization there, he traveled to Pandharpur and Alandi. Subsequently, he went to the Sadguru Jog Maharaj Sanstha for his education. After completing the institution’s four-year curriculum in just one year, he went to Kashi to study the Vedas. There, he studied the Vedas under Yogeshwar Jha. Later, he served as the principal of the Warkari Shikshan Sanstha at the Shri Sant Gomaji Maharaj Sansthan in Nagzhari.

While the poet-saint Das Ganu was writing the biography of Gajanan Maharaj at the Shegaon Sansthan, Sadguru Gaurishankar Maharaj from Sindhi, near Wardha, arrived there. He instructed Vasudev Maharaj, who was sitting there, to go to Adgaon (Budruk) and renovate the Sanjeevan Samadhi of Bhaskar Maharaj. Vasudev Maharaj questioned, “I do not have the money required for the renovation. I have never asked anyone for anything in my life. How can I raise such a large sum?” Gaurishankar Maharaj then directed him to carry out the renovation using voluntary contributions from the people. Following this, Vasudev Maharaj collected funds through public donations and renovated the Sanjeevan Samadhi site at Adgaon (Budruk) in 1955. A few days later, he renovated the well at Akoli Jahagir that had been restored by Gajanan Maharaj. During his lifetime, Vasudev Maharaj authored 37 books. These include the complete biography of Shri Gajanan Maharaj, Sarth Amritanubhav, Changdev Pasashti, Shri Gajanan Bhaskar Pasashti, the daily prayer book of Shri Gajanan Maharaj, and the biography of Shri Bhaskar Maharaj. He taught his followers that all of humanity is one and that no distinctions should be made.

Vasudev Maharaj, who established the Shri Bhaskar Maharaj Sansthan at Shri Kshetra Shraddhasagar, built a Warkari Shikshan Sanstha on these premises with the aim of spreading the thoughts of the Warkari Sampradaya. This institution has produced many great kirtankars. Vasudev Maharaj also established the rule of observing the fortnightly Ekadashi for devotees here. He also initiated a summer children’s values education camp. He further introduced the tradition of the Baras (Dwadashi) community feast. In the later years of his life, in 2002, he merged the Shri Sant Bhaskar Maharaj Sanjeevan Samadhi temple at Adgaon, its dharmashala, assembly hall, the well restored by Gajanan Maharaj at Akoli Jahagir, the temple there, the three-story Guru-Shishya temple in the village, the dharmashala at Alandi, as well as agricultural land worth crores of rupees at Belura, Adgaon, and Akoli Jahagir into the Shri Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan at Shegaon. Thereafter, until his final moments, he performed kirtan on every Ekadashi at Shri Kshetra Bhaskarnagar. He passed away on Thursday, 2 July 2009 (Ashadh Shuddha Dashami).

The temple is situated on a vast expanse on the Daryapur road in Akot. One enters the temple courtyard through an entrance arch located along the road. The ground floor of this two-story temple houses a meditation hall. The padukas (footprints) of Vasudev Maharaj are kept here. The walls of the meditation hall are adorned with many rare photographs of Bhaskar Maharaj, Gajanan Maharaj, and Vasudev Maharaj. The main temple is on the second floor, and there are two distinct stairways to reach it. One enters the temple’s darshan hall after climbing about 20 steps. The structure of the temple consists of three darshan halls, an assembly hall, and a sanctum sanctorum. The carved pillars of this semi-open assembly hall are connected to each other by arched ceilings at the top. Beyond the assembly hall, leaving space for the circumambulation path, is the sanctum sanctorum. On both sides of the entrance to this sanctum are marble sculptures of gatekeepers. At the lintel of the entrance is an idol of Lord Ganesha. Inside the sanctum, on a diamond-shaped pedestal, sits the white marble idol of Vasudev Maharaj within a decorative canopy. The idol is adorned with a turban on the head and a kafni and dhoti on the body, with a silver canopy overhead. Behind this idol, on the same pedestal, are seated Vitthal and Rukmini. On the arch behind these idols, a five-hooded serpent is carved. This attractively constructed temple features three small spires on the viewing pavilions, a dome-shaped spire on the assembly hall, and a main spire in the Uru-shringa style over the sanctum.

In the temple premises, there is a two-story Warkari Bhavan. It houses an approved branch of the Shri Jog Maharaj Warkari Shikshan Sanstha from Dehu Alandi. The temple trust also operates a matrimonial bureau named ‘Madhyasthi’ on the premises. The area also includes the Shradheshwar Hanuman Temple, a cowshed, and the office of the Board of Trustees. The state government has granted this site the status of a ‘C’ grade pilgrimage center. Devotees can visit the temple daily from 6 in the morning until 8 at night.

The birth anniversary celebration of Vasudev Maharaj is celebrated here with great enthusiasm. Thousands of Warkaris, along with saints and mahants, participate in this event held in a devotional atmosphere. On this occasion, Kakada, Dnyaneshwari discourse, recitation of the Vasudev Maharaj biography, exposition on texts composed by Shri Dnyaneshwardas, Dnyaneshwari Bhava-katha discourse, Haripath, Aarti, and Harikirtan are performed. Food donation is also organized for this event. During the festival, a health check-up camp is also organized in the area. On the occasion of Ashadhi and Kartiki Wari, a Palkhi and Dindi procession is organized from Shri Kshetra Shraddhasagar to Pandharpur and Alandi. Every year, on the occasion of Gajanan Maharaj’s manifestation day, a foot Palkhi Dindi procession of Shri Sant Vasudev Maharaj is also organized from Shri Kshetra Shraddhasagar to Shri Kshetra Akoli Jahagir.

Useful Information:

• 3 km from Akot bus stand
• ST bus and private vehicle facilities available from Akot
• Private vehicles can reach the temple parking lot
• Accommodation and breakfast facilities available in the premises