English translation of the Stotra (hymn of praise) — a condensed verse summary of Maharaj's leelas. See the Glossary for special terms.
॥ Shri Gajanan Prasanna ॥
— Composed by Shri Gana-Maharaj —
Shri Guru Gajanan Leela Stotra
(First edition — Guru Purnima, 18 July 1989)
॥ Beginning ॥
॥ Shri Gajanan Prasanna ॥ Shri Family-deity Prasanna ॥
॥ Beginning of Shri Gajanan Leela Stotra by Shri Gana-Maharaj ॥
1. Shri Ganeshay Namah. O Gajanana, remover of obstacles; you (are) the bringer of joy; you (are) the remover of sorrow.
2. First (I) make remembrance of you, then remembrance of the family deity, then remembrance of (my) parents, who taught good conduct.
3. Likewise remembrance of Guru Gajanan, remembrance of Shri Das Ganu Maharaj, remembrance of Guru Athavale Shastri — for the writing of the stotra to be sweet.
4. O family deity, you protect the family; what is in (our) family's welfare — this you know again and again; (I) pray (you) to alert (us).
5. When I am yours, why shall help not be obtained for me? The burden of past-life karmic fruit, by which (I have) become a burden on the earth.
6. It impels the mind; many thoughts torment me; for practicing many karmas — you alone save (me) from each situation.
7. At least now, by my hand, take such an act done as may bring about virtuous behavior — this is my prayer in heart.
8. What is not obtained in splendor — more than that in peace of mind; (it is) convinced — in that itself all is obtained; the opposite happens in conduct.
9. For peace of mind, for obtaining joy, many contemplations happen; you alone know in what (it is) obtained.
10. Whatever you tell me, all shall happen with faith; I shall be content with joy itself; you alone shall satisfy the thirst.
11. Even now in my ears, your tones come to be heard; they seem beneficial instructions; let those very come into practice.
12. You tell me: by name-remembrance the Guru's feet are obtained; in Guru's command peace is obtained; destined experience becomes bearable.
13. By your grace we obtained Saint Gajanan; he (is) ever ready for the protection of the family; (I) describe his very leelas.
14. This Guru Gajanan's leelas of (his) lifetime and till today — many wonders; (he) protects devotees.
15. Some devotees' experiences, some I tell as personal experience; (I) feel that by listening, the soul shall cross over the worldly (ocean).
16. In Maharashtra, in Buldhana district, in Khamgaon taluka, in a village named Shegaon, Guru Gajanan manifests.
17. In Shaka 1800, on Magh Krishna Saptami, the auspicious moment, in Paturkar's house, the daughter-in-law's ritu-shanti was (being held).
18. The very same day, at midday, the yogi came to their house; as if Supreme Bliss itself came to the home, to tell.
19. The yogi (was) of young age, tall, of dark complexion; (with) the innocent feeling of a child-mind, of effulgent body-frame.
20. An old worn jacket on body, kamandalu and chillum (with) him; (he) sat eating from leftover leaf-plates; was conveying the sign that food (is) Para-Brahman.
21. Bankat-Damodar saw this scene; suggested to Paturkar; Paturkar brought five-fold delicacies; he combined them and filled (his) belly.
22. Quenched (his) thirst with the trough water; muddy-clear no distinction in mind; for the yogi all are equal in mind; was conveying each sign.
23. In another situation, just enough to wet the soles of feet — water was not in that stream; (he) sent Pitambar there.
24. On dipping the tumba, (it) filled with pure water; the yogi's authority was understood; Bankat, Pitambar became his; placed (their) heads at the Master's feet.
25. To Govindbuva the kirtankar, Maharaj gave instruction: first bring into practice, then preach to all.
26. Meal at Ichharam Sheth-ji's; with great insistence eating food; vomiting came thunderously; conveyed: excessive insistence (is) bad.
27. Knew the motive of the Goswami of Kashi's mind; fulfilled his ganja vow; fulfilled the devotee's motive.
28. Janrao was burning with fever; the convergence of deadly crisis came; tirth-angara averted (it); saints avert deadly crises.
29. The Guru shall not get caught in influence, in prasad; Vithoba Ghatole (was) a pretentious devotee; (Maharaj) thrashed him with a stick.
30. Lit the chillum without a spark; did fire-creation without fire; conveyed the sign of yogic-leela; the whole gathering was astonished.
31. Janakiram held a bhandara; worms fell into the chinchavane; (he) destroyed those by yogic strength; Janakiram came to senses.
32. Knew through inner-knowledge the kanvale at Chandu Mukin's house; ate the stale kanvale; the distinction of fresh-stale did not remain.
33. Instruction to Madhav: right karma at the right time; expert Brahmins for Vasanta-puja came at the time without being called.
34. Produced water in the dry well; by yogic-leela (it) filled; bore the bee-stings; convinced "tit-for-tat should not be behaved."
35. Hari Patil, the strong wrestler, challenged Maharaj to wrestling; Maharaj won the wrestling; gave (the lesson of) yogic strength.
36. In Shivar village near Daryapur, Vrajbhushan, a Brahmin sun-devotee — gives darshan, gives blessings; says: "There should not be attachment in karma."
37. Bore the beating of sugarcane; not a single welt appeared on the back; gave the sugarcane juice to the Patils with (his own) hand; conveyed (his) vast heart.
38. Guru's grace to Khandu Patil; he had a son-jewel; freed (him) of fetters; (he) proved blameless in court.
39. Maharaj (was) Vedic-expert; the Telangi Brahmins were astonished; Brahmgiri (was) a thorough pretender in conduct; with the burning situation (Maharaj) conveyed.
40. Calmed the wild horse; Maharaj slept between (its) four legs; awakened Govindbuva; conveyed the importance of name-japa.
41. "He" and "I" are not separate — gave instruction to Balkrishna; accepted Ganesh Appa's worship; conveyed the signs of inner-knowledge.
42. Knew Bhaskar's jealousy; beat Balabhau with the umbrella; not a welt appeared on Balabhau; conveyed: "There should not be competition in devotion."
43. The cow's wickedness became calm by yogic-leela; Lakshman's stomach-pain (was) cured by leftover mango.
44. By pretense, loss of merit happens; (he) convinced Lakshman; past accumulation has not let go anyone; (he) convinced Bhaskar.
45. Taught the crows the Vedic essence; said "don't (have) envy and jealousy"; saved Ganu Javare; brought (him) out of the explosive.
46. Spurned the ornaments; awakened Bachhulal; leaves sprouted on the withered mango; he protected Pitambar.
47. Took more land than the agreement; the government fine was excused; the fine amount was returned; the sign of wonder was conveyed.
48. Convergence of Guru's grace to Gangabharati; cured (his) leprosy; in Zhyamsing's bhandara, drove away the rain.
49. Pundalik's plague-lump (was) cured on the Shegaon pilgrimage; Bandutatya, in moneylender's debt, became free with gold coins.
50. Narmada herself came for darshan; she protected all; gracious blessing to Lokmanya; Gita-Rahasya became immortal.
51. Gave padukas to Pundalik; showed him the true Guru; stopped at the third watch for Bhau Kavar's pithle-bhakri.
52. A pellet went into Tukya's ear; medical treatment proved useless; (he) got better by sweeping the math; (Maharaj) conveyed the glory of Guru-service.
53. A complaint was made on Maharaj's nakedness; Maharaj did not prove the offender; he won by yogic strength.
54. Bapurao's wife had the trouble of bhanamati; tirth-angara proved useful; Guru's grace bore fruit.
55. Maharaj went to Akot; met Narsing; peered with one-pointed mind into the well; springs were produced at that moment.
56. Made the protection of Bayja's honor; (she) was released from the brother-in-law's clutch; gave Bapuna the darshan of Vitthal, knowing his longing.
57. Bhau Kavar had a boil; medical treatment proved useless; ran for devotee-protection; tirth-angara proved useful.
58. The Varkari got cholera; cured him by touch; the devotee was protected, on the Pandhari pilgrimage.
59. The dog dead on the road; brought (it) alive by foot-touch; the Brahmin understood the power; his doubt was removed.
60. Rangnath of Dhar comes; Vasudevanand comes; (Maharaj) tells Balabhau; conveys the sign of inner-knowledge.
61. When Kashinath Garde came for darshan, gave him a (gentle) jab; said: "The telegraph-man shall be seen on going home"; told the news of transfer.
62. Gracious blessing to Gopalbuti — he had a son-jewel; awakened Timaji from sleep; protected the field from donkeys.
63. When Maharaj was seen sky-clad on the road, the constable beat him; the constable bore the opposite; lost house-home and self.
64. Household-happiness to Hari Jakhada; yoga-knowledge to Nimonkar; knowing his earnestness, fulfilled the heart's desire.
65. "Don't forget the made vow" — told Tukaram Kokate; (Maharaj) himself knew the samadhi day; told (it) to Hari Patil.
66. By his own hand, seated Balabhau on the seat; Guru's grace was obtained for him; (Maharaj) convinced all devotees.
67. After Balabhau passed, Narayan of Nandura on the seat; his authority too became known; Guru's grace was upon him.
68. Gave darshan to Lakshman Hari Janjal at Boribandar; flood came to the Man river; saved Madhav Martand Joshi.
69. Loss to Yadav Ganesh Subhedar in cotton trade; gave darshan to him in beggar's form; (he had) profit in the trade.
70. When Bhau Kavar's transfer to Telhari happened, (he) did darshan at Shegaon; (Maharaj) did not let the devotee (go) on vyatipat; the Guru protects his devotee.
71. The woman of Jaipur came to the festival; became free of spirit-ghost trouble; the mason fallen from thirty feet was caught at that moment.
72. Dinkar was surrounded by sobani disease; got better by sherni vow; Ramchandra's wife's illness was cured by circumambulations.
73. Darshan to Ramchandra Patil; said firmly to him: "The affairs of the math should be done by you from the heart."
74. Many experiences-darshans giving to Gana-Maharaj, conveyed (the) sign; protected him.
75. In the year 1977, in (his) home at Manjalpur, in the evening throws three coins; astonishes (him).
76. When the lights in the home and street go out, manifest at that moment; remove doubting disposition; firm faithfulness on the Guru settled.
77. In that very home in the evening, the Guru-Mother became pleased; took the right hand out of the picture; became ready to give blessing.
78. At about half past eleven at night, spirit-ghost surrounded Gana-Maharaj; the Mother ran at that time; protected her devotee.
79. Made (him) free of spirit-ghost trouble; freed (him) of ulcer disease; tenants left by Guru's grace; (Maharaj) protected (him) in the job situation.
80. Maharaj says: "The Guru should never be searched for; do name-japa such that the Guru himself shall come home" — (Maharaj is) the direct proof for Gana-Maharaj.
81. On Guru-Purnima of 1980, told Gana-Maharaj: "Sell the home at Manjalpur; go to live near the Market."
82. In (his) home in Ami Apartment, footprints of kumkum in all rooms; says: "Do five pilgrimages." Conveys the sign.
83. "Thursday's service is dear to me; in distributing joy is joy for me." Made (him) take the resolve of nine-crore mantra-japa.
84. From 1976 to 1985, kept (him) in name-japa recitation, from sunrise to sunset; from '83 every year in Naam-Saptaha.
85. On 27 July 1985, Athavale Guru is obtained; awakens (his) poetic power; (his) gracious blessing is always (with him).
86. A garland of one thousand and eight coconuts — without money, took (it) bound; the sign was conveyed at the Shegaon temple; came together according to plan.
87. In the form of beggar, fakir; or sometimes manifests at home; sometimes tells clearly; sometimes speaks symbolically.
88. Frequently appears in dreams; sometimes instruction in the ear; "Don't get caught in surroundings"; ever keeps (him) awake.
89. Now (I) tell the devotees: you should follow that. He who has the longing-earnestness for Guru-meeting — to him alone the company of the Guru is obtained.
90. By name-japa you shall obtain the Guru; the Guru himself comes home; direct experience for Gana-Maharaj; (Maharaj) protects in time and circumstance.
91. One who shall stay in stotra-recitation, his honor shall be protected in (any) situation; by stotra-recitation, peace of consciousness; in peace of consciousness, all is obtained.
92. By stotra-recitation, Guru's grace; the path of the spiritual easy; chant the Name in all three times of day; there is no other path easier than this.
93. Don't forget the name-japa, the mantra "Gan Gan Ganat Bote"; he who shall chant this mantra shall prove worthy of darshan.
94. Do name-remembrance; at that time remember the Guru-situations; become absorbed in that itself; prove worthy of joy.
95. At the time of stotra-recitation, remember the Guru; prove worthy of the shade of grace; do such stotra-recitation that the Guru-Mother herself listens.
96. Gana-Maharaj tells from personal experience: do devotion with earnestness; everything is obtained by earnestness; everything endures by firm faith.
97. By name-remembrance, Guru obtained; in Guru's command, peace of consciousness; in peace of consciousness, joy obtained; in obtaining joy, all obtained.
98. As (Maharaj) protects Gana-Maharaj, so may he protect all devotees; (I) pray to the Lord — let Guru's darshan come to all devotees.
99. By Guru's darshan the soul rejoices; (this is) Gana-Maharaj's personal experience; may such an experience come to all; (I) feel you should cross over the worldly (ocean).
100. By the grace of gods and goddesses, by Guru Gajanan's grace, by Guru Athavale Shastri's grace, the writing of the stotra happened.
101. Let this stotra prove useful for devotees; let the Guru's feet be obtained for devotees; let destined experience become bearable for devotees — Gana-Maharaj's humble prayer.
॥ Shri Yogiraj Gajanan Maharaj ki Jay ॥
— End —
— Gana-Maharaj