His Holiness Kane Maharaj : a great Saint from Narayangaon, Pune

His Holiness Kane Maharaj a great Saint from Narayangaon (district Pune) who led a simple life, gave the teaching of chanting to the world and was blessed with visions of several Spiritually evolved !

The most revered Saint Shri Kane Maharaj (popularly known as the Holy man distributing candy) left for heavenly abode at 5 a.m. on 22.10.2017. To commemorate His departure, on 4.11.2017 a programme including Darshan (Viewing) of His paduka (Holy wooden footwear), bhajans (devotional songs) and bhandara (Festival of serving food as a spiritual ritual) has been organised at Varulwadi (Narayangaon, Pune District). In this context I am giving His introduction and a brief overview of His mission and teachings.

Sanatan Family offers obeisance with utmost Gratitude, at the Holy feet of His Holiness Kane Maharaj

1. Brief introduction of H.H. Maharaj

A. Name : Mr. Raghuvir Ranganath Kane

B. Date and place of birth : Holi Pournima (1932), Thane

C. Educational qualifications : Ayurvedic Doctor (B.A.M.S.), graduated from Poddar Ayurvedic Medical College, Mumbai

D. Profession : Worked as a Government Health Officer for a brief period.

E. Dedicated worker of the Sangh : He was a dedicated worker of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. He had immense faith in the founder H.H. (Dr.) Hedgewar and second chief H.H. Golvalkar Guruji of the organization.

2. Spiritual journey of H. H. Maharaj

2A. Reading various Holy texts : Leveraging the opportunity of reciting the Holy texts to His mother He studied several Holy texts in which His mind began to get engrossed. After studying Yogavasishtha, He did an indepth study of Prasthantrayi (i.e. combination of the commentary of Shrimadbhagwadgeeta by Shankar, the Brahmasutras and the ten Upanaishads). Eventually He had only one firm opinion,

हरेर्नाम हरेर्नाम हरेर्नामैव केवलम् ।

कलौ नास्त्यैव नास्त्यैव नास्त्यैव गतिरन्यथा ॥

Meaning : ‘There is no alternative to chanting of God’s Name to obtain God-realisation in this Kaliyug’

He was fond of Holy texts such as Eknathi Bhagwat, Pandav Pratap, Harivijay, Namdev Gatha, Tukaram Gatha, Bhakta Vijay and Dattaprabodh.

2B. Being blessed with a divine vision of several Spiritually evolved  : Despite having a desire to marry He remained celibate only for the sake of God realisation. After becoming detached from the worldly life, He traveled barefoot from Thane to Gangapur by foot. At Gangapur, He lived a life devoid of all desires, similar to a beggar. He was blessed with the vision of Deity Dattatreya. In His further spiritual journey He was blessed with divine vision of Macchindranath, Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati, Shri Samarth Ramdasswami etc.

2C. Serving several Saints : H.H. Bhagwan Shridharswami from Sajjangad was His spiritual guide. Subsequently he stayed in Shrikrushna temple at Narsingpur (District Kolhapur). Thereafter He served a number of Saints such as H.H. Datta Chile Maharaj from Paijarwada near Kolhapur, H.H. Amalanand Maharaj of Pen, H.H. Anna Maharaj Joshi of Amravati, H.H. Anandashram Swami of Alandi and a great Saint from Indore (Madhya Pradesh) H.H. Bhakataraj Maharaj.

 3. Simple lifestyle

As quoted in the 10th abhang (Devotional song) (from series of 12 abhangs on journey to abode of Shrivishnu) (ovi nos 3 and 4) by Saint Tukaram Maharaj, ‘Although a Saint appears like a fool or a mad man externally from worldly context, from within He is the only wise one. H.H. Maharaj’s simple lifestyle was in keeping with this quote.

4. Social service

A. For many years He used to travel to several places and distribute lime flavoured candy and Holy booklets of Haripath and Manache Shloka worth lakhs of rupees, to little children.

B. He would personally buy new clothes and other gifts during Diwali festival and gift them to street boys and girls, and also shower them with His love.

5. Teachings

A. Chant all the time. Lead a simple life. Chant even when performing all worldly activities such as eating, sleeping etc. In other words chant in all circumstances.

B. Every day recite Haripath, Manache Shloka and twelve abhangs of Saint Tukaram.

C. Read the biography ‘Ek alaukik Vibhuti Shri Bhaiji’ of the first editor of the Kalyan monthly magazine, from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, Shri Hanumanprasad Poddarbhaiji (1896 to 1971). Bhaiji had obtained divine vision of Shrikrushna and Radha and Krushna together. He had physically met Sage Narad and Sage Angira.

D. Have compassion for all living organisms. In keeping with this He Himself would feed dogs and cats with sweetmeats and goats with lemon flavoured candy etc. He used to serve sick dogs as well. If a cat happened to sleep on his bed, He used to sleep on a mat laid on the floor rather than disturbing the cat.

A Scholar in Vedic literature Kane Maharaj would preach through stories or other ways depending upon the comprehension of the listener. Let us pay obeisance a hundred times at His Holy feet !

II Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Hare Hare

Hare Krushna Hare Krushna Krushna Krushna Hare Hare ll

– Mr. Shashikant Thuse, Pune (30.10.2017)

Servitors of H.H. Kane Maharaj

Mr. Shyamkant Bhausaheb Kolhe, Narayangaon

Mr. Shyamkant Bhausaheb Kolhe has served H.H. Kane Maharaj. When talking about Mr. Kolhe, H.H. Kane Maharaj would say that He has met God in Kolhe’s form. H.H. Kane Maharaj appreciated his dedication to such an extent that once He told a devotee that it would take him ten thousand years to become like Shyamkant Kolhe.

Mr. Shyamkant Bhausaheb Kolhe narrated that he met Sadguru H.H. Kane Maharaj about eight years ago. As His lifestyle was simple it took him two to three months to recognize that He is a Saint. But thereafter he was convinced that He is a divine form of Parabrahman (Supreme God). He further added that it was extremely difficult to identify Him from His external appearance as from the worldly life too He did not perform any miracles. He would always say that Saints never perform miracles, it is God Himself who does it for His devotee without the devotee’s knowledge. One who performs miracles is not a true Saint.

ll Shri Gurudev Datta ll

Mr. Madhav Kashinath Bansode, Narayangaon

Mr. Madhav Kashinath Bansode is fond of serving Saints. He served H.H. Kane Maharaj for several years. In the last fortnight prior to His demise, H.H. Kane Maharaj would often remember Mr. Bansode. When Mr. Bansode visited Maharaj the latter would ask him to stay overnight and stay besides Him and Mr. Bansode too would never disobey Maharaj, rather would stay and serve him.

Mr. Datta Patil (Pate) and Mr. Shripad Thuse too have served H. H. Kane Maharaj.

Source : Dainik Sanatan Prabhat