Background
After knowing his whereabouts, his father brought him back from Kolhapur.
After knowing his whereabouts, his father brought him back from Kolhapur.
His pre-sainthood name was Ganapati. He left his home in search of a spiritual guru when he was nine years old. He went to Yehalegaon in Nanded district and became a disciple of Tukamai.
Tukamai gave him the name Brahmachaitanya.
He died on Margashirsh Vadya Dashmi of shak samvat 1835 (22 December 1913) in Gondavale. "Sri Maharaj" as he was reverently addressed by his disciples, spent his life on teaching the importance of remembrance of lord in every single moment of day-to-day life of laymen.
This is in accordance with teachings of Ramadas swami, of whom Sri Maharaj is considered the reincarnate. He spent a lifetime teaching the importance of peace with oneself over the material creature comforts alone.
He advocated the continued remembrance of GOD as a means of happiness, contentment and peace.
One does not have to be a sage living outside the social bounds. lieutenant is how one leads one"s life that will determine the self. Key to the ultimate peace is in the regularity of prayers to Rama without expecting anything in return.
With unrestricted love and in total faith should be the way in which one ought to say the revered name.
He showed path of devotion of Rama to thousands of devotees in Maharashtra, Karnataka and parts of North India. Most of the devotees were from the middle-class income group.
He discouraged people from bad habits, bad behaviour, et cetera He made extensive use of "Pravachans", "Bhajans", Vaidik Anushthans et cetera for encouraging people to follow the path of devotion.
He taught people the Mantra " Shri Ram Jay Ram Jay Jay Ram" (श्रीराम जय राम जय जय राम).
This Mantra has 13 letters (Alphabets). Each letter has its own meaning and he wrote 13 different "Abhangas" on each of this letter. (श्रीराम म्हणा मुखी राम म्हणा मुखी। तेणे सर्वसुखी होशील तू॥) He says that this mantra was given by Rama to Sita and that it implies that Ram is their master and is in their hearts and takes care of all.
He believed that each and everything that happens in life is according to the will of Rama.
He helped the poor, those suffering from drought. He taught Gorakshan (protection of Cows), Anna-Daan (food donation), Nama Japa (chanting name of God), Bhajans (devotional songs), Teertha yatras (spiritual tour).