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{{Short description|Founder of Inchegeri Sampradaya (c. 1843–c. 1914)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox Hindu leader
|name= Bhausaheb Maharaj
|image=Sri Bhausaheb Maharaj.JPG
|caption=Shri Samartha Sadaguru Bhausaheb Maharaj
|alt =
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
|birth_date= 1843
|birth_place= [[Karnataka]]
|birth_name=Bhausaheb Umadikar
|death_date= 1914
|death_place=
|founder = [[Inchegeri Sampradaya]]
|guru= Nimbargi Maharaj
|order =
|philosophy= [[Jnana yoga]]
|honors=
|footnotes=
}}
'''Bhausaheb Maharaj''' ({{circa|1843}} - c. 1914) was the founder of the [[Inchegeri Sampradaya]], to which the well-known Indian [[guru]] [[Nisargadatta Maharaj]] belonged.

==Biography==

===Background===
Bhausaheb Maharaj was born in 1843 as Venkatesh Khanderao Deshpande.{{sfn|Boucher|n.d.}}{{Sfn|Dabade|1998|p=84}} Bhausaheb Maharaj belonged to the [[Deshastha Brahmin]] caste.{{Sfn|Dabade|1998|p=84}}{{sfn|Boucher|n.d.}}

===Spiritual life===
According to Kotnis, Bhausaheb Maharj was looked upon as the reincarnation of [[Tukaram|Sant Tukaram]]{{sfn|Kotnis|1963|p=17}} (1577–1650), a prominent [[Varkari]] [[Sant (religion)|Sant]] and spiritual poet of the [[Bhakti]], who had taken birth again in the Neelwani Lingayat community to finish his work of spreading the knowledge of Self-realisation.{{sfn|Kotnis|1963|p=17}} He met his guru Sri Nimbargi at the age of fourteen.{{sfn|Boucher|n.d.}} At the request of Nimbargi,{{sfn|Boucher|n.d.}}<ref group=web name="RanadeBhausaheb" /> Bhausaheb Maharaj Deshpande (1843 Umdi - 1914 Inchgiri)<ref group=web name="RanadeBhausaheb">{{Cite web |url=http://www.gurudevranade.com/bmhis.html |title=Gurudev R.D. Ranade, ''Sadguru Shri Bhausaheb Maharaj Umdikar'' |access-date=3 October 2014 |archive-date=11 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200211064656/http://www.gurudevranade.com/bmhis.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> received mantra initiation{{sfn|Boucher|n.d.}} from Shri Raghunathpriya Sadhu Maharaj,{{sfn|Boucher|n.d.}}<ref group=web name="RanadeBhausaheb" /> who was an ardent follower and a devoted disciple of Shri Gurulingajangam Maharaj.<ref>R.D. Ranade (1982), ''Mysticism In Maharashtra''</ref><ref group=web name="RanadeBhausaheb" /> Bhausaheb Maharaj became a disciple of Nimbargi Maharaj.<ref group=web name="RanadeBhausaheb" />

==Teachings==

===The Ant's Way===
Bhausaheb Maharaj's teachings, and those of his student Gurudeo Ranade, have been called ''Pipilika Marg '',<ref group=web name="nondualite.free.fr-Siddharameshwar">[http://nondualite.free.fr/c_profile.htm http://nondualite.free.fr, ''Shri Sadguru Siddharameshwar Maharaj'']</ref> "the Ant's way",<ref group=web name="nondualite.free.fr-Siddharameshwar" /> the way of meditation,<ref group=web name="sadguru.us-birdsway">{{Cite web |url=http://sadguru.us/thebirdsway.html |title=sadguru.us, ''The Bird's way'' |access-date=2014-10-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330175504/http://sadguru.us/thebirdsway.html |archive-date=2015-03-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref> while the teachings of his student Siddharameshwar Maharaj, and Siddharameshwar Maharaj's disciples Nisargadatta Maharaj and Ranjit Maharaj have been called ''Vihangam Marg'',<ref group=web name="nondualite.free.fr-Siddharameshwar" /> "the Bird's Way", the direct path to Self-discovery.<ref group=web name="sadguru.us-birdsway" />{{refn|group=note|The terms appear in the Varaha Upanishad, Chapter IV: "34. (The Rishi) [[Shuka|Suka]] is a Mukta (emancipated person). (The Rishi) [[Vamadeva]] is a Mukta. There are no others (who have attained emancipation) than through these (viz., the two paths of these two Rishis). Those brave men who follow the path of Suka in this world become Sadyo-Muktas (viz., emancipated) immediately after (the body wear away);<br>
35. While those who always follow the path of Vamadeva (i.e., Vedanta) in this world are subject again and again to rebirths and attain Krama (gradual) emancipation, through Yoga, Sankhya and Karmas associated with Sattva (Guna).<br>
36. Thus there are two paths laid down by the Lord of Devas (viz.,) the Suka and Vamadeva paths. The Suka path is called the bird’s path; while the Vamadeva path is called the ant’s path."<ref group=web>[http://www.swamij.com/upanishad-varaha-bhumikas.htm swamji.com, ''Seven Bhumikas'']</ref>}} [[Ranjit Maharaj]] comments:
{{quote|There are two ways to realize: the bird's way or ant's way. By meditation (or ant's way) one can realize. The word or name has so much power. The name you were given by your parents has done so many things. Mantra is given by the master, but it is a very long way for the understanding. By chanting or saying the mantra you can go to the final reality. There are only two things: one is reality, the other is illusion. One word only can wipe out illusion.

So one thought [i.e. mantra] from the Master who has realized is sufficient to realize. It is a very lengthy way, that's the only thing. So my Master found the shortest way, by thinking. By unthinking you have become the smallest creature, and by thinking you can become the greatest of the great, why not? If you don't have the capacity to understand by thinking, the bird's way, then you can go by way of meditation. It is the long way and you have to meditate for many hours a day. People say they meditate, but most don't know how to meditate. They say that God is one and myself is another one, that is the duality. It will never end that way.

So one word is sufficient from the Master. Words can cut words, thoughts can cut thoughts in a fraction of a second. It can take you beyond the words, that is yourself. In meditation you have to eventually submerge your ego, the meditator, and the action of the meditation, and finally yourself. It is a long way.{{sfn|Ranjit Maharaj|1999}}}}

===Nama-Yoga===
Bhausaheb Maharaj's teachings were collected in a book called ''Nama-Yoga'', a term coined by the compilers and translators of the book, whereas Bhausaheb Maharaj himself called it Jnana Marga, just like Nimbargi Maharaj did.{{sfn|Boucher|n.d.}} The editors wrote:
{{quote|"Nama-Yoga" is a word specially coined by us to designate the Spiritual Philosophy and Discipline of Sri [Bhausaheb] Maharaj. He himself called it Jnana-Marga - or Path of self-realisation. We have, however, used "Nama-Yoga" in a double sense. In fact, both the words - Nama and Yoga carry double meaning. Nama means i) Meditation on Divine Name and ii) Divinity in posse. Like many other saints, to Sri [Bhausaheb] Maharaj also, [[Nāma]] (name) and [[Rūpa]] (form) of God were identical. The Name itself was God. Yoga means Spiritual union or realisation of god. In the first sense, Nama-Yoga represents the Path, while in the second sense, it represents the Goal, as meditation, on Divine Name, if properly practiced, will lead to the realisation of the vision and bliss of the lord.{{sfn|Boucher|n.d.}}}}

==Lineage==
After his awakening he was authorized by Nimbargi to carry on the lineage,{{sfn|Boucher|n.d.}} and established the Inchegeri Sampraday.{{sfn|Frydman|1987}} Sri Bhausaheb Maharaj had many students, among which were:
* Sri Amburao Maharaj of Jigjivani (1857 Jigajevani - 1933 Inchgiri)<ref group=web name="RanadeAmburao">{{Cite web |url=http://www.gurudevranade.com/amhis.htm |title=Gurudev R.D. Ranade, ''Sadguru Shri Amburao Maharaj'' |access-date=3 October 2014 |archive-date=7 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207090930/http://www.gurudevranade.com/amhis.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{sfn|Frydman|1987}}
* [[Ramachandra Dattatrya Ranade|Sri Gurudev Ranade]] of Nimbal<ref group=web name="RanadeAmburao" /><ref group=web name="RanadeRanade">{{Cite web |url=http://www.gurudevranade.com/gmhis.html |title=Gurudev R.D. Ranade, ''Shri Gurudev R. D. Ranade'' |access-date=3 October 2014 |archive-date=17 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217201811/http://www.gurudevranade.com/gmhis.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{sfn|Frydman|1987}}<ref group=web name="BridgeIndia">[http://bridge-india.blogspot.nl/2011/08/shri-gurudev-r-d-ranade.html Bridge-India, ''Shri Gurudev R.D. Ranade'']</ref>
* Girimalleshwar Maharaj{{sfn|Frydman|1987}}
* [[Siddharameshwar Maharaj|Sri Siddharameshwar Maharaj]] (1875-1936){{sfn|Boucher|n.d.}}{{sfn|Frydman|1987}}
{{Navnath Sampradaya – Inchegiri Sampradaya}}

==See also==
* [[Advaita Vedanta]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note|2}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Sources==

===Published sources===
{{refbegin}}
* {{citation | last =Bokil | first =Vinayak Pandurang | year =1979 | title =Rajguru Ramdas | publisher =Kamalesh P. Bokil : sole distributors, International Book Service| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zFoqAAAAYAAJ}}
* {{Citation | last =Boucher | first =Cathy | date =n.d. | title =The Lineage of Nine Gurus. The Navnath Sampradaya and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj | url =http://nisargadatta.net/Navnath_Sampradaya.html}}
* {{Citation | last =Dabade | first =K.D. | year =1998 | title =Sociology of religion: a case study of Nimbargi Sampradaya | publisher =Mangala Publications}}
* {{Citation | last =Frydman | first =Maurice | year =1987 | title =Navanath Sampradaya. In: I Am That. Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj | place =Bombay | publisher =Chetana}}
* {{Citation | first =Appaji Kashinath | last =Kher | year =1895 | title =A higher Anglo-Marathi grammar | pages=446–454 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=xO0EHQAACAAJ | accessdate =10 October 2010}}
* {{Citation | last =Kotnis | first =Anant Narsinha | year =1963 | title =Life sketch of Sant Tatyasaheb Kotnis}}
* {{Citation | last =Nisargadatta | year =1973 | title =I Am That | url =http://www.anandavala.info/miscl/I_Am_That.pdf | access-date =2014-10-03 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20180127181347/http://www.anandavala.info/miscl/I_Am_That.pdf | archive-date =2018-01-27 | url-status =dead }}
* {{cite book |last=Ranjit Maharaj |year=1999 |title=Illusion vs. Reality: Dialogues with Shri Ranjit Maharaj on the "Stateless State |publisher=Sadguru Publishers}}
{{refend}}

===Web-sources===
{{reflist|group=web}}

==Further reading==
;Teachings
* {{Citation | last =Samartha Ramdas | year =2010 | title =Dasbodh - Spiritual Instruction for the Servant | publisher =Sadguru Publishing}}
* {{Citation | last =Deshpande | first =Manohar Srinivas | year =1978 | title =Sri Bhausaheb Maharaj: Life-sketch and Nama-yoga | publisher =Academy of Comparative Philosophy and Religion}}
;Background
* [http://nisargadatta.net/Navnath_Sampradaya.html Cathy Boucher, ''The Lineage of Nine Gurus. The Navnath Sampradaya and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj'']

==External links==
* [http://www.gurudevranade.com/bmhis.html Gurudev R.D. Ranade, ''Sadguru Shri Bhausaheb Maharaj Umdikar''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200211064656/http://www.gurudevranade.com/bmhis.html |date=11 February 2020 }}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20181020004254/http://www.shantikuteer.org/page.php?pi=21 ShantiKuteer Ashram, ''Bhausaheb Maharaj'']}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141006144030/http://www.balkrushnamauli.com/shri-bhausaheb-maharaj-nandeshwar/ balkrushnamauli.com, ''Shri Bhausaheb Maharaj (Nandeshwar)'']

{{Hindudharma}}

[[Category:Inchagiri Sampradaya]]
[[Category:Marathi Hindu saints]]

Bhausaheb Maharaj - Revision history

DelorisQha at 07:26, 18 April 2026