Gondavale Brahmachaitanya Samadhi

Getting there

• By train

  Alight at Koregaon on the Pune-Miraj line, then take a bus onward.

• By road

  Daily state transport buses run from Pune (153 km) and Mumbai (320 km). From Pune, take the Shirwal phata turn on National Highway 4, then go through Lonand, Phaltan and Dahiwadi.

Why devotees come here

Gondavale Budruk, in Man taluka of Satara district, is where Gondavalekar Maharaj, a saint devoted to Rama, died and where his samadhi stands. Most of his teachings stress reciting the divine name, naam japa.

Gondavalekar Maharaj, also called Brahmachaitanya, was a Hindu saint devoted to Rama. Legend says that a day before he died, he visited his cattle house and said he wanted to live at that site permanently.

He died at Gondavale on 22 December 1913. Brahmananda supervised the construction of the samadhi, which was completed in 1918. The samadhi is modeled on the samadhi of Ramdas at Sajjangad. The Sansthan was formed in 1913 and has grown significantly since.

Thousands of devotees visit the Sansthan every year. Each year the Sansthan completes a vow of thirteen crore Ram-naam japa. Annadan, or food donation, is its main activity. The Thorle and Dhakte Ram temples, and the Shani and Datta temples, were built new in the complex.

Festivals

• Margashirsha, dark half, first to tenth dayPunyatithi festival

  Ten days of nonstop bhajan, discourses, kirtan and classical music in the temple, from early morning to late night.

Tips for your visit

• Group Ram-naam japa is held in the temple each morning and afternoon.
• The sadhak residence is equipped with essential facilities for physically challenged devotees as well.

Questions people ask