14 Facts About Gadge Maharaj

Gadge Maharaj was an Indian mendicant-saint and social reformer from the Indian state of Maharashtra.

Gadge Maharaj lived in voluntary poverty and wandered to different villages promoting social justice and initiating reforms, especially related to sanitation.

Gadge Maharaj is still revered by the common people in India and remains a source of inspiration for various political parties and non-government organizations.

Gadge Maharaj was born in Shendgaon village in present-day Anjangaon Surji Taluka in Amravati District of Maharashtra to a Dhobi schedule Caste farming family.

Gadge Maharaj told the citizens of the village that their congratulations would have to wait until his work was done.

Gadge Maharaj conducted his discourses in the form of "Kirtans" in which he would emphasize values like service to humanity and compassion.

Gadge Maharaj exhorted people to stop animal sacrifice as part of religious rituals and campaigned against vices such as alcohol abuse.

Gadge Maharaj tried to embody the values that he preached: hard work, simple living and selfless service to the poor.

Gadge Maharaj abandoned his family to pursue this path.

Meher Baba indicated that Gadge Maharaj was one of his favourite saints and that Gadge Maharaj was on the sixth plane of consciousness.

Gadge Maharaj invited Meher Baba to Pandharpur, India, and on 6 November 1954 thousands of people had Gadge Maharaj and Meher Baba's darshan.

Gadge Maharaj used to cite the example of Ambedkar while urging the people to get educated.

Gadge Maharaj died on 20 December 1956 on his way to Amravati, on the banks of river Pedhi near Walgaon.

The postal department of India had honored Gadge Maharaj by issuing a commemorative stamp in his name.