Shri Madhavnath Maharaj

Shri Madhavnath Maharaj (1857-1936) of Karvi, Chitrakoot continued the Nath Sampradaya of the famous Navnaths in India.

Birth and early life

Yogabhyanand Shri Madhavnath Maharaj was born on Shak 1779 Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, i.e. Thursday 26 March, 1857 in the family of Shrimati Mathurabai and Shri Malhardada Ratnaparkhi (Kulkarni) in Paangari, a village in Sinnar Taluka, District Nashik.Fact|date=August 2008

iddhi

Shri Madhavnath Maharaj attained spiritual enlightenment in the Balaji temple which contains the samadhi of Shri. Guptanath. After that, Shri Madhavnath Maharaj when thirteen years old went on a journey which would take him to Badri-Kedar, Rameshwar, the twelve jyotirlingas and the samadhi sthaan of the Nava Natha's (nine masters). He followed a solitary strict penance for another six years in the Himalayas and attained yogasiddhi. Shri Madhavnath Maharaj then went to Kashi, Amarkantak, Indore, Ujjain, Gwalior, Khaandwa, Chaalisgaon, Saptashrungi, and many other places where he blessed people and helped them lead a spiritual life. As a result, a vast shishya parampara was established which continues to grow to this day.Fact|date=August 2008

Work and social influence

Shri Madhavnath Maharaj spread the importance of Yoga and Naamasmaran throughout India.He blessed his followers to build the lakshmi-venkatesh temple at Rangaari, Devgaon in Aurangabad district. Shreenath temple was then built at Thorgavhaan in Jalgaon. With the help of Lakhsmibai halwai Shri Madhavnath Maharaj built the famous Dgadusheth Halwai Datta Mandir in Budhwaar Peth,Pune. Several temples were built in Indore, Trimbakeshwar in Nashik, Akola, Nagpur, Wardha, Hinganghat, Dhaar, Shiraale, Naandgaon, Kashi and other places which helped people attain the spiritual path.fact

"Shri Madhavnath Sanjeevani" a spiritual grantha contains the life and times of Shri Madhavnath Maharaj.

References

*"Nathasampradaya, uday va vistaar" - Dr. Prahlad Narhar Joshi
*"Shri Madhavnath Sanjeevani" - B. Y. Vaavde , Shreenath Mandir Vishwast Mandal
*"Shrinath Deep Prakash" - Nathsoot ( Ramchandra Kulkarni )
*"Shri Madhavnath Charit Navneet" - Vishwanath Shankar Mahashabde
*"Shrinath Geetanjali" - Nathsoot (Ramchandra Kulkarni )

The Nath Mandir at Indore is one of the most important source of spiritual awakening for the NathBhaktas. This holy place was constructed under direct supervision and guidance of Shri Madhavnath Maharaj, before taking Samaadhi. Today also it is an important source of Nath Sampraday Activities.Shrinath Dutta Mandir at Akola in Maharashtra, and Shri Madhavnath Mandir at Itwari, Khatiwada in Nagpur also in Maharashtra are also some of the active centers of Nath Karya.Four imporatant publications by Shrinath Mandir, Indore (M.P.), are (1) 'Shreenath Sanjeevani', (2) 'Shreenath Deepa Prakash' which a detailed biography of Madhavnath Maharaj written through Nathsoot, and, (3) 'ShriMadhavnath Charit Navneet' sung by Nathancha Vishwanath (Late V.S.Mahashabde), which a preci of Madhavnath Deep Prakash, and (4) Shreenath Geetanjali, a collection of Bhajans for daily use, composed by Nathsoot and sung in presence of Shri Madhavnath Maharaj. All these publications in hard and CD form are available at Indore Nath Mandir.-- () 18:34, 6 August 2008 (UTC)