Saint Baba Maharaj was born on the auspicious day of Shravan Shuddha 14, Shaka 1847 (August 3, 1925), in the village of Arvi, located in Wardha district. This village had already been illuminated two centuries earlier by the radiant light of knowledge of Saint Dnyaneshwar, through the virtuous, saintly presence of Mayabai.

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Saint Shri Haibatnath, who had received Guru Mantra from Saint Dnyaneshwar’s very own samadhi, had blessed Saint Mayabai with his grace. With this divine blessing, Mayabai, a true seeker of the divine, took upon herself the glorious banner of the Nath tradition of Saint Dnyaneshwar and awakened the entire Vidarbha region with the light of devotion and wisdom.

 

It was by the grace and blessings of this very Mayabai that the Joshi lineage of Saint Baba Maharaj was sanctified. The stream of devotion towards the Dnyaneshwari had flowed unbroken through Saint Baba Maharaj’s pious lineage for four to five generations. It is even mentioned in the life chronicles of Saint Mayabai that the Joshi ancestors were blessed with progeny and prosperity due to her divine grace.

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Saint Baba Maharaj upheld this sacred connection with unwavering devotion through his bond with Saint Ramabai Vaidya, who carried forward Mayabai’s spiritual legacy. Saint Baba Maharaj considered himself nothing less than a son of Mayabai and proudly addressed himself as such.