Shri Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan, Shegaon
Shri Gajanan maharaj Samadhi temple located at Shegaon in Buldhana district of Vidarbha region in state of Maharashtra is popular pilgrimage place for many Maharashtrian families especially for those people who have faith in Shri Gajanan maharaj and his miraculous powers. May people believe in holy existence of maharaj at samadhi temple. This temple was built with consent and guidelines of maharaj himself. Shri Gajanan maharaj sansthan is the biggest temple trust in Vidarbha region and is also referred as 'Pandharpur of Vidarbha'.
Shegaon is station on Central railway line and many trains travelling towards Nagpur/ Kolkata have this stop on their route. We opted to go there by road. It is around 450 K.M. from Pune. From Pune, you need to catch Nagar highway. You need to travel to Pune- Ahmednagar - Aurangabad - Jalana. From Jalna, you have two options - One can take route from Deoulgaon Raja or other one is from Sindkhed Raja (birth place of Rajmata Jinau- mother of Chatrapati Shivaji maharaj). The road from Deoulgaon Raja is better in condition. From there once can go to Chikhali - Khamgoan and finally reach Shegaon.
Shri Gajanan maharaj sansthan offers many options for accommodation in Shegaon. One can opt for Bhakt Niwas in Temple or Hattikhana premises. Other options are Anand Vihar and Anand Sagar complexes. There are many home stays and hotels are also available at Shegaon. You can make online reservation for Anand Vihar and Anand Sagar complexes on santhans web site (https://online.gajananmaharaj.org/). We have made our reservation at Anand Vihar complex as we were visiting on Bank holiday. This premise has excellent option for accommodation at affordable rates. It is very neat and clean. All sevekari's (volunteers)of sansthan will help you happily in every possible situation. The premise also offers daily breakfast, lunch and dinner at very affordable rates. Sansthan also provides free bus service from Anand Vihar to Temple or Shegaon station. You will love relaxing in this premise which has gardens and beutiful crafted statues of Lord Vitthala with various saints in Maharashtra.
On next morning we visited Samadhi temple of Shri Gajanan maharaj. The temple is made of white marble stone. The temple premise is huge and looks excellent in the way it has been built. Devotees can have darshan in two ways - they can have distant glimpse of maharaj idol through 'Mukh Darshan' or can directly go through tunnel to pray and have glimpse of maharaj samadhi and idol very closely. There is no provision for special of VIP darshan, so all are same before God. Special provisions of darshan are available for handicaped or old aged seriously diseased people. Although it took almost two hours for us for darshan but we were not at all tired as queue moves in very systematic manner. There are many facilities provided by sansthan for devotees standing in queue. They offer water at tea for all devotees moving in queue at specific junction points without any cost. The premise has also arrangement for cooling system because of which you will not be irritated by outside heat and will keep on moving in the queue without much sweat. The samdhi temple premise has also Nag devata and lord Hanumana temples. It also has prayer room where maharaj used to sit for meditation. The sevekari's (volunteers) of santhan maintains complete silence in this room and devotees can sit here for meditation and chanting. Do not forget to take sumptuous mahaprasad after your visit. Shri Gajanan maharaj used to believe in great ideology - "Annam Bramheti" which means Food is Bramha (god) and should never be wasted. Following his ideology the sansthan has provision of provision of distribution of Mahaprasad to all devotees visiting samadhi temple. The Mahaprasad timings are in the morning from 10.00 A.M. to 01.00 P.M. There are two huge halls for distribution of Mahaprasad often full with devotees standing in the queue. It is generally consist of Wheat Roti, Sabji and one sweet (generally Suzi sheera).
Anand Sagar
Anand Sagar is developed by Shri Gajanan Maharaj Temple Sansthan on around 350 acres of land which has artificial lakes, spiritual center, huge gardens play area, fountains and open theater (where Light and Sound show happens every evening). Entry Fee is 25 Rs. for every person visiting Anand Sagar. The huge entrance gate attracts your attention once you enter in you will find nice statue of Shri Gajanan maharaj.
Anand Sagar has all facilities to make children play and enjoy. There is also small toy train which drive you through entire Anand Sagar premise. There is good facility for food and beverages at affordable cost in this park. This place can be planned and visited as a one day picnic with spiritual experience. Please note that it will take entire one day to visit each and every part of this park. Anand Sagar has many replica of temples and gallery of various saints as well.
Anand Sagar has meditation center ( Swami Vivekananda Dhyan Kendra). This has been built similar to one in Kanyakumari. You must make some time to meditate during your visit. One can have view of entire garden from this place.
You will definitely enjoy your visit to Anand Sagar and should be must visit entry when you are visiting Shegaon.
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