SantGadge Baba was born on February 23, 1876, in Shendgaon, Tehsil Daryapur, District Amravati, Maharashtra. His original name was DebujiZingrajiJanorkar. His father’s name was ZingrajiRanojiJanorkar, and his mother’s name was SakhubaiZingrajiJanorkar. Gadge Baba was a popular kirtan singer, saint, and social reformer in Maharashtra. He voluntarily chose to live in poverty and traveled to various villages to ensure social justice. GadgeMaharaj was deeply interested in social justice, reform, and cleanliness. He was one of the prominent figures associated with the social reform movements of the 20th century.
SantGadgeMaharaj dedicated his entire life to serving the downtrodden. His kirtans were a means of public enlightenment, through which he criticized societal hypocrisy and traditions. He used his kirtans to emphasize the importance of education, cleanliness, and character to society. He would ask various questions to his audience during his kirtans to make them aware of their ignorance, vices, and flaws. His teachings were simple and straightforward.
Gadge Baba had a distinctive appearance. He wore a headgear called a “jinja,” made from a single piece of cloth. He wore a skull in one ear and a piece of broken bangle in the other. He carried a broom in one hand and a pot in the other. He dedicated his life to eradicating ignorance, superstition, and undesirable customs.
His sermons were simple and easy to understand. In his kirtans, he would say, “Do not steal, do not take loans from moneylenders, do not indulge in addictions, do not kill animals in the name of God and religion, do not practice caste discrimination and untouchability.” He tried to instill the idea that God is not in stones but in humans. Gadge Baba considered SantTukaramMaharaj as his guru and always said, “I am not anyone’s guru, and I have no disciples.”
Gadge Baba established orphanages, ashrams, and schools at various places in Maharashtra, funded by donations from the people. He refused to support any sect, stating, “I am not anyone’s guru, and I have no disciples.” On February 8, 1952, he founded the ‘Shri Gadge Baba Mission’ and established educational institutions and dharmashalas throughout Maharashtra. GadgeMaharaj was also known as GoddeMaharaj.
Gadge Baba’s favorite hymn was “Gopala GopalaDevakinandan Gopala.” Acharya Atre said about Gadge Baba, “In the jungle, you should see lions; in the jungle, you should see elephants, and in kirtans, you should see Gadge Baba.” Gadge Baba, who sought God in humans, dedicated his life to eradicating ignorance, superstition, and impurity for the worldly and spiritual upliftment of the poor and underprivileged. He started dharmashalas, orphanages, ashrams, and schools with the funds donated by people across Maharashtra.
