Das Ganu Maharaj

Ganesh Dattatreya Sahasrabuddhe was born in 1868 and worked as a police constable in Ahmednagar district. He came to Baba through Nanasaheb Chandorkar. Baba saw great devotion in him and repeatedly told him to give up police service, but Das Ganu put it off. Only after Baba saved him from a dangerous situation did he finally resign around 1903 and devote his whole life to God.

Das Ganu was a gifted poet and kirtankar. He sang of Baba's life and miracles in towns and villages across Maharashtra, always keeping Baba's picture beside him. His kirtans brought thousands of people to Shirdi, and many of Baba's best-known devotees first heard of him this way. He wrote about Baba in his books Bhakta Leelamrit and Santa Kathamrit, and in 1918 composed the Shri Sainath Stavan Manjari, a hymn of praise still recited by devotees.

The Satcharitra tells how Das Ganu was struggling to understand the Isha Upanishad. Baba told him that Kaka Dixit's maidservant would explain it. In her home Das Ganu heard the poor girl singing joyfully about a simple orange sari, and he understood that true contentment comes from seeing God in everything. He passed away in 1962.