Fourteenth Peethadhish
P. P. Swami Shri Bhalachandranath Maharaj
(1872 - 1911)
Born in 1872 in Shirpur, Wardha district, into the Deshmukh family, Swami Shri Bhalachandranath Maharaj received divine grace from his Guru, Shri Ramkrishnanath Maharaj.
He was blessed with a vision of Lord Ganesha, who instructed him to perform penance at an ancient Ganesh temple in Khed, Morshi Taluka. Later, he continued his meditation on the sacred Nil Parvat (Blue Mountain). After seven years of intense austerities, he was graced by Lord Dattatreya, who bestowed upon him profound knowledge of scriptures, arts, and sciences.
His life was marked by continuous devotion, spiritual discourses, and the company of noble kings, warriors, and saints who sought his blessings. By his Guru’s command, he compiled an extensive biography of Shri Devnath Maharaj.
In 1911, he took samadhi on the banks of Chandrabhaga River near the Vitthal Temple in Pandharpur. Today, his memorial step (pāyri) remains near Pundalik Temple.
