Due to the unravelling of some personal connections, I happened to find out about a lesser-known Nath Tradition sub-path called the Nimbargi Sampradaya. It is also referred to as the Inchegeri Sampradaya. This blog post tells you about a specific line of yogis that have happened in this sampradaya & provides map location of the major spots associated with them. You can easily plan a pilgrimage trail covering these spots. The last yogi covered in this lineage is the widely known and respected Nisargadatta Maharaj.
Is Nimbargi Sampradaya Actually Part of Nath Tradition?
I put a quick post earlier which is an intro to the Nath Sampradaya. If you don’t know much about them you can read that post here (or keep it for later reading also).
In this post, you will understand that the Nath Sampradaya is a very complex evolution of yogic practices. Generally, understood to be started by a certain 9 Nath Gurus, it is thus called Nav Nath Sampradaya. With 9 powerful spiritual gurus out and about, one can understand what a diverse tapestry of yogis, disciples and lineages would evolve.
Thus, certain sources suggest Nimbargi Sampradya is not “EXACTLY” Nath sampradaya, but only an offshoot of it. But, I don’t understand what is “exact Nath” and what constitutes an off-shoot. 😀 All sources I have seen agree that this lineage has its origins with Revannath, one of the 9 Nath Gurus.
Moreover, Nisargadatta Maharaj, from what I know, is considered Nath tradition by many reliable sources. So, it follows that his lineage would also be Nath.
Thus, without further ado, let us delve into the Nimbargi Sampradaya…
Quick note: most of my information here has been sourced from author Philip Renard’s blogs (read here) and my own research.
Nimbargi Maharaj (1790 to 1885)
It starts with a boy called Narayan Rao from a small-town Nimbargi. As a young boy, he had a vision of Vitthala. As guided by this vision, he went to meet a sadhu somewhere near Kolhapur (most likely Siddhagiri where there is the matha of Kad Siddeshwar https://www.siddhagirimatham.org).
The sadhu initiated him into a mantra. This sadhu is considered to be part of the lineage of Revanath – a Nath Guru. That’s how this line becomes part of the Nath Sampradaya.
However, over time, the NarayanRao forgot all about his initiation!
The sadhu realised this, and he went to the boy’s house (in Nimbargi) and reminded him. He also gave him two coins, 1 for his household duties and other for his spiritual sadhana.
From then on NarayanRao did his spiritual sadhana along with his household duties. He then got realized at the age of 67 and was known as Gurulingjangam Maharaj or more commonly Nimbargi Maharaj.
He had many disciples, but I want to look at one specific line of Bhausaheb Maharaj which later brings us to widely acclaimed Nisargadatta Maharaj.
Places to visit:
Nimbargi Maharaj’s Math is located in Nimbargi, Maharashtra https://maps.app.goo.gl/uJnFjya8yY7gzWGFA
This lineage took place when Maharashtra & Karnataka was one state. So, the various places are located across the two states and from what I understand the languages are also mix of Marathi & Kannada.
Samadhi of Nimbargi Maharaj are in three places because his ashes have been distributed to three locations:
Inchageri Math: https://maps.app.goo.gl/n7Li3hKK2V57wqg36
Nimbargi Math: https://maps.app.goo.gl/uJnFjya8yY7gzWGFA
Banganga, Mumbai where Nimbargi Maharaj was cremated, some of the ash has been kept here as well as samadhi. Nisargadatta Maharaj visited here often.
I have also explored the tombs in Banganga. It is an intriguing space, and we did see one samadhi there and were curious whose it was. I need to now go and check again to verify if that was the one. Or poke around and find this samadhi.
Bhausaheb Maharaj (1843 – 1914)
Bhausaheb Maharaj was initiated by Nimbargi Maharaj when he was 14 years of age.
Both these gurus – Nimbargi Maharaj and Bhausaheb were householders. In this lineage, there seems to be an inclination towards continuing with householder duties while doing sadhana.
I also read that Nisargadatta Maharaj seems to have shown distaste towards ‘renunciates who don’t have true spiritual experience’. But this is true anyway. Inner experience will always be given greater value than outer ensembles in most spiritual paths (if not all).
Bhausaheb Maharaj happened during the time of Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Shirdi Sai Baba. Ramana Maharshi had also reached his beloved Arunachala mountain by then, though, may not have been so well-known.
It fills my heart with joy, that as the British were still ruling us, before the independence even, there were so many great yogis happening in the country. No wonder, our culture remains as strong as it is now, and not totally wiped out by other religions.
Bhausaheb initiated many yogis like Amburao Maharaj, Girimalleshwar Maharaj and specifically Siddharameshwar Maharaj.
Places to Visit:
Initial Math at Umadi: https://maps.app.goo.gl/WFwTAv1BYTe7eUtr7
Later shifted to Inchageri Math: https://maps.app.goo.gl/n7Li3hKK2V57wqg36
Samadhi of Bhausaheb & Nimbargi maharaj are here at Inchageri Math.
Now, let’s know about Siddharameshwar Maharaj. He was the Guru of Nisargadatta Maharaj.
Siddarameshwar Maharaj (1888 – 1936)
At the age of 18, he was initiated by Bhausaheb Maharaj. A very interesting account of Siddharameshwar Maharaj is given on spiritual author Philip Renard’s blog. This blog in fact started me down this rabbit hole of understanding the Nimbargi Sampradaya. He writes,
“What he (Siddharameshwar) discovers has sometimes been called ‘the way of the bird’, as opposed to ‘the way of the ant’. He discovers within himself the direct path. Although his Guru Bhausaheb had stressed that desirelessness (vairagya) and devotion (bhakti) should be first, and only then knowledge (jnana) can emerge, Siddharameshwar stresses that it should be the other way around: first knowledge and insight, and then desirelessness and devotion. So his teaching is really different from that of his Guru, though he remains totally devoted to him and carries his teacher’s portrait always with him for the rest of his life. This is what in my eyes makes Siddharameshwar so special, even now: the beautiful combination of devotion to your teacher and yet also a kind of ‘piercing’ this – so that a complete confidence in yourself remains with a true ‘own’ way of expression.”
Places to Visit:
Math : Bagewadi established in 1928
https://maps.app.goo.gl/BVrQn2SdMb8QD99z5
Interesting Story of Siddhagiri Matha Lineage & Siddharameshwar
While writing this blog, I perused the official website of Siddhagiri Matha. I was surprised it doesn’t mention Nath Sampradaya at all. Maybe because this sect is not necessarily part of the “official” sects.
Anyway, the Siddhagiri Math is at their 49th Mathadhipati (leader) currently. Interestingly, after the 46th Mathadhipati – not sure what happened to the 47th Mathadhipati, but the next in line – 48th Mathadhipati did not get the spiritual training/wisdom/experience required. And so, he turned to Siddharameshwar, who they considered to be of the similar lineage. Due to the earlier connection with Gurulingajangam Maharaj.
I found it a very interesting occurrence. Also, that the website so nicely documents all this down. It also shows that the traditional KadSiddeshwar Lineage is recognizing and giving great importance to Gurulingajangam, Bhausaheb & Siddharameshwar lineage.
Siddharameshwar had many initiated disciples. Most of them seem to have lived the usual household life as seen in all the Gurus of this lineage.
Now let’s look at Nisargadatta Maharaj. Some online sources mention that another two of the co-disciples of Nisargadatta Maharaj got enlightened. In Mumbai. Who’d think, 3 enlightened beings roaming the busy streets of Mumbai!
Nisargadatta Maharaj (1897 – 1981)
Born a boy named Maruti. In 1933, Maruti gets to know Siddharameshwar Maharaj in Mumbai and in due course gets initiated. By the way, his profession was to manage a few bidi shops in the city. So, a caution for us, not to get too swept off by the notion of yogis being very “sattvic” as per traditional definitions….
Reminds me of a “mookupoodi siddhar” which a sadhaka friend of mine claimed was a powerful being seen around Tiruvannamalai. This siddhar often snuffed tobacco powder. Far cry from a traditionally accepted sattvic yogi 😊
Regarding the comment that all the Gurus on this path were householders, I would like to note here that,
Nisargadatta Maharaj after death of Siddharameshwar, did go to renounce everything. However, one of his co-disciples managed to coax him to return to spiritual life within the householder situation itself.
Places to Visit:
Room of Nisargadatta maharaj, 10th Lane Khetlawadi: https://maps.app.goo.gl/e6ocL5nQD9nBcR2o8
Samadhi: Dahisar https://maps.app.goo.gl/XTKNiFwMsM7moJLPA
(I am considering looking into Nisargadatta Maharaj specifically and creating a detailed pilgrimage trail for him alone. If you are interested in that, do subscribe to my email list, so you will be updated when I publish it.)
A few other places to include on this Nimbargi Sampradaya trail,
Amburao Maharaj Math: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qyXKwmAq7qtbqGrz5
Disciple of Bhausaheb Maharaj. After the death of Bhausaheb, he managed the Inchageri math for some time.
Nimbal: https://maps.app.goo.gl/PwhRY3YqwzVYz4kd8 Samadhi of Gurudev Ranade, the disciple of Amburao Maharaj. He has written many books on this lineage and Maharashtrian Mysticism.
Ganpatrao Kannur Math https://maps.app.goo.gl/e7Jktu8ShTcznj1P9
Initiated by Siddharameshwar Maharaj, the author Philip Renard talks highly of him and his ashram in Kannur.
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