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Gondavalekar Maharaj
गोंदवलेकर महाराज
The saint of Gondavale — the singer of the Lord's name
Years
1843 – 1913
Known as
Gondavalekar Maharaj — the saint of Gondavale
Birthplace
Gondavale, Maharashtra
Field
Saints & Sages
“The name of the Lord is the raft that carries the soul across the ocean of the world.”
— Gondavalekar Maharaj
The Story
Born in 1843 in a village near Gondavale, Brahmachaitanya Maharaj — as he was known — lived an ordinary householder's life before the Lord's name took complete possession of him. He became a singer of kirtans, devotional recitals, and his chanting of the Lord's name was so powerful that his fame spread across Maharashtra.
His kirtans at Gondavale drew thousands — saints, seekers, and ordinary people — and his teaching was simple and universal: chant the name of the Lord constantly, remember God in every moment, and live a life of purity and love. He lived a householder's life while practising the highest renunciation.
He died in 1913, leaving a movement of namasmarana, the remembrance of the divine name, that has spread across the world. His samadhi at Gondavale is a living shrine, and his teaching continues to inspire millions to take up the constant remembrance of God.
Core Ideas
The Namasmarana
The constant remembrance of the divine name.
The Kirtans
His devotional recitals drew thousands.
The Householder Saint
The highest renunciation lived in the world.
The Simple Teaching
Chant the name — live in purity and love.
The Gondavale Shrine
His samadhi remains a living centre of devotion.
Why it matters today
Gondavalekar Maharaj is honoured as one of the most loved saints of Maharashtra — the singer of the Lord's name whose simple teaching has become a worldwide movement. His samadhi at Gondavale draws pilgrims, and his message of namasmarana continues to inspire the remembrance of God across the world.