Our planet is full of many rare gems like holy persons, Saints, Sadhus, Yogis – Spiritual practitioner. In India,  such Mahatmas live many places across the country. Maharashtra is called the land of saints since historical  time. What is the secret of human birth? Who am I? What is this body for? What is the advanced state of  human? Only those who have attained exaltation through devotion to almighty God & spiritualism could give  answers to such profound questions. One of such supreme gurus, a great soul is Shri Hariharanandnath  Maharaj, latterly known as Yogiraj Hansatirtha Swami Maharaj – Renuka Mata (Hindu Goddess Deity) Upasak (Worshiper). 

All disciples affectionately were addressing Swami as “Anna”. So this is Anna Maharaj i.e. Harihar Joshi of the  former Ashram – Hariharanandnath Maharaj. And Yogiraj Hansatirtha Swami after Sannyas Ashram. His main  teaching was “Get the sense of the Spiritual world and reach to Almighty (Supreme Power of Universe) through simple living and being ordinary human” and he had put the same into practice with great devotion  and simple living. 

Swamiji has given the experience to many devotees that Sadguru himself carries his disciple to cross this  worldly ocean – the life journey. Swamiji was born on 18th November 1918 – Kartik Vadya Panchami (Hindu  Calendar – Shake 1840) at Sonai, MH. 

Swami Krishnananda Saraswati, the father of Param Pujya Swami, was also a great devotee of Bhagwati – Goddess. Swamiji took the lessons of strict asceticism and abandonment from his father. With his natural  habit, Swamiji was fond of devotion to God from his childhood. As a child, Swamiji studied Vedas, Upanishads,  Tapa, Havan etc. Swamiji has completed many Gurucharitra Holybook recitings and Gayatri Purashcharanas – The great worship program of Gayatri – Deity of Sun. A very important milestone of Hinduism.  After the Omkar Samadhi of his father Krishnananda Swami and at the behest of Sadguru Siddhanath Maharaj,  for the welfare of the world, Swamiji erected a magnificent temple on this place to facilitate the devotees to  visit Bhagwati. Renuka Darbar is Swamiji’s Ashram at Belhekarwadi in Ahmednagar district, about 45 km from 

Ahmednagar and 2 km west of Sonai. There is a self-made idol of Rajarajeshwari Renukamata on the Yoga  Peethasana – A specific stone made Aksanda for Goddess Bhagawati Renukamata. In the same hall, there is a  glass-mirror based sculpture art across and the traditional idol of Bhagwati sitting on a silver throne. Omkar Yogpeethasana is a tangible three-dimensional sculpture of thoughts inspired by Sadguru Siddhanath  Maharaj and through Swamiji’s tremendous penance mood. Swami Maharaj established this Omkar  Yogpeethasana as a symbol of world peace with the same thought and vision that Adya Shankaracharya  created the place importance across India while establishing the four Peethas/Mathas. Yoga Peethasana has 45 parts. Devotees get experience that they have the power to bring peace of mind to  the seekers of spirituality. Swamiji has ceremoniously established on this Yogpeeth all the deities, four Vedas,  all Siddhis, all people including Tapoloka, Arundhati like Pativrata, as well as Panchendriye, Chari Muktya,  Sattva, Raj, Tam etc. Abhangs and hymns composed by Pujya Swami on this Omkar Peethasana have become  famous. Ordinary people will bow before the Peethasana by reading these poems about Yoga Peethasana! Saints are the most divine of all worlds. | That’s how I bow all the time || 

Kabir, Tukaram, Nivruti, Gyandev. Sopan, Muktabai, Ramdas. || 

Rohidas Chambar, Chokhamela, Sakhubai, Meera, Eknath, Namdev.|| 

Such a great saints, Their place is here at this Yog Peeth|| 

Swamiji’s Lifelong walking – Pujya Swamiji never sat in a vehicle. He travelled all over Maharashtra and some  parts of India on foot for 40-50 years. The common man can be easily reached while you travel on foot across  the towns. Their joys and sorrows can be understood. Some guidance can be given. That was Swamiji’s thought and the role accordingly. Swamiji’s walking travel happened in many parts of Maharashtra like  Mahurgad, Nagpur, Kolhapur, Raja-Deulgaon, Nanded, Aurangabad, Jalna, Nagar, Pune, Nashik, Mumbai and  the disciple class has spread across everywhere. Today, Maharaj’s disciple family is settled in the country and  abroad as well. The disciple class is from all the sections of society and all types of professions like farmers,  doctors, engineers, professors, artists, photographers etc. Unconditional love was the means of public  relations of the revered Swamiji and so we can see so many people have easily connected with him. During 

this walking journey, various programs like establishment of many deities, Bhagwat Saptah, Panchpadi, Bhajan,  Pujan, Namasmaran (Holy name chanting) were held in every village. 

Swamiji and Music World – Swamiji use to play Tabla, Harmonium, Pakhwaj and Veena very easily without any  training in that field or learning any instrument – This is what the greatness of any divine soul and a person  who achieved that supreme level in spirituality. The innate knowledge of classical music and Raagdari was  within. Many of his compositions like Abhang, Bhajans, Aarti (Kakadarti to Shejarati) are in different ragas. Swamiji had close ties with great musicians and veterans, many of whom were his disciples. Incarnation work and Tasks – If we study the character life journey of Swamiji closely, we will not  be able to live without remembering the characters of great saints like Ramdas Swami, Ramakrishna  Paramahansa. Swamiji also got the right support and right companion in the form of Sou Premanandinath Ji while pursuing the world of spirituality as a common man – an ordinary human. Sattvikata (Sattva Guna – One of  Three Gunas / modes of existence – a philosophical and psychological concept within Hinduism) , renunciation, hard work,  restraint, calm, loving are some of the characteristics of her nature. Which many of disciples have experienced  closely. Both of them have undergone rigorous Bhagwati penance for many years. Food (Anna-daan), Cows  (Go-daan) and Money (Hiranya-daan) have been donated through many fasts and festivals, rituals. Swamiji’s  literature in very simple and easy language is an important part of his incarnation work. Many Hymns, Aarti,  Bhajans, Verses of Bhagwati’s Shodshopchar Puja are very beautiful and divine for chanting. Based on the  ninth wing/section of Devi (Goddess) Bhagwat – Holy book, “Shri Shakti Samarthya Parambika Upasana  Granth” is a Holy book written by Swamiji for the devotees. After about 1990, Swamiji travelled a lot in  Marathwada and especially in Aurangabad area – the disciples spread even more. Aurangabad Beed Bypass  Road – “Harihar Shakti Peetha” was established by Pujya Swamiji in Sangram Nagar around Satara area. Mother Bhagwati Raj Rajeshwari Renuka Mata (Goddess) has been honored here. Har means Mahadev, Hari  means Pandurang! Hariharshakti Peeth in remembrance of these deities. From this point of view, the Holy Pind of Lord Shiva and the idol of Shri Panduranga have been revered in the core of the temple by Pujya Swami.

Guidance – Follow the culture, respect the parents, give the right environment to children so they value the  tradition and follow the honest path in their life. Remember Naam (Chanting holy name), be loyal to Sadguru,  increase your self-confidence, this will lead to your progress and ultimately of society and the country’s  progress. Just as you chant malas for yourself, chant at least one mala for the country too for the future generations. This chanting importance he mentioned for everyone. How Bhagwati’s blessings are received  while chanting Bhagwati’s name in one of his poems! 

Jo Char Akshare japen, Jagadamb Jagadamb Aise mhanen!! 

Tyachi dushtakshare Pusin Lalatawarachi!! 

Meaning – 

One who chants “Jagadamb Jagadamb” 4 words!! 

All his worries and unfortunates will be destroyed with blessings!! 

Such a supreme soul rested his incarnation work on 13th Jan 1999 – Pausha Vadya Ekadashi while chanting the  Omkar (AUOM) – and laid his body to Maha Samadhi. Now the tradition is run by command of Swamiji by  Nana Maharaj in Sonai Renuka Darbar and by Appa Maharaj in Aurangabad Harihar Shakti Peeth. To express  the whole life journey in short of such a divine soul, rare Gem who was living a life with a lot simplicity,  hardworking and renunciation for the welfare of the disciples is absolutely difficult. But this is the small  attempt by the Harihar Shaktipeeth Sansthan (Trust) towards Swamiji!!