Dongre Maharaj
Ramchandra Dongreji Maharaj populalry known as Dongre Maharaj (15 Febraury 1926 - 8 November 1991) was an Indian spiritual leader and narrator of Bhagavata Purana, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana katha. He was a revered figure and had huge followers in decades of 1960-1990.[1][2] He was also a poet and a writer and has written more than 45 books on Bhagwad Purna, Radha Krishna & Ramayana.[3]
Lifesketch
He was born on 15 February 1926 in Indore , Madhya Pradesh, India . His mother's name was Kamalatai and his father's name was Keshav Dongre. However, he grew up in Vadodara.[4][1][5]
Dongreji Maharaj was a passionate orator and Bhagavat Katha narrator. He studied at the Sannyas Ashram in Ahmedabad and Kashi and practiced Karmakand for some time. After that, he first narrated Bhagavat Katha at Saryu Temple, Ahmedabad.[6][5]
He used to narrate the incidents from the divine text Srimad Bhagwatam in a pleasing manner. He was born and brought up in Gujarat. Through his divine lectures, lot of people used to change their bad habits. Youngsters of those ear ,after hearing his religious lectures were highly influenced and followed righteous path in life.[7]
Sri Dongreji Maharaj also penned poems and used to sing in praise of Lord Krishna in the temples at Gujarat. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna[5].
Apart from performing divine lectures, Dongreji Maharaj also used to visit the popular temples, and worship the divine deities. He had performed meditation on Lord Krishna and through that, he got great spiritual powers.[5]
He was very down to earth, media shy person. He did not charge any fees for his divine lectures and donated all money collected for the benefit of poor and needy[5][7]
He breathed died on November 8 , 1990, at the Santram Temple in Nadiad . As per his wishes, his mortal remains were given water burial in the Narmada stream at Malasar.[1][5]
Many noted industrialist and personalities were either his followers or have acknowledged to have been influenced by him like Ram Niwas Lakhotia, Govind Dholakia, Swami Krishnanad to name a few.[8][9][10]
References
- ^ a b c "ભાગવતી ભાગીરથ ડોંગરેજી મહારાજ". Divya Bhaskar (in Gujarati). DIVYA BHASKAR. 17 November 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
- ^ Rangarajan, Haripriya (1990). Spread of Vaiṣṇavism in Gujarat Up to 1600 A.D.: A Study with Special Reference to the Iconic Forms of Viṣṇu. Somaiya Publications. ISBN 978-81-7039-192-0. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ The Indian Journal of Adult Education. R.M. Chetsingh. 1975. p. 20. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
- ^ "सेवा:ब्रह्मलीन संतश्री डोंगरे जी महाराज की 30वीं पुण्यतिथि पर करवाया भोजन". Divya Bhaskar. July 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "संत डोंगरे महाराज का जीवन परिचय". ABP News (in Hindi). Retrieved 4 August 2025.
- ^ "Sri Dongreji Maharaj – Hindu Scriptures- Vedic lifestyle, Scriptures, Vedas, Upanishads, Itihaas, Smrutis, Sanskrit". hinduscriptures.com. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
- ^ a b "पूज्यनीय रामचंद्र डोंगरे जी महाराज कलयुग के दानवीर कर्ण". 8 April 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
- ^ Lakhotia, Ram Niwas (1992). Towards Better Living: An Autobiography Released on the 60th Birthday of the Author. Asha Publishing House. p. 93. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ Tiwari, Arun; Yagnik, Kamlesh (24 January 2022). Diamonds are forever so are Morals: Autobiography of Govind Dholakia. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. ISBN 978-93-91149-89-5. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ Sermons in the Storms. Mrugank. 26 August 2013. ISBN 978-1-301-09034-1. Retrieved 2 August 2025.