History

H.H. Shree Annamaharaj ( alias Shri Sadashiv Dhondo Kulkarni) hailed from Vai, Dist. Satara ( Maharashtra ). In his childhood he was blessed by H.H. Shree Nirmalanand Maharaj (alias Shri Ganesh Vishnu Patwardhan), from Sangli ( Maharashtra ). Shree Annamaharaj took his early lessons of spirituality from Shree Nirmalanand Maharaj at the Nirguna math, near Bhave Natyagriha, Sangli, also pursuing formal academic education. Shree Nirmalanand Maharaj, was a devout disciple of Shree Swami Samarth ( Akkalkot Maharaj). Shree Annamaharaj followed in his footsteps to advocate and spread the cult of Shree Swami Samarth, through his own faith, dedication, devotion and the urge to serve the society on the strength of the blessings of Shree Swami Samarth, invoked through his own prayers.

Eventually, while executing his own duties of livelihood, as a common family man, Shree Annamaharaj continued to achieve newer heights of spirituality on the basis of foundation laid by his Guru.

At the same time, he acquired many skills such as drawing, painting, sculpture, poetry and devotional songs. He also progressed in his teaching career from teacher to Professor.

Realising the spiritual powers he acquired, people who were associated with him, also experienced the unique mission he carried, that of spread of Swami Cult through his social service. The ‘Siddhis’ that he possessed were evident at the time when his followers, by that time considered themselves as his disciples, could sense the miracles happening while following the path of spirituality that he prescribed for them.

During ten concluding years of his teaching professions and after his retirement from the service he dedicated himself fully for the community and as per the wishes of his father set up an Ashram at Pandharpur. His life partner Late Sau.Shalinimata supported him in the cause. He visited most of places in Maharashtra and set up Centres in form of installation of Swami Padukas, at the residing places of devout disciples.

It was in November 1993 that he set his foot on Goan soil with the intention of sowing the seeds of Swami Seva amongst the Goan community. Within 2-3 years he could involve about 200 families as his followers. Hence, to establish a common gathering place for these followers to carry out the spiritual rituals, he vowed to establish a Swami temple in the year 1995 and commenced efforts to look out for a suitable land. The trust was set up to look after the management of the upcoming project.

After having considered many locations of the land for the temple, it was in 1999 that Pai Vernekar family, the landlords of Merces, offered a hilly plot of about 3000 sq mts as a free donation for the cause. The property was transferred in the name of the Trust and the ‘Bhoomipujan’ for the temple project was held in the same year. All the formalities such as all Government permissions/licenses/NOCs were obtained the construction commenced. The temple building with the annexed basic structure was ready by December 2001. The life size idol of Shree Swami Samarth in the sitting posture was procured from Macrana (Jaipur) and installed on auspicious day of ‘Magha Shuddha Panchami’ – 17^th February 2002, in the presence and under detailed guidance & supervision of H.H. Shree Annamaharaj.

In line with the routine style of rituals in practice at other centres under the direct control of Shree Annamaharaj, a schedule of programmes was finalized for this branch too. The functioning of the temple thus began and continued towards stabilization under close guidance of Shree Annamaharaj who visited the Merces Temple on regular basis at least 3-4 times a year all the way from Pandharpur for a stay of about a week during each visit.

At the age 0f 93, H.H. Annamaharaj having realized that his mission had reached the pinnacle, decided to unite with the “Parbrahma’ and attained ‘Mahanirvana’ in the early hours of 22^nd November 2006. The final rites were conducted at midnight in the presence of hundreds of his disciples from all over Maharashtra & Goa on the banks of river Chandrabhaga in Pandharpur.

The spiritual mission started by him through this centre is being carried forward on strong footings of participation and contribution of a wide spectrum of Anna’s disciples and ‘Swamibhaktas’ in the cherished memories and live blessings of Shree Annamaharaj.