Miracle man Saint H H Shankar Maharaj of Pune

A true real life unbelievable experience

Circa 1993. Along with some 15-20 devotees I happened to visit Queen's view building on Walkeshwar Road Mumbai . We were ushered in to a room where an old lady was resting on an old time arm rocking easy-chair. After exchanging pleasantries , we got down to discussing spiritual masters . Mrs Ashar was her name. She is no more today. It was of the most breath taking narrations I have ever heard in my life time so far . I am told that Mrs Ashar was approximately aged 93 then. Her son who is some 70 plus still lives there on one of the upper floors . This is what she told all of us . (Readers may or not believe and it is left to one's own faith and belief because what is stated in the following paragraphs is not likely to be appreciated as truth. However, my honest attempt is to narrate what I have heard )

Quote:" I was married when I was very ,very young some 14-15. We were living in a large joint conservative (gujarati) family which included in laws, sis in laws , bros in laws , uncles , large battery of servants etc. My husband used to visit Poona very often in connection with work. In those days communication was through post cards . I received a letter that he was coming to Mumbai and his Guru was accompanying him. I had never seen or met his Guru. I did not even know much about him. Our communication was limited and we were barely married for a few years. I cannot recall the year . On the said day , my husband arrived , bag and baggage in tow with an army of servants carrying them. As was the tradition, I was way behind with my head covered with my sari. My husband called out to me and asked me to pay respects to His Guru. I came forward and did not know who his guru was. There were many people and I was looking for an ochre colour attired person. My imagination of Swami or gurus was that they would be in such clothing. There was none of the kind . So I was confused. I never mustered courage so I waited for next instructions. Understanding my plight a person came and stood in front of me . He was dressed in khakhi police uniform in shorts and hunter boots , had a beard , large eyes popping out, a whip(hunter/chabuk) in his hand. My husband told me in sign language that he was the Guru ! I could not believe but husband's words were my command so I obeyed him without dwelling too much on it. The Guru blessed me and as I rose , asked me to prepare tea for him. After settling down for a few minutes, Guru told my husband that he wanted to have bath . Water was kept for boiling in an old fashioned brass boiler. As he got up , he looked for me and in front of all my in laws , husband and servants –" you have to bathe me today !" . I was in a state of shock ! What would people think , what would elders say ?! ( she said , I was worried it would be a news item in the locals by saying in Gujarati-" kale savaare chaapa ma aaw se , to pachhi….!?!")I was terribly nervous and sheepishly glanced at my husband. He nodded his head in agreement with his Guru's words. Seeing my discomfiture, Guru said " I will go in first and then you follow me" . He went in and I followed with God's name on my lips , terribly nervous . How could a young bride barely 16-18 years bathe a man who looked several times my age ? I had no choice. My husband was categorical and I had to obey him. And what I saw when I went inside the bathroom is something not many would believe. There was no Guru, no man inside ! Instead there was an infant waiting to be bathed !! I wept bitterly, prostrated before this power and bathed the child like my own. I wrapped the child as it is after bath and came out. After few minutes came out the same Guru , the same khakhi clad man in His adult avatar. This was my first unforgettable experience with HH Shankar Maharaj. He has given my family many, many great and unbelievable experiences . He would just show up without notice when I would just think of him while separating the chaff from the rice, and have a cup of tea and go away . Unquote

H H Shankar Maharaj's birth place is not known. He attained maha samadhi ( passed away ) on 24th April 1947. However, he re appeared in flesh and blood again in 1966 , as he had promised his devotee that he would visit the family when his son was to be married. Unbelievable but true. This family lives in Mulund East in Mumbai. The person whose engagement Maharaj attended in 1966 though he passed away in 1947 , is known as Anant Kalkar.