26. Story of Morya Govasi - 3

.Part 3 - Samaddhi and Saptapursha

Morya Gosavi lived his entire life serving and glorifying Ganesha. People flocked in large number in Chinchwad for reverence. 

In the year 1556, his wife Uma bai died. His preceptor, Nayan Bharati Govasi took Samadhi. At this turn of life, Morya feft he had completed his life journey. He decided to surrender himself completely to Ganesha. 

Morya invoked Lord Ganesha. When the His appeared asking him his wish Morya said, "O Great Ganesha, the purpose of my life had been to attain advaita (oneness) with you. I wish to take Samadhi to attain this oneness with you'.

Hearing Morya's words, God Ganesha was elated. He said, "Morya, I have been always there with you. However, your wish to renounce the material world and attain oneness with me shall be fulfilled soon".

Following this Gosavi lived in the state of trance (Atmananda or the state of rejoicing soul) for many years. Once contended with this state, one day he finally decided to take Samadhi. When Morya expressed his wish to his son Chintamani. Chintamani was deeply troubled to hear his father's decision. However he decided to take it forward and initiated working towards it. He build a cave on the bank of Pavana river. The cave was built of stones.

The day decided by Morya for his samadhi was the sixth day of Margashirsha month (1516 AD/1556). On this day, large number of people gathered before Morya's house before he started on the way towards his decided place of samadhi. Morya left his house with his family and a large mass of his followers. He took a dip in the river Pavana and worshipped Ganesha in the temple. The chants glorying Morya echoed all around. Draped in pure cotton holy clothes, Morya alighted into the cave of samadhi with Ganeshpurana.

The cave was dimly illuminated by two oil lamps placed on a stone bench. At the threshold, Chintamani Maharaj garlanded Morya,  while his daughters-in-law offered aarti to glory him. They took blessings of Morya like everyone around. Accompanied by Chintamani Maharaj,  Morya seated himself on the bench in the cave and soon attained samadhi. Chintamani came out from the cave and blocked it with a large stone.

Following this, Chintamani Maharaj installed an idol of Ganesha with Siddi and Buddhi on the Samadhi. However, the way towards the cave was blocked by a large salunka of Lord Arjuneshwara.

The Samadhi of Morya is a live (sanjeevan samadhi) and even today people experience his presence there. The samaddhi is the highest transcendental state of consciousness attended by voluntarily consigning oneself to God and renouncing life.

Morya's son Chintamani Govasi built a temple to commemorate his father's sepulcher. This temple is located on the banks of River Pavana and is known as Temple of Morya Govasi.
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Sapta Purusha

The descendants of Morya Gosavi were worshipped as the incarnates of Ganesha at the Chinchwad temple. They were called as devas'. Morya's son Chintamani was also believed to be an incarnation of Chintamani Ganesha. He was respectfully called Chintamani Maharaj.
The descendants of Morya Govasi controlled the finances and administration of many Ashthavinayak temples.

Morya's clan came to be known as 'Deo' or Devas.

As stated in part 2 of the story, Morya was blessed by Mayureshwara of Morgaon to have his seven generations (sapta Purusha) with remnants of Ganesha himself. These seven sons of Morya lineage were considered as Ganesha incarnates. Their Samadhi are near the Samadhi of Morya Govasi in Chinchwad. The seven sons in this lineage were -
1. Moraya Gosavi (1375-1561)
2. Chintamani Maharaj -1(1561-1625)
3. Narayan Maharaj- 1 (1625-1719)
4. Chintamani Maharaj -2 (1719-1736)
5. Dharanidhar Maharaj - 1 (1736-1772
6. Narayana Maharaj- 2 (1772-1802)
7. Chintamani Maharaj -3 (1802-1805)

The last son in the above lineage- Chintamani Maharaj was childless and  adopted Sakharam from the Shri Govind family of Siddhatek. He named Sakharam as Dharanidhar Maharaj (1805-1852).

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The Curse of Morya

Narayana Maharaj (2) was the sixth Dev in Morya clan.
Naryana like precursor served the temple of Ganesha. However, hearing the stories of great father Morya Govasi, he became curious. He mind was filled with suspicion. When he heard people experience Morya's presence, he curiosity grew. He even doubted if Morya had been sitting alive in the covered cave for these many years!
One day Naryana decides to visit the cave through the blocked way. He proceeded inside the cave with a fire lamp. Much to his amazement, he found Morya alive and seated in deep meditation. However, Narayana's presence disturbed Morya. Morya who had left strict instructions to people not to disturb him ever, was enraged. He opened his dark eyes and cursed Naryana- "Naryana, you have not only doubted my devotion, but also disobeyed my instructions. I curse you - your lineage shall cease to exist after your son".
Though Naryana cried, seeking forgiveness from Morya, the latter was too angry to hear. He sternly asked Naryana to shield the cave with the stone.

Naryana repented his thoughts of disbelief and actions. However, there was no going back. Time revealed the fate of his lineage - Narayana's son Chintamani was children. There were no descendants of Govasi clan and their lineage collapsed thereafter. The management of temples of Moragon, Chinchwad, Theur and Siddhatek Siddhivinayak came under the control of Chinchwad Devasthan Trust, which operates from Chinchwad.