Page 17 - Adhiyoga Purana

Vinayak Rajaram Kulkarni and His Parental Family
In 1906, the divine cycle of birth and destiny took a sacred turn when Shivaram, the devout renunciate from Pimpode, was reborn into the same village. The child was named Vinayak, a name destined to echo through spiritual circles for generations to come. Born into the Kulkarni family, Vinayak's arrival was no ordinary birth—it was the result of a long ritual performed by his father, Rajaram, who, though not spiritually inclined, was moved by his wife Ganga’s yearning for a child. Ganga, a deeply pious woman, nurtured little Vinayak for only a few short years before leaving the world when he was just six.
Vinayak’s early life was shaped by the silent strength of his lineage. His grandfather Bajirao, a saintly devotee of Lord Dattatreya, foresaw Vinayak’s yogic destiny. Struggling with digestive issues in his later years, Bajirao nevertheless remained unwavering in his spiritual devotion. Before his passing, he gathered his family and announced a remarkable prophecy: Vinayak would one day become a saintly Yogi. Then, fulfilling his final rite by honoring 21 Brahmins, he peacefully left his body while chanting the Dattatreya mantra.
Life, however, was not easy for the young boy. Orphaned of his mother and discouraged from pursuing education, Vinayak harbored a deep desire to learn. He ran away to Mumbai, where he endured poverty and hardship while attending charitable schools. His determination was unwavering. Despite the physical suffering, he excelled in his studies. But despair struck him at a breaking point. As he stood by the beach contemplating suicide, a mysterious Yogi appeared, telling him his life’s mission was far from over. From that moment, Vinayak’s spiritual powers awakened. He began to sense the future, to see through people’s lives. A strict celibate, he committed himself to intense yogic discipline.
Eventually, illness brought him back to Pimpode, and there, fate introduced him to Sumati, a young woman from a prosperous business family. She was well-read in spiritual texts and had begun reading the Mahabharata at the tender age of nine. An astrologer had once predicted that she would be highly honored as the wife of a spiritual soul, a prophecy fulfilled in her union with Vinayak. Though unaccustomed to hardship, Sumati shared her husband’s spiritual fervor.
Together, Vinayak and Sumati braved financial struggle, raising four daughters and a son, Neelakanth, in a home built upon discipline, devotion, and daily rituals. The couple’s unwavering spiritual lifestyle influenced not only their children but the community that surrounded them.
In 1939, at the age of 33, Vinayak encountered his true spiritual master, Krishnanatha Maharaj of Mirajgaon, known as Kushabhau, a close associate of Shirdi Sai Baba. Recognizing Vinayak’s potential, Krishnanatha Maharaj instantly blessed him and appointed him a leader of seekers. When the great saint left his body in 1944, he passed his spiritual powers to Vinayak, entrusting him with the torch of divine work.
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