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Women saints have appeared
from time to time to provide signposts to seekers of Truth. In the
last century, Lalitadevi Devrao Hattangadi, having fulfilled her
duty to the family, community and nation, moved on to a life of
spiritual upliftment at the Gurukul in Panvel, about 40 Kilometers
from Mumbai in India, established in 1956 at the behest of Bhagwan Shri Nityanand
Baba of Ganeshpuri. There, she gathered a large following in and
around Mumbai. She was popularly known among devotees as Shri Lalita
Maauli. ‘Maauli’ means divine Mother in Marathi language. Her journey
through life was rare significance to all the devotees who were
in her presence ever since received Nityanand Baba’s message at
her age of 19 in 1924 or those who sought blessings at ‘Shri Nitryanand
Nilaya Gurukul’, Panvel. This Maauli’s Ashram at the present place
was formally inaugurated by Shrimat Anandashram Swamiji of Shri
Chitrapur Math on Rathasaptami day, 5th February 1965.
Bhagwan Shri Nityanand Baba's padukas [wooden sandals] were consecrated there.
Devotees have been visiting this place for religious practices – anushthana,
saptaha and reading of scriptures and other spiritual
works. There were many who were afflicted, depressed and dejected
individuals who came into Maauli for solace, consolation and relief.
Their sufferings were alleviated and they got the much needed encouragement
for their pursuit of normal life.
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