Divine Gajanan Maharaj (Well) Institute Akoli Jahagir, Akot, Akola

The well that was brought to life by the yogic powers of Shri Gajanan Maharaj of Shegaon can be seen at Akoli Jahagir in Telhara Taluka. Gajanan Maharaj revived the springs of a dry well located in the field of Bhaskar Patil Jayle. After this miracle, Bhaskar Patil Jayle became a devoted disciple of Gajanan Maharaj and served Him for the rest of his life. This well is mentioned in the ‘Gajanan Vijay’ grantha, composed by the saint-poet Dasganu Maharaj. Known as ‘Shantivan Amruttirth’, hundreds of devotees from various parts of the state visit this well.

Bhaskar Patil Jayle was born in the year 1800 AD on the day of Gita Jayanti in the house of a Sardar. His father’s name was Kartaji Patil Jayle and his mother’s name was Parvatibai. Kartaji Patil was a Sardar of Raghujiraje Bhonsle (II) of Nagpur. Raghujiraje had granted him the jagir of Akoli village, located on the Akot-Anjangaon road. The Patil Jayle family traditionally performed the pilgrimage to Dehu-Alandi-Pandharpur with great regularity. Three years after the birth of Bhaskar Maharaj, in 1803, the Second Anglo-Maratha War took place. On November 29th of that year, a major battle occurred at Adgaon between the British General Lord Wellesley and the forces of Vyankoji alias Manyabapu Bhonsle and Daulatrao Shinde. The Marathas were defeated in that fierce battle, and many Maratha warriors were martyred, including Kartaji Patil.

Following the death of Kartaji Patil, Parvatibai raised young Bhaskar and trained him in the use of weapons. Later, after witnessing the miracle of Gajanan Maharaj reviving the well, he became the Maharaj’s disciple. The detailed account is as follows: Once, in the scorching heat of the Vaishakh month, Gajanan Maharaj set out for Adgaon, avoiding the notice of the people of Shegaon. On the way, He was overcome by intense thirst. Seeing no water nearby, He approached an elderly farmer in a field (Survey No. 52) in the Akoli region. This was Bhaskar Patil. Gajanan Maharaj asked him for water. Bhaskar Patil had brought water in a pot to the field, but seeing the Maharaj in a state of nudity (digambara), he refused to give Him water and drove Him away. As Gajanan Maharaj walked through the field, He saw a well. When He headed towards it, Bhaskar Patil said, “Why go there in vain? That well is bone-dry.” However, Gajanan Maharaj reached the well, which had been dry for twelve years. He prayed to the Divine, and immediately a spring of water gushed forth. In a few moments, the well was filled with water. Seeing this, Bhaskar Patil became convinced that Gajanan Maharaj was a great Yogi. He prostrated before the Maharaj, accepted discipleship, and went to Shegaon. It is said that Gajanan Maharaj appeared in Shegaon in 1878, and it was in that same year that this well-revival event took place.

Thereafter, Bhaskar Maharaj lived in Shegaon for 29 years, serving Gajanan Maharaj. During this time, Gajanan Maharaj tested him many times. Having passed all these tests, Bhaskar Maharaj became a primary disciple of Gajanan Maharaj. At the age of 107, on July 25, 1907, on the day of Chaitra Krishna Panchami, Bhaskar Maharaj took Samadhi. Gajanan Maharaj Himself was present at that time and performed the Samadhi rites for Bhaskar Maharaj. Bhaskar Maharaj’s Samadhi temple is located at Adgaon. The well revived by Gajanan Maharaj is in the field ‘Survey No. 52’ in Akoli. The temple here is known as the Gajanan Maharaj (Well) Sansthan.

The well and the temple are situated in the middle of the surrounding fields in the village of Akoli Jahagir. The well is enclosed by a wire fence, and there are 10 ornate pillars on its wall. These pillars are connected to each other at the top by arched designs. There is a circular roof over these pillars. Even today, the well has plenty of water and contains turtles and fish. There is a plaque on the well stating that Gajanan Maharaj revived it on the day of Nrusimha Jayanti, Thursday, May 24, 1878 (Shake 1810, Vaishakh Shuddha Chaturdashi). About 100 meters from this well is a large temple dedicated to the Guru-disciple duo, Shri Gajanan Maharaj and Bhaskar Maharaj.

The temple structure consists of a Sabha Mandap (assembly hall) and a Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). A large peacock motif is carved above the temple entrance. One enters the Sabha Mandap through the entrance of this temple, which stands on a high plinth reached by three steps from the courtyard. In the Sabha Mandap, near the entrance, there are two marble shrines on the right and left, housing idols of Garuda and Hanuman. The large windows in the walls of the Sabha Mandap are fitted with protective grills. The marble-floored Sabha Mandap has several circular pillars. Beyond the Sabha Mandap, leaving space for a circumambulation path (pradakshina marg), is the Garbhagriha. There are guardian idols in the niches on the pillar branches of the Garbhagriha entrance. Inside the Garbhagriha, on a high pedestal, are white marble idols of Gajanan Maharaj and his disciple Bhaskar Maharaj. Both idols wear turbans. Behind these idols are idols of Vitthal-Rukmini made of black stone. On the back wall, near the ceiling, is a large portrait of Gajanan Maharaj. The temple roof has a parapet, and there is a tapering Shikhara over the Garbhagriha. At the top of this Shikhara, there is an Amalaka and a Kalash set within a lotus motif.

The ‘Jalsanjeevan Sohala’ (Water Revival Ceremony) is held at this temple on Vaishakh Purnima. Many festivals and celebrations are observed here, including Gajanan Maharaj’s Prakat Din, Rishi Panchami, Ram Navami, and Kojagiri Purnima. Four kilometers from this temple is another Gajanan Maharaj temple managed by the Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan.

Sacred History & Spiritual Significance

This sacred temple stands as a testament to deep spiritual devotion, ancient architectural grandeur, and rich local cultural traditions.

Temple Sanctum & Architecture

The sanctum sanctorum houses the divine idol consecrated according to ancient Vedic traditions, surrounded by serene courtyards and traditional temple architecture.

Sacred Darshan Gallery