One of the most dignified saints of modern India, Shri Gajanan Maharaj lived in a village named Shehgaon in Buldhana district of Maharashtra. There is no specific information available regarding his birthplace, parents, birth time etc. but few people believe that he was a Telugu Brahmin. Second opinion is that he was from Sajjangadh area.

Few scholars believe that Gajanan Maharaj was born in a village named Thaal near Shehgaon. His father’s name was Bhavaniram and mother’s name was Shahubai. His household name was Gana Sable and he was 11-12 years old when he left his house. Though there is no strong proof available of this. It is also believed for Maharaj that he was Deshastha Brahmin of Latkar family and Gargya Gotra. Few people also believe that he was from Gokhale family. The people of his age called him with names like Gin Gine Buwa, Ganpat Buwa, Awaliya Bawa etc. Though there is no solid proof, it is believed that when Gajanan was a teenager, he had gone to meet Swami Samarth in Akkalkot. It is said that seeing him coming, Shri Samarth had said, “Ganpati aala re aala”(Ganpati has come).