The Medhi (replica of a Samadhi or saint's grave) or memorial of the saint Gogadev is seen at various places across the country
The historical memorial, dedicated to the revered saint of the Mehetar community in Harakanagar area, dates back 200 years. The small temple includes old stone walls and is located in the Bhavani Peth area. Saint Gogadev was a disciple of Saint Gorakhnath of the Nath cult.u00a0
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An annual festival is celebrated throughout the month of Shravan till Janmastami (the birth day of Lord Krishna), which is also the birth anniversary of Saint Gogadev.
Naresh Jadhav, a member of the community, shares, “Our ancestors settled here during Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s reign. Our community is originally from Gujarat and Rajasthan but when Shivaji Maharaj attacked Surat, some people accompanied him and settled in Pune.
Hand-written Guru Grantha Sahib
The Medhi was established around that time by our ancestors and we have established a temple here, which is around 200 years old.” Jadhav adds that the original Goga Medhi is in Dadrewa, Rajasthan. The Pune Medhi is an elevated structure ensconced in marble.
Around the memorial stands a small, old temple showcasing an age-old construction. Every year, the followers fast and there are religious discourses at the site.
On Janmashtami, they take out a procession set to the musical backdrop of traditional instruments. Interestingly, the disciples of Gogadev also pray to Guru Nanak. “One of our community members has preserved a hand-written copy of Guru Granth Saheb, a holy book of the Sikh community and Sikh worshippers also visit this memorial to offer their prayers,” states Hemraj Salunkhe, whose family possessed a copy of the holy book.u00a0
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