Gopalrao Somnath Nimonkar
Born on Makar Sankrant in Nimon [Sangamner district] to Somnath and Deshpande. He was well educated, studied in SP College Pune, and did BA. LLB. He had mastered Sanskrit, English and Astrology. His father who was a famous astrologer influenced his love for astrology. Besides this he excelled in Yoga, and was highly spiritually evolved.
When his parents took him to Baba as a child, Baba held him in His lap, and covering him with a shawl said, “call him EknathSomnath” which was rather uncomfortable as he had already christened him Gopal Rao. Baba then said, “He is my Eknath.” He is the little boy standing next to Nana Saheb in the Lendi Baugh procession [As vouched by his daughter] photograph taken in 1916.
He prospered and was famous in Ahmednagar for his oratory and law practice. Many students learned about fighting cases from him. And his flare for the English language. Sanskrit however was his love; he would recite the Vishnu Sahasranam, Rudra Abhisek and various Suktas in a deep resonant voice, filling his home with sanctified vibrations. For 22 years he and his fellow lawyers did Padyatra, from Eknath’s Paithan to Matherdev [Pathardi district] on Maha Shivrathri, he performed Rudra Abhisek. Was it any wonder that Baba called him” My Eknath.”
He survived his first heart attack the age of 73. Then at age 84 took Samadhi on 19th December 1997 . He will always be remembered by us Baba devotees for being instrumental in continuing the sacred tradition of taking the flag from Pune to Shirdi on Ram Navami day.
(Source Shri Sai Leela Magazine)
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