Life Sketch of Santh Sri Sevalal Maharaj
A Divine Legacy of Spiritual and Social Reformation of the Banjara Community
Welcome to the sacred history of Shri Sant Sevalal Maharaj (15 February 1739 – 4 December 1806), the glorious spiritual Guru, master reformer, and eternal guide of the Banjara (Gor/Lambadi) community.
His life was an extraordinary journey of selfless service—wandering alongside nomadic caravans, shattering regressive taboos, resisting external exploitation, and giving humanity a profound, timeless code of righteous living
Divine Descent
and Sacred Lineage
Around CE 1707, his grandparents, Ramji Rathod and Mangli Bai of the Ramavath gotra, migrated from Mangalore to the Gooty region. Accompanying them was their young 5-year-old son, Bhima Rathod.
Years later, Bhima married Dharmani Bai in CE 1721. On February 15, 1739, Sant Sri Sevalal Maharaj was born at Gollaladoddi village near Gooty, Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh — a sacred land universally revered today as 'Sevagad'.
Early Miracles and Divine Transformation
◆ Sacred Instruments: He miraculously transformed a simple round black stone into a Nangara (holy drum) and altered Moduga leaves into a Brahma Taal (cymbals) to conduct soul-stirring Bhajans.
◆ The Divine Offering: Out of mere clay and mud, he prepared pure, sweet Kheer (halwa), creating a brass plate out of Teakwood leaves to present this offering to Goddess Jagadamba.
◆ The turning point of his spiritual journey occurred when Goddess Jagadamba granted him Her magnificent Viswaroopa Darshan and personally scripted the holy Beejaksharas upon his tongue, initiating him into absolute divine consciousness.
Lifelong Mission, Social Reforms, and Prosperity
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Eradicating Superstition: He fought tirelessly against blind beliefs, dogmas, and regressive rituals.
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Abolition of Animal Sacrifice: He strongly opposed ritual sacrifice and advocated against rigid idol worship.
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Champion of Women's Dignity: He fiercely championed the absolute respect and equal status of women.
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Divine Healer: He traveled the Deccan plateau as a wandering healer, curing the sick and dispelling disease epidemics.
✦ Universal Journey and Maha Samadhi
Sant Sevalal Maharaj traveled extensively across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Odisha. He took his last breath on December 4, 1806, at Ruhiagad, Yavatmal district, Maharashtra. His Samadhi is at Poharadevi, Washim district — revered as the 'Banjara Kashi', drawing millions of devotees every year.