He also clearly told that after Shri Gajanan Maharaj appeared in Shegaon and remained there, he had visited Maharaj 25-30 times. During these visits Shivanand Swami declared that he used visit Shri Dadasaheb Khaparde in Amravati and stay with Khaparde family. Thus, Shri Shivanand Swami is none other than the Telangi brahmin whose mention has been made in the foreward of "Shri Gajanan Vijay" on his own admission. Later Shivanand Saraswati left to perform penance in Himalaya and was never spotted again 

Shivanand Swami along with their photograph). Thus, it is quite clear that Shri Gajanan Maharaj was not Telangi brahmin as some speculate. Some speculate that he might have in fact hailed from Sajjanghad, (which was the place where Sant Samartha had lived). Das Ganu Maharaj has written a 21 chapter biography, "Shri Gajanan Vijay," of Gajanan Maharaj in Marathi. Contemporaries of Gajanan Maharaj identified him by several names like Gin Gine Buwa, Ganpat Buwa, and Awaliya Baba.

There is no proper past history of Gajanan Maharaj of Shegaon but in "Shree Gajanan Vijay" Dasganu Maharaj has mentioned that Gajanan Maharaj was calling some people as His brothers. They are as follows: Shree Narasingji, Shree Vasudevanand Saraswati (Tembhe Swami Maharaj), Sai Baba and such great saints of the time. This indicate that Gajanan Maharaj was Pure incarnation of the supreme power. In the holy book (Shree Gajanana Vijay) it is also mentioned that Shree Gajanan appeared in the form of Shree Hari Vitthal (Pandurang) in Pandharapur) for his one devotee named Bapuna Kale. Shree Gajanan Maharaj was able to do this because he was none other than the supreme (or fully awake part of the Supreme), who resides in every (Alive and non-alive) body.

Some people believe that Shree Gajanan Maharaj was student (Shishya) of Shree Swami Samarth, however it is not acceptable as most of devotee or Students (Shishyas) prefer to chant Shree Swami Samarth however Shree Gajanan Maharaj had alway chant "Gan Gan Ganaat Bote" or "Chandan Chawal Bel ki patiya...."

There are lot of similarities between Shree Swami Samarth and Shree Gajanan Maharaj, Both were Paramahans Sanyasi, Both were AjanBahu and many others. Thus many people also believe that Shree Gajanan is none other than Shree Swami Samarth.

Maharaj accepting a human body is a mere pastime (Leela) as he is Brahmadnyani; that is why thousands of the devotees flock to Shegaon for his blessings. How he functions and transforms people from vile, wicked ways to great devotees is really unknown. None in his earthly days ever saw him chanting any special mantra holding japamala etc. But he is a supreme saint, whose blessings everyone must have.

According to a legend, a money lender named Bankat Lal Agarwal first saw Gajanan Maharaj in a "superconscious state" on February 23, 1878 on a street. Sensing him to be a saint, Bankat took him home and asked him to stay with him. Legends say that

Maharaj hardly spoke, and when He did, He used to talk cryptic and most people would not understand what He meant or spoke. Later people would connect what He said with the events that would happen and understand the significance of His utterances. People who have seen Maharaj have recorded that like Sai baba of Shirdi , He too was tall ( 6 feet or more) with hands long enough and reaching His limbs. HE used to smoke the earthen pipe ( chillum) and the popular pose is that with Chillum in hand.

Maharaj oftenly chanted the mantra "Gan Gan Ganat Bote ". The meaning of this mantra being - God is omnipresent. He is present in each and every thing around us. He dwells in each one of us. Hence treat every individual equally. God helps everyone without discriminating between castes, creeds and religions, and also teaches us to behave in the same manner.
Many devotees used to worship him and would bring delicious food, nice clothes, jewellery, ornaments, etc. But Maharaj never took anything from them. He used to donate those valueables to the needy and poor people. Maharaj knew the Vedas and the Vedic Literature and Scriptures. He sometimes used to speak in Telugu Language. Many a times the devotees were unable to understand the meaning of his utterances. Gajanan Maharaj performed various 'Chamatkars(Miracles)' so as to cure people of their sufferings and miseries. He knew Yogashastra and language of Animals and Birds. The well-known Miracles that he performed include - He brought water to waterless well, gave a new life to one of his disciples named Janrao Deshmukh, drew sugarcane juice by crushing sugarcanes with his hands, lighted the 'Chillim(Clay-Pipe)' without fire.

The people who worship him call him as 'Trikaal Dnyani (A person who is able to read the mind of every living being)'. As the word spread that a Yogi Purush named Gajanan Maharaj had come to Shegaon, many famous and renowned personalities came to Shegaon, so as to take blessings from him. Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati also visited Shegaon to meet Gajanan Maharaj.

It is believed that Maharaj stayed in the Ashram of Akkalkot Swami Samarth in his teenage. After taking initial lessons, Swami Samarth Maharaj directed Gajanan Maharaj to go and seek training from Yashwant Dev Mamledar in Nashik. Gajanan Maharaj imbibed lessons in Yog Sadhana and meditation and latter attained tremendous expertise in Yog Sadhana under Narsing baba of Akot.

From Akot Maharaj then went to Shegaon. Later he stayed most of his life in Shegaon.On the advise of Gajanan Maharaj, his disciples established a Trust named, 'Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan' in 1908.

Then on one day Gajanan Maharaj on his own decided to take leave from this world. He took Samadhi on Bhadrapada Shuddha Panchami i.e. Rishi Panchmi, Shake 1832 i.e. 8th September 1910. Thousands of his disciples and devotees gathered near his Samadhi place. There were no words to describe their grief.

However all of his innumerable disciples and devotees believe that even today Shri Gajanan Maharaj is alive and is always with them.