UW Guru Mandir II Initially Shree Balappa Maharaj used to stay in Budhwar Peth area of Akkalkot, in a room behind the ‘samadhi of Shree Swami Maharaj. Later on he shifted to the house of Shri Gramjoshi where Shardamata, wife of Paramsadguru Shree Gajananmaharaj was born As the fame of Shree Balappa Maharaj grew, it became difficult to accommodate the increasing number of devotees in a small house, thus the residence of Shri, Chitanand was also used. This house was later bought by Khairatkar family. Shri.Baburaoji Khairatkar was later on to serve dedicatedly as the official representative of Paramsadguru Shree Gajananmaharaj and Math. Even this place proved to be insufficient to accommodate the increasing number of devotees gathering on the days of festivals. In the year 1901, the devotees appealed in a letter to the then ruler of Akkalkot state for providing a bigger place giving information about all the functions and festivals of the Math. On 8th August 1901, a piece of land belonging to Shree Dajiba Bhosale was donated to Shree Balappa Maharaj. As ordered by Shree Swami Maharaj a Math was now founded in the heart of Akkalkot town and His 'Padukas' andall other blessed insignia were established Around the same time Shree Balappa Maharaj bestowed his grace upon Dr. Sir Chimanlal Harilal Setalwad of Mumbai. Sir Chimanlal was a renowned lawyer and a leader of the Pragatic Party. In the year 1906 he constructed the main Garbhagruha {sanctum sanctorum) of the Math by bringing in skilled craftsmen and artists from Mumbai. The Sanskrit verse which Shree Swami Maharaj had recited when ordering Shree Balappa to construct the Mathwere carved on the wall of the veranda in front . Madarcham sampratisthapya mandiram karayet dhrudham Pushpodyananiramyani pujayatrotsavashritan Pujadeenampravahartham mahaparvasvathanvaham Kshetrapanpuragraman matsarsthitamiyat This Math became well known as 'Balappa Math’. Itis this math which was glorified by Paramsadguru Shree by inheriting the Divine tradition of MastersShri Vitthal Tikaji the administrator of the state of Akkalkot constructed the building at the back of the Math for circumambulating the main cellar. One day Shree Balappa Maharaj had a vision in which he was told to travel to a town called Murtijapur. Accordingly next day morning he set out on the journey. On reaching the town of Murtijapur, he camped ina temple. That night Shri Balappa Maharaj had a vision in which he was told “Narayanrao Jamadar would soon be bestowed with a son.” In the moming Shri Balappa Maharaj made enquiries about this unknown person about whom he had been given a vision, Narayanrao Jamadar was a rich landlord of the province. However, he did not have any offspring for which he was always dejected, Shree Balappa Maharaj blessed him saying he would soon be blessed with a son. Within ayear Shri Narayanrao had a son who was named Vitthalrao. Shri Narayanrao was very happy and became a devout follower of Shri Balappa Maharaj. He built an assembly hall for the Math. On entering the hall there are two strong wooden staircases on the left and right sides which climb up to the two galleries that run along the length of the hall on both sides. The common ceiling to the Hall and two galleries is elliptical in shape and constructed out of best quality wood. Shri Vitthalrao, son of Shri Narayanrao then constructed the Mahadwar (Main entrance door). The door has the following inscription “In obedience to the wishes of Late Bhramanand Swami this Mahadwar is built by Mr. Vitthalrao Narayan Jamadar of Murtijapur with permission of his father 1914.A.D. Cost : Rs. 6800/- The Mahadwar is built of quality black stone and has a Nagarkhana (a small room used for playing musical instruments during the times of religious services).on its top The Ram Mandir towards the North side of the Math was donated by Shrimant Mrudularaje Bhosale the ruler of Akkalkotin 1972. The house adjoining the rear side of the math belonging to Shri Pantoji was bought for use of the Math where the kitchen and dining halls are located. In later years another house was also bought to accommodate the increasing number of devotees. This purchase was done as service by Shri Bhupatbhai Vora of Mumbai'Balappa Math’ which is a symbol of the Eternal Guru-shishya tradition was renamed as' Guru Mandir’ by Paramsadguru Shree Gajanan Maharaj, during His regime In 1974 the Main Hall of the Math was renovated. A renowned architect, ‘Ramaswamy’ of Tamilnadu was deputed for the job. The expenses for this were donated as service by Shri Rajeshbhai Khurana of Mumbai Immediately on entering through the main gate on the left were the bathrooms and ‘Cow-barn. Along side the main hall was Shree's kitchen above which was His rest room He used to do ‘Anushthana’ in the afternoon in this room. This room was built with Shree's permission by Shri Baburaoji Parkhe in 1956-57 On this place a separate two storied building was constructed for Shree's residence by His disciple Shri Gajananrao Rangnekar of Mumbai during the period from 1971 and 1973. This was named 'Ramaramashram’. Bhagavan Parashuram had visited the math in physical form, had taken meal, and had been seen standing at this place where today 'Ramaramashram’ stands. The place where Shree used to dine is exactly on the same spot The room used by Shree for His daily '‘Anushthana’ was renovated in 1978 by Shri Baburaoji Parkhe. Previously this room used to be Shree's kitchen, in the same room Shreeji had the vision of the Holy Fire (Siddhagni) He used to spend most of His time doing Japanushthana i.e. chanting of mantras in this room. The flooring is of marble and the ceiling is decorated, This work was done by Shri Ramswamy of Tamilnadu. > Joshi Math- There was a little vacant space and a well along the sides of the house of Shri Joshi who was an ardent devotee of Shree Swami Maharaj. Occasionally Shree Swami Maharaj used to come and sit here under the Audumbara tree. Once Shri Gopal Bhide, Shri Mirajkar and other devotees of Swami Maharaj thought of setting up Padukas (Sandals) of Swami Samarth and building a Math under the Audambar tree. But the plan did not materialize due to lack of funds. Swami Maharaj, reading their minds once said unto them “ Try to raise funds and you will get help, then use them for constructing a building for setting up the Padukas.”