Vasudevanand Saraswati

Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati (Marathi: श्री.वासुदेवानंद सरस्वती/टेंबे स्वामी)(1854–1914) is also known as Shri Tembe Swami. His original name is Vasudeo, father's name is Ganeshbhatt, mother's name is Ramaabai and Grandfather's name is Haribhatt. As per the lunar calendar he was born on Shravan Vadya 5, Shalivahan Shaka 1776, 26 ghatika after the Sunrise.

Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati alias Shri Tembe Swami Maharaj

In 1875 he was married to Annapurnabai, daughter of Babajipant Gode (pronounced as Go-Day) from Sawantwadi near Goa at the age of 21 years.

He was an expert Sanskrit scholar right from his childhood. His fame increased over the years and he became Vasudevanad-saraswati after visiting Narasoba Wadi, one of the famous Dattatreya temple where Shri Narasimha Saraswati stayed for 12 years, 500 years before. He has also authored the book "Datta mahtmya". He became a sanyasi 13 days after his wife's death in 1891. His guru Shrimant Govindswami gave him the sanyas in his dream.

He died on 1914 on Jyeshtha Vadya Amavasya (no moon day). His body was put into the Narmada River. His samadhi(tomb) has been build on the shore of Narmada River at village Garudeshwar. There is a famous Datta Mandir in the same campus at Garudeshwar.

References

1. Shri Dattatreya Dnyaanakosh by Dr. P. N. Joshi (2000).
2. Personal Visit to the Place by Prakash Kamble July(2011).