About Dada Darbar

Nobody knows from where and how Dadaji came. Gauri Shankerji is the first one to whom Dadaji showed his Shiv 'roop'. Gauri Shankerji was a very big disciple of Lord Shiva. Sometime in the 18th century, he set out in search of Lord Shiva when, someone told him that its said that 'Narmada kanker, Shiv Shanker' (Shiv ji can be found in the river Narmada). He traveled all the way from somewhere in Afghanistan and reached the banks of the river Narmada. When he did not find Lord Shiva there he asked the people around if Lord Shiva could be found anywhere. He was told that Lord Shiva might be found on the banks of the river and he must start walking along the banks in order to search for him. So started Gauri Shankerji's 'parikrama' (circumambulate) of Narmada ji.

Over the years during his 'parikrama' many other 'sadhus' joined him and formed a 'jamaat' of around 200 'sadhus'. One of these 'sadhus' was Dadaji maharaj. Dadaji used to do a lot of 'seva' (service) of all the 'sadhus' in the 'jamaat'. In the night when everyone else would be sleeping, he would make 'maalpoa' and 'halwa' (sweets) in big vessels for the entire 'jamaat'. Whenever there was a shortage of 'ghee' (form of cooking oil), he would go to 'Maa' Narmada, dip his utensils in the water and it would get filled with 'ghee'. Later, when the 'jamaat' had enough provisions of their own, he would go and return the 'ghee' to 'Maa' Narmada.