The greatest of the disciples, of Shree Akkalkot Swami Samarth, who enjoyed the worldly pleasures to the utmost degree, but who made a complete reversal and attained the highest and the most excellent place in the field of Divine Truth, such a well determined, daring, unyielding, unparalleled and remarkable Shree Ramchandra Balawant Beedkar Maharaj (Ramanand Beedkar) was born on 22nd day of November 1839, to the couple, Shri Balawantrao and Gangubai.
He had four elder sisters and one elder brother. The youngest Ramchandra known as Shree Beedkar Maharaj later on, was the darling of his father. Because of this excessive fondling, he was not sent to school till the age of seven years by his father. But his father had taught him with affection, all the alphabets, arithmetical Rules and oral accounting etc. Thus Ramchandra was brought up in a well-to-do and a wealthy way of life by his father, who was also working as one of the trusted ones under the wealthy Peshwai of Pune.
Unfortunately, very soon he lost his father and his elder brother forsook the house on the thirteenth day after the death of his father. Surprisingly, even the cow whose milk Shree Beedkar Maharaj used to drink directly from the cow’s nipple, also disappeared on the thirteenth day.
Under such strange and difficult circumstances, his mother Gangubai managed to look after the family. She enrolled him in the Marathi School.
Fair complexioned with bright lustrous eyes and charming body stature, Shree Beedkar Maharaj used to normally attract everybody’s attention and especially that of Dr. Ganapatrao, who was so much impressed that he kept this boy in his house assuring that this boy would be useful in future for acting in dramas. But later on the clear thoughts, vigorous behaviour and firm replies of Shree Beedkar Maharaj did not serve the main purpose of Dr. Ganapatrao and he was very much disappointed.
Later on, one gentleman Shri Trimbakrao Kibe, took Shree Beedkar Maharaj to his house for education purpose. But Shri Trimbakrao found that Shree Beedkar Maharaj had no interest in studies and hence he was entrusted with the purchases of Karavya. In this business, Shree Beedkar Maharaj earned a profit of about fifty rupees and with this money he started money-lending business. On account of his shrewd and inquisitive nature as well as his strong liking for business, Shree Maharaj simultaneously started the business of commission agent along with money lending business.