Haribhat baba was born sometime in the year 1655 in a small hamlet known as Kotawade near Ratnagiri and close to Ganpatipule. His grandfather was the priest of the family of Sahasrabudhe who were residing in Kotwade.
He practiced penance and worshipped lord Ganesh by taking “Durva juice” and achieved spiritual powers with the blessings of lord Ganpati.
Later on, he married a daughter of Shende shastri. The name of his wife was Gauri Bai. He had seven children and Govind Hari was the fourth son who started working with peshwa Sarkar and he was the person who was the founder of the Miraj dynasty in Miraj. Later on, he requested peshwas and gave jobs to his brothers in peshwa army. All the Patwardhan’s became warriors and they left their jobs as priests in Konkan.
A) the eldest son was Krishan Bhat. – his family got the jaghir of amba, and Manglevedha. Therefore, the family is known as “Ambekar Patwardhans, and mangalvedekar Patwardhan. Both these towns are close to Pandharpur, in Maharashtra.
B) the second son was Balam Bhat, – and this family settled down in Miraj fort, and therefore this family is known as “Patwardhans from Miraj Killa”
C) the third son was Trimbak Hari – was the third son, and the family settled down in Kurundwad, and therefore this family is known as Kurundwadkar Patwardhans. Neelkanth Hari joined the services of Akkalkot jaghir, but later on joined peshwas.
D) the fourth son was Govind Hari – was the fourth son of Hari Bhat baba and he joined the peshwa army during Bajirao I and got the jaghir of Miraj. He was instrumental in giving jobs to all his brothers.
E) the fifth son was Mahadeo Bhat – died without any issue.
F) the sixth son was Ramchandra Hari – was the fifth son of Hari Bhat baba who created Jamkhandi, Tasgaon and Chinchli dynasty. The most capable Patwardhan was Parshuram Bhau, who was the general during the battle of Seringapatam and famous war of Kharda against the Nizam.
G) the seventh son was Bhaskar Hari – was the seventh son and their family are known as Shelsatkar Patwardhans.
Hari Bhat baba decided to leave his village Kotwade and decided to go to desh. First he came near Kolhapur and came to a place called “Kapshi“ which belonged to a great general known as Santaji Ghorpade, during the time of Chhatrapati Rajaram, second son of great Shivaji Maharaj. He came in contact with a person known as Mahadeo Joshi who was very close to Santaji Ghorpode. He appointed Hari Bhatji baba as his family priest or “upadhyabua”. He was given Kurundwad village as Inam or gift. He started staying in Kurundwad with his elder son. Peshwas learnt about Hari Bhat baba and peshwas invited him to stay with him, to which he refused.
Peshwas therefore made Govind Hari and Ramchandra Hari as sardars in their army and were made sardars in the Maratha Army. This is how Patwardhans became soldiers in the Maratha army.
Hari Bhat baba when he was staying in Kurundwad, constructed a Ganesh temple on the land known as “Pandhardevanhali “which is on the banks of Krishna river, and this place was known as “Ganeshwadi” even today this place is famous for milk and milk products.
After some days he came and settled in Pune and died sometime in the year 1750. During this time Nanasaheb Peshwa was the “Pantpradhan “who selected a place near Omkareshwar on the bank of Mula Mutha river in Pune. Hari Bhat baba was 93 years of age when he died.
The Patwardhans joined the peshwa army and the Patwardhans rose to fame and power because of Hari Bhat baba and therefore the Patwardhans call Hari Bhat baba as their “mul purush” and are proud to call themselves as Hari Vaysha Patwardhans.
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