Dongre Maharaj: The miracle man

Nagpur: A soldier turned saint has recently been visiting some villages of Pusad taluq in Yeotmal district performing what the villagers call “miracle cures”.

Dongre Maharaj, ex- serviceman who took to asceticism about 10 years ago, claims he can cure any disease provided the patient observes a nine- day fast, walks through smoldering fire and drinks with full faith the “scared water” he gives him.

Last Monday, the saint cured in public view about 200 patients who were suffering from one disease or another. Among them were some suffering from mental or physical deformity.

A UNI reporter who was an eye witness to the miracle man’s performance saw a six- foot- long trench full of burning coal through which the saint walked first followed by the patients one by one without any fear or hesitation.

Everyone of them said later that they did not feel the burning coal in their feet and in fact none had even a mild blister. They also said they felt considerable relief in their ailment after the fire walking and expressed the hope that after drinking the scared water from the saint and undergoing the prescribed nine- day fast, they would completely be cured.

Dongre Maharaj who hails from Karanjgaon near Satara is camping in the village for 10 days to complete his mission of cure.