The Mahanubhav sect, also known as Jai Krishni Pantha in North India due to Punjabi influence, was started by Chakradhar Swami in 1267. Chakradhar Swami propagated a religious movement as well as social movement, in which all were accepted irrespective of their castes and the traditional ritualistic religion was rejected. He told his disciples that the lord takes avatars in all four yugas. (Same was said by lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita - dharma sansthaapnaarthay sambhavaami yuge yuge) There isn't a time in this world when an avatar's absent. But he told of only five of the innumerable avatars namely Krishna, Dattatreya, Sri Chakrapani, Govindaprabhu, and Chakrdhar Swami (himself). Even knowing of one avatar, and walking on the path lightened by him can lead to the ultimate bliss(moksha). There were only five, because these avatars fell in the guru parampara. Lord Sri Govindaprabhu was the guru of Lord Sri Chakradhar Swami. Lord Sri Chakrapani was the guru of Lord Sri Govindaprabhu. Lord Sri Dattatreya Prabhu was the guru of Lord Sri Chakrapani. Lord Sri Dattatreya Prabhu and Lord Sri Krishna are not said to have another avatar as guru.

His biography leela charitra, written by his disciples is one of the first known books or documents in Marathi. A detailed study was done by vice chancellor of Pune University on it. This scripture is said to contain all the secrets of the universe. 'Mahdaaisa, one of the sect's initial women disciples, is believed to be the first Marathi poetess.Incidentally, the Marathi word "maan_bhaavi" derived from "mahanubhavi" is one of the cultural residues that record the existence of the sect.

After giving His precious teachings, Chakradhar Swami went in the North direction in search of adhikaari purush, the men who deserved to see the lord.

Chakradhar Swami accepted Maharashtra as His karmabhoomi as this place had adhikaari purush that time. Hence Maharashtra has many teertha sthaan (holy places) of Mahanubhav Pantha.Though Mahanubhav sect believers should not believe in caste most of these people still maintain their caste identity and follow endogamy. They used to greet one another by saying Dandawat".