Shree Maharaj again decided to search for his Sadguru(preceptor). His mental uneasiness had become so unbearable that at the age of eighteen he finally decided to leave home. Before leaving, he promptly left a note addressing his father as follows: –
“I am leaving home and going away with some money. A lot of sin has been accumulated in our family by our ancestors knowingly or unknowingly; I strongly believe that devoting myself to the worship of God will emancipate our ancestors and ourselves from these accumulated sins in the family. Hence, I am going in search of a Sadguru (preceptor) who can guide me in my mission for the upliftment and emancipation of the family by devotion and love towards God. Simultaneously, I feel confident that I would be able to save myself from the cycle of birth and death. Please grant me your blessings so that I may meet my Sadguru (preceptor). In case I do not return home, my share from the family property may kindly be donated to Shree Ram Temple. On account of this serious lapse on my part, you will have to face a lot of problems and criticism from the society. Hence, I beg you to forgive me and do not try to search for me.”
Shree Maharajs father was 58 years old during this incident and he was fully aware that his father, in this old age, will have to face a lot of criticism from public on account of his sudden disappearance from home.
Leaving home, Shree Maharaj came to Pune (via Mumbai) and went to visit the Math (Shrine) of Shree Beedkar Maharaj. This was somewhere in the year 1929 – 1930.
At that time, Shree Vasuanna Bhagwat, a disciple of Shree Beedkar Maharaj was the caretaker of the Math (temple-shrine) as a trustee. Shree Bhagwat had dedicated everything to Shree Beedkar Maharaj and was rendering full service to Shree Beedkar Maharaj by staying in the Math along with his wife and children. Shree Bhagwat inquired about and arranged for the stay of Shree Maharaj in the Math. He gave necessary instructions to all the fellow members “Nobody should interfere or make fun or trouble this boy.”
Shree Bhagwat treated Shree Digambardas Maharaj as his own son and gave him the book “Shree Ram Hriday” to read.
Shree Baba Maharaj Sahasrabuddhe and Shree Bhagwat were both fellow disciples of Shree Beedkar Maharaj and also good friends. Shree Baba Maharaj visited the Math at least twice every day to pay obeisance to his Guru Shree Beedkar Maharaj.
Three days after the arrival of Shree Maharaj in the Math, Shree Sadguru Baba Maharaj came to the Math at about 12 AM and spoke to Shree Maharaj – “Hello Vithoba! You ran away from Ratnagiri and came here without informing your father?” Immediately, pointing at Shree Maharaj, he addressed Shree Bhagwat,
“This boy sees me in the form of Shree Akkalkot Swami.”
Upon hearing these words, Shree Maharaj lifted his face and looked at Shree Baba Maharaj and Oh! Shree Maharaj saw the divine form of Shree Akkalkot Swami Standing on the wooden stool (pata) in front of him. Seeing that divine form, Shree Maharaj lost his consciousness. He even forgot to pay obeisance to Shree Baba Maharaj in that divine form. Shree Bhagwat woke up Shree Maharaj with affection and made him prostrate at the feet of Shree Baba Maharaj. Shree Baba Maharaj in the form of Shree Swami Samarth moved his divine hands over the head and back of Shree Maharaj and said “As long as you are here, always come to my house.”
After this wonderful divine experience during his stay in the Math, Shree Maharaj very often started visiting Dhumal Bldg. to pay obeisance to Shree Baba Maharaj. He would wait there and do whatever tasks aligned for him by Shree Baba Maharaj. From that very moment, Shree Maharaj had entirely surrendered himself to Shree Baba Maharaj.
Once all the fellow members of the Math fell ill with fever and Shree Maharaj in that young age, personally looked after all the members in the Math, cooked and fed until everybody recovered.
Around that same time, an elderly woman (age 127 years) who had attained spiritual authority, called as “Babajan” by name was staying in the Army locality. Shree Maharaj went to pay obeisance to her and she immediately recognized him as the disciple of Shree Baba Maharaj and fully blessed him.
A few days later when Shree Maharaj seriously fell ill, Shree Baba Maharaj visited everyday to inquire about his health. During this illness, Shree and Smt. Bhagwat took extremely good care of Shree Maharaj and saved him from the jaws of death. Years later, Shree Maharaj always said “During this illness, I got the practical experience of death and it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Because of this illness, I got the blessings of Shree Baba Maharaj daily along with love and affection from the family of Shree Bhagwat. Is this not a blessing in disguise?”