God is present in the heart of every living being in the form of Supreme Spirit. Saint Kabirdas has said “Your God is always present in you, just like a flower always carries fragrance with it”. In this form of Supreme Spirit God keeps under observation the condition, activity, and constitution of every living being. He is Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient. By his endless miraculous works Sri Swami Samarth Maharaj, the incarnation of Lord Dattatreya, has displayed that HE dwells in the heart of every being as a Supreme Spirit.
Chintopant Tol’s Worry
Sri Swamiji started his journey from Mohol village and reached Solapur. One day Sri Swamiji was sitting in a naked condition in one of temples at Solapur. When Chintopant Tol came to the temple for the temple deity’s ‘Darshan’ , he saw Sri Swamiji sitting there. Observing the divine form of Sri Swamiji a thought came to his mind, “May be or may not be, but he surely does appear like a saint”. Omniscient Sri Swamiji came to know what Tol was thinking and he spoke “Whether I am a saint or not, in what way are you concerned with it? Mind your own business”. Hearing these words, Tol was taken aback. He prostrated at the feet of Sri Swamiji, implored humbly, and brought him home to offer food. From then on, Sri Swamiji from time to time would visit Tol’s house.
Once, Sri Swamiji had been Tol house. At that time, a doubt arose in Tol’s mind “Sri Swamiji takes food anywhere, anyplace. It is not fair to arrange his seat in our row. It is better to serve food to him in a different place”. Meanwhile Sri Swamiji spoke out “Doubt has arisen in your mind. So I shall not take food in your house”. So saying he started to leave Tol’s house. Tol regretted thinking this way. He implored humbly, prostrated at the lotus feet of Sri Swamiji, and prayed for forgiveness. He then offered a seat to Sri Swamiji in his own row with full devotion and served food.
Yog-Nidra
One evening in Solapur Sri Swamiji went to Ganapatrao Joshi’s house. Govindrao Tol accompanied him. After the meals, Joshi arranged a bed for Sri Swamiji to sleep on. Shortly, Sri Swamiji went in deep sleep and started snoring.
Govindrao thought that Sri Swamiji in spite of being a great Yogi snores like an ordinary person. It is the dictum of Bhagavad-Gita that when all created living beings sleep during the night only the ascetic remains awake throughout. In the meanwhile Sri Swamiji started coughing and spoke to Tol “You goldsmith, it is not so, as you thought”.
Joshi and Tol both realised that Sri Swamiji had not slept but was deeply absorbed in meditative contemplation.
Silk Dhotee
In Solapur Sri Swamiji came to Ganapatrao Joshi’s house. With great devotion Joshi gave a bath to Sri Swamiji, dressed him with a silk-dhotee, and then worshipped him. Then Joshi offered naivedya food to Sri Swamiji. In the meantime a thought came up in Joshi’s mind “If after taking the food Sri Swamiji goes out and gives this silk-dhotee to somebody? ”. Instantly omniscient Sri Swamiji spoke “Take your silk-dhotee”. So saying Sri Swamiji got undressed, returned the silk-dhotee to Joshi, and left the place in a naked condition. Joshi started imploring humbly but Sri Swamiji said “A suspicion arouse in your mind regards the silk-dhotee”. Where is the place for suspicion in devotion?
Yahoodi Doctor
Hearing the glory of Sri Swamiji a Yahoodi [1] doctor went to Akkalkot for Sri Swamiji’s ‘Darshan’. Observing the Yahoodi doctor Sri Swamiji asked, “How many eyes have you broken?”. The Yahoodi was taken aback as to how did Sri Swamiji came to know that he is a eye doctor? Thereafter, the Yahoodi doctor became a devotee of Sri Swamiji.
Thief in Mogalai
In Baroda there was a wealthy person named Harischandra Gopal. A Brahmin residing in his house stole two thousand rupees and ran away. They searched everywhere but unfortunately could not locate him. Hence the wealthy person Gopal came to Akkalkot. He prayed to Sri Swamiji regarding the theft. Sri Swamiji spoke “Your thief has been caught and put under custody in a particular village of Mogalai [2]”. With this information Harischandra Gopalji went to the village. After locating the thief he recovered his money.
Balappa’s Japa
Balappa was a great devotee and attendant of Sri Swamiji. Once, he was engrossed in chanting Lord Ganesh’s name. Sri Swamiji had just woken up from his sleep and was sitting on the bedstead. Some devotee asked Sri Swamiji as to what is Balappa doing? Sri Swamiji replied, “He is weaving a sack cloth”. Hearing these words of Sri Swamiji, Balappa understood that this Japa [3] is a waste. After giving up chanting Lord Ganesh’s name, Balappa started the continuous repetition of Sri Swamiji’s name. Next day some devotee asked Sri Swamiji as to what is Balappa doing? Sri Swamiji replied, “He is weaving a blanket”. Sri Swamiji had understood the nature of chanting performed by Balappa.
On The River Bank
Balaji Sadoba was a postal superintendent. He took the weekend off from work and came to Akkalkot for Sri Swamiji’s ‘Darshan’. After taking Darshan he had planned to return since he had to attend office on Monday. So he requested Sri Swamiji for permission to leave Akkalkot, but Sri Swamiji made Balaji sit by his side and started talking to him saying, “River bank on the other side”. Balaji was getting late and the thought of missing his train made him very nervous. This thought made him uneasy. Eventually, he evaded Sri Swamiji and reached the train station. He came to know that the train had still not arrived since River Krishna had flooded. Balaji had to pass the whole night on the railway station itself. Now Balaji started repenting that he could not understand the indication given by Sri Swamiji.
The Sword and the Spittoon
The Governor of Mumbai had come to Solapur. He was British man. He had ordered Maloji Raje, the King of the then Akkalkot state, to come to Solapur. Before going to Solapur Raje took Sri Swamiji’s ‘Darshan’ and requested for his permission. Sri Swamiji took the sword and the spittoon from a soldier and placed them in the hands of Maloji Raje. Maloji Raje went to Solapur but the English Governor did not honour him nor extend any hospitality. In the state of Akkalkot, possession of weapons was prohibited earlier. Now that prohibition was lifted. Giving the sword and the spittoon to Raje, Sri Swamiji had given the indication.
Bring and Give Me Pomegranates
A businessman from Mumbai was in a very difficult situation. He remembered Sri Swamiji and vowed to offer pomegranates to Sri Swamiji if his planned work gets fulfilled. By the kind grace of Sri Swamiji, he got success in his project and he came to Akkalkot with pomegranates. In a hurry he forgot the packet of pomegranates at his dwelling. When Sri Swamiji saw the businessman he exclaimed, “Oh, gentleman where are my pomegranates? Bring and give me”.
The businessman prayed for forgiveness, went back to his dwelling, brought the packet and offered the same to Sri Swamiji.
Marriage with Khandya
Vishwasrao alias Appasaheb Mane was a chieftain in the royal court of the then state of Akkalkot. His daughter Jamanabai had grown up but he was not able to find a suitable match for her. One day when he went for Sri Swamiji’s ‘Darshan’, he offered his salute with folded hands and entreated. Sri Swamiji spoke “Oh, why do you worry? I have fixed her marriage with Khandya”.
Appasaheb Mane was not able to understand what Sri Swamiji meant but he didn’t have any courage to ask again. He kept quiet. After some days a marriage proposal for Jamanabai arrived directly from the King of Baroda – Khanderao Gaikwad. Appasaheb Mane’s happiness knew no bounds. He felt highly honoured by this marriage proposal from the King. The words of Sri Swamiji had manifested.
You Would Have Been Entangled
Raosaheb Dhavale was a chief Manager of the Chieftain Kibe. He renounced all worldly attachments and came to Akkalkot to render devotional service unto Sri Swamiji. His mother resided in Benaras. she was very old. Once Raosaheb got a telegram that his mother was sick. He asked Sri Swamiji for permission to go to Benaras. Permission was refused. Hence Raosaheb did not go to Benaras. After a few days, again a telegram came. However, Sri Swamiji refused permission this time too. After few days for the third time a telegram came. Then Sri Swamiji said, “Now you go”. After Raosaheb reached Benaras, his mother died. Completing the funeral rites, when he came back, Sri Swamiji said, “Had you gone earlier, you would have been involved in a mess for two-three years”. The supreme spirit Sri Swamiji, had already known in advance, the time of death of Raosaheb Dhavale’s mother.
Leave This Place and March Away
Madhavrao Dadasaheb Vinchurkar was a regent in the then State of Akkalkot. He was a great devotee of Sri Swamiji. He was affected by Leprosy, which was cured by the kind grace of Sri Swamiji.
One day Vinchurkar saheb was sitting in his office. At that time, Sri Swamiji unexpectedly came there and said, “Now you load your chair, table and all things on a camel and leave this place and march away”. Vinchurkar asked politely, “Maharaj, where shall I go? ”. Sri Swamiji said, “Go there, where thousands of people, will salute you”. So saying Sri Swamiji left. After some days the relations between Vinchurkar and Maloji Raje estranged and Vinchurkar started looking after his own state of Vinchur. Thus, there was a rise in honour and dignity of Vinchurkar.
The Struggle of the Year 1857
In the year 1857, Indians rose in revolt against the sovereignty of British. Sri Swamiji had already realised the outcome of the revolt. So in Akkalkot Sri Swamiji used to sit with his head thrust in a cannon’s mouth. This canon was named Laxmi. In those days British had blown up thousands of Indians using these cannons. One day Sri Swamiji spoke, “Now nothing remained belonging to Hindus. They have lost their elephants, horses, palanquins, and everything else. Within a few days, the British dismissed all the states and seized their powers.
Revolutionary Vasudeo Balwant Phadke
Vasudeo Balwant Phadke is considered as the first revolutionary of India who held the banner aloft of the armed revolution against the sovereignty of the British Empire in India. He had girded up his loins [4] to destroy British slavery and free India from the clutches of the British Empire. To achieve success in this work he came to Akkalkot for the kind blessings of Sri Swamiji. However, the supreme spirit Sri Swamiji showed indifference in this proposed work since he already knew the result of this struggle. Vasudeo Balawant had to return disappointed.
The Meaning of Panchdashi
In Akkalkot, learned men like Ram Joshi Ganapatrao and Gopal Joshi held discussions to decipher and understand the contends of Panchdashi book. Panchdashi book is part of the Vedant literature. One day, none of them could understand the meaning of a shloka [5] from the book. Hence they went to Sri Swamiji for clarification.
When they were in the process of having Sri Swamiji’s ‘Darshan’ and before they even quoted anything Sri Swamiji pronounced the shloka and narrated its meaning to the surprise of all. Everyone was stunned and greatly pleased.
Third Marriage of Sohoni
Ganesh Hari Sohoni remarried after his first wife died. Unfortunately his second wife too passed away. He thought that if Sri Swamiji would give him permission, he could marry for the third time. However, Sri Swamiji did not permit him and resumed his smoking adding live coal to his pipe. He indicated to Sohoni that his third marriage would be futile.
Later on Sohoni secured a job in the then state of Baroda. While in Baroda, Sohoni developed a strong desire to get married. Finally he found a nice girl and got married. This was his third marriage. Eight days after his wedding his wife fell down while climbing the staircase and broke her waist. She was given the best of medical treatment but in vain. She became a handicap. Sohoni had to carry her on a low stool on his back while moving around. The impressive wedding ceremony came to an end but the smoking pipe remained empty!
There are several such occasions wherein Sri Swamiji, by his omnipresence and omniscience either had showered kind grace on the devotees or given indications of the future happenings to them.
[1] Yahoodi: Israeli
[2] Mogalai: The then Hyderabad
[3] Japa: Chanting. Naamsmaran.
[4] Girded up his loins: i.e. Vowed.
[5] Shloka: Sanskrit verse