During the year 1929-30, an eighteen-year-old boy, by name Vitthal, son of a virtuous couple Shri Ganeshpant Vishnu Joshi and Smt. Janakibai, hailing from Pomendi Village of Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra, left his home and came to the temple shrine of Shree Beedkar Maharaj, at Pune, in search of his Sadguru. He had left a note, before leaving his home stating no search should be carried out for him. This boy Vitthal later came to be known as Shree Sadguru Digambardas Maharaj (Shree Maharaj).

Shri Damu Anna Bhagwat, a disciple of Shree Beedkar Maharaj and the Head Trustee of the Muth, took very good care of Shree Vitthal. He also advised Shree Vitthal to read ‘Ramgeeta20’. One day, when he was engrossed in reading “Ramgeeta” at the temple, Shree Baba Maharaj came and stood near him. Shree Vitthal was so engrossed in reading that he did not notice the presence of Shree Baba Maharaj near him. Shree Baba Maharaj started the conversation by questioning him – “Vithoba, have you run away from home without the permission of your parents?” By hearing these words, Shree Vitthal’s attention was diverted towards Shree Baba Maharaj. Then, pointing his finger towards Shree Vitthal, Shree Baba Maharaj spoke to Shri Damu Anna Bhagwat, “This boy sees me in the form of Akkalkot Niwasi Shree Swami Samarth” and saying this Shree Baba Maharaj started transforming to the personality of Shree Swami Samarth. Shree Vitthal was simply amazed to see a very luminous personality of Shree Swami Samarth, standing in the place of Shree Baba Maharaj and surrounded by a gigantic blaze of lustre. At this sight, Shree Vitthal went into deep transcendence experiencing divine bliss; with his head resting on the feet of Shree Baba Maharaj. Shree Vitthal was overflowing with divine bliss and had lost all outer consciousness. He was in this super conscious state until Shree Baba Maharaj brought him back to this world. Then, Shree Baba Maharaj asked him to come and visit him at his residence the very next day.

Since then, Shree Maharaj i.e. Vitthal started visiting Shree Baba Maharaj daily for his blessings. They had discussions on various topics. Shree Baba Maharaj treated Shree Maharaj very nicely. Shree Aaisaheb also treated him with great affection. Many people considered Shree Baba Maharaj as crazy and so very few devotees came to him to seek his blessings. This indirectly helped Shree Maharaj to enjoy and get Shree Baba Maharaj’s attention to his heart’s content.

Thus, Shree Baba Maharaj initiated Shree Vitthal and started handing over the secret knowledge of self as well as that of the Swaroop Sampradaya1 to him. One can assume that Shree Baba Maharaj was infact steadily giving shape to and nurturing the future successor of the Swaroop Sampradaya.