When Sriguru returned to the Sangam from Vaidur nagar104 he had resolved something in his mind and spoke to the disciples and devotees “Now I will not return to the Muth. This is Kaliyug [1], the fourth age of this world. Very difficult time is going to come. Many Muslim people have started pouring into Ganagapur for the fulfilment of their desires and for the redress of their difficulties. The sacredness of the holy waters will get lost. So it would be better if I leave this place and go away. However, I am going away from here only in the manifested form. Before leaving, I will be installing Nirgun Padukas [2] here in the Muth, which would be a reservoir of my spiritual power for the benefit of my devotees. A devotee who comes here with full faith for the ‘Darshan’ of the Padukas will certainly get my blessings. Everyday in the morning I will take a bath in the Krishna River and then I shall perform religious ceremonials in Narasinhawadi under the Audumbar tree at the Sangam 74 of Krishna Panchaganga Rivers. In the afternoon I shall remain at the Sangam of Bhima-Amarja Rivers. I shall be present in the Muth of Ganagapur in an attributeless form. All the devotees should maintain good conduct while performing all the religious rites. This will make everyone’s life free from worries, diseases and more prosperous.
By so blessing, Sriguru along with his disciples reached Patalganga. There he took bath and performed the religious rites of the day. Then he told his disciples “prepare one float bedecked with flowers for me and place it in the river. My life’s mission is over now. You all return to Ganagapur and try to relieve the sufferings of the afflicted people and lead them on a virtuous and devotional path. I shall be present there only in a mysterious form. When I reach the Kadali van at the foot of Srishail Mountain, then I shall send back prasad 92 in the form of flowers. After receiving the ‘Prasad’, all of you leave”.
With the separation of Sriguru, all his disciples and devotees got struck with grief and they began to cry. In the meanwhile the Badshah of Bidar also arrived. After showering his favour of blessings on all the devotees, Sriguru went and sat on the flower-bedecked float placed in the middle of Patalganga River and shortly after he disappeared from view before the very eyes of the devotees. The devotees were at loss to understand as to when, how and where Sriguru disappeared.
After some time, a boatman came there with his boat. He said “On a distant river bank I saw a Divine ascetic seated on a flower bedecked float. He called me near and gave a message for all of you, to stop worrying and return to Ganagapur and maintain devotedness and virtuous conduct. Further the ascetic stated that after reaching Kadalivan, he would arrange to send flowers as blessings”.
A little while later four Shevanti flowers came flowing towards them. From the disciples present there, Sayamdeo, Nandi, Narahari and Siddha, picked up one flower each. They returned to Ganagapur with praise and recollection of Sriguru.
This event took place on the day of Magha Krishna Pratipada Shake 1378, as per Hindu calendar and year 1456, Jan or Feb as per English calendar. That day Sri Narasinha Saraswati a.k.a Sriguru, the incarnation of Lord Dattatreya, completed his life’s mission. In a hidden form Sriguru pervaded everywhere for the upliftment of his devotees. This virtuous day is being celebrated as Gurupratipada with great devotion at Ganagapur, Narsinhawadi, Audumbar, and other holy places.
[1] Kali Yug: Kali Yuga** (lit. Age of Kali, also known as Iron Age), is one of the four stages of development that the world goes through as part of the cycle of Yugas, as described in Hindu scriptures. The other Yugas are Dwapara Yuga, Treta Yuga, and Satya Yuga.
In the Vishnu Purana, for example, the Kali yuga is described thus:
“In the Kali Yuga, there will be numerous rulers vying with each other. They will have no character. Violence, falsehood, and wickedness will be the order of the day. Piety and good nature will dwindle slowly… Passion and lust will be the only attraction between the sexes. Women will be the objects of sensual pleasure. Dishonest will be the bottom line of subsistence. Learned people will be ridiculed and put to shame; the word of the wealthy person will be the only law.”
[2] Nirgun Padukas: Attributeless foot impressions on a stone worshipped as the trace of God or SadGuru