During his incarnation period Sri Swami Samarth Maharaj had showered kind grace on numerous devotees and redress their illness, poverty, and crisis finally giving them an opportunity to make progress in life. So also Sri Swamiji showered his kindness on the deserving devotees and spiritually elevated them.
Nrusimha Saraswati from Alandi
In the holy place Alandi in Pune, Maharashtra, there was a saint named Nrusinha Saraswati. He practised yoga rigorously but was unable to go into a trance in spite of his best efforts. He wandered to many places in search of a Guru. Finally he came to Sri Swamiji. When he reached Akkalkot, Sri Swamiji was sitting in the storehouse near the palace. When Nrusinha Saraswati took his ‘Darshan’, Sri Swamiji showered kind grace on him and recited a stanza narrating the awakening of the Adnya chakra [1] of Kundalini. Nrusinha Saraswati went into trance instantly and lost his outward consciousness. By the kind grace of Sri Swamiji Nrusinha Saraswati understood the secret of deep meditation.
Nrusinha Saraswati had already attained siddhi [2]. Once when he came to Akkalkot, Sri Swamiji said “Oh! Still you have not given up your prostitute? ”. With folded hands Nrusinha Saraswati said “Maharaj, there is only one remedy to give up that prostitute, it is only your kind grace”. In Sri Swamiji’s hall of audience no one really understood this dialog between the two and all the devotees were wonderstruck to hear the fact that an ascetic has kept a prostitute. Later, Nrusinha Saraswati personally gave the necessary clarifications to the devotees that Sri Swamiji was talking about his siddhis (spiritual accomplishment resulting from opening of kundalini chakra’s).
By the kind grace of Sri Swamiji, he gave up his siddhis, reduced his yogic practices, and turned his attention to devotional path. In spite of being an ascetic, he would get so much deeply engrossed while singing devotional songs that he would get unconscious while singing.
Staying in Alandi Nrusinha Saraswati carried out religious works like building riverbank, chariot of saint Dnyaneshwar Maharaj, a charitable institution meant for the accommodation of travellers, a school for teaching the Vedas and acquired great fame.
Muslim Saint
When Sri Swami Samarth was in Mangalvedha a Muslim would render service to him. He would prepare a small smoking pipe with tobacco for Sri Swamiji. Due to demoniac possession he would wander aimlessly. He would maintain himself by begging. One day Sri Swamiji showered his kind grace by placing his hand on the Muslim’s head and blessed him. With this blessing the Muslim became a saint and started wandering from place to place. He acquired superhuman powers. A number of miserable people started approaching him for relief.
Deo Mamledar
Yashvant Mahadeo Bhosekar was a revenue officer in charge of a tahsil. He came to Mangalvedha for Sri Swamiji’s ‘Darshan’. He stayed in Mangalvedha for few days and rendered devotional service very great faith unto Sri Swamiji. Sri Swamiji was very pleased by his service and blessed him. Eventually he became a fully accomplished person and became well known as “Deo Mamledar”.
Gave Swami
Sri Swamiji came to Mohol Village in Solapur District, from Mangalvedha. There was a Lingayat Swami named Gave Swami in Mohol village. He was a fully accomplished ascetic. After taking the ’Darshan’ of Sri Swamiji Gave Swami was so much influenced that he gave up his path of Yoga and accepted the path of devotion.
Mouni Bua
In Solapur, Maharashtra, a North Indian Brahmin named Mukund would take Sri Swamiji’s ‘Darshan’ daily and pray “Kindly liberate me from this worldly shackles”. At last, one day Sri Swamiji spoke “Be passionless and renounce all attachment. Then you will gain happiness”. No sooner he heard these words from Sri Swamiji he went into a trance and reached accomplishment.
Crowds of people started pouring in for his Darshan. To get riddance from this botheration he started observing complete silence. Due to this vow of silence he came to be known as Mouni Baba [3].
Baba Gholap
In Nasik, Maharashtra, there was a Brahmin named Baba Gholap, well versed in the Vedas and Shastras. He stayed in an ashram, which he had built. On account of severe penance two good qualities, humbleness and impartiality were borne in him. He was in search of a Guru. One day as usual, when he went to Godavari River to take a bath, Sri Swamiji manifested in the form of a divine ascetic with long arms extending up to the knees, gave him the divine Darshan, and said, “I am a resident of Akkalkot. I have come here to favour you with the fruits of your deeds”. So saying Sri Swamiji cleared all the doubts from his mind. Sri Swamiji blessed Gholap and vanished.
When Gholap went to Akkalkot and took Sri Swamiji’s ‘Darshan’, he reached the highest state of meditation in which he achieved unity with the Absolute. Sri Swamiji gave his Padukas to Gholap. Gholap came back to Nasik, installed the Padukas of Sri Swamiji, and built a temple. Then he renounced all worldly ties and accepted asceticism.
The Things In A Panchpatra
Some women had come for Sri Swamiji’s ‘Darshan’. One woman told the other “Take that thing kept in the Panchpatra [4]”. In between their talk Sri Swamiji spoke “Did you get that thing kept in the panchpatra? ”. They all paid their obeisance to Sri Swamiji and then started laughing. Then Sri Swamiji spoke to the woman again “Go and take the ‘Darshan’ of that fig tree, then you will come to know”.
The woman took the ‘Darshan’ of the fig tree, came back, and said “From the ‘Darshan’ of that fig tree, I learnt that this body of a human being, made up of five essential elements viz. Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether, is itself a panchpatra. And it contains the inner spirited soul”. Because of the kind grace of Sri Swamiji, this uneducated woman understood the deep concept, whatever essence and the mystery about the Supreme Being, which exists in the illusory world, could be accrued by the association of saints.
Jamadar of Maindargi
There was a Muslim Jamadar [5], who belonged to Maindargi village. He was assigned to guard prisoners. One evening a prisoner escaped from the jail and hid in a ditch. At night when prisoners were counted, it was found that one prisoner was missing. The old Jamadar became nervous as he would be dismissed from his job and would not get his pension. He was a devotee of Sri Swamiji. He vowed to Sri Swamiji that if the escaped prisoner gets caught and if he gets out of this situation then he would resign from his job and render service to Sri Swamiji.
The prisoner who had escaped was located in the morning. The prisoner said that through out the night, whenever he would try to run away, an ascetic would stop him from doing so. The Jamadar handed over the prisoner to the concerned officer in charge of the tahsil. He then resigned from his job as per his vow. He left behind his household and came to Sri Swamiji and remained there rendering devotional service. One day Sri Swamiji threw his shoes on the Jamadar. The Jamadar considered this as Prasad and took the shoes to his village Maindargi and started worshipping those shoes.
His wife and children felt very bad as the Jamadar in spite of being a Muslim worships the shoes of a Hindu saint. They threw him out of the house. The helpless Jamadar took shelter in an old house outside the village. His fame spread everywhere. For sick and miserable people, who came to him, he would give the dust collected under the leather shoes of Sri Swamiji as ‘Prasad’ and they would get relief from their ailments. People started calling him a fully accomplished person.
Sri Swamiji started calling him Peersaheb [6]. Then people also started calling him Peersaheb. As his status ascended his family too started respecting him. He built a temple and installed the leather shoes i.e. Padukas of Sri Swamiji. By the kind grace of Sri Swamiji Jamadar came to be known as Awalia [7].
Kashikar Swami
In Kashi [8] there was a learned Swami. He had studied the Shastras very deeply. He had some doubts about Vedas – regarding the soul and non-self and the science of Yoga. When he went on a pilgrimage he met a number of saints, ascetics and learned people but no one could clear his doubt.
Once, while on pilgrimage, he was in Malbar [9]. There he got a visionary intuition advising him to go to Akkalkot. At the time he wasn’t even aware about the significance and whereabouts of a place called Akkalkot. After making due enquiries he started searching and finally he came reached Akkalkot. Even though he was a highly learned man well versed in the scriptures, but by the mere ‘Darshan’ of Sri Swami Samarth there was a surge of devotion in his heart. His eyes started shedding tears of joy.
Kashikar Swami stayed in Akkalkot for a month. One day after finishing his bath and morning prayers he came for Sri Swamiji’s ‘Darshan’. After the ‘Darshan’ he went on prostrating before Sri Swamiji. He would get up and again prostrate before Sri Swamiji. Nearly for ten to twelve times, he prostrated before Sri Swamiji. His eyes were shedding tears, his body was shivering, and he would get wet with perspiration. With humbleness he perceived Sri Swamiji. After sometime he sat down. Then he said that because of the kind grace of Sri Swamiji all his doubts got cleared. Being fully satisfied he went back after few days.
Haribhau-Swamisut
Haribhau from Mumbai suffered loss in his business. Therefore, he vowed to make an offering to Sri Swamiji if his wish gets fulfilled. Thereafter he made good profit in his business. To keep his vow he came to Akkalkot. Sri Swamiji regarded him as his son. Sri Swamiji showered his kind grace on Haribhau and gave him the Padukas. Haribhau built a temple, installed the padukas, and spread the fame of Sri Swamiji.
Siddhappa Jangam
Siddhankeri is a village near Akkalkot. There is a big Muth belonging to the Lingayat Community. A Jangam [10] Guru named Siddhappa was the chief of the Muth. The Muth was very prosperous but Jangam Siddhappa was a pure and honest devotee. He came to Akkalkot with great pomposity for Sri Swamiji’s ‘Darshan’. Siddhappa was fully content by the ‘Darshan’ of the Divine form of Sri Swamiji. Sri Swamiji asked him “If I give you a bread can you digest the same? ”. Siddhappa humbly replied “Maharaj, whatever you give with kind grace, it will be certainly digested, not only by me but also by everybody”.
At that very time a shepherd was passing by. Sri Swamiji asked for bread from the shepherd and gave it to Siddhappa. In fact a Jangam swami never accepts food from anybody, except another Jangam swami. But Siddhappa Jangam ate the bread as prasad given by Sri Swamiji.
No sooner, than he ate that bread his egoism disappeared, he lost his consciousness, and he got merged into the universal spirit. Sri Swamiji spoke to him “Now go to your temple and with undivided attention, attain divinity. Maintaining a selfless unselfish conduct and with sweet speech, give happiness to everybody”. By the kind favour of Sri Swamiji Siddhappa Jangam got absorbed in the contemplation of Lord Brahma.
Bairamji
Sri Swamiji had been to Naldurga in Andhra Pradesh. A Parsi gentleman Bairamji was the revenue collector at the time in Naldurga. Some of his clerical staff wanted to take Sri Swamiji’s ‘Darshan’ and so requested officer Bairamji to grant them an hour’s time off. However, Bairamji became angry and said, “You behave like uncivilised foolish people. What exactly will you gain by the ‘Darshan’ of a human being? One should not go crazy after saints and ascetics and worship them”.
The same day Sir Salarjung saheb, the Prime Minister of the then state of Hyderabad, had come to Naldurga for Sri Swamiji ‘Darshan’. Along with Sir Salarjung Saheb the staff of the collector’s office too took the opportunity to take Sri Swamiji’s ’Darshan’. None of the staff paid any attention to Bairamji’s objections.
Next day, Bairamji fired al of them. On some pretext the fired staff managed to take Bairamj for Sri Swamiji’s ‘Darshan’. While taking Sri Swamiji’s ‘Darshan’ Bairamji started choking with fear and he fell down. Then Sri Swamiji spoke with anger “You fool, by your bad conduct, are you not hurting people? Is it permitted in your religion to cause censurable and fatal works causing death etc? ”.
Hearing these words of Sri Swamiji Bairamji repented very much. He prayed for forgiveness, took eight days leave, and started rendering service to Sri Swamiji. He prayed to Sri Swamiji “Maharaj, kindly uplift me with your kind advice”. Then Sri Swamiji favoured Bairamji with the advice of virtuous conduct. After this Bairamji became a devotee of Sri Swamiji till the end.
Manyaba
The son of a Brahmin from Maindargi village Manyaba was an orphan. He was dumb and mentally dull. Manyaba somehow carried on his life. One day the village people took Manyaba to Akkalkot and left him there at the lotus feet of Sri Swamiji. Due to the kind favour of Sri Swamiji dumb Manyaba started speaking. He was able to talk Marathi and Kannada languages. He attained speech siddhi. Whatever he would say, those words would manifest in reality. People started visiting and respecting him. To get success in their ventures people started pressurising him to utter, “Speak out that the work will be done”. However, he would not come under undue pressure. He would say, “Sri Swamiji will beat me, remove the skin of my buttocks and bleed me”. By the kind favour of Sri Swamiji finally Manyaba became a saint.
Saraswati Sonareen
There was a lady named Saraswati Sonareen [11]. While singing Abhanga [12] she would break into tears and then wander like a crazy person. Sri Swamiji had favoured her with kind grace. Whatever Sri Swamiji would speak in a mysterious way, she would understand the meaning. She would maintain herself by begging. She would feed dogs and wander everywhere. When Sri Swamiji would get angry he would never listen to anyone. At that time devotees would look for Sarswati Sonareen and Manyaba and bring them to Sri Swamiji. Seeing those two Sri Swamiji would get pleased.
Once some people from Narasinhawadi in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, had come to take Sri Swamiji’s ‘Darshan’. They asked Sri Swamiji “Maharaj, who are you? ”. Sri Swamiji said “Mool Purush, Vatavriksha, Dattanagar”. Then Saraswati Sonareen explained the meaning of Sri Swamiji’s words to those people and said “It is the original person, one who sleeps on the leaf of an Indian fig tree, has taken incarnation in the form of Lord Dattatreya”. Sonareen with a fiendish behaviour possessed latent powers and hence Sri Swamiji liked her very much.
Narasappa of Mysore
Sixty-year-old Narasappa had come to Akkalkot from Mysore to seek the kind favour of Sri Swamiji. Except Kannada he did not know any other language and so he was not able to open up his mind in front of Sri Swamiji. Unable to explain himself he would stand silently in front of Sri Swamiji with folded hands. One day, recitation of Puran 57 was in progress in the presence of Sri Swamiji. At that time Sri Swamiji hinted Narsappa to come near him. Nearby a person was writing an account. Sri Swamiji took the notebook from the person and wrote in Kannada in the notebook. “Read Bhagwadgita. Your work will get done”.
Narasappa became very happy, so he started to learn how to recite the Bhagwadgita from a Shastri [13]. One night, Puranik and an ascetic were discussing about Vedanta. Narsappa slept at the place where this discussion was going on. At midnight he woke up. He was trembling. His eyes were shedding tears. He started saying “Sri Swami Maharaj is God Almighty”. When asked he started saying, “Sri Swamiji took me to Vaikunth [14]. There, in the golden temple on a throne decorated with gems and jewels Lord Rama was seated glaring with splendour along with Goddess Sita, Lakshman, Bharat, Shatrughna and also Hanumanji”. I prayed “Maharaj, today I am blessed by your kind grace. By your kind favour this humble man could get the blessings of Lord Rama”. Narasappa sat there for a long time, as a crazy person. He had sought the kind favour of Sri Swamiji.
Rachappa and Govind Bhat
In Tamb village of Karnatak a Brahmin named Govind Bhat lived. Hearing the fame of Sri Swamiji he came to Akkalkot. Sitting in front of Sri Swamiji he would sing devotional songs and chant the name of God. By the kind grace of Sri Swamiji Govind Bhat attained siddhi in speech. He became a great devotee of Sri Swamiji. Once he had been to Warli, the abode of Lord Veer Bhadra [15]. At Warli there was a person named Rachappa, a devotee of Lord Veer Bhadra. He was an excellent poet. However, he would not sing devotional songs in praise of any other God except Lord Veerbhadra. Govind Bhat said, “Sri Swami Samarth is the incarnation of Lord Dattatreya. You chant in the praise of Sri Swamiji”. However, Rachappa refused to do so. Govind Bhat felt very bad. He felt that Rachappa has insulted Sri Swamiji. Hence he came to his village Tamb, gave up food and water, and started chanting in the praise of Sri Swamiji for a week.
Finally Sri Swamiji appeared in Rachappa’s dream and said “without showing any difference between me and Lord Veer Bhadra, start chanting devotionally in my favour. If you show any difference then you will undergo suffering. Go to Govind Bhat and request him for forgiveness”. Rachappa went to Tamb village and requested Govind Bhat for forgiveness and said, “Because of you, I got the ‘Darshan’ of Sri Swamiji. My entire family lineage got uplifted”. Then in the praise of Sri Swamiji he composed a number of devotional songs.
Kejkar Swami
Maharudrarao Deshpande was a Rigvedi Brahmin and was a Jagirdar of Kej village which belonged to the then Hyderbad state. The Nizam [16] seized the Jagir. However, due of the kind grace of Sri Swamiji he got the Jagir back. He even found treasure buried in his house by the kind grace of Sri Swamiji. Once he was in the jaws of death due to extreme fever but was saved by drinking ’Charanodak’.
He came to Akkalkot and prayed to Sri Swamiji “Maharaj has saved me from the jaws of death. Now kindly allow me to render devotional service”. He presented an offering of rupees ten thousand to Sri Swamiji. Sri Swamiji laughed and said, “Go home. Take this money home, throw it on a heap of rubbish and keep this stone there”. Jagirdar Maharudrarao returned to his native place and built a big temple near his house and installed the Padukas of Sri Swamiji in that temple.
He went on a pilgrimage and accepted asceticism renouncing all worldly ties. Finally he came to Akkalkot and settled there in the proximity of Sri Swamiji. Later he came to be known as Kejkarswami. As per his wish, his Samadhi tomb was built near Sri Swamiji’s samadhi.
Bhuria Baba
In the holy place Dwaraka there was a very very old hathyogi [17] known as Bhuria Baba. He would render service to saints; help the poor and depressed people. He was completely honest, sweet spoken and always spoke the truth. Day and night he would be restless for Lord Dattatreya’s ‘Darshan’. Eventually he got the fruits of his devout austerity and righteous conduct. One day Sri Swamiji stood before Bhuria Baba manifesting as Lord Dattatreya and when Sri Swamiji bestowed his kind grace by placing his bountiful hand on Bhuria Baba‘s head, Baba lost his consciousness. Then Sri Swamiji favoured him and advised him “Now give up your ‘hathyoga’ and start my Naamsmaran”. Baba became very happy, as his life had become fruitful.
In this way by his kind grace Sri Swamiji had favoured a number of devotees. The devotees who had received the kind grace of Sri Swamiji included men and women of all religions, from lunatic people to learned Shastries, from poor people to rich people and from householders to ascetics.
[1] Adnya Chakra: The kundalini energy center at the center of forehead between the eyebrows.
A chakra is a nexus of metaphysical and/or biophysical energy residing in the human body along the spinal cord. There are seven charkas/centers and each has its own properties. They are (from bottom of the spine and up): Muladhara or The base or root chakra, Swadhisthana or The sacral chakra, Manipura or The solar plexus chakra, Anahata or The heart/emotions chakra, Vishuddha or The throat chakra, Ajna or The Third eye, and Sahasrara or The crown charka.
The chakras are described as being aligned in an ascending column from the base of the spine to the top of the head. Each chakra is associated with a certain color, multiple physiological functions, an aspect of consciousness, a classical element, and other distinguishing characteristics.They are visualised as lotuses with a different number of petals in every chakra.
The chakras are thought to vitalise the physical body and to be associated with interactions of a physical, emotional and mental nature. They are considered loci of life energy, or prana, (also called shakti), which is thought to flow among them along pathways called nadis. The function of the chakras is to spin and draw in this Universal Life Force Energy to keep the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical health of the body in balance.
[2] Siddhi: Spiritual Accomplishment. Power emanating from the state of awakening of the charkas. Each charka opens up a spate of mystical powers. A person who has all the seven centers/charkas awakened is said to be one with the universal spirit/God.
[3] Mouni Baba: One who has taken a vow of silence
[4] Panchapatra: A small cylinderical vessel
[5] Jamadar: Chief Police constable.
[6] Peersaheb: A muslim saint
[7] Awalia: An accomplished muslim saint
[8] Kashi: In Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh state of India.
[9] Malbar: A region in south of India.
[10] Jangam: One who is moving.
[11] Sonareen: Woman from Goldsmith caste
[12] Abhanga: Singing of religious hymns in praise of God or Sadguru
[13] Shastri: One who has studied the shastras
[14] Vaikunth: The paradise of the Lord Vishnu
[15] Lord Veer Bhadra: The name of a powerful hero created by Lord Shiva, whom he ordered to destroy the Dakshayadnya
[16] Nizam: The ruler of the then Hyderabad state
[17] Hathayogi: A person practising Hatha Yoga