Lord Sripad Srivallabh went to the riverbank daily for bathing. An old washer-man regularly went to the same riverbank to wash clothes. He saluted Lord Sripad Srivallabh everyday without fail as he passed him and then continued with his routine. One day, a Muslim King who ruled the other side of the riverbank came there along with his queen and entourage of elephants, horses, palanquin and soldiers for sporting in water. The washerman was simply dumbfounded watching this royal retinue. He kept thinking throughout the day, ‘I have to struggle hard, but how fortunate is this King to enjoy this life! Where is this type of happiness in my destiny?’
The washer-man was fully engrossed in his thoughts, when Lord Sripad Srivallabh arrived there. However, the washer-man did not notice his arrival until Lord Sripad Srivallabh asked him what he was thinking so deeply? Hearing the words of Lord Sripad, the washer-man was simply agitated and said “Oh Lord! My life is a total waste compared to that of this king. I am not sure what merits this king have accumulated to enjoy this kind of happiness.”
The compassionate Lord replied, “You have struggled for your existence through out your life. Now you are seized with the mode of passion. You cannot attain emancipation until you enjoy all the happiness. You will certainly enjoy all the royal pleasures. So tell me whether you would like to enjoy these pleasures in this life or in the next life? ”
The washer-man said “Oh Lord! How much royal pleasure can I enjoy in this old age. If I can get that royal pleasure in my next life, I would be very much pleased. But despite enjoying all royal pleasures, I would never forget you”. Lord Sripad said, “As you wish. In your next life you would take birth in the house of a Muslim emperor at Vaidurya nagar (Beedar, Karnataka). There you would enjoy all sorts of royal pleasures. In that birth too you will get my divine blessings (Darshan[1]). At that time I would be wandering in my reincarnation as an ascetic named Narasimha Saraswati”. Granting the boon, Lord Sripad left. The washer-man returned home singing and praising Lord Sripad. In due time, the washer-man died and was born in the house of the Muslim Emperor at Bidar as mentioned by Lord Sripad Srivallabh.
In Kuravpur, Lord Sripad Srivallabh, had advised a Brahmin woman Ambika to observe the religious vow of Pradosh (Shivopasana) and also had granted a boon that in her next birth she would get a son worthy and well versed in divine knowledge like him.
So to fulfil both these promises, Lord Sripad decided to end this incarnation and undergo samadhi[2]. In Kuravpur he had a large number of devotees. He decided to lead them all on the path of true devotion and then started preparing for his departure. He selected a place for his samadhi and on Ashwin Krishna Dwadashi[3] day, he went into live samadhi. His disciples built a tomb in that place and installed the Padukas76 of Lord Sripad Srivallabh. In Datta-Samprayada[4], this day is celebrated as Gurudwadashi with great devotion. Even today, devotees experience the Divine presence and grace of Lord Sripad Srivallabh.
[1] Darshan: Darshan is a Sanskrit term meaning sight (in the sense of an instance of seeing something or somebody), vision, apparition, or a glimpse. It is most commonly used for visions of the divine; that is, of a god or a very holy person or artifact. We could have a “darshan” of the deity in the temple (at the gross level) or have a “darshan” in that inward eye of a light or awareness (at a subtle plane). Sudarshan means a glimpse of the “self”.
In India people travel hundreds of kilometres for the darshan, the look, of a holy man or woman because this look is believed to confer blessings. Conversely, looks of anger or envy are widely feared.
“Darshan” means Seeing, derived from the root drsh= “to see” To see with reverence and devotion. The term is used specifically for beholding highly revered people with the intention of inwardly contacting and receiving their grace and blessings. “By doing darshan properly a devotee develops affection for God, and God develops affection for that devotee.”
In Indian culture, the touching of the feet (pranām or charaņasparsh) is a show of respect and it is often an integral part of darshan. Children do touch the feet of their family elders while people of all ages will bend to touch the feet of a great guru or a form of God (such as Ram or Krishna).
[2] Samadhi: Samadhi (Sanskrit, lit. “establish, make firm”) is a term that describes a non-dualistic state of consciousness in which the consciousness of the experiencing subject becomes one with the experienced object, and in which the mind becomes still (one-pointed or concentrated)but the person remains conscious. A tomb is normally constructed at the place where a Sadguru takes ‘Samadhi’. In such cases the Tomb is referred to as ‘Samadhi’.
[3] Ashwin Krishna Dwadashi: The twelfth day of second fortnight of the seventh ‘Ashwin’ month as per Hindu Calendar and October or November month as per English calendar
[4]Datta-Sampradaya: The tradition of Lord Dattatrey and his lineage