From the viewpoint of accomplishment, there are three kinds of deity’s – Kul- devata, Upasya- devata and Ishta- devata.
A particular deity worshipped by a family through successive generations is called as a Kul-devata or Family deity. Thus family deity becomes the protector of the family and man worships this deity for the well being of his family.
When a Guru advises a family to worship a particular deity, that deity becomes the Upasya devata or Adorable deity of the family. From this deity, man makes progress in his life. Through worship he pleases the deity and makes progress on the path of accomplishment.
The deity, whom man sincerely worships in his heart, is called Ishta devata or Tutelary deity. To attain this deity, man offers everything that belongs to him and gets contended. Through this deity man elevates to a higher level, which leads him to prosperity.
For a devotee, all these three deity’s might be one and the same or different. Whether a devotee gains protection from his family deity (Kul devata), or makes progress in life through his adorable deity (Upasya devata), still he does not get happiness till he sees his tutelary deity (Ishta devata). Though the same principle is inherent in all the deity’s, due of the attachment to the external attributes, man likes his tutelary deity. This entirely depends on one’s wish or personal inclination.
Sri Swamiji himself was the incarnation of Lord Dattatreya, the Divine Lord, the Supreme Spirit. However, a number of devotees, even after obtaining the kind grace of Sri Swamiji, were earnestly longing on to their tutelary deity. Hence to expel this diversity of sentiment and to infuse a sense of oneness in the minds of these devotees, Sri Swamiji would grace them with a vision of Him appearing in the form of their tutelary deity or Ishta devata.
Darshan of Lord Vitthal
There was a young ascetic of the Maratha community in Mangalvedha. He had an earnest desire for the ‘Darshan’ of his tutelary deity, Lord Vitthal 184. Sri Swamiji advised him “Go to the holy place Dwaraka and stay there making small pieces of the earthen tiles matching the size of copper coin [1]. Then you will get the ‘Darshan’ of Lord Vitthal”. Therefore, the young ascetic went to Dwaraka and started making small pieces of the earthen tiles. Lord Vitthal graced him ‘Darshan’ three times.
Janabai
In Mangalvedha, solapur District, Maharashtra, there was a woman named Janabai. Right from her childhood she had developed a habit to visit Pandharpur. On every Ekadeshi [2] day and return the next day.
Once during the Ashadh [3] month while was she was on her pilgrimage to Pandharpur torrential rain started pouring. Heavy winds started blowing and there was thunder and lightning all around. It became extremely difficult for her to proceed further. Janabai got completely drenched in rain and started shivering with cold. Under this extreme circumstance, she hid her child in her bosom, put the bundle of clothes on her head, and started walking ahead chanting the name of Lord Vitthal. Finally due to fear of lightening and thunder she took shelter under a tree.
On the other side of the same street, under a tree, Sri Swamiji was seated and laughing. Janabai offered her obeisance and prayed to him “Maharaj till now I had never missed my pilgrimage to Pandharpur. Today I am facing this calamity. What shall I do? ”. Sri Swamiji replied, “Janabai, do you think that Lord Vitthal is present only at Pandharpur?. Is he not present at places other than Pandharpur?. Perceive Lord Vitthal in your own heart. Lord Vitthal is permanently present in your self”. Saying so, Sri Swamiji stood up in the posture of Lord Vitthal, placing both hands on his loins and Janabai got the Darshan of Lord Vitthal. Her earnest desire was fulfilled.
Then Janabai spoke “Maharaj, you are Lord Vitthal himself. You have highly favoured a female slave like me by bestowing your ‘Darshan’. Even if I prepare shoes from my skin and put on your feet, I will not get freed from this obligation.”
Soordas
In Dwaraka Sri Swami Samarth bestowed eyesight to the blind saint Soordas. Then Sri Swami Samarth manifested himself in the form of Lord Krishna and granted Darshan as a tutelary deity / Ishta devata to Soordas.
Maharudrarao Deshpande
In Ambejogai, Beed District, Maharashtra, Jagirdar Maharudrarao Deshpande became a great devotee of Sri Swamiji. Once when he went to the holy place Pandharpur he got the Darshan of Sri Swamiji in the place of Lord Vitthal. He worshipped Sri Swamiji with full devotion and then returned home in a dazed condition.
Darshan of Malhari (Lord Shiva)
There was a craftsman in Mohol, Solapur District. He was a devotee of Sri Swamiji. He would never take food without taking Sri Swamiji‘s ‘Darshan’. One day when he was going for the ’Darshan’, it suddenly occurred to him to take his family deity Malhari Martand Mhalasakant Lord Shiva’s ‘Darshan’. Thinking such he reached Sri Swamiji place. Sri Swamiji spoke to him “Now take the ’Darshan’ of the God desired and honoured by you as family deity”. So saying Sri Swamiji manifested himself in the form of a hermit with matted hair, Lord Shiva.
The craftsman prostrated at the feet of Sri Swamiji, manifested as Lord Shiva, and started praying, “Today by this ’Darshan’ of Lord Shiva all my forty two generations have been emancipated. Sri Swamiji, kindly shower your mercy and uplift me”. Then Sri Swamiji said “Continue worshipping me with devotional singing. Look for divinity in all the created beings”. The craftsman got the ‘Darshan’ of his family deity as per his strong desire and experienced oneness with divinity.
Darshan of Lord Kartikeya
Ramshastri was an attendant of Sri Swamiji. Some people of Akkalkot had undertaken a journey to take Kartikeya Swami’s [4] ’Darshan’. Ramshastri also wanted to go along. When he asked Sri Swamiji for his permission, Sri Swamiji said, “Do not go”. Ramshastri was very disappointed. He became restless for the ‘Darshan’ of Kartikeya Swami. After a few days, there was Kartiki Poornima [5]. Ramshastri started taking Sri Swamiji‘s ‘Darshan’ as usual. After the end of aarati Sri Swamiji stood up and graced Ramshastri by appearing in the form of Lord Kartikeya. Having being blessed with the ‘Darshan’ of Lord Kartikeya as per his earnest desire, Ramshastri prostrated at the lotus feet of Sri Swamiji.
Darshan of Lord Kartikeya to Dhondibua
Dhondibua, a disciple of Sri Swamiji earnestly desired for the ‘Darshan’ of Lord Kartikeya and he too wanted to go to the congregation held in honour of Lord Kartikeya. When he asked for permission Sri Swamiji spoke to him “Do you think that Kartikeya Swami is not present here? ”. Hearing this Dhondibua realised his mistake. Then Dhondibua prayed to Sri Swamiji “You are in person, Lord Kartikeya Swami himself. Then why should I go to the fair unnecessarily? ”. So Dhondibua prostrated at the lotus feet of Sri Swamiji considering him Lord Kartikeya.
Darshan of Lord Vitthal to Tandulwadkar
Vamanbua Tandulwadkar was a pilgrim, who would regularly visit Pandharpur, the holy place of Lord Vitthal. Once, he came to Akkalkot for Sri Swamiji’s ‘Darshan’. After taking the ‘Darshan’ he became very sentimental. Vamanbua was in the habit of singing devotional songs. He wanted to sing devotional songs in the presence of Sri Swamiji. Sri Swamiji went in person to the location where Vamanbua had taken a halt. Seeing Sri Swamiji Vamanbua became extremely happy. He got fully absorbed in singing devotional songs in the presence of Sri Swamiji. He got fully immersed in devotion through his singing and finally he fell down unconscious.
After regaining consciousness he started singing again and got absorbed in devotion. At the end of his singing people present there asked him “While singing how did you become silent and unconscious? ”. Vamanbua said “While I was singing devotional songs, Sri Swamiji changed his form and appeared in the form of Lord Pandurang [6] of Pandharpur, with light complexion, wearing yellow silk cloth, crown worn on the head, large rings worn in the ears and both hands placed on his waist. By the sight of Lord Vitthal, I went in a trance and lost my consciousness. Sri Swamiji is the incarnation of Lord Dattatreya. He is not different from Lord Vitthal”. Vamanbua felt fully blessed by the graceful appearance of his tutelary deity Lord Vitthal in Sri Swamiji.
Darshan of Dwarkadhish Lord Krishna
An ascetic, on a pilgrimage, wanted to visit holy place Dwaraka for Lord Krishna’s ‘Darshan’. There are four places of worship, normally referred to as Chardham (four centers), two of Lord Shiva-one at Kedarnath (North) the other at Rameshwar (South) and two of Lord Vishnu-One at Jagannath (East) and the other at Dwaraka (West).
When he reached Rameshwar in Tamilnadu he suffered from a disease called ‘dropsy’. On some devotee’s advice he came to Akkalkot and stood in the crowd for Sri Swamiji’s ‘Darshan’. Sri Swamiji called the ascetic nearby and said, “You had a strong desire to go to Dwaraka for Lord Krishna’s ‘Darshan’ is it not? ”. And before his very eyes, Sri Swamiji manifested himself in the living form of ‘Lord Krishna’ with a conch, ’Chakra’ (circular holy weapon) and a mace.
Seeing the marvellous sight of Lord Krishna tears of joy started overflowing from his eyes. By the ‘Darshan’ of his tutelary deity, Lord Krishna, he lost his consciousness.
Darshan of Lord Dattatreya
An ascetic was restless since a number of years for the Sagun ‘Darshan’ of Lord Dattreya. He undertook a number of pilgrimages. He performed a number of religious ceremonials. While wandering such he came to Sri Swamiji. Seeing the lustrous physique of Sri Swamiji, the ascetic was stunned. His penance became fruitful. Sri Swamiji stood up and manifested himself in the form of Lord Dattatreya, with three heads, six arms, each arm holding Mala (Rosary), Kamandalu (Holy pot), Damaru (Holy musical instrument), Trishul (Trident), Shankh (Conch) and Chakra (Holy weapon).
Seeing the all-attribute form of Lord Dattatreya the ascetic got deeply immersed in the sea of happiness and started saying “Sri Swami Maharaj you are the Supreme Being Lord Dattatreya himself in person. You have given me your Darshan. I have been fully blessed by the grace of your Darshan”.
The Incarnation of Lord Dattatreya
One fine day Govindrao, son of Chintopant Tol, worshipped Sri Swamiji and then asked him “Maharaj are you also present at the confluence of the holy place Ganagapur? ”. Sri Swamiji said, “Yes, I am present there too”. Govindrao got visionary insight in his dream, that Sri Swamiji is sitting in the temple of Ganagapur and wearing the Padukas of Lord Dattatreya. Govindrao asked the residing priest “Who is sitting in the temple? ”. He replied, “Sri Swamiji of Akkalkot is sitting there”. Govindrao took the ‘Darshan’ of Sri Swamiji who had manifested in the form of Lord Dattatreya and felt fully blessed, as he had accomplished his cherished object. He became a great devotee of Sri Swamiji.
Darshan of Lord Rama
Sitarampant Nene of Garod village was a devotee of Lord Rama. He would carry out rigorous worship to get Lord Ramchandra’s ‘Darshan’. Once he came to Akkalkot. He took Sri Swamiji ‘Darshan’ and felt fully contented. He felt as though he had the ‘Darshan’ of Lord Rama. Therefore, he remained in Akkalkot and started rendering devotional service to Sri Swamiji. One afternoon Sri Swamiji manifested himself as Lord Rama and graced the ‘Darshan’ to Sitarampant Nene, thus clearing his mental agony, Sitarampant Nene, returned home with continuous shouts of victory regarding Sri Swamiji.
Darshan of Goddess Mahalaxmi
In Sangli, Maharashtra, there was a saint named Hanamantarao Kotnis Maharaj of Chimad religions sect, who initiated and continued the tradition of non-stop devotional singing. Even today the tradition of devotional singing is being continued.
He had been to Akkalkot for the ‘Darshan’ of Sri Swamiji. He paid his obeisance to Sri Swamiji with a standing posture and said “Maharaj, please forgive me. I cannot pay my obeisance by prostrating at your lotus feet as I have already resolved that I shall only prostrate reverentially at the lotus feet of my family deity Mahalaxmi”. To this, Sri Swamiji smiled and said, “Goddess Mahalaxmi, appears like this, is it not? ”. So saying Sri Swamiji manifested himself in the form of Goddess Mahalaxmi. Kotnis Maharaj prostrated reverentially at the lotus feet of Goddess Mahalaxmi and paid his obeisance. Then Sri Swamiji said, “Do not maintain the sentiments of diversity. By the resolution based on this sentiment, you will have to undergo crisis of agony”.
Even today at Sangli, in the Muth of Saint Kotnis Maharaj Sri Swamiji is being worshipped in the form of Goddess Mahalaxmi.
Darshan Of Goddess Aadimaya (Goddess Parvati)
Nana Rekhi of Ahmadnagar, Maharashtra, was a favoured disciple of Sri Swamiji. He was a great astrologer. He had prepared the horoscope of Sri Swamiji. Sri Swamiji personally had given him the approval for the same. Sri Swamiji also gave him Atmalinga.
Nana Rekhi installed the Padukas of Sri Swamiji and built a Muth in Ahmadnagar. During the construction of the Muth, Rekhi faced a big calamity. Sri Swamiji appeared himself manifested in the form of Goddess Parvati and warded off the calamity.
This way Sri Swamiji blessed supreme bliss to a number of devotees by gracing them with the ‘Darshan’ of their favourite Ishta devata (tutelary deity) and made them experience the fact that the Supreme Being is only ONE in this universe. As per one’s devotion a person desires the ‘Darshan’ of one’s favourite form of God and then attain supreme bliss. God always graces a devotee and appears in the divine form most favourite to him.
[1] In this
context: A coper coin in circulation during those time equal to the sixty -fourth part of a rupee.
[2] Ekadashi: The eleventh day of a fortnight. Hindus treat Ekadashi as a very holy day and fast on that day. Considered very
auspicious.
[3] Ashad: The fourth month of the Hindu year and the month June\July, as per English Calendar
[4] Kartikeya: Son of Lord Shiva
[5] Kartik Poornima: Full moon day of Kartik month, the 8th Hindu month and the month of November or December as per English calendar
[6] Lord Pandurang: Another name of Lord Vithal.