The great Sage of Akkalkot -  Akkalkot  Swami Samarththa Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Swami Samarththa Maharaj!

Chapter – 5

There was a fervent disciple named Basappa who always follows Swamiji everywhere.  Once he followed Swamiji in the dense wood, Swamiji asked: “ Basappa, why you are following me, leaving your family behind?” Basappa said, “ I want to serve you, Maharaj.” Swamiji asked “ You are leaving your children and wife behind and serving me?,” he said “ My happiness is at your feet, I am finding immense peace and pleasure at your feet Maharaj” Swamiji advised “ Basappa, your wife is struggling to meet the requirements of your family, she is working so hard to serve meal for the family members, you should go back to home and take care of your family.” He begged Swamiji “ Kindly, do not separate me from you.”  Swamiji said “ Ok. Come with me. Whatever I instruct you should follow, you should not get scared.”  He was following Swamiji for some time, he saw there were many serpents crawling all over the ground, he was frightened and called out for Swamiji, Maharaj laughed and said: “Take as much as you want.” He reluctantly followed the instruction of the Maharaj,  he picked a serpent and put it in his turban clothe.  The next morning he arrived home and his wife poured out harsh words for being irresponsible and not taking care of the needs of the family and wandering behind Swamiji.  Basappa shouted at his wife for talking harshly about Swamiji.  The couple started arguing each other, seeing the bundle on his hand wife asked about it.  He explained what had happened in the forest.  He opened the bundle and saw it was not a serpent, it was solid gold, and the couple was shocked at the miracle.  The couple sincerely prayed to Swamiji for his kindness, they rushed to have Dharshan of Swamiji who was settled under a peepal tree.  Swamiji said, “ Basappa, it is the fruit of  your devotion.” Basappa’s wife begged for forgiveness for not realizing this Mahapurusha.  Swamiji blessed the couple to live happily, but Basappa was not willing to leave Swamiji who was advised to perform Namasmaran which would bring goodness to him.  Swamiji advised “Your wife has spent all her life in sufferings of poverty, keep her in all comforts, my work in this village is over. I have to move on.”  Basappa earnestly asked Swamiji “Where are you leaving,” Swamiji said, “ I do not know Basappa.” Swamiji disappeared from their sight.