The great Sage of Akkalkot -  Akkalkot  Swami Samarththa Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Swami Samarththa Maharaj!

Chapter – 11

Once a person named Balappa from Gangapur arrived in Akkalkot, he came in front of the house of Cholappa and enquired about Swamiji, he replied Swamiji is living in the Palace of King of Akkalkot.  Cholappa invited him to serve water, but he refused, he was coming from a village from Dharwad, he is having big business in the village, and he all the comforts at home, but he is not having peace of mind to stay there, he said money cannot bring happiness and there is no end of desire for accumulating wealth, he wanted to know the eternal truth and knowledge of self.   Therefore one day he left all the comforts behind and arrived in Akkalkot.  He explained he had a   dream in that Swamiji asked: “What are doing in Gangapur, I am residing in Akkalkot, come to me.” The youth earnestly asked, “Where did I get the Dharshan of Swamiji”. Cholappa said “The entry in the palace is restricted for men; we are allowed to meet Swamiji on Thursdays only. It was all arranged by Sundarabayi, she is serving Swamiji, now a day’s Swamiji is not listening to my words.  Even the Ranisarkar also listening to Sundarabayi, she has become a very influential person in Akkalkot.”  The youth hurriedly left to Palace to meet Swamiji.  Cholappa reminded him to return to his home if he finds any difficulty in getting a meal or place to sleep.  The youth announced, “I will not eat a single piece of grain until I get the Dharshan of Swamiji.”  In the palace Swamiji was served by the attendants, he got up angrily and said “ My disciple is crying out for me, why should I accept these venerations,” he refused all that adorned and rushed to meet the youth who was singing Bhajan sitting under a Vata Vruksha.  Swamiji came towards him and embraced him with great love.

Once Cholappa’s wife got bitten from a spider, she was withering in pain, Swamiji arrived in the house, Cholappa worriedly approached Swamiji and asked for the cure, Swamiji threw his sandal at her and said to keep her hand inside it so that the pain will reduce, whenever she takes the hand out of the sandal she has experienced extreme pain, gradually she became alright.  There arrived a devotee with intense stomach ache, but he was scared to talk to Swamiji about it.  Swamiji advised him to chew some Neem leaves, so that his stomach ache will reduce.  He went to pick the leaves and came back saying the leaves are too bitter, Swamiji asked to bring another bunch and eat, he tasted the leaves he could not believe that the leaves were too sweet, eventually, he got relieved from stomach ache.