The great saint of Maharashtra - Sant Eknath Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Eknath Maharaj!

Chapter – 4

Sant Eknath traveled to Nasik and visited the shrine of Lord Thrayambakeshwar where he wrote Chathusloki Bhagavath, further he visited Kashi and Mathura.   On his way, he met with numerous holy men and lived in their association. He took a spiritual tour to Rameshwaram with the holy men, they have arrived in a desert, it was one afternoon, and scorching heat took a huge toll on the travelers.  Sant Eknath saw a donkey was fighting for life in the blazing sun, everyone looked at the donkey with great sympathy, but none has the courage to save, there was no source of water close by.  All the saints were started moving slowly towards their destination; one of the saints turned around and saw a miracle.  Sant Eknath took his water jug containing waters of Ganga collected for the ablation of Lord Ramanatha, holding near the mouth of the donkey and feeding with water.  One of the saints said, “ Eknath, we have brought this holy water for the ablation of Lord Ramanatha in Rameshwaram, and you are using this water to feed an animal?”  Sant Eknath said, “ This living being is also a form of Lord Ramanatha, it is not a donkey, it is the supreme Lord Maheshwara who requested me to feed him with water and I am following his command.”  The holy men thought Eknath lost his mind in extreme heat; they left him alone and moved further.  Suddenly Eknath witnessed Lord Mahadeva in front of him and blessed him. 

After visiting Rameshwaram and  Dwaraka, he returned to his hometown Paitan in Maharashtra and stayed in a shrine.  By that time, his appearance was totally transformed into a saintly person with a long beard, matted hair locks, and thin stature, none could recognize him.  He spent solid hours in reading scriptures and meditation.  He wrote Bhavarthth Ramayan,  and Rukmini Swayamvaram in Marathi.