The great Sage of Akkalkot -  Akkalkot  Swami Samarththa Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Swami Samarththa Maharaj!

Chapter – 17

One day Swamiji announced about his Mahanirvana.   Haribau said, “ Swamiji, we cannot live without you, we can’t even imagine that state, therefore I am leaving to Mumbai, kindly give me permission.”  Haribau did not wait for a minute, he hurriedly moved out of the vicinity of Swamiji and left Akkalkot forever.   Swamiji said, “Go and stop Hari, otherwise, he may commit something wrong.”  Swamiji moved to the shrine of Lord Shiva and put fire on the Linga, people were shocked to witness him, once the fire was off from the Linga, it sparkled with more brilliance.  Balappa was too close to Swamiji during this period of time, Swamiji often enquires about Swami Sood/Haribau, though Balappa tried to contact him through mails nothing worked,  Swamiji wanted him before his departure, Balappa said it is waste of time enquiring about him.   Swamiji was too adamant to bring Swami Sood back to him.  Balappa said “Swami Sood should not do like this.” Swamiji said “He knows everything. That is why he is not returning, Balappa, I have to travel a long way.  Will you continue to do my service?.” Balappa started crying like a little child “ Swamiji, kindly do not talk all these. ”  Swami Sood did not come back,  in place of him, another person was nominated to take care of the proceedings of the mutt.  

Swamiji’s final nectar-like words were Lord Parameshwara always stands with people who work hard, people of pure intellect,  and people who have control over senses.  It is better to stay away from dull, ignorant, and lazy people.  Charity and devotion should be performed with a good heart.  The purity of the heart is essential for any religious or spiritual deeds.  Humans should utilize their senses not for feeding one’s own pleasure; it should be utilized for the service of supreme Lord Parameshwara who is fond of  Nishkamya Karma which augments the devotion of the worshiper.  The service to preceptor is the service to Lord; therefore one should not be shy in performing service to his preceptor.  People who follow righteousness would definitely attain success and piousness; they will always remain protected with their righteousness.  The holy men and saints are capable to wash off the sins of the people with their Dharshan.  One should not hurt others with deeds, words or actions, Prarabdhakarmas should be suffered silently without complaining, in this way these Karmas gets annulled.   Yogis have no death, their soul remains in the world showering blessings upon their devotees and disciples.  Swamiji moved closer to Vatavruksha, the responsibilities of the Mutt in Akkalkot were taken care of by Balappa. Swami Samarththa Maharaj attained Mahasamadhi on a day of Thrayodhashi in the month of Chaithra, in the year 1878.

The great Sage of Akkalkot -  Akkalkot  Swami Samarththa Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Swami Samarththa Maharaj!

Chapter – 16

Swamiji returned with his devotee Cholappa and other people to Wadi, Cholappa was afflicted with severe infection of Cholera,  finally the day has arrived Cholappa was nearing to death,  during these days Swamiji used to beg for alms and people were surprised to see why Swamiji taking so much of pains to collect the contribution and for whom? Swamiji gave all the money to Cholappa who was sick, saying “ I am free from the debt of you Cholappa.”  Cholappa asked “ Swamiji why you are separating me from you. My body is shivering with fever from the morning, will you be near to me. ” Swamiji said “Everyone has to leave this world Cholappa, you sleep now, and you are not feeling well.”  Finally, the village physician said “ Cholappa cannot live too long, his life is in danger, we cannot do anything other than waiting for his death.” he left his mortal coil on an Ashwin Navami day in the year 1878.

Swamiji started living in the palace of Akkalkot after the death of Cholappa, he was taken good care of by the Queen of Akkalkot.  He was not willing to eat anything he was completely immersed in the loving memories of Cholappa.  Once Cholappa was digging on the ground, Swamiji said, “ Are you digging my grave, the first thing I will stuff you in this and after that, I will happily take shelter in this grave.”  One day Swamiji was too depressed and said “I cannot bear the separation of Cholappa. Where did I go without him?  Whom I show my pastimes? He was my close friend of seven births.  Hence my time has arrived to leave this world.”  Maharani said in tears, “ Swamiji kindly do not say like that.” 

The great Sage of Akkalkot -  Akkalkot  Swami Samarththa Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Swami Samarththa Maharaj!

Chapter – 15

Once a Bhramin approached Swamiji and described his pathetic story “ Swamiji, I am completely worn out of sufferings of poverty, we have no clothes to wear, no food to eat, my children are sleeping without the meal.  No one is willing to give me a job, because I am a Brahmin.”  There were funeral pyres surrounded by him, Swamiji said “ Go and check there. Conduct thorough search everywhere” The Bhramin said “ Swamiji it is all funeral pyres. It is all remainings and skeleton.”  Swamiji said “Take the skeletons as much as you want. And feed your children. Go right now.” Bhramin was so disappointed and kept asking questions “What are you saying Swamiji? I am a beggar of course, but not against righteousness, are you saying to feed my children with the skeleton?.  Shiva! Shiva!”  Swamiji asked “What is in your body? Why are you keeping it in your body? Do you feel ashamed of it? Do what I say “  Bhramin said “ Oh! Parameshwar, Kindly protect me.   The sacred scriptures say to obey the orders of the preceptor, I am doing that.”  While going home the Bhramin murmured “what I do with the skeleton, better drop somewhere here.” When he opened his upper cloth to check the bone that he had picked from the funeral pyre, it was a gold bar.  Soon there arrived another villager and asked him why did he pick only one skeleton, he should have picked many more, they returned to the funeral pyre to pick more skeleton.  Haribau asked Swamiji “ You are the solid gold, why people are picking up the skeleton in place of you?”   Swamiji said, “These ignorant people will keep collecting skeleton years and years if they do not have the faith or devotion,”  The Bhramin and villagers checked all the skeleton they have picked up from the funeral pyre which remained skeleton, the Bhramin was disappointed to notice that only one skeleton that picked up at the instruction of Swamiji was turned gold bar.

The great Sage of Akkalkot -  Akkalkot  Swami Samarththa Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Swami Samarththa Maharaj!

Chapter – 14

One day village collector and officials came to meet Swamiji and informed that there are several complaints lodged against Sundarabayi,  who has a great influence on Queen of Akkalkot, and therefore they are finding it difficult to execute punishment upon her.  They have received orders from higher officials to remove her from the service of Swamiji.  The officials requested permission from Swamiji so that they can execute the law.  Sundarabayi started crying saying “ Swamiji, I will not leave you, I will die at your feet, I will not move an inch away from you.”  Collector said “ I have considered you as a mother, now it is the order of the Government, I cannot do anything. You have to leave the service of Swamiji.  There is Panchamandal established for the service of Swamiji and Balappa Maharaj will be the Chairperson of this Mandal.” Collector ordered the policemen “Take her out from the vicinity of Swamiji and confiscate all her properties.”  That was the end of the piousness of Sundarabayi, all her wickedness paid its fruits.

Haribau/Swami Soodh arrived from Bombay to meet Swamiji, he was appointed to take the administration of the Mutt, he immediately followed the instruction of Swamiji, left his ordinary life as Grihastha and accepted Sanyasashrama.  He was one of the most important disciples of Swami Samartha Maharaj.  Once Haribau asked Swamiji who was sitting in the funeral ground “Why are you sitting here Swamiji.” Swamiji said, “ I will sit wherever I want, who are you to ask me?” Haribau said “ Certainly, You are Lord of three worlds,”  Swamiji enquired about the happenings at his end, he said he visited Mumbai with the Padhuka, and a Mutt was built in Kanthewade, he had sold all his belongings and following Sanyasashrama Dharma at the instruction of Swamiji who was extremely happy to hear from Haribau.  He told Swamiji that his wife Thara is not happy with his decision of Sanyasashrama, they had arguments and tears, he did not follow her words, Swamiji said “she is ignorant, she is soaked in illusion. You should not pay any attention to her.”

The great Sage of Akkalkot -  Akkalkot  Swami Samarththa Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Swami Samarththa Maharaj!

Chapter – 13

Madhavrao had white leprosy on his feet; he was worried that this illness should not spread all over his body.  He approached Swamiji and expressed his qualms, he was wearing a ring with white gem, Swamiji asked him to remove that ring and give to Sunadarabayi so that it can be utilized for building a shrine, but she was too cunning in making money out of the gifts offered by the devotees.  It was not that Sundarabayi’s wickedness was not known to Swamiji, but her piousness of her previous births were protecting her, Swamiji was waiting for the right moment, once her piousness gets over to teach her a good lesson.

Once a saint was eager to get Dharshan of Lord Dhaththathreya, conducted extreme Tapasya, but none of his meditation did pay its fruit, he was so disappointed, he did not get the Dharshan of Lord Dhaththathreya, he left his hope and decided that he is not going to have Dharshan of Lord Dhaththathreya in this birth.  Soon Maharaj appeared before the saint saying “Alak Niranjan”, the saint earnestly requested Maharaj about his whereabouts, and he realized it is none other than the great Yogi Nrusimha Saraswathi who is an incarnation of Lord Dhaththathreya, the saint reverentially fallen at the feet of Swamiji.

One day Naguanna Kulkarni arrived to meet Swamiji in the night, he expressed his desire to meet Swamiji to Sundarabayi, she asked him to keep Dhakshina to meet Swamiji.  He introduced himself as Lawyer from the village of Mor, he lost his eyesight at the age of 40 years, therefore he had to face so many hurdles in life, he worshiped Goddess of Durgapur, and he arrived in Akkalkot at the instruction of Goddess of Durgapur. Swamiji said “ Why did you come here? Go to Pandharpur,” Naguanna felt so disappointed.  Later he arrived in Pandharpur, and met a Vaidhya/village physician, it was Swamiji who was in the form of Vaidhya and took great care of him, and ultimately he regained his eyesight.  After regaining the eyesight, Naguanna came in search of Vaidhya, but he could not get a glimpse of him.  Soon he realized that it was the miracle performed by Swamiji.  Later, he arrived in Akkalkot and prostrated before Swamiji who asked affectionately “ Did the procedure in the eye was it painful for you? You had no faith in me, that is why you had to go to Pandharpur. Give me fifty rupees, which will be used for building the Mutt,”  Swamiji asked Cholappa to receive the fifty rupees from Naguanna.  Cholappa informed Swamiji that the Ashram is ready near the shrine of Rama; later the installation of Padhuka was performed.

The great Sage of Akkalkot -  Akkalkot  Swami Samarththa Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Swami Samarththa Maharaj!

Chapter – 12

One day Maharaj was sitting under the shade of the tree, two persons arrived and introduced as Vishnubhuva Bhramachari who was brought from Bombay by King of Akkalkot, and was given lectures on spirituality for some time in the village, he heard about Maharaj from the King of Akkalkot, so he came to have a debate on Vedanta, Swamiji was laughed by the questions about Bhramam of Vishnubhuva Bhramachari.  At that moment there were two guys arrived and explained the pathetic situation in the village, there was not enough rain in the village and the farmers are struggling without water in their field, there was not enough water for drinking purpose, cows and animals were dying without water, they revealed their anxiety about the scarcity of the rain that may lead to many more hazardous problems.  They explained that they had done everything to please the village deity, they have performed fire sacrifices, ablutions to Lord Mahesha and conducted elaborate worship, observed austerities and fasting, the two guys said “ Maharaj, you are our father and mother, if you become angry at us who will protect us. Kindly shower your mercy,”  Vishnubhuva Bhramachari was watching the conversation between Maharaj and the villagers, and said “ He is not a real saint.  He is fooling the ignorant people,”  The person who arrived with Vishnubhuva Bhramachari made him understand that though they had not experienced any miracle, people of the villagers have great respect for Maharaj, but Vishnubhuva Bhramachari haughtily replied “ No one has experienced his miracle, everyone has a good opinion about him, that’s all.”    Maharaj got really angry at the abusive comments of Vishnubhuva Bhramachari, ordered him to follow to the shrine of Kashi Vishweshwar.  On that night Vishnubhuva had a nightmare, in that several scorpions were crawling on his body and hurting him so badly.  Suddenly he got up from the sleep and detailed to his friend  who told him that it was the result of the abusive comment passed on Swamiji, but Vishnubhuva was not willing to accept, he said “ Don’t tell about the nightmare to anyone, tomorrow I will teach a lesson to that Swamiji.” Next day he approached Swamiji with the same question of Vedanta, Swamiji replied “ You did not learn anything after seeing thousands of scorpions crawling on your body  in your dream.”  Vishnubhuva felt ashamed of his arrogance, he realized the divinity of Maharaj who is Sarvajjyani and an incarnation of Lord Parameshwara, and he fell at the feet of Swamiji begged for forgiveness.  Maharaj explained knowledge earned from books and practical knowledge is different, therefore practical knowledge makes a man perfect, humility and kindness are essential qualities for learning knowledge.

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.

The great Sage of Akkalkot -  Akkalkot  Swami Samarththa Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Swami Samarththa Maharaj!

Chapter – 10

Once Swamiji was relaxing under Vatavruksha, a few of the farmers were working on their field; two of the men came and sit close to Swamiji.  Suddenly, they could hear a shriek of farmer’s wife, her husband collapsed on the field, she cried for help, soon the two men ran towards the farmer and carried him and kept him before Swamiji.  She cried and told them that her husband got serpent bite, the two men felt helpless, Maharaj was pretending to be asleep, one of the men went to pick the Padhuka of Swamiji, he had no courage to wake up Swamiji.  Swamiji woke up and shouted at the man who took his Padhuka, Maharaj asked him to utter his name in both the ears. The man uttered the name of the farmer “Ramanna” on his ears; the farmer who was unconscious woke up as if from the deep sleep.

Once Swamiji was listening to the lectures of a Bhagavatha who was explaining the verses from Viveka Choodamani of Adi Shankara Bhagavadpadha, he described the qualities of a preceptor, a wise preceptor should be a good listener, all the naked mendicant cannot be treated as preceptor, if someone who is well behaved cannot be treated as preceptor, a Shudra cannot be preceptor,  a preceptor should have deep knowledge in Shasthras, he described Sant Thukaram Maharaj, a disciple should have supreme intellect, and control over senses.  The preceptor only can guide the soul to cross the unfathomable ocean of the world of Samsara.  Suddenly the Bhagavatha could see Lord Vishnu in place of Maharaj, he was in a state of ecstasy prostrated before Swamiji.

The great Sage of Akkalkot -  Akkalkot  Swami Samarththa Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Swami Samarththa Maharaj!

Chapter – 9

There were a few royal personalities who had a great devotion to Akkalkot Maharaj Swamiji Samartha.  King Maloji Raje Sahib a pious and a wise ruler of Akkalkot state makes frequent visit to Swamiji, he persuaded Swamiji to stay in his palace and during his stay there were people to serve Maharaj at his will.   But it created difficulty among the ordinary people who were yearning to get a glimpse of Swamiji.  The King and Queen was a great devotee of Swamiji.  King Maloji Raje Sahib had a son who was born with the blessings of Swamiji, though Swamiji had great liking towards the King, he often criticizes him for his mistakes, once the King who was riding on an elephant to meet Swamiji was sharply criticized for his disrespect and pretentious act.  The King had to face the displeasure of Swamiji when he gave shelter to the arrogant Dajeeba Bhosle.  Even though, Maharaj appeared before the King who was on the death bed and blessed him.

Jayarajirao Shinde the Maharaja of Gwalior was a very devoted and virtuous ruler, he relentlessly serves pious and holy men in his Kingdom, he came to know about Swamiji Samarththa of Akkalkot residing in the palace of King Maloji Raje Sahib.  He arrived in the palace of Akkalkot and waited for four days to get Dharshan of Swamiji, though he was totally distressed, ultimately his devotion paid its fruit. On the fourth day, Swamiji took a seat under the Vatavruksha out of the palace, Maharaj got the news of Swamiji sitting under Vata Vruksha, soon he set aside his royal meal and came barefoot running towards Swamiji and prostrated before him.  They had a discussion on spiritual matters and Maharaj was deeply impressed by the lectures of Swamiji.

Tukojirao Holkar of Indore had visited Akkalkot to have Dharshan of Swamiji, soon he remembered the first meeting took place with the Swamiji in Mount Abu, he realized that Swamiji is the incarnation of Lord Dhaththathreya. Swamiji had a great number of devotees, Nawab sir Salarjung of Hyderabad was one among them.  He was fond of people with great devotion and faith.

Maharaja Malharrao Gaikwad of Baroda had a great desire to bring Swamiji to stay in the palace in Baroda.  He believed that his city would be sanctified at the touch of the feet of Swamiji.  Once Maharaja announced in the Assembly about his desire to bring Swamiji in Baroda, one of the assembly member Tatyasaheb decided to proceed to Akkalkot with his attendants to bring Swamiji,  as per the order all the expenses would be borne by the King in this journey and huge money would be given as a reward to Tatyasaheb.  During his stay in Akkalkot, Tatyasaheb sincerely spends fair money on charities and serving the hungry people as per the advice of Swamiji.  Tatyasaheb did not get any positive response from Swamiji, so he approached Cholappa who is  a sincere attendant of Swamiji tried to persuade him with the money, and it worked. Cholappa said to Swamiji “ If you visit the palace of the King of Baroda, I would be awarded huge money as a cash award.”  Swamiji said, “ Cholappa, If the King has  devotion I would have definitely visited him, but unfortunately it is not there.” Later, Tatyasaheb plotted a plan to take Swamiji in a Palanquin without his knowledge and deposit him in a special train to Baroda, but this plan was failed, Swamiji disappeared from the Palanquin.

The great Sage of Akkalkot -  Akkalkot  Swami Samarththa Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Swami Samarththa Maharaj!

Chapter – 8

One day a few people were surrounded by Maharaj and listening to his lectures, a young lady with her blind child who lost eyesight after the sacred thread ceremony arrived to meet Swamiji, she begged Swamiji to restore the eyesight of her son.  There were few arrogant fellows taken a seat in the crowd and made fun of Swamiji.  Maharaj took the blind child near him and said: “ Ganesh, give the right answer to these arrogant men who have questioned me about Veda.”  Ganesh said, “ Maharaj, I know nothing, how can I give an answer.”  Swamiji placed his hands on the head of Ganesh, soon he regained his eyesight,  Ganesh said: “ Maharaj,  I can see everything now.”  Ganesh approached the arrogant people assembled there and gave lectures on the ninth chapter of Bhagavad Gita.  The arrogant men felt ashamed of their actions and fallen at the feet of Maharaj saying “He is Prathyaksha Parameshwara, we were testing Parameshwara, we have committed severe sin, kindly forgive us.”  Maharaj said “I am receiving alms without looking people and their religion; therefore you came here to take a test on me.  Take a dip in Ganga, and perform the recitation of Namasankeerthan.” In this way, Maharaj’s fame spread across the Akkalkot within a short period of time.

The great Sage of Akkalkot -  Akkalkot  Swami Samarththa Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Swami Samarththa Maharaj!

Chapter – 7

Maharaj arrived in Akkalkot took shelter under a Vata Vruksha.  Two Muslim men made fun of him without knowing his divinity, they approached Swamiji and one of the fellows gave his Hukka and asked Swamiji to take pleasure in it.  Swamiji threw off the tobacco in the Hukka and emptied, later took near the mouth, immediately the smoke gushed out of it.   The Muslim fellows surprised and got scared.   These guys felt Swamiji is starving after arriving in Akkalkot, but they were reluctant to serve him with meals because he is a Hindu saint and they are Muslim.   One of the guys informed a pious Hindu man Cholappa about Swamiji and brought Maharaj to his house and meals were served.  The Muslim guys were stopped in front of the house of Cholappa, seeing this Swamiji shouted at Cholappa for making the Muslim guys standing out of the house.  Swamiji asked the Muslim guys to be in and the meal served was fed to Muslim guys and Cholappa equally.  Later, Swamiji asked both of them to feed him.  Maharaj said “ I do not find any difference in Hindu or Muslim”, and he happily shared a meal with them.

Cholappa requested Maharaj to stay with him in his house; he wanted to serve Maharaj in his entire life.  Maharaj said he will stay in Akkalkot but he will not stay in his home.  Cholappa has grown too devoted to Swamiji “ Maharaj, kindly do not keep me away from your service, you are supreme soul, the whole Universe belongs to you, you can reside wherever you want, but let me do my service to you.”  Finally, Maharaj decided to live with Cholappa for some time.  One day Maharaj started behaving strangely, he put off the fire while his wife was cooking Roti, he poured water on the Roti dough, his wife got scared and both of them ran out of the house.

Once Cholappa brought an old lady Sundarabayi to Maharaj, he said: “ She came back to finish the

remaining work.” She said “ Swamiji I am coming from Sholapur, my foot is aching like hell, how

many vows and treatments I have taken, my foot pain remains the same,” Maharaj said “ Your foot 

ache will take time to heal.” Sundarabayi said, “ I will stay here and serve you.” Cholappa said 

“Swamiji this lady has no one, let her stay here and serve you.”  Maharaj said “ Cholappa, do not 

keep this lady in your home, she will bother you later.”  Sundarabayi was shocked to hear this; Cholappa consoled her saying that Swamiji makes fun in between his conversation.

The great Sage of Akkalkot -  Akkalkot  Swami Samarththa Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Swami Samarththa Maharaj!

Chapter – 6

Maharaj arrived in a hermitage, he entered inside the chamber and settled in the blanket spread on the floor, and soon he has fallen asleep.  The other saint who was in the chamber watching all these surprisingly, he could not speak to Swamiji so he left the room locked to finish his task.  While leaving he informed another saint that Maharaji is sleeping inside, please do not let him go.  The saint who walked through the empty ground saw a few children were playing sports, suddenly he could see Maharaj among them, he could not believe his eyes, he has already locked the room where Maharaji was sleeping, he was puzzled to see Swamiji with the children in the playground.  The saint realized that he was locked a Siddha Purusha inside the chamber, he rushed to the hermitage and opened the door; he could not see Swamiji inside.  He was so disappointed, soon, Maharaj appeared before the saint, he had fallen at the feet of Maharaj for his rude behavior.  Maharaj immediately disappeared from his sight, after this incident Maharaj did not stop too long in the Mangalwede, he traveled through Mohur and arrived in Sholapur. 

Maharaj  met a pious person Chinthopanth who immediately realized Maharaj is not an ordinary person, Maharaj asked “ If I am Siddhapurusha or not what’s in that?” Chinthopanth surprised to understand that Maharaj can read the minds of the people,  Chinthopanth said: “Maharaj, I think  you are new in Sholapur, kindly visit my home and sanctify our residence.”  Thus, Maharaj accepted the invitation of Chinthopanth.  One day another person in the village enquired Chinthopanth about Maharaj who was residing in his house, the neighbor asked “ You have invited a saint who sits in the dust of Dhaththathreya shrine, for lunch. He accepted your invitation, and your saint has no knowledge of the upper class or middle class.  It is wrong to sit with him and consume meals according to Purana.” Chinthopanth was confused, suddenly Maharaj came out of the house and said “ I am leaving to the place where I came from. You are confused now; therefore I cannot consume a meal from your house.”  Chinthopanth begged for forgiveness, Chinthopanth felt his devotion is not pure and cried.

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.

The great Sage of Akkalkot -  Akkalkot  Swami Samarththa Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Swami Samarththa Maharaj!

Chapter – 4

The fame of Sri Swami Samarththa Maharaj spread across the Puri, people from various places arrived to meet Swamiji.  One day Swamiji informed his disciple Alawani Maharaj about his journey to Haridwar and left.  Siddhapurushas often disappear from the crowd and prefer solitude for their meditation practices, they appear among the people to accomplish their tasks and disappear without leaving any trace.   There were two young men who were afflicted with leprosy, the people of the village discarded them completely and they stayed out of the village, children in the village find pleasure in throwing stones at these young men.  They felt miserable, once they were treated with respect when everything was fine, they had nothing to eat and people were treating them like lowly creatures.  Swamiji appeared before these two young men, he placed his leg on them, immediately they relieved from their illness.  They were shocked, wept bitterly and fallen at the feet of Maharaj. Though the young men were enquired about Swamiji, he replied “ I am a Yajurvedi Bhramin Nrusimha Saraswathi, living under Vata Vruksha, Dhaththa Nagar,” and disappeared from their sight.

Once Digambar Swamiji arrived in the house of a Bhramin for alms, husband and wife reverentially prostrated before Swamiji, this couple was very poor, they had nothing to offer as alms to Swamiji, she rushed to market to get milk for Swamiji, Bhramin revealed his pathetic state at home, he was taking care of a cow which was not producing any milk for four years, Swamiji said “ Go and bring a vessel and milk the cow right now. I want milk from this cow only.”  Swamiji spoke to cow “ Ma, your owner is very poor, you should give him milk to remove his poverty.”  The Bhramin approached the cow which was lacking milk for four years, suddenly it poured out milk,”  The couple were extremely happy,  Maharaj asked the couple to cook milk pudding with it and blessed the couple “ At last, your poverty has come to an end.”

The great Sage of Akkalkot -  Akkalkot  Swami Samarththa Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Swami Samarththa Maharaj!

Chapter - 3

An old man arrived to witness the famous festival of Puri Jagannatha Yathra, he lost his wife in the crowd, he cried before Maharaj “ Maharaj, I came here to earn piousness, see what I have got is grief, I am a Grihastha, I will be all  alone without my wife, I cannot perform any of the rites without her or I will be away from the pleasures of the family life.” Maharaj shouted at the old man “When is your attachment to this world is going to end? You have become too old now, your death is nearing, your body is shivering, when you will win over your senses and put an end to feeding them? Your intellect has become impure.  Do you know where did you come from? Do you know who you are? And where did you go after this birth? Leave all your attachments and worldly desires.  Fool…you have forgotten your real self.” saying so Maharaj kept his hand on his head, suddenly he started recollecting all the incidents related to his previous birth, an extreme joy-filled on his face in place of anxiousness.  Soon he realized that he was a disciple of Swami Nrusimha Saraswathi in his previous birth.  He begged Maharaj to accept him as his disciple and permit him to stay with Swamiji, he doesn’t want to be a Grihastha anymore.  In the meantime his wife appeared from nowhere, he blessed the couple to get relieved from the attachment of Grihasthashrama and accept the path of spirituality.  The couple prostrated before Swamiji and left.

The great Sage of Akkalkot -  Akkalkot  Swami Samarththa Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Swami Samarththa Maharaj!

Chapter - 2

Once a saintly old man Alawani Maharaj arrived to witness the famous Puri Jagannath Yathra, he was afflicted with severe infection and fever, and he felt miserable with pain and hunger, he continued to starve for four days, he was quite sure that he is going to die in Puri with hunger and fever.  He had no attachment to the body which has perishable nature; he sincerely wanted to have the Dharshan of Lord Jagannatha before his soul departs.  Soon the Swami Samarththa Maharaj appeared before the old man who was helpless and sick, and called him “ Aloni Bua, get up, it is early in the morning,” the old man looked at the divine personality and got up “ Hey, Avadhooth,  you are the representation of wisdom and knowledge, supreme bliss and love,”  Maharaj said “ You get up now, you are alright,” The old man asked “ Hey Avadhooth, who are you? Where are you from?” The divine personality with effulgent appearance, big stature,  hands on the waist replied “ I live in the whole Universe, I live in mountains and hills and all the sacred lands on the Earth.” There arrived a pious man and invited both for a meal, after blessing the old man, Advadhooth disappeared from the sight.

Later, Alawani Maharaj asked Sri Swami Samarththa Maharaj “There are numerous people making visits to Puri Jagannatha, Is that true Lord Parameshvara resides in everyone’s heart?” Maharaj said “Alawani, these Kumbhamela, and religious and spiritual festivals are the dwelling places of noble-souls,  they keep meeting the ordinary souls,  imparting the knowledge of Bramham with an intention to alleviate the soul from the miseries of worldly existence, everyone has their own way of living, should not mistreat anyone.”   Once Maharaj described to Alawani Maharaj about his favorite places, as Sahyadri Mountains, Girinar Parvath, Varanasi, Mahur, Karavir/Kolhapur, Panchaleshwar, Kuravapur, Audumber, Karanjanagar, Narasimhawadi, and Gangapur.

The great Sage of Akkalkot -  Akkalkot  Swami Samarththa Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Swami Samarththa Maharaj!

Chapter – 1

There is no evident information about the birth of Akkalkot Swami Samarththa Maharaj.  It was believed he was an incarnation of Lord Dhaththathreya later came to know as Sage Nrusimha Saraswathi who was lost in the Kardhali wood, moved to Badri and undertook Tapasya for several years, eventually, a mound was covered him. Those days people were scared to go near these anthills thinking of the dwelling place of serpents.   Once a woodcutter entered in this dense wood searching for wood pieces, found a big tree next to a huge mound, he was cutting the tree down, suddenly there appeared a divine personality from the heap of mud, he was in a loincloth, adorned in Rudraksha all over the body, and had a Shikha.  The divine personality assumed a huge form, the woodcutter was horrified, and he prostrated before the divine Purusha and begged for forgiveness.  The divine personality blessed the woodcutter and disappeared from his sight.

Sri Swami Samarththa Maharaj traveled extensively to the various places like Kolkatta,  Haridwar, Kedareshwar, Gangotri, Badrinath, Ayodhya, Dwaraka, Puri, and lived on the banks of Gangotri for some time.  He visited Pandharpur, Begampur, and Mohol, and then moved to a small village of Akkalkot in Madhya Pradesh.   During his spiritual journey, he relieved many people from the miseries, sorrows, afflictions, and grief and guided them to the path of spirituality.  He arrived in the Himalayas and conducted Tapasya, he spent several years in Varanasi and Gangothri.   Swamiji has names like Akkalakot Maharaj, Chanchal Bharathi, and Digambar Swamiji.  He was the preceptor of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa,  Shirdi Saibaba, Sri Shankar Maharaj, Sri Gajanan Maharaj etc..

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Sri Samarththa Maharaj attained Mahasamadhi on 30^th April 1878, after accomplishing the purpose of his incarnation, it is believed that Swamiji lived for 600 years and conducted his spiritual tours to the various sacred lands, finally attained communion with the Bramham while sitting under the peepal tree.