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.