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.