058. Saraswati of the Sonar varna

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

There was once a woman named Saraswati who was from the Sonar varna. She had received Maharaj's grace. On some days she would sing abhangs composed by Janabai and would run through the streets crying like a mad woman. Her belongings included a sack of tattered clothes and an earthen pot. She understood the inner meaning of some of the things that Maharaj said. 

There were occasions when Maharaj would get angry and hide from His devotees. It would then be up to Saraswati to find and bring Him back. 

She sometimes held a stick in her hand and sang, "Dnyanoba, Tukaram, Bodkiche Kay Kam", while dancing. This amused Maharaj immensely and he laughed so hard that His bed rocked. This would go on for over two hours.

Residents of Narsobachi Wadi were once at Akkalkot for Maharaj's darshan. They asked Him, "Maharaj, who are You?", to which Samarth replied, "Mool Purush, Vadache Zaad, Datta Nagar."

On hearing this Saraswati said, "Vata-patra-shahi Mool Purush Dattatreya has incarnated in this form."

Saraswati subsisted on any bhiksha she received. Ten to twelve dogs would always accompany her and she would feed them any food she had. 

When children would follow her and throw dirt on her, she would then catch hold of them and smack their bums with her stick. This is how she played some days.

She was very dear to Maharaj.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

053. The missing nose ring is found

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Once Cholappa's wife's sister was visiting them for a few days. At bedtime, she removed her nose ring and placed it on her bedside. Cholappa's nephew (brother's son) saw her place the nose ring and the next morning when he got up early to pick flowers, he stole the nose ring.

When she woke up she was terrified to find the nose ring missing. She looked around the room but it was nowhere to be found. Her husband was a poor Brahmin and had put in great efforts, and saved diligently for many years to buy her a nose ring. There was no way that he could afford another one for her. Losing the ring was a great financial loss.

For the residents of Akkalkot, Maharaj was their police, vaidya, astrologer et al.

The woman went to Maharaj and narrated all that had happened. Maharaj reassured her, "Don't cry. Sit here. The nose ring will be found." She sat near Him.

After an hour had passed but still there was no sign of the nose ring. She again prayed to Maharaj. Swami said to her, "Wait, you will get your nose ring. Why are you afraid?"

After some time, the thief was returning home after delivering flowers to the temple. On seeing him, Maharaj ordered, "She is crying, return her nose ring."

The boy would not admit to stealing the nose ring.

Maharaj then began a barrage of expletives and said, "Motherfucker, return the nose ring that you stole from her bedside this morning!"

On seeing Maharaj angered, the frightened boy promptly returned the nose ring.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

052. Cholappa's wife is stung by a scorpion

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

When Cholappa's wife was nine months pregnant and her due date was near. Her contractions started and she went into her room and lay down on the cot. On that day, Maharaj decided to be extremely stubborn and would listen to no one. 

He did not allow anyone to close the door of the room. He spread out the earthen pots from Cholappa's home, all over the room. The reason why he was behaving this way was not clear to anyone but Maharaj. 

Cholappa's wife thought that Shri Swami was mocking her. Soon she delivered the baby girl, and immediately after, Maharaj closed the door himself.

Once, Cholappa's wife was stung by a scorpion and felt excruciating pain. Unable to bear the pain, she started to cry. Maharaj was at Cholappa's home at that time, and hearing her cry flung his slippers at her and asked her to place her hand inside one of his slippers. She felt immediate relief. When she removed her hand from the slipper after some time, the pain reemerged. She placed her hand back in the slipper and felt comfortable. 

That night she slept soundly, with her hand inside Swami's slipper.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

050. Balkrushnabua Talwalkar

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

The glories of Shri Swami Samarth will only spread far and wide in this kali yuga. 

Balkrushnabua Talwalkar was a Ramadasi. Once, when he was visiting Akkalkot for Maharaj's darshan, Shri said to him, "Be careful how you eat the glory of Ram Naam! Let it not be that you add water to sugar and then consume!"

Some people used to bring along with them various scriptures like the Gita, Saptashati, and so on with the intent of receiving Maharaj's blessings before they commenced their recitations as a sadhana offering to their Ishta Devata. 

Maharaj would touch the books and return them back to the devotees so that they could begin their sadhana unhindered, as they now had Shri's blessings.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

049. Gandevi falls from grace

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Maharaj did not tolerate anyone languishing about. Whenever he saw a stone with vermillion applied to it, He would urinate on it. Sometimes, He would even defecate on the stone. Through this act, He would teach that such smaller deities are not important.

In the Khasbaug at Akklakot, there was a 'Devi' known as Gandevi. The entire town was afraid of offending her. If women or children ever went near the Devi in the evening, they would be possessed. Then the sacrifices of chicken, offering of coconuts, and naivedya would begin, and only then would the Devi leave the possessed person.

Just as Maruti ridiculed the Devi that was worshipped in the city of Ahi and Mahi demons in the Ramayan, so did Maharaj bring down the Devi from her high position. Whenever he was in the Khasbaug, He urinated and defecated on the stone.

The stone is still there but no one offers it any worship and there are no incidents of possessions.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

048. A Mahar woman begets a son

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Once, Shri Swami Samarth was in the Mahar settlement. A woman from the Lingayat Vani community came before Him, and after offering her obeisance, prayed for his blessings to beget a son.

There was a bone lying nearby. Maharaj picked it up, handed it to her, and said, "Here is your son." Not wanting to touch something impure as a bone, the woman took a step back.

Just then, a Mahar woman, who was also desirous of having a son, stood up, and with hands outspread,  prayed to Swami, "Maharaj, give me a son."

Maharaj handed the same bone to her, and she gratefully accepted it. 

Within a year, by Shri Swami's grace, the Mahar woman gave birth to a healthy son. Such is His leela of graciousness.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

047. Ramkrishnarao Sardesai

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Shri Swami Suta had established Shri Swami's Math at Mumbai. Ramrkisharao Sardesai, a railway clerk, offered regularly offered seva there. His family was originally from Sangameshwar. He had heard of Swami from Swami Suta and accompanied him to Akkalkot to receive Maharaj's darshan. 

On seeing Maharaj in person, performing his leelas, his faith in Swami was firmly established. 

After returning home to Mumbai,  he made plans to return to Akkalkot with his wife in a few days. His wife, Annapurnabai, suffered from tuberculosis.  Both husband and wife served Maharaj with great love and devotion for many days. 

Then, one day, Sundarabai prayed to Maharaj on Annapuranabai's behalf, "Bless her with a child."

Maharaj replied, "She should serve the boar (Indian jujube) tree so that she is blessed with a fire-like son." On hearing these words, Annapuranabai placed her head on His feet.

Then, with Shri's blessings, Ramkrishnarao and Annapurnabai returned to Mumbai. 

Annapuranabai then asked Ramkrishnarao's advice, "No one offers pradakshina to the boar tree. If we offer this seva, people will criticize us. How should we go about doing this?"

Ramkrisharao replied, "Maharaj's words are understood by no one. You should offer pradakshina to the peepal tree and that should be fine."

The devout woman offered pradakshina to the peepal tree near the Balmukundbua Math for one whole year but did not have any success with conceiving. When she discussed it with her husband, Ramkrishnarao reassured her, "Maharaj's words are never in vain."

One day when Ramkrishnarao was offering seva at Swami Suta's Math, he mentioned to Brahmanandabua the seva that his wife was offering to the peepal tree. 

Bua said to Ramkrishnarao, "You did not understand the meaning of Samarth's words. He calls Shri Swami Suta a boar tree. When your wife offers seva at this Math, her desire will be fulfilled."

The couple immediately began offering regular seva at the Math and she conceived after a few days. 

After five months, Ramkrishnarao arranged for her to be sent to her parent's home in Sonwada till the baby arrived. However, he was worried for his wife and the baby's health, due to his wife being very weak due to her tuberculosis, but then reassured himself knowing that Swami was watching over both of them. 

That night, Ramkrishnarao had a dream. Swami appeared and said to him, "I am going for a bath at Sonwada." 

Ramkrishnarao thought that this was a bad omen and was again worried for his wife and unborn child.

The next morning, Annapuranabai gave birth to a healthy baby boy, and four days later, Ramkrishnarao received a letter from his in-laws informing him of the good news. 

The baby had a fiery complexion and would later have a firey temperament also. 

What is surprising is that a woman whose constitution had been weakened by severe tuberculosis gave birth to a healthy child. Such is the leela of Shri Swami Samarth as it seems that He may have been in Sonwada to deliver the baby safely and to protect the mother.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

046. The story of Ramacharya

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Ramacharya and Gayabai were a pious and devout Brahmin couple that lived in Akkalkot. Ramacharya performed rituals and his family lived off of any alms that he would receive. They had four wonderful daughters but they longed for a son.

Maharaj would sometimes visit their home. Every time He came, Gayabai would pray to Him for a son. To this, Maharaj would reply, "I will give you a son."

Two years went by but they were still without a son. Maharaj continued to reassure Gayabai, "It will happen, it will happen!"

Six years went by and still no son.

Once when Maharaj was at their home, Gayabai, with tears in her eyes, prayed to Him, "It has been six years and still no son. Why are you giving me false hope? Please tell me if it is not in my destiny. With your blessings, will I have a son in this lifetime or in the next?"

Maharaj replied, "No dear, you will have a son in this lifetime."

Two years hence, at the age of forty-five, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

045. Parshuram the servant

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Parshuram, who was one of Maharaj's servants, had in his mind that he wanted to go to Kashi. He went to Maharaj and asked for his permission.

Shri replied, "The dust at the feet of saints, is where the Bhagirathi is!"

Understanding that this was Maharaj's instruction to him not to go to Kashi, Parshuram dropped his plans.

Even when Maharaj had come to stay at Cholappa's residence, the former had not given up going on yatras or making offerings to Islamic pirs. Once, Cholappa made plans and set out with his family on a yatra to seek the darshan of his kulaswamini, Tulja Bhavani. He insisted that Balappa accompany him. 

However, Balappa, always devoted to Shri, never did anything without Maharaj's permission and went to Him seeking his approval to proceed on the yatra accompanied by Cholappa.

Maharaj said, "Climb the mountain and go to dig in the open toilet!"

On hearing these words, Balapaa understood that Maharaj was not giving him permission to go to Tuljapur as it was not in his best interest to do so, and declined to go with Cholappa.

However, Cholappa went as planned.

The teaching here is that one must perform Yatra, various Karma Kanda, Upasana, and Sadhana. They are all important for spiritual growth. However, if they are performed without knowing what spiritual benefit one will receive, or if they are done on a whim, outside the instructions of a qualified Guru, they are just for show.

Maharaj disliked anyone making a show of their spiritual practices for the purpose of making a living.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

044. The story of Vithabai from Mungipaithan

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Vithabai, who from the village of Mungipaithan, had come to Akkalkot seeking Shri's darshan. As it was the month of Ashaad, and as ekadashi was near, she was desirous of going to Pandharpur for the darshan of Lord Panduranga. She happened to mention this to Ganeshbua and Balappa.

Shri Samarth was residing in the palace for some days and no one knew when he would leave the palace. The protocol was that no men could enter the palace unless they were accompanied by women. 

Knowing that Vithabai was planning on going to Pandharpur, and not knowing how long Maharaj would be in the palace, Ganeshbua and Balappa asked her if they could accompany her to Pandharpur, to which she consented.

The next morning, she went to the palace and received Shri's darshan. On seeing her, Swami said, "Kay ga! Vithobacha land dharnyas ajun geli nahis!?" 

There was a laughter amongst the women that were gathered.

On hearing these words, the woman could no longer make eye contact with Maharaj and looked down to at the floor. She realised that Swami was himself Lord Vithoba and that He knew that she was planning to making a trip to Pandharpur along with His devotees. The comment that He had just made was an instruction that there was no need to go to Pandharpur.

The woman offered her obeisances to Shri Swami Samarth and said, "You are Vithoba himself! What need is there for me to Pandharpur!?"

When she returned back from the palace, she narrated all that had happened to Ganeshbua and Balappa and they all agreed to cancel their travel plans.

Some days later, Maharaj left the palace and began offering darshan to all those who came to see Him.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

043. Balappa is instructed to perform the 'Samarth' Naam Japa

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

There was an old Brahmin who had been offering worship to an earthen Shiva Linga for many years. One day Maharaj said to him, "For how long will you worship clay!?", and then instructed him in sadhana to progress him on the spiritual path. Sometimes, Maharaj would instruct a follower to worship Ganapati or Samba Sadashiva, depending on where the person was on their spiritual journey. Maharaj would also sometimes instruct devotees, that it was better to worship the Sadguru rather than spend time on idol worship.

Once, Balappa was performing Ganapati japa at four in the morning. Maharaj was seated on the nearby cot and His attendant, Shivbua, was seated at His feet. 

Shivbua asked Maharaj, "What is Balapaa up to nowadays?", having observed the latter engrossed in japa.

Maharaj replied, "To tarat vinat ahe!".

Balappa overheard Maharaj's words and understood that this was an instruction to him to perform the japa of Shri Swami Samarth instead of Ganapati naam japa. He immediately began the japa of Swami's name.

After some time, Shivbua again asked Maharaj, "What is Balappa up to now?", having observed that the latter was now engrossed in a different japa.

Maharaj replied, "To kambli vinat ahe!".

On overhearing this Balappa understood that Maharaj was pleased that he had understood and promptly followed His instructions.

The sole purpose of Shri Swami Samarth's avatar is for the upliftment of those that have deviated from or have not yet found a spiritual path. Swami bhakti, the devotional service to Shri Swami Maharaj, is the easiest way to liberation.

Maharaj used to say, "Sarva Sadhu pota khali ani chota khali ahet!"

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

042. The Kabir-panthi bua

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Once a kabir-panthi bua came to Akkalkot. One could find all sorts of such buas, from different traditions, wearing all sorts of malas, carrying the veena, with various marks on their forehead, roaming around Akkalkot asking for bhiksha.

Shri Swami was at Ganpatrao Joshi's home one morning when the kabir-panthi bua came there and began singing the doha, "Santan ki bani, sadhu ram aee santan ki bani." 

On seeing this bua, Swami made a circle with His left thumb and index finger and then began inserting and removing his right index finger into the circle, to indicate the act of peno vaginal penetration, all the while singing the same doha. Maharaj, then, while holding His belly, began laughing loudly to mock the bua. 

All those who were present took Maharaj's act to mean that the bua was a fraud and some of them went searching for his wife. They found a woman who was in the service of the bua. On further investigation, they learned that woman was already married and this bua had somehow entranced her and brought her along with him. When this news spread, the bua immediately left Akkalkot.

Maharaj always instructed that one should not even see the face of a lazy person. He would immediately call out any disingenuous person that would come to Him, and chastise them saying, "Yethe khayla hudakto, madarchoda, bapachi matta!"

Whenever any devotees would come to him with desires in their hearts, Maharaj would say to them, "Utavala so bavla, dheer so gambhir, utavla navra gudhyas bashing!"

For spiritual aspirants, Maharaj would guide them as per their abilities and would set them on the path of either karma, bhakti, or dnyan.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

041. The story of Bhujanga

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Chinchurkar had assigned a peon in the service of Maharaj who used to call him Firang. The ruler of Akkalkot and his consort were both ardent devotees of Shri Swami Samarth, and Maharaj also used to stay at their palace, sometimes for even fifteen days. Women were not allowed entry into the palace for darshan and hence, they gathered at the entrance of the crowd hoping to receive Swami's darshan who would sit on the palace balcony where He would be visible to everyone.

Sometimes Maharaj would signal to a peon for someone from the crowd to be brought before Him so that Maharaj could speak with them in person, assign them a seva, and then send Him off with great affection after giving him prasad.

When the crowds grew over the years, Cholappa would bathe Maharaj pre-dawn and then offer naivedya and aarti so that Maharaj could meet His devotees. Cholappa would daily apply gandha on His forehead which was a mixture of keshar and kasturi. Maharaj would perform achaman, which is the ritual sipping of water, thrice. Either Cholappa or Sundarabai would feed Maharaj.

The crowds would start gathering at the crack of dawn and there would still be a rush till even beyond ten at night. Throughout the day Maharaj would act out various leelas and would know and state with what desires a specific person had come to Him. He would take short naps throughout the day and would sometimes even forego these to help His devotees. 

He would call out if someone was a Sadhu or a charlatan. He would test and expose people's character especially if they were cunning and cruel. These people would never stand a chance before Maharaj.

When it was very hot, He would eat very little. Sometimes Maharaj even skipped food and water for more than a week.

Maharaj was offered aarti three times a day. Mostly, it was the Dattatreya Aarti that was performed. 

Shri Swami Samarth was pleased by any devotional service offered.

 

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

040. A response to Puranik's criticism

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Once, Maharaj was asleep on a mattress and on seeing this, Puranik, who was a relative of Sabnis, remarked, "Why does a Sannyasi need a mattress?" Maharaj did not reply to Puranik's taunt at that time.

A month later Maharaj went to Kadab village accompanied by Puranik. In the evening, Maharaj began climbing the hill that was near Kadab. As it was getting darker, Puranik requested Maharaj to return back to the village to which Maharaj replied, "Yes, Yes", and continued to climb up.

It was pitch dark and shivering cold when they reached the top. They had neither food nor blankets with them. Puranik was shivering, both with fear and because of the cold. Maharaj comfortably laid down on a large rock.

Puranik was fully clothed but it wasn't enough to keep the cold out. He repeatedly pleaded with Samarth, "Maharaj! It is very cold. What should we do?"

Finally, Maharaj replied, "How do you like the soft mattress!?"

Puranik remembered his taunt from a month ago and felt remorse for what he had said. With complete devotion and surrender, he prayed to Samarth for forgiveness. He had realized that Maharaj did not differentiate between a stone and a soft mattress.

They spent the night on the hill and when they came down the next morning, Puranik narrated how he had been taught a lesson. He was now a devotee of Shri Swami Samarth.

Over a period of time, the opulence that accompanied Maharaj grew with horses, palanquins, cows, and an ever-growing number of devotees always around Him. It did not matter if He was in a field, in a fruit orchard, or a crematorium.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

039. Tol's doubts are resolved

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

One evening Shri Maharaj went to Ganpatrao Joshi's home accompanied by Cholappa and Govindrao Tol. At night Cholappa laid out His bed and asked Govindrao to keep watch so that Maharaj did not go anywhere during the night. Cholappa then went home.

It seemed as if Maharaj had fallen into a deep sleep and had started snoring loudly. On seeing this, Govindrao thought to himself that even though Maharaj was a great Yogi, he still snored like a common man. Govindrao then thought of the sixty-ninth shloka from the second adhayay of the Shrimad Bhagavata Gita.

                                            या निशा सर्वभूतानां तस्यां जागर्ति संयमी।

यस्यां जाग्रति भूतानि सा निशा पश्यतो मुनेः ॥

Meaning:  That which is night to all beings, in that the self-controlled man keeps awake; where all beings are awake, that is the night for the Sage (MUNI) who sees.

Maharaj, in his deep sleep, said, "Kyon, Sonar, Nahi Nahi!", and then fell into deep sleep again. On hearing these words, Tol's doubts were removed. Maharaj used to refer to him as 'Sonar'.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

038. Barve Karbhari (Cholappa's son is made fun of)

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Cholappa was a devotee of Maharaj but he never received any preferential treatment from Swami. For Shri Swami Samarth, it did not matter if you were a new devotee or if you were serving Him for a long time, he treated everyone equally. By the grace of Shi Samarth, Cholappa gained progeny and wealth. Krishnappa, Cholappa's son, was also a devotee of Shri Maharaj and was prompt in offering service to Him.

Once Krishnappa approached Raobahadur Barve, an administrator at Akkalkot, for some official business and needed Barve's signature on a receipt. Krishappa appealed many times for the signature. On seeing this Barve sarcastically remarked, "What a smart boy!"

At that time, Maharaj was at Barve's home, and on overhearing the remark scolded Barve, 

"Kay re madarchoda! Kay mahntos? Tu kay keles? Tel vikun pot bharles evdhech na? Tyas nave theu nako. Tyanche bhagya niralech ahe."

Barve immediately apologized to Maharaj. 

There is no greater merit than that which is accrued through offering selfless service to Sadguru. On some occasions, due to his greed for money, Cholpappa would forget this and Maharaj would immediately chastise him, 

"Maze khaun mazevar firla!"

Once Maharaj was seated in the Akkalkot market and suddenly at around noon He decided to leave. He ordered Cholappa, 

"Cholya khetar lao!"

Some of the other attendants suggested that Maharaj stay in the shade in the market and not go out in the scorching heat. Maharaj returned their suggestion with about ten-fifteen of His choicest expletives and started walking with his attendants in tow.

When Cholappa's end was near, Maharaj was just over two kilometers away but did not give him darshan. It was some other devotee, who with great difficulty, acquired the charan-tirtha, and poured it into Cholappa's mouth. Maharaj would sometime refer to Cholappa as 'Jain' or 'Cholya'.

Maharaj would sometimes sleep on a bed of thorns but in reality he was and always is awake and watching over his devotees.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

037. Bhimrao is blessed

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Bhimrao was one of Swami's servants who had been serving Maharaj with great love and devotion for many days. He and his son would bring a basket full of fresh flowers to offer Shri Maharaj daily. However, Bhimrao was suffering. He had a very large tumor on his head. It was so large that people used to ridicule him by calling him a 'two-headed man'. 

One day Bhimrao and his son brought a basket of fresh flowers to Maharaj. When the other servants saw him, they started laughing and calling him names again. On hearing them Maharaj also called him a 'two-headed man' and roared with laughter.

Bhimrao felt dejected and prayed to Maharaj, "I do not mind if people laugh. Let them laugh. However, You are most compassionate and it is Your duty as a compassionate being to free me of this deformity. If You do this, what reason will be there for them to laugh at me!?" 

Deena-vatsala Maharaj felt great compassion for him but did not say anything at that time. That night, in a dream, Bhumrao saw Maharaj stroking His hand over the tumor. The next morning when he woke up, the tumor had burst and just the extra skin remained hanging on his head. Bhimrao's happiness knew no bounds. He rushed to Maharaj and everyone was astonished to see the sudden change. Bhimrao narrated his dream and everyone glorified Shri Maharaj.       

A few days later Bhimrao began wondering what he should do with the extra skin left over. He asked Maharaj if he should get it cut. Maharaj instructed him to apply tirtha-angara to it, and Bhimrao obeyed. A few days after doing this regularly, the extra skin dried up and fell off on its own. 

Eventually, Bhimrao went to stay in a village called Chitapur in Menglai where he continued his devotional service to Shri.               

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

036. Malojirao begets a son

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Malojiraje Bhosale, the ruler of the Princely State of Akkalkot, was desirous of having a son. Through the blessings of Shri Swami Samarth, the queen conceived. 

After some months, these subjects began discussing amongst themselves, if the baby would be a boy or a girl. 

When this question was put to Maharaj, he did not reply but ordered, "Bring a bangle." Those that had asked the question thought that He meant that a princess would be born, and that is what happened.

When the queen conceived again, and people put the same question to Maharaj he did not reply but got up and sat near the hearth. Those that had asked the question thought that He meant that a princess would be born, and that is what happened.

When the question was asked the third time that the queen conceived, Maharaj slapped his own thigh, stood up, and acted as if He was firing a gun. Those that had asked the question thought that He meant that a prince would be born, and that is what happened.

After his father Malojiraje, this prince, Shahajiraje became the ruler of Akkalkot.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

035. Maharaj goes to Ganpatrao Joshi's home

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Once Samarth was at Ganpat Joshi's home. Joshi had ordered one of his servants to cut the branch of a lemon tree that was in his front yard. The man climbed onto the tree and laid the first blow with his axe. Seeing the man beginning to chop the branch with an axe angered Maharaj and he said, " How dare you chop a brach of a tree that is under my care!? Break his hands and legs."

On hearing this Joshi immediately ordered the man to stop and ordered him down from the tree. Maharaj was livid and Joshi avoided His gaze and went and sat in a corner. 

After some time Maharaj got up and went and sat in the toilet area. When Joshi and others went looking for Him, they saw Him seated in the toilet area. 

Joshi noticed that a hornet had entered and stared boring Maharaj's ear. Blood had begun to ooze out. 

Maharaj was in a happy and playfool mood now and Joshi worked up the courage to go and address Him. He said, "Maharaj! I do not care of you hit me but I will remove the hornet from Your ear".

He then orderd for a tweezer and carefully plucked the hornet form Shri's ear. On closely examining the ear he could see no sign of blood or any injury. Everyone present was surprised.

Shri Swami Samarth is Poorna Brahma and would often perform many Leelas with His devotees.

Whenever any devotee got into an argument, Maharaj would call him close and place an ant on the palm of his hand to remind them to be as humble as an ant to attract good things into your life.

|| Shri Swami Samarth || 

034. Maharaj slaps Malojiraje

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Shrimant Malojiraje was a devotee of Shri Maharaj and every Guruvar (Thursday) would go to wherever Maharaj was to seek his darshan. He had been doing this for many weeks.

Once, he went for darshan in a royal fashion, seated on an elephant. On seeing Maharaj, he dismounted and went before Him to offer his obeisances. 

When Malojiraje placed his head on Shri's feet, Maharaj responded with a hard slap across his face. The king lost his balance and his headdress fell off. He began shivering with fear and stood before Maharaj with palms folded. An attendant picked up the headdress and handed it to Malojiraje.

Maharaj angrily said to him, "You are a big man only in your home. Why act like a big man before Me!? Madarchod, I can create many kings."

"Please forgive me Maharaj", said the king remorsefully, and returned back to his place.

Henceforth, when the king went to seek darshan, he would park the palanquin, horse, or whatever mode of transport he was using, far away, and would walk to Maharaj for darshan. Such was the Ugra Tej of Shri Swami Samarth.

Muslims, Parsis, and even Europeans would seek His darshan. He would know what they desired and would fulfill their wishes. Maharaj had a special affection towards Muslims. He really liked dogs but anytime He saw a cat, he would call it a nimakharam and shoo it away. Maharaj had a great affection for cows. If he ever saw anyone chopping tree branches he would get very angry.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

033. The Athiest

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Once Maharaj was seated under the vada (banyan) tree at Akkalkot. He was in a foul mood and was not allowing anyone to come and receive this darshan.

There was an atheist sitting nearby who said, "What is this!? He calls himself a sadhu and yet is angered so easily", referring to Maharaj. Swami heard him but did not reply.

A few weeks later Matebua was performing a kirtan under the same tree, with over four hundred people attending. That is when Maharaj responded to the atheist's comment.

Maharaj said, "If I were angry, I would have cooked and eaten all these people." Shri Samarth repeated this many times. Shri followed a rule; if he said something, He would repeat it multiple times.

He is completely kind-hearted and protects his devotees. Sometimes he would be angry but that was just Him playing. It did not matter if you were a king or a pauper, everyone was the same for Him. Sometimes he showed greater mercy on paupers.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

032. The glory of Akkalkot

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Akkalkot was a capital city but it was still unknown. Maharaj brought fame to Akkalkot. He stayed there for over twenty years and brought to it the prestige of Amravati, the capital of Indra. There was happiness in all four directions. 

The advent of Shri Swami Samarth brought economic prosperity to Akkalkot. Trade grew a thousandfold. Horse-drawn carriages could be seen all around town. A minimum of five hundred visitors began arriving by train daily.

It could be that as a fruit of Malojiraje's good deeds in his past life, Maharaj came to Akkalkot to bless and purify his subjects and him and also anyone who visited.

Malojiraje was able to face many difficult circumstances because he had the grace of Shri Swami Samarth.

Maharaj was well known all over Bharat, from Kashi to Rameshwaram, and hundreds of thousands came for His darshan. He would bestow his blessings based on the spiritual caliber of the recipients. 

Swami would perform some miracle or the other for every devotee. Unfortunately, not everything was documented, and future generations will never know many of the miracles he performed and the lives he positively impacted.

Maharaj wore a brass kada on His wrist. It was engraved with images of various Gods and Goddesses. Whenever any devotee came to Shri Maharaj, he would point to the image of the God or Goddess that the person was supposed to worship. Many people had that experience.

Maharaj also had with him measuring cups made of wood and ivory. He would pour grains from one cup into the other as a play. 

Maharaj would never sit still in one place and would move around ten to fifteen places within Akkalkot in a day.

Four types of people would come to for Maharaj's darshan: Aart, Jignyasu, Artharthi, and Dnyani. Most people would be seeking a way out of some problem or would be desirous of some material gain. Few would be spiritual seekers and even fewer were people who had some spiritual realization. No one returned empty-handed. Maharaj fulfilled their desire no matter what it was.

For people Shri Swami Samarth was God. They did not want to leave His side and always wanted to be with Him. Such was Maharaj's glory.

Devotees used to offer aarti to Shri Maharaj in the morning or evening wherever He was, in the jungle or in the garden. It was such a beautiful sight to behold. Sometimes, if Maharaj was angered, He would not allow anyone to perform the aarti. His attendants and devotees always followed through with His desires.

During the aarti Maharaj would sometimes hold up one, two, three, or four fingers. This was to indicate how many stanzas of the aarti the devotees should sing. When Maharaj was in a good mood, he would allow the full aarti to be performed and would happily accept any form of seva that was offered, and would converse very sweetly with his devotees. If he was not in a good mood, not even a powerful king would dare come within hundred feet of Him. However, Maharaj was not truly angry with anyone. This was just part of His leela.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||