088. The old woman begets a son

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Once,  when Swami was in the khasbaug along with His attendants, an old couple by the name of Mate, who belonged to the Maratha caste, came seeking Maharaj's darshan and offering seva. They were childless and this was a source of great sorrow for them.

After offering seva for some days, she prayed to Maharaj for a child. Maharaj immediately replied, "O woman, take your brat!", and handed her a sriphal (coconut) as His blessing. 

Some of those gathered nearby, sarcastically asked about the woman's age, thinking that it was unlikely that a woman of her age would beget a child. The woman, not thinking much of it, innocently replied that she was sixty years old. 

Within a year, the woman gave birth to a healthy son.

The woman was from Talegaon and was a devout bhakta of Shri Swami Samarth. Whenever anyone narrated stories of Him, her eyes would well up with tears of devotion.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

148. Dwarkadas Vakil is blessed with a son

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

One evening Shri Swami Samarth was lying on a cot under the tamarind tree outside the Khawja Pir darga outside the village.

At night, around nine o'clock, Dwarkadas Vakil and his family arrived from Mumbai seeking Maharaj's darshan. They offered a huge number of camphor lamps with the desire of begetting a son.

Maharaj got up and angrily said, "Son, you've come to ask for something. Yet you ignore my Hanuman who is seated in the dark!?"

Vakil did not understand what Maharaj meant and stared at Him

Maharaj said, "In the temple of Murlidhar, my Hanuman is in the dark."

On hearing these words, Bhujanga, who was attending to Maharaj, went to the Murlidhar temple and saw that Swamisuta was sitting in the dark. 

He returned back and said to Vakil, "Go to the Murlidhar temple and offer lamps before Swamisuta so that Swami will take mercy on you."

Vakil and his family offered camphor lamps before Swamisuta and then came and stood before Maharaj who ordered Him to bring some chane (roasted chickpeas). 

Vakil promptly brought and placed them before Maharaj who played with them for about an hour and then returned them back to Vakil as prasad which he and his family partook. Eventually, a son was born to Vakil.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

086. Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj relieves a woman's stomach ache

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Once Shri Swami Samarth was seated on the ledge of the new well at Akkalkot. A brahmin woman had arrived before him to seek His darshan. 

After having received His darshan, with hands folded and tears in her eyes she prayed, "Maharaj, I am suffering from severe stomach aches for many years, and this has made my life unbearable. Please help me with some remedy to be cured of this terrible agony."

Maharaj said, "When you become a widow, your stomach aches will go away."

After some time had passed, her husband went on a pilgrimage to Kashi. When at home she received a letter that he had passed away in that holy city. Her stomach aches stopped as soon as her husband passed away.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

0152. Vasudev Balwant Phadke

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

The great revolutionary leader Vasudev Balwant Phadke, with his plans for the overthrow of British rule, had come to Akkalkot a few times to meet Maharaj and to seek his blessings. However, Maharaj never granted him permission.

Every time Vasudev Balwant Phadke went to Maharaj, he placed his sword in front of him with a desire that Maharaj would hand him the sword, thus ensuring his victory. 

Maharaj knew the past, present, and future. He called for a servant and instructed him to keep the sword on a tree. 

Vasudev Balwant Phadke was disappointed and left, taking his sword with him. From then onwards, in spite of his great ability, bravery, and courage, victory eluded him, and he was martyred.

From this, we learn that if we do something to which Maharaj had said 'No', in spite of our best efforts and intellect, we will not be successful.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

144. Balappa completes his Namasmaran anutshthan

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

A long time ago, Shri had instructed Balappa to keep a record. The then-young Balappa had not understood what Maharaj had meant.

Many years later, once Sundarabai had been removed from seva, Maharaj instructed Balappa, "Bring the record!" Balappa understood and brought and placed before Him the record of the japa that he had performed. Maharaj kept the record with him.

One day Kalyan Appa Vani had come to seek darshan when Maharaj said to him, "Balappa is performing an anushthan. Perform the sangata of his anushthan!"

Vani spoke with Balappa, and with his go-ahead fed brahmins on behalf of Balappa.

Thus, Shri Samarth intervened to take the incomplete karmas of His devotees to completion.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

080. Govind Pandurang Kshemi

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Govind Panduran Kshemi was a resident of Solapur. After receiving Yatiraj's darshan, Govindrao sat down in front of Him. Just then, Dr. Atmaram Tethe arrived there and also received Maharaj's darshan.

Maharaj said to Dr. Tethe, "Look at Kshemi's face."

At that moment Govidrao was in good health and the doctor confirmed the same on examining him.

However, after some days, he, unfortunately, was struck by a terrible disease. Maharaj had foretold this and Govindrao had to continue suffering from this disease for the rest of his life.

One fine morning, Samarth went to Ganpatrao Joshi's. The family was very happy to see Him. They bathe Him, dressed him a yellow attire, and then offered him worship, and offered naivedyam.

Just then Joshibua thought, "Once Maharaj leaves here, he will give the clothes to someone else."

No sooner had he thought this, than did Maharaj say, "Take your clothes!". He stood up, took off the clothes, and walked away digambar without accepting naivedyam. Joshibua pleaded but Maharaj did not relent and walked away saying, "You had a doubt in your mind about the dress!"

Just then a gentleman by the name of Vaidya requested Maharaj with great humility and devotion to come to his home, and Samarth went and had naivedyam there.

Where there is devotion, doesn't compassion automatically follow!?

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

075. A Gosavi receives darshan of Dattatreya

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

In the Shaka year 1791, in the month of Margashirsha, Shri Swami Samarth, accompanied by his attendants, was traveling in the villages around Akkalkot. They went to Nagsur, Hachnaal, Haadare, and many other places. 

At one place, a Gosavi, who had been performing anushthana for many years with the goal of an in-person darshan by Shri Dattatreya, came to receive the darshan of Shri Maharaj and was stunned to see the radiance of Maharaj's body.

The most compassionate Yativar stood up and gave His darshan. The Gosavi saw three heads, and six arms holding the Kamandalu, Japa Mala, Trishul, Gada, Sudarshan Chakra, and Kamal. 

In spiritual bliss, the Gosavi said, "O Poornabrahma Dattatreya! You have shown great compassion for me and revealed Your form to me. How else would I, with no knowledge of spiritual matters, have earned this merit!?"

He then stayed with Maharaj for some days offering his seva, and then with His blessings, returned home.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

264. Baba Gholap receives Darshan

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Once, Shri was seated under the vada (banyan) tree on a cot when Baba Gholap saw Him. 

One cannot describe how Baba Gholap felt on seeing Swami because this was the same personage who had given darshan and spoken to him on the banks of the Ganga. 

The closest word to describe his state was anirvachya. He did not understand if he was on the earth, or in the sky, in the sea, or in Vaikuntha! He stayed in that state for some time, and when he came out of that state, he prostrated before Samarth.

Maharaj asked him, "When did you arrive from Nashik?"

In those few words, Sri had spoken many things with him. His mind was surrendered and he did not know how to answer the question. After remaining in this state for some time, he sat down before Swami.

For the next few days, Baba Gholap served Samarth and then returned to Nashik. He carried with him Maharaj's paduka and worshiped them as his upasana.

After some time he took Sanyas and then Samadhi. His math is at Panchavati in Nashik.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

069. The Punjabi man

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

A tall Punjabi man, with an arrogant personality, was stricken with leprosy. In the shaka year 1783 he came to Akkalkot. Maharaj was at the well, known as sakharvihir, and was accompanied by His attendants. 

The man offered his obeisances to Shri. He stood with folded hands before Maharaj and said, "I have come here, hearing that you perform miracles."

Hearing his arrogant tone, Shri Samarth was angered and said, "Chamatkar baitha landpar | Chamatkar garudi khel mein dekhe nahin? Barfi khake, randi ko chodna aur magarmasti karta hain | Tereko accha randkike yoni mein dinrat dikhta hain aur chamatkar chahiye?"

Shri then removed His loin cloth and stood before him as digambar. On hearing these truthful words from Swami, he was convinced that Samarth was all-knowing and was penitent of his own sins. For a few moments, he stood still as his heart melted with devotion to Maharaj.

The man stayed in Maharaj's service for two months and was cured of his disease. He then took Shri's permission and returned home.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

068. The Brahmin with a stomach ache

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

There was an old Vaishnav Brahmin who had come to Akkalkot hoping for Maharaj's blessings to cure his chronic stomach ache. He served Maharaj for many days.

Maharaj always had an entourage of around two hundred people that were ready to offer seva. This Brahmin had also joined that group. 

There wasn't really much to do in terms of personal seva as opportunities like making His bed, cooking for Him, offering Him the lamp and incense, bringing flowers as an offering to Him, or carrying His things when he moved around, were already taken. 

So, for the Brahmin, like most devotees, seva meant receiving darshan thrice a day, partaking in tirtha and prasadam, and being present in the gathering of bhaktas.

Maharaj was at the sakhar vihir (well) and the Brahmin was seated under the nearby lemon tree along with the rest of the devotees. He was in extreme agony due to his stomach ache and prayed silently to Maharaj for relief. 

Just then Maharaj said to him, "Am I your father's servant? Why have come to die near a Sannyasi like Me?"

The Brahmin let out a cry and prayed, "Maharaj! Who else but You can save me!? Please take mercy on this poor orphan."

On hearing his anguish, Maharaj, who is the most merciful, was moved with compassion and instructed him, "Eat the mixture of elephant stool and the leaves of the lemon tree overhead to cure your stomach ache."

The Brahmin followed through and the next day came to Maharaj and said, "The lemon leaves are very bitter."

On hearing this, the bhakta-kama-kalpadruma Maharaj angrily said to him, "Eat the leaves of this branch", holding a particular branch of the tree.

It was a miracle! The tree had three branches. The leaves on two of the branches were bitter, and those on the third, which was the one Maharaj had held, were sweet.

With the prescribed medicine, the Brahmin's stomach ache was cured completely, and was now desirous of receiving spiritual initiation from Maharaj. On hearing his prayer Maharaj said, "Go, eat onion bondas!"

No one understood what Maharaj meant by these words but the Brahmin became a firm devotee of Shri Swami Samarth.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

067. Nana Sohoni Solapurkar

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Nana Sohoni Solapurkar sought to be employed in the service of the Akkalkot Sansthan and had met many people in this regard. Sohoni was a smart man. 

Maloji Raje, pleased with Sohoni, appointed him as the Sansthan's legal representative at the political agents' office at Solapur and handed him this appointment letter duly stamped with the royal seal. He was given instructions to hand the appointment letter to the political agent.

Before he left for Solapur, Sohoni went to take Darshan of Swami Maharaj and after having received Darshan, placed the appointment letter at His feet. Sohoni was desirous that Shri Samarth hand him the letter thus blessing him in the new posting.

However, the all-knowing Maharaj picked up the appointment letter and instead of handing it over to Sohoni, gave it to someone else. 

Sohoni was disappointed and took the appointment letter and went to Solapur. The letter had the king's seal giving Sohoni the authority to perform his duty, but it did not have Shri Maharaj's seal of approval and His blessings. Of what use was such an appointment letter?

After handing over the letter to the political office, Sohoni was told that there was no need for a legal representative to be deputed to the political office and that all matters could be managed over correspondence. He was asked to return to Akkalkot. 

It was then that Sohoni realized what Maharaj had meant but not handing him the letter.

|| Sri Swami Samarth ||

066. Shripad Bhat loses his jodve (pair of kadas)

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Once Shri Swami Samarth was at Modi's home when Shripad Bhat, the pujari, and Bhujanga the sepoy, who were in attendance, asked his permission to go and see the muharram tabut.

Maharaj ordered, "Don't go!"

Still, both keen on going, asked Maharaj's permission again to which He scolded, "Motherfucker, don't go!"

Finally, both asked someone else to take their place attending to Maharaj and left to see the large.

Shripad Bhat wore a pair of three-and-a-half tolas worth of gold jodve (bangles) and did not want to be relieved of them in the crowd. He forced Bhujanga, a poor man, who was initially reluctant, to wear them. 

It was the day to immerse the tabut in water and both friends were enthusiastically throwing dried dates on it as an offering. While doing this, the jodve slipped from Bhujanga's wrists and were lost. Both of them were scared and frantically searched for them but, the jodve were nowhere to be found. 

They lodged a complaint with the police, and with fallen faces, they returned to Shri. They had disobeyed Swami and this was their punishment. Both presented themselves before Samarth and began weeping.

"Why did you go when I told you not to?", scolded Maharaj, and let loose a barrage of expletives.

Begging His forgiveness, they fell at His feet and prayed to remove them from the mess that they had gotten themselves into. Bhujanga was weeping with worry about arranging money to get new jodve made; he was a poor man after all, and could not afford a new pair. 

Bhujanga was very dear to Maharaj, and just as Jay-Vijay are the gatekeepers of Shri Vishnu in Vaikuntha, so too was Bhujanga Sepoy, the gatekeeper for Shri Swami. He had been serving Maharaj with great devotion and diligence.

Maharaj reassured him, "Don't cry; your jodve will come home walking; stay put!" Hearing these words, Bhujanga was reassured.

A while later, two men and a police constable came to where Maharaj was. The two men had found the jodve and were fighting over who would keep them. The constable brought them to Maharaj hoping to resolve the dispute. Maharaj's words had rung true and the jodve had come walking home. 

Bhujanga thanked the two men with a small compensation and handed the jodve to Shripad Bhat. He had disobeyed Maharaj and had to face the consequences but Maharaj saved him when he sought His shelter.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

201. The search for the oil presser's wife

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Once an old oil presser (Teli) was attending the Jagannath Yatra with his wife. It is a popular celebration and there were great crowds of devotees. In a throng of people, Teli's wife was separated from him. 

He searched for eight days for her, and not having found her, with great disappointment and grief, he came to Shri and said, " Maharaj, it has been eight days since my wife went missing. All efforts to locate her have been in vain. Please take mercy on me and tell me where I can find her. I am drowning in sorrow without her." He then suddenly hugged Shri's feet.

Maharaj, with compassion, said, " You are eighty years old, but you still crave for sex? Death is near, your body is tired, illness has gripped you, even then."

"Are you not ashamed to say that you are drowning in sorrow without her? Do you know who you are? Do you know where you've come from and where you are headed? Have you thought of these things? Do not get ensared by deires! You are an old devotee of mine. You've forgotten."

Maharaj then instructed the attendants," Being bhasma to apply to his forehead!"

They promptly complied and he suddenly recollected the events of his previous life.

He fell at Shri's feet and holding them tightly said, "Maharaj, I pray that you release me from the material bondage of samsara and allow me into the service of your lotus feet!"

Just as he uttered these words, his wife came there searching for him. She was relieved and joyous on finding her husband and she placed her head at Shri's lotus feet.

Then, after receiving Shri's instruction and blessings, both, the Teli and his wife went to their village and continued to serve Shri Swami Samarth to the end of their days.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

062. An elaboration of the teaching of the Panchadashi Grantha.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Ram Joshibua had a scripture by the name of 'Panchadashi' in his home at Akkalkot. Scholars such as Ganpatrao Joshi, Gopal Joshi, Jaytirtha Puranik,  and others would read from it daily. 

One day, as was their daily routine, these learned men were in discussion on the shloka they had read for the day. After much discussion and debate, they could not arrive at a consensus on what meaning the shloka wanted to convey. Finally, they decided to approach Maharaj and request Him to elucidate on the meaning.

They went before Shri Swami Samarth and offered their obeisances. Just as they sat down and before they could put their doubt to Him, Maharaj repeated the shloka that they had been debating and then explained its meaning in simple terms. 

Everyone present was mesmerized by Shri's power and the scholars began visiting Shri Swami Samarth daily for His darshan and would spend hours seated in His presence as it gave them immense spiritual satisfaction.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

250. Krushnappa was brought back to life

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Maharaj's devotee Cholappa had three children; two sons and one daughter. The daughter was named Rajubai and the sons were Krushnappa and Appa. Rajubai was married to Anantbhat, a Yajurvedi Brahmana, and lived on the banks of the Krishna river in a village by the name of Gote.

She once fell seriously ill with tuberculosis. Cholappa prayed to Shri and said, "Maharaj, Rajubai is greatly suffering from tuberculosis. What should be done?" Shri Maharaj picked up the cow dung cakes that were lying nearby and handed them to Cholappa. Through this Shri Maharaj indicated an unfortunate outcome. Rajubai passed away after fifteen days. 

Then fifteen days after Krushnappa's sacred thread ceremony was performed, he suffered from the plague and also passed away. Everyone at home was grief-stricken and wailing. 

Just then Samarth came to them and said, "Fools, Why are you crying!? He is yet to be married."

Then, he went up to Krushnappa and called out to him saying, " Hey Neelkantha, get up, get up! Speak to me."

These words uttered by Shri were like nectar and on hearing them Krushnappa started moving his limbs. His body was warm again and he opened his eyes and in a few moments sat upright.

Everyone's joy knew no bounds and glorified Shri Samarth. Soon, with Samarth's grace, Krushnappa was married. 

Such was the leela of Shri, where something impossible became possible.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

061. Narayanbua from Solapur gets ridiculed

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Sometimes Maharaj would ensure that those who mocked Him suffered ridicule and that experience brought them onto the path of devotional service to Him.

Narayan Bhat lived in Solapur and would, on occasion, visit Akkalkot. However, he had no faith in Maharaj and would mock Him behind His back but in front of His devotees. He used to say things like, "Being a Swami eats where he wants, sleeps anywhere, and does not work! What sort of Sannyasi is this!?"

Once, when he was preparing to return to Solapur, He went for darshan along with others in his party. After receiving darshan, he stood there with a smirk on his face, as if mocking Maharaj. Shri saw him and said, "Bomblat ja!"

Narayan Bhat laughed off what Maharaj had said and returned home where he was in for a rude awakening. There had been a burglary at his home and around four thousand rupees had been stolen. He tried in vain to find the thief but to no avail. That is when Bhatji remembered the utterance of Shri Swami Samarth. 

Having realized that the loss was his punishment and lesson for mocking Shri Swami Samarth, he turned to His devotional service.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

060. The court on Rangapanchami day

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Some days before Rangapanchami, the king had asked all his courtiers to be present so that the preparations for the festival could be discussed. Chintopanta Appa Tol, being the personal secretary to the king, was expected to be present. However, he was delayed as Shri Swami Samarth was at his home. 

When the king sent a messenger ordering him to be present at once, Maharaj instructed him, "Don't go to work!"

A staunch devotee of Maharaj, Tol obeyed and did not go but was scared that the king might be angered. Just then, a second message arrived from the palace again ordering him to join the court but Maharaj once again forbade him from going. 

"What will you do if someone cuts your throat!?", said Maharaj angrily and let out a barrage of expletives. 

"How dare he sit outside and pass orders to come to court", He continued.

Tol was convinced that some untoward incident was certain to happen in court today and that Maharaj was protecting him. Then, with full faith in Shri Swami Samarth, he stopped worrying about the king's displeasure.

Gopal Joshi Haralikar, who was present there, asked the messenger, "Where was the king seated when he sent you here?"

The messenger replied that the king was seated on a bench outside the main palace gate. Maharaj, through his powers, was watching over the king.

Later in the day, inside the king's court, the courtiers were seated in a row on either side of the king. One of the courtiers, Ganpatrao Khandagle had his sword fastened to his waist, and when he got up to address the court, the tip of the sword touched the headdress of another courtier, Ganpatrao Baste, and it fell to the ground.

Baste, felt insulted and in anger moved forward to strike Khandagle with the intent to kill him. The heated situation needed the effort of the rest of the court to cool down. However, the festival celebration preparations were not discussed, and the incident left a bitter taste in everyone's mouth. For having created trouble for no justifiable reason, the king exiled him from Akkalkot.

Shri Swami Samarth may have instructed Tol not to go to work that day to spare him from witnessing and participating in this incident.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||