007. Maharaj's rupa

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Rajshri Chintaman Appa Tol's son, Govindrao, was a Datta upasaka. He was suffering due to an evil spirit. The story of how he was freed from the evil spirit will certainly follow.

Govindrao and his family had taken up residence at Akkalkot to be able to offer seva. One morning Samarth unexpectedly came to his residence at Joshi wada. Govindrao was performing his morning pooja. 

On seeing Shri Swami, he immediately offered a pat (wooden asana) for Him to sit. He had brought with him paduka from Gangapur, which he touched to Samarth's feet, and then worshipped His feet with gandha and pushpa.

He then prayed to Samarth, "Let me never forget and forever remember your lotus feet."

Maharaj nodded.

Govindrao then asked, "Maharaj, are you at Gangapur at the sangam?"

Maharaj replied, "Yes I am there", got up, and walked away.

That night Gonvidrao had a dream vision in which he saw the inner sanctum of the temple of Gangapur and the paduka of Shri Dattatreya Narasimha Saraswati inside. He saw that in the sanctum, Shri Swami is also seated and is wearing the same paduka that he had offered him that morning. He also saw that there were pujari's seated nearby.

In the dream vision, Gonvindbua asked one of the pujari's, "Who is seated inside the sanctum?"

The pujari replied, "Akkalkot Swami is seated inside."

Having seen this in the dream vision, Govindrao awoke. He was convinced that Swami is an incarnation of Dattatreya and he became a devout worshipper of Maharaj.

It is not just His devotees that believe that Maharaj is a Datta Avatar. Renowned Yogis, Siddhas, and Tapasvis, would hear about Maharaj and come to Akkalkot. On receiving his darshan they would be convinced that He was an Avatari, and would also tell the same to the local residents.

Narasimha Saraswati Swami from Alandi and Yashwant Rao Maharaj Dev Mamledar also believed the Maharaj was an Avatari.

The most surprising fact is that even the renowned vedic scholar, Vishnubua Brahmachari, a staunch opposer of deity worship, and the author of 'Vedokta Dharma Prakash', who has reasoned that Dnyaneshwar Maharaj, Changdeo Maharaj, Namdeo Maharaj, and others may have not have performed the miracles attributed to them, also believed that Maharaj was an Avatari.

What further evidence does one need!?

Much information about Shri Swami Maharaj remains unknown. 

Where did he spend his childhood? Who were his parents? To which caste did he belong? What region did he come from? Where did he receive Deeksha? Where did he take Sanyas?

He would sometimes quote from the vedas and the shastras, and it was surmised that he was a Sanyasi and a Brahmin. He would have meals at Brahmin, Shudra, and even Yavan (Muslim), homes. 

Shri's complexion had a divine glow. He was fair with a tint of red. He was ajanubahu (arms extending up to his knees). His effulgence was so brilliant that it was impossible to stare at him for an extended period of time. When devotees came for His darshan, they would put their heads on his feet, as for them, he was God. Sometimes, just before their heads touched His feet, He would say, "Hat" and the frightened devotee would fall down.

Maharaj's darshan was divine. Lecherous women would especially be afraid of appearing in front of Him. He would chastise them with expletives, calling out their behavior, in front of everyone else. He would also announce the names of the men that they had been with.

Once a married lady, of high standing, from a reputed family, with the desire to beget a son, came to seek Maharaj's darshan and blessing. She had a large entourage.

She said, "Bless me Maharaj with a son."

Maharaj replied, "Why do you come to me for a son? Your lover can give you a son!" It then came to light and the woman was engaged in an extra-marital affair with a man from her entourage.

Kings and beggars were all the same to Him. The Collector, Judge, Police Chief, and even the King of Akkalkot had received a slap from Shri Maharaj. 

Maharaj would sometimes, in His divine play, remove and throw away the turban he was wearing and verbally abuse those gathered using foul expletives. However, no one dared speak up as everyone was in awe of him, and was afraid of the consequences of saying anything.

Those who saw Maharaj for the first time were immediately convinced that he is God.

The interesting thing is that Maharaj would behave, in what we would consider, as a mad man. However, no one was ever harmed or injured in any way, shape, or form, because of his acts, and always kept his Kripa Drushti on his devotees.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||