|| Shri Swami Samarth ||
Basappa Teli lived in Mangalvedha. Once, when roaming around in the forest, he saw Shri Samarth lying on a bed of nettles. On seeing this, he felt immense devotion towards Swami and began offering service.
His wife labored the entire day to help support the family. She felt helpless that, while they were drowning in poverty, her husband had become the follower of a madman. This continued for many years, until one day, Samarth was pleased with Basappa's unwavering devotion and decided to remove his poverty.
Shri took Basappa to the forest on the outskirts of Katvan. Maharaj walked ahead of Basappa deep into the forest. Suddenly, they were surrounded by hundreds of snakes. Basappa fell at Shri Swami's feet.
Swami said, "Pick as many as you want, no need to fear!"
The obedient Basappa spread a cloth on the ground and covered up a snake that was a foot and a half long. He picked up the cloth with the snake and held it tightly under his arm. The rest of the snakes completely disappeared. Maharaj and Basappa then returned back to the village.
They came to a garden near the village. Maharaj said to Basappa, "You are holding wealth in your underarm. Use it to live a happy life with your wife and children!"
Basappa place his head on Maharaj's feet and then returned home. His wife was pleased to see him come home. He opened the cloth in front of her and, to both their surprise, saw that there was a foot-and-a-half-long piece of solid gold instead of a snake. Their joy knew no bounds and at the next dawn they, both the husband and wife, offered aarti to Shri Maharaj.
Basappa continued his devotional service to Maharaj and began an annual pilgrimage to Akkalkot when Swami came to reside there.
This story took place in the Shaka year 1766.
|| Shri Swami Samarth ||
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