|| 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 ||
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