241. Thousands served food for Datta Jayanti

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

One drought year, during the Datta Jayanti festivities, in the month of Margashirsha, thousands had thronged to Akkalkot for prasad. 

Cholappa, Shripad Bhat, Keshav Deshpande, and other organizers, were worried that they would run out of food, and prayed to Shri, "Maharaj, there is a huge rush for prasad. There is food prepared only for three hundred people. How will four thousand people eat?"

Samarth said, "Take this kada and this tak of Amba Devi and place them amongst the polis (chapatis) that have been prepared. Don't worry."

Deshpande took the kada and the tak and placed them amongst the polis. Then everyone offered a wonderful aarti to Amba Devi followed by a coconut offering. The coconut was cracked and the water was sprinkled as tirtha over the food preparations. Then, the serving of the prasad commenced.

Two thousand people were served in the first sitting. The second sitting saw a thousand people have their meals. A thousand people, mostly Muslims and those from the Mahar caste sat in the third sitting. No one was left hungry. Everyone glorified Shri Swami Samarth.

Then Shri Samarth ordered, "Bring the kada and tak!"

Deshpande placed both items before Shri. Then Maharaj had his meals. 

That night there was a wonderful kirtan performance, and singers sang beautiful songs of devotion. Everyone was happy and contented. The miracle was that Shri Swami Samarth arranged food for thousands of people using the kada and tak as his mystical tools.

Shri Swami Samarth is the doer and in his leela we are all his instruments.

|| Shri Swami Samarth || 

240. Govindpant Kulkarni is cured of his stomach ache

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Govindpant Kulkarni lived in Mamdabad, which was around two kilometers from Akkalkot, on the banks of the Bori river. He was suffering from a terrible illness. He would vomit out involuntarily, any food that he ate. Naturally, his health suffered.

Tired of his ailment, he went to Gangapur and there he offered seva to Shri. After having offered service for some time, one night when he was asleep, he had a vision. In this vision, he was instructed that as soon as he received the darshan of the Supreme Brahman, he would be relieved of his suffering.

When he woke up, he began to think, "In this Kaliyuga, it is so rare for even great Yogis to receive the darshan of the Supreme Brahman. What chance do I have!?"

He told of his dream to another Brahmin, Baba Bhat, who was a learned scholar who was unfortunately a leper. 

"I am an ordinary family man", said Govindpant, "I have no authority in matters of spirituality. How am I to then receive the darshan of the Supreme Brahman".

Baba Bhat, on behalf of Govindpant Kulkarni, prayed to Shri at Gangapur.

That same night, Govindpant received instructions in a vision to go to Akkalkot and sweep houses and was told that that is where and how he would find the Supreme Brahman.

The next morning, an elated Govindpant offered a special pooja to Shri's paduka and after offering brahmana-bhojana, arrived in Akkalkot the following day. That day Shri Swami Samarth was at a Brahmin's home performing his leela. 

Govindpant offered his obeisances to Shri Maharaj and stood before him in great humility. 

Shri Maharaj said to him, "Eat a mixture of cow urine and cow dung for seven days and you will be cured of your disease. You had troubled an old cow and that is why you were suffering from this ailment!"

Govindpant then glorified Shri Maharaj, "You are Shiva Himself. You have come in this form to uplift us. Of this I am certain!", and then offered his obeisances again.

After following the remedy as instructed by Shri Maharaj, Govindpant was cured of his illness. Then, with Shri's permission, he returned home fully cured.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

231. Vitthalrao becomes Mamlatdar (Head of Revenue Administration)

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Vitthalrao was the Mamlatdar (Head of Revenue Administration) at Hyderabad and was a devotee of Manik Prabhu. 

He was under departmental investigation for corruption charges due to his own corruption and had been suspended. When the learned that soon there would be a warrant issued for his arrest, he panicked, and thought, "If I got to Manik Prabhu, I am sure to be caught, but if I go to Akkalkot and seek refuge with Shri Samarth, I will be saved."

That day he immediately set out toward Akkalkot and reached there at night. He went to where Swami was and saw Shri resting surrounded by His attendants who were asleep. He woke Maharaj's attendants and told them who he was, the trouble he was in, and why it was urgent for him to meet Swami.

Just then Swami stood up and in anger said to Vitthalrao, "You perform corrupt acts with joy. When the time comes to pay for your actions you cry."

He continued to roar, "Why have you come to Me? Get lost! Am I your fathers' servant!?"

Vitthalrao paid his obeisance to Shri and prayed, "Maharaj, please forgive me. I am guilty. I promise that henceforth, I will not be corrupt."

"Maharaj, You protect all those who seek refuge at Your feet. I have no one else but You looking over me", said Vitthalrao, and with his head placed on Shri's feet, he began to weep.

Maharaj felt compassion towards him and said, "Go! I forgive you. Remember to act honestly going forward!"

On hearing these words, Vitthalrao's heart was unburdened and he offered his obeisance to Shri Maharaj and extolling the glories of Shri Samarth, he returned to Hyderabad.

Some days later, the internal investigation exonerated him from the corruption charges and he was reinstated to his post of Mamlatdar due to the grace of Shri Swami Samarth.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

230. Barjoji and Navroji: The Parsis

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Navroji, a Parsi gentleman from Mumbai, was visiting his relative, Barjoji, at Akkalkot where the latter was stationed for work. 

One evening, they were both seated on a sofa in Barjoji's bungalow with the front door closed, discussing the leelas that Shri Swami Samarth had performed. Navroji was not convinced of the truthfulness of the stories that Barjoji had narrated. 

Just then Shri Samarth appeared digambar and sat between them on the sofa. Both the Parsis were surprised. Navroji offered his obeisance to Shri Samarth and enquired, "Maharaj, how were You able to come in when the front door is closed?

He continued, "Maharaj, I am in debt. I am desirous of clearing all my debt and amassing a great fortune. I pray for Your blessings for this to happen."

Maharaj asked, "When you get your fortune, what will you give?"

Navroji replied, "I will offer one-fourth of what I will get."

Maharaj instructed, "Go to the Narmada!", and then suddenly disappeared.

Both Navroji and Barjoji checked all the doors. They were locked from the inside. 

The next morning they learned that Maharaj was around two kos (3.6 km) away from Akkalkot in Rampur. Both of them went there and after offering their obeisances, stood before Him.

Maharaj instructed Navroji, "Gurjarat is calling, go!"

On hearing these words, Navroji stepped forward, offered the shrifal (coconut) to Maharaj, offered his obeisances, and left for Mumbai. 

On reaching Mumbai, he received a message that Shrimant Malharrao Gaikwad, the ruler of the princely state of Baroda, wished to meet him. He promptly got on the next train and went to Baroda. At Baroda, Malharrao bestowed upon Navroji great wealth and said, "Please get Akkalkot Swami Maharaj to Baroda in any way possible!" The next day took a train from Baroda and arrived in Akkalkot. 

Navroji went to Shri Maharaj and after offering Him shodashopachar pooja, and serving food to Brahmins, Navroji prayed, "Maharaj, Shrimant Malharrao Gaikwad has invited you to Baroda."

Maharaj replied, "I will not come, go!"

Navroji returned to Mumbai and informed Gaikwad, "Maharaj is not ready to come; I expended a lot of effort but it has been a waste." By the grace of Maharaj, Navroji used the wealth he had received from Baroda to pay off his debts and was well-established financially.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

229. Madhavacharya's second marriage

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

On the banks of the river Bhima, in the small village of Shirgur, there lived a scholarly Brahmin by the name of Madhavacharya. The village had been granted to him as an inam (reward). By all accounts, he should have been a happy man.

However, things were not going so well for Madhavacharya. He was lonely as his wife had passed away. He was also debt-ridden. The anxiety had gotten to him and he had started to behave whimsically. One day he decided to go to Akkalkot and seek Shri's darshan. 

He immediately set out and soon reached Akkalkot where he paid his obeisances to Shri Maharaj and stood before Him with his palms folded in the anjali mudra.

Maharaj said to him, "Sumurta savadhan!", and handed him a shrifal (coconut) as a prasad. 

On hearing these words from Shri Maharaj, His attendants began mocking Madhavarcharya because he would now be getting married in his old age.

Madhavacharya pleaded with Maharaj, "Swami! People have begun to mock me. I am already over fifty years old. How will I get married at this age? and what of the over five thousand rupee debt that I owe?"

Samarth dismissed him saying, "Get lost from the way that you came!"

Hearing this instruction from Shri Maharaj, Madhavacharya paid his obeisance to Him and made his way to Shirol where some of his relatives lived.

On the same day, there were two weddings in Shirol, two sisters were getting married on the same day. 

The groom who was to wed the younger sister had arrived with his family and friends. However, the elder sister's groom had not arrived due to some reason. Their father was worried. How could the younger sister get married without the elder sister getting married first!?

Then a thought suddenly came to his mind. He thought why not offer his eldest daughter to Madhavacharya so that the younger sister would also get married as planned. 

He discussed it with his wife and also with the elders of the family and they all agreed to the proposal. They approached Madhavacharya who also agreed. The surprising part was that everyone knew that Madhavacharya was penniless and yet the wedding went through smoothly.

After the wedding, Madhavacharya and his new wife went to Akkalkot. They offered their obeisances to Shri Swami Samarth who said, "Go home! You will be debt free and will live long and will be happy with children and grandchildren!"

Madhavacharya and his family happily returned home and continued to offer seva to Shri Maharaj.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

228. The Telangana Brahmin is blessed with wealth

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

There was once a Brahmin from Telangana who had visited many sacred places and had now come to Akkalkot with the hope of receiving a blessing to gain a fortune. He paid his obeisances to Swami and stood with folded hands before Him. 

Swami asked, "Hey Brahmin, what desire do you hold?"

The Brahmin prayed, "Maharaj! I am suffering in abject poverty and am carrying a burden of financial debt. Please take mercy on me and free me from my debt."

"I am a Sannyasi and do not have any money. If you wish, you can take some soil from there", said Maharaj pointing to the ground where the man stood.

The Brahmin asked, "What should I do with the soil?"

Maharaj replied, "If you don't want it, get lost!"

In order to not offend Maharaj anymore, the man picked up a lump of soil and put it in his sack, offered obeisance to Shri Swami Samarth, and headed home. After he had traveled some distance, he realized that his sack had gotten heavy. When he checked the sack, there was a surprise for him in the sack. 

The lump of soil had miraculously turned into a solid gold nugget!

The man's financial troubles would soon be history and he went home marveling at and singing the glories of Shri Maharaj.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||