041. The story of Bhujanga

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Chinchurkar had assigned a peon in the service of Maharaj who used to call him Firang. The ruler of Akkalkot and his consort were both ardent devotees of Shri Swami Samarth, and Maharaj also used to stay at their palace, sometimes for even fifteen days. Women were not allowed entry into the palace for darshan and hence, they gathered at the entrance of the crowd hoping to receive Swami's darshan who would sit on the palace balcony where He would be visible to everyone.

Sometimes Maharaj would signal to a peon for someone from the crowd to be brought before Him so that Maharaj could speak with them in person, assign them a seva, and then send Him off with great affection after giving him prasad.

When the crowds grew over the years, Cholappa would bathe Maharaj pre-dawn and then offer naivedya and aarti so that Maharaj could meet His devotees. Cholappa would daily apply gandha on His forehead which was a mixture of keshar and kasturi. Maharaj would perform achaman, which is the ritual sipping of water, thrice. Either Cholappa or Sundarabai would feed Maharaj.

The crowds would start gathering at the crack of dawn and there would still be a rush till even beyond ten at night. Throughout the day Maharaj would act out various leelas and would know and state with what desires a specific person had come to Him. He would take short naps throughout the day and would sometimes even forego these to help His devotees. 

He would call out if someone was a Sadhu or a charlatan. He would test and expose people's character especially if they were cunning and cruel. These people would never stand a chance before Maharaj.

When it was very hot, He would eat very little. Sometimes Maharaj even skipped food and water for more than a week.

Maharaj was offered aarti three times a day. Mostly, it was the Dattatreya Aarti that was performed. 

Shri Swami Samarth was pleased by any devotional service offered.

 

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

040. A response to Puranik's criticism

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Once, Maharaj was asleep on a mattress and on seeing this, Puranik, who was a relative of Sabnis, remarked, "Why does a Sannyasi need a mattress?" Maharaj did not reply to Puranik's taunt at that time.

A month later Maharaj went to Kadab village accompanied by Puranik. In the evening, Maharaj began climbing the hill that was near Kadab. As it was getting darker, Puranik requested Maharaj to return back to the village to which Maharaj replied, "Yes, Yes", and continued to climb up.

It was pitch dark and shivering cold when they reached the top. They had neither food nor blankets with them. Puranik was shivering, both with fear and because of the cold. Maharaj comfortably laid down on a large rock.

Puranik was fully clothed but it wasn't enough to keep the cold out. He repeatedly pleaded with Samarth, "Maharaj! It is very cold. What should we do?"

Finally, Maharaj replied, "How do you like the soft mattress!?"

Puranik remembered his taunt from a month ago and felt remorse for what he had said. With complete devotion and surrender, he prayed to Samarth for forgiveness. He had realized that Maharaj did not differentiate between a stone and a soft mattress.

They spent the night on the hill and when they came down the next morning, Puranik narrated how he had been taught a lesson. He was now a devotee of Shri Swami Samarth.

Over a period of time, the opulence that accompanied Maharaj grew with horses, palanquins, cows, and an ever-growing number of devotees always around Him. It did not matter if He was in a field, in a fruit orchard, or a crematorium.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

039. Tol's doubts are resolved

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

One evening Shri Maharaj went to Ganpatrao Joshi's home accompanied by Cholappa and Govindrao Tol. At night Cholappa laid out His bed and asked Govindrao to keep watch so that Maharaj did not go anywhere during the night. Cholappa then went home.

It seemed as if Maharaj had fallen into a deep sleep and had started snoring loudly. On seeing this, Govindrao thought to himself that even though Maharaj was a great Yogi, he still snored like a common man. Govindrao then thought of the sixty-ninth shloka from the second adhayay of the Shrimad Bhagavata Gita.

                                            या निशा सर्वभूतानां तस्यां जागर्ति संयमी।

यस्यां जाग्रति भूतानि सा निशा पश्यतो मुनेः ॥

Meaning:  That which is night to all beings, in that the self-controlled man keeps awake; where all beings are awake, that is the night for the Sage (MUNI) who sees.

Maharaj, in his deep sleep, said, "Kyon, Sonar, Nahi Nahi!", and then fell into deep sleep again. On hearing these words, Tol's doubts were removed. Maharaj used to refer to him as 'Sonar'.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

038. Barve Karbhari (Cholappa's son is made fun of)

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Cholappa was a devotee of Maharaj but he never received any preferential treatment from Swami. For Shri Swami Samarth, it did not matter if you were a new devotee or if you were serving Him for a long time, he treated everyone equally. By the grace of Shi Samarth, Cholappa gained progeny and wealth. Krishnappa, Cholappa's son, was also a devotee of Shri Maharaj and was prompt in offering service to Him.

Once Krishnappa approached Raobahadur Barve, an administrator at Akkalkot, for some official business and needed Barve's signature on a receipt. Krishappa appealed many times for the signature. On seeing this Barve sarcastically remarked, "What a smart boy!"

At that time, Maharaj was at Barve's home, and on overhearing the remark scolded Barve, 

"Kay re madarchoda! Kay mahntos? Tu kay keles? Tel vikun pot bharles evdhech na? Tyas nave theu nako. Tyanche bhagya niralech ahe."

Barve immediately apologized to Maharaj. 

There is no greater merit than that which is accrued through offering selfless service to Sadguru. On some occasions, due to his greed for money, Cholpappa would forget this and Maharaj would immediately chastise him, 

"Maze khaun mazevar firla!"

Once Maharaj was seated in the Akkalkot market and suddenly at around noon He decided to leave. He ordered Cholappa, 

"Cholya khetar lao!"

Some of the other attendants suggested that Maharaj stay in the shade in the market and not go out in the scorching heat. Maharaj returned their suggestion with about ten-fifteen of His choicest expletives and started walking with his attendants in tow.

When Cholappa's end was near, Maharaj was just over two kilometers away but did not give him darshan. It was some other devotee, who with great difficulty, acquired the charan-tirtha, and poured it into Cholappa's mouth. Maharaj would sometime refer to Cholappa as 'Jain' or 'Cholya'.

Maharaj would sometimes sleep on a bed of thorns but in reality he was and always is awake and watching over his devotees.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

037. Bhimrao is blessed

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Bhimrao was one of Swami's servants who had been serving Maharaj with great love and devotion for many days. He and his son would bring a basket full of fresh flowers to offer Shri Maharaj daily. However, Bhimrao was suffering. He had a very large tumor on his head. It was so large that people used to ridicule him by calling him a 'two-headed man'. 

One day Bhimrao and his son brought a basket of fresh flowers to Maharaj. When the other servants saw him, they started laughing and calling him names again. On hearing them Maharaj also called him a 'two-headed man' and roared with laughter.

Bhimrao felt dejected and prayed to Maharaj, "I do not mind if people laugh. Let them laugh. However, You are most compassionate and it is Your duty as a compassionate being to free me of this deformity. If You do this, what reason will be there for them to laugh at me!?" 

Deena-vatsala Maharaj felt great compassion for him but did not say anything at that time. That night, in a dream, Bhumrao saw Maharaj stroking His hand over the tumor. The next morning when he woke up, the tumor had burst and just the extra skin remained hanging on his head. Bhimrao's happiness knew no bounds. He rushed to Maharaj and everyone was astonished to see the sudden change. Bhimrao narrated his dream and everyone glorified Shri Maharaj.       

A few days later Bhimrao began wondering what he should do with the extra skin left over. He asked Maharaj if he should get it cut. Maharaj instructed him to apply tirtha-angara to it, and Bhimrao obeyed. A few days after doing this regularly, the extra skin dried up and fell off on its own. 

Eventually, Bhimrao went to stay in a village called Chitapur in Menglai where he continued his devotional service to Shri.               

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

036. Malojirao begets a son

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Malojiraje Bhosale, the ruler of the Princely State of Akkalkot, was desirous of having a son. Through the blessings of Shri Swami Samarth, the queen conceived. 

After some months, these subjects began discussing amongst themselves, if the baby would be a boy or a girl. 

When this question was put to Maharaj, he did not reply but ordered, "Bring a bangle." Those that had asked the question thought that He meant that a princess would be born, and that is what happened.

When the queen conceived again, and people put the same question to Maharaj he did not reply but got up and sat near the hearth. Those that had asked the question thought that He meant that a princess would be born, and that is what happened.

When the question was asked the third time that the queen conceived, Maharaj slapped his own thigh, stood up, and acted as if He was firing a gun. Those that had asked the question thought that He meant that a prince would be born, and that is what happened.

After his father Malojiraje, this prince, Shahajiraje became the ruler of Akkalkot.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

035. Maharaj goes to Ganpatrao Joshi's home

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Once Samarth was at Ganpat Joshi's home. Joshi had ordered one of his servants to cut the branch of a lemon tree that was in his front yard. The man climbed onto the tree and laid the first blow with his axe. Seeing the man beginning to chop the branch with an axe angered Maharaj and he said, " How dare you chop a brach of a tree that is under my care!? Break his hands and legs."

On hearing this Joshi immediately ordered the man to stop and ordered him down from the tree. Maharaj was livid and Joshi avoided His gaze and went and sat in a corner. 

After some time Maharaj got up and went and sat in the toilet area. When Joshi and others went looking for Him, they saw Him seated in the toilet area. 

Joshi noticed that a hornet had entered and stared boring Maharaj's ear. Blood had begun to ooze out. 

Maharaj was in a happy and playfool mood now and Joshi worked up the courage to go and address Him. He said, "Maharaj! I do not care of you hit me but I will remove the hornet from Your ear".

He then orderd for a tweezer and carefully plucked the hornet form Shri's ear. On closely examining the ear he could see no sign of blood or any injury. Everyone present was surprised.

Shri Swami Samarth is Poorna Brahma and would often perform many Leelas with His devotees.

Whenever any devotee got into an argument, Maharaj would call him close and place an ant on the palm of his hand to remind them to be as humble as an ant to attract good things into your life.

|| Shri Swami Samarth || 

034. Maharaj slaps Malojiraje

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Shrimant Malojiraje was a devotee of Shri Maharaj and every Guruvar (Thursday) would go to wherever Maharaj was to seek his darshan. He had been doing this for many weeks.

Once, he went for darshan in a royal fashion, seated on an elephant. On seeing Maharaj, he dismounted and went before Him to offer his obeisances. 

When Malojiraje placed his head on Shri's feet, Maharaj responded with a hard slap across his face. The king lost his balance and his headdress fell off. He began shivering with fear and stood before Maharaj with palms folded. An attendant picked up the headdress and handed it to Malojiraje.

Maharaj angrily said to him, "You are a big man only in your home. Why act like a big man before Me!? Madarchod, I can create many kings."

"Please forgive me Maharaj", said the king remorsefully, and returned back to his place.

Henceforth, when the king went to seek darshan, he would park the palanquin, horse, or whatever mode of transport he was using, far away, and would walk to Maharaj for darshan. Such was the Ugra Tej of Shri Swami Samarth.

Muslims, Parsis, and even Europeans would seek His darshan. He would know what they desired and would fulfill their wishes. Maharaj had a special affection towards Muslims. He really liked dogs but anytime He saw a cat, he would call it a nimakharam and shoo it away. Maharaj had a great affection for cows. If he ever saw anyone chopping tree branches he would get very angry.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

033. The Athiest

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Once Maharaj was seated under the vada (banyan) tree at Akkalkot. He was in a foul mood and was not allowing anyone to come and receive this darshan.

There was an atheist sitting nearby who said, "What is this!? He calls himself a sadhu and yet is angered so easily", referring to Maharaj. Swami heard him but did not reply.

A few weeks later Matebua was performing a kirtan under the same tree, with over four hundred people attending. That is when Maharaj responded to the atheist's comment.

Maharaj said, "If I were angry, I would have cooked and eaten all these people." Shri Samarth repeated this many times. Shri followed a rule; if he said something, He would repeat it multiple times.

He is completely kind-hearted and protects his devotees. Sometimes he would be angry but that was just Him playing. It did not matter if you were a king or a pauper, everyone was the same for Him. Sometimes he showed greater mercy on paupers.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

032. The glory of Akkalkot

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Akkalkot was a capital city but it was still unknown. Maharaj brought fame to Akkalkot. He stayed there for over twenty years and brought to it the prestige of Amravati, the capital of Indra. There was happiness in all four directions. 

The advent of Shri Swami Samarth brought economic prosperity to Akkalkot. Trade grew a thousandfold. Horse-drawn carriages could be seen all around town. A minimum of five hundred visitors began arriving by train daily.

It could be that as a fruit of Malojiraje's good deeds in his past life, Maharaj came to Akkalkot to bless and purify his subjects and him and also anyone who visited.

Malojiraje was able to face many difficult circumstances because he had the grace of Shri Swami Samarth.

Maharaj was well known all over Bharat, from Kashi to Rameshwaram, and hundreds of thousands came for His darshan. He would bestow his blessings based on the spiritual caliber of the recipients. 

Swami would perform some miracle or the other for every devotee. Unfortunately, not everything was documented, and future generations will never know many of the miracles he performed and the lives he positively impacted.

Maharaj wore a brass kada on His wrist. It was engraved with images of various Gods and Goddesses. Whenever any devotee came to Shri Maharaj, he would point to the image of the God or Goddess that the person was supposed to worship. Many people had that experience.

Maharaj also had with him measuring cups made of wood and ivory. He would pour grains from one cup into the other as a play. 

Maharaj would never sit still in one place and would move around ten to fifteen places within Akkalkot in a day.

Four types of people would come to for Maharaj's darshan: Aart, Jignyasu, Artharthi, and Dnyani. Most people would be seeking a way out of some problem or would be desirous of some material gain. Few would be spiritual seekers and even fewer were people who had some spiritual realization. No one returned empty-handed. Maharaj fulfilled their desire no matter what it was.

For people Shri Swami Samarth was God. They did not want to leave His side and always wanted to be with Him. Such was Maharaj's glory.

Devotees used to offer aarti to Shri Maharaj in the morning or evening wherever He was, in the jungle or in the garden. It was such a beautiful sight to behold. Sometimes, if Maharaj was angered, He would not allow anyone to perform the aarti. His attendants and devotees always followed through with His desires.

During the aarti Maharaj would sometimes hold up one, two, three, or four fingers. This was to indicate how many stanzas of the aarti the devotees should sing. When Maharaj was in a good mood, he would allow the full aarti to be performed and would happily accept any form of seva that was offered, and would converse very sweetly with his devotees. If he was not in a good mood, not even a powerful king would dare come within hundred feet of Him. However, Maharaj was not truly angry with anyone. This was just part of His leela.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||