243.Maharaj brings water to the Jangam well

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

One year, on the day of the Gurupratipada, all the wells in Akkalkot had dried up except for the Jangam well, which still had some water. Everyone from the village had thronged to the well. 

Due to the huge rush, it would take a long time to draw the water needed for the Brahmin Bhojana. Shri's attendants, tasked with this duty prayed to Him, "We are unable to find water anywhere Maharaj. What should we do?"

Samarth smiled and said, "Come! I will show you water."

He led them to the Jangam well, climbed on the ledge, and standing on its edge, urinated into the well. He then jumped back off the ledge and went back to the math.

Keshav Deshpande and other devotees checked the well and saw that there was a lot of water. Everyone was overjoyed as there was plenty of water for everyone. Soon the Brahmin Bhojana was also completed successfully.

The surprising part is that after the festivities were completed, the water level in the well went down to the previous level. Such is the leela of Shri Swami Samarth. 

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

246. Govind the madman

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

There was once a madman named Govind who live in Akkalkot. His behavior was unpredictable and people were weary of him.

One day, when Shri Samarth was taking a nap near the well on a cot, Govind tied His feet together, put the other end of the rope around his own neck, pulled Maharaj off the cot, and began dragging him across the ground. 

On seeing this, Sundarabai panicked and started screaming. Devotees soon gathered and untied Maharaj's feet, and then turned to beat Govind. Just then, Maharaj got up from the ground and said, "Don't beat him, let him go!", and walked away. The devotees obeyed and let Govind be.

Some days later Govind was drinking water from the well. He suddenly slipped and fell to his death inside the well.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

247. Cobras protect the valuables

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Once Shri Maharaj got up from where he was seated in the Shri Ramchandra Temple just outside of Akkalkot and went and sat in the shade of a nearby mango tree in a mango plantation. His attendants also followed.

The gathered crowd said to Him, "Maharaj there is no arrangement for food here, and it is so windy that one can't even properly light a lamp. Should we head back to Akkalkot?"

Then, Shri replied, "The girls will come."

No one understood what He meant 

Then, just before he fell asleep he said, "Four cobras have been appointed to resolve the everyones issue of theft."

It was late and after some time even His attendants slept.

That night, some thieves were attempting to steal from those that were asleep. As soon as one of the thieves placed his hand in someone's bag to pull out a valuable item, four large co ras came out of nowhere and stood before the thieves, scaring them white. One of them let out a loud scream that woke some of the devotees.

Somehow the thieves managed to escape. When the laps were lit, everyone was suprised to seek four large cobras slithering away into the trees.

On seeing this miracle, everyone present sang the praises of Shri Swami Samarth.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

244. Janakibai is cured of her eye ailment

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Janakibai was a Brahmin lady from Pune who was suffering from some unexplained eye ailment. Her condition got so bad that she was almost blind. 

None of the doctors, both traditional and modern, that examined her were able to identify what was wrong with her. She had lost all hope. 

She had heard many great things of the great Swami at Akkalkot, and with the hope of being cured of her condition, she went. After offering her obeisances to Shri Swami Samarth, she stood before Him with palms folded in Anjali mudra.  

Without her having said a word, Swami said to her, "Put elephant urine drops in your eye; then you will be able to see!"

She did as she was instructed and sure enough, she could see again. Then, after offering pooja and naivedya to Shri, and after taking His permission, she returned home.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

242. The Brahmins stuck under the bullock cart are saved

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Once, during the magha month, on the vadhya pratipada day (first day of the fortnight), a celebration honoring Shri Maharaj was underway.

Keshav Deshpande had filled a bullock cart with huge empty vessels and was going to the well to fill them with water to be used for the festivities.

After the card was loaded with the vessels, now filled with water, it started to make its way back to it's destination. Two Brahmins were seated on the cart. After the bullock cart had gone some distance, the bulls were somehow separated from the cart, and it overturned, and the two Brahmins were trapped under it beneath the huge and heavy vessels. Amazingly, they were unhurt ; not a scratch on them. 

Everyone understood that it was by Guru's grace that they survived. 

So be it.

Shri Swami Samarth will, undoubtedly, protect those that are engaged in his service.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

232. Savkar Bhau Rasool

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Once Savkar Bhau Rasool, a businessman from Mumbai, was visiting Akkalkot to seek the darshan of Shri Maharaj. After offering his obeisance to Maharaj, he offered shodashopachara pooja and the next day, served meals to Brahmins. 

After having offered this seva, he stood before Shri and prayed, "Maharaj, if my business prospers, I will place two hundred rupees before You!"

Having taken this vow before Maharaj, he left for Mumbai. By the grace of Shri Swami Samarth, his business prospered and he made a lot of money and also had children. However, he forgot the vow he had made to Shri Maharaj.

One morning at the Mumbai home of Savkar Bhau, a three-year-old child came into his home and began crawling all around the house. Savkar Bhau was having his lunch at that time and was surprised at seeing the child and asked out loud, "Whose child is this?"

The child was none other than Shri Swami Samarth who, having discarded the form of a child, stood in his Yati roopa. 

He sat on a sofa and said to Bhau, "Are Madarchoda. Amche donshe rupaye detos ki nahi?", and then suddenly disappeared from sight.

Savkar was repentant. He immediately realized his mistake and along with his family immediately went to Akkalkot. 

Begging Maharaj's forgiveness he prayed, "Maharaj, In my arrogance, I had forgotten my vow and yet You took compassion on me and reminded me Yourself." He then placed two hundred rupees before Shri.

Samarth said, "I am disappointed in you. You did not even ask me to have lunch. How will an Atithi find a place to rest if this is how things are!"

Savkar replied, "Maharaj, From today I will, without fail, offer food and water to all Atithis!"

The next day, after having served meals to Brahmins, he stook Shri's permission and left for Mumbai. 

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Pradhyapika Mrs. Namrata Bhat describes this incident

098. Pandu Sonar

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

During the time that Shri Swami Samarth was in Akkalkot, He never stayed in one place and always used to tour the neighboring villages. He had a twofold objective of always moving around: protection of His devotees and bringing atheists onto the spiritual path.

Around three kos away from Akkalkot is a village by the name of Maidargi. Pandu Sonar, a goldsmith, who was a devotee of Maharaj, lived there. He was heavily in debt and was always being harangued by his creditors. 

Once, a wealthy man had placed an order with Pandu to make some gold jewelry. In a moment of weakness, to pay off some of his debt, Pandu made the jewels from some other metals, added a gold coating, and delivered them to his customer. 

Some days later, his wrongdoing came to light, and a police complaint was lodged against him. Tatyasaheb Mamledar carried out the investigation and a criminal case was made against him and he was found guilty, which he was, and was sentenced to receive lashes. 

Seeing no way out for himself, Pandu Sonar prayed to Shri Swami Samarth and swore to never cheat anyone ever again. Just as Shri Krishna pushed away the delicacies that Devi Rukmini had prepared for Him, and ran to protect his sister Draupadi, so did Bhakta-Kama-Kalpataru Swami Samarth rush to save His devotee.

On the day of the punishment, Pandu Sonar called out to Maharaj for help from the bottom of his heart. Samarth was at Akkalkot. It was morning and almost Shri's bathtime. Just as his attendants were about to begin pouring water on Him, He said, "I do not want to bathe. Bring the palanquin!"

His instructions were followed promptly and Maharaj with his entourage in tow set out. They did not know to which village Maharaj wanted to go but knew that He would tell them in which direction to move, and when and where to stop. When they reached the Bori river, He took a bath and then asked his troupe to make haste to Maidargi. 

The company reached Maidargi at around three in the afternoon and instead of going to a dharamshala, Maharaj instructed them to go to the police station. Tatyasaheb Mamledar, a devout man, was overjoyed to see Maharaj and promptly offered his obeisances. Then, after offering his seat to Shri Swami Samarth, stood before him with folded palms. 

Pandu Sonar was standing in front of Shri Maharaj and He called him closer and asked him to sit beside Him. Mamledar was surprised on seeing Maharaj's affection towards a convicted criminal. When Mamledar came forward to honor Maharaj, He ordered Pandu Sonar to manage the honor protocol. This is what Pandu wanted and with great joy, he executed the protocol perfectly. Maharaj instructed Pandu to stay by his side for the next day.

Seeing Maharaj's love for Pandu Sonar, Mamledar freed him. Pandu Sonar then narrated his story to the other devotees and that is when they understood why Maharaj had left Akkalkot promptly without taking a bath. 

All present then glorified Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

095. The dumb brahmin is given the gift of speech

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

There was a dumb brahmin who had been serving Shri Samarth for a number of years with great devotion. He was hoping for Maharaj to bless him with the power of speech. 

Shri Prabhu was pleased with him and took the betel leaf from His own mouth and said, "Eat this and do your work!"

The brahmin obeyed and so sooner had he eaten the betel leaf than he gained the power of speech and started talking with ease.

What divine power was this!

Once a woman offered the til (sesame) ladoo to Maharaj and said, "Please accept this last ladoo that I will ever make with my own hands, and grant me a place at your feet when my end is near."

Maharaj promptly replied, "Bodki zalis, tar polya bhajnyas upayogi padshil!"

The woman's heart melted. Some days later, her husband passed away.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

092. Narsappa from Mysore

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Narsappa was a sixty-year-old man from Mysore who had come to Akkalkot and was offering service to Maharaj. He was desirous of receiving spiritual initiation from Shri. He knew only a smattering of Marathi and Hindustani and was unable to clearly communicate what he wanted from Shri Swami Samarth. However, he was devout and took darshan and went and sat near Maharaj every day.

One day a recitation of the Puranas was underway before Maharaj. Narsappa was seated next to the Purankibua. Toward the end of the recitation, Maharaj signaled to Narsappa to come and sit close to Him. An elated Narsappa went before Maharaj and placed his head on His feet and then after offering his obeisances, stood with folded palms awaiting further instruction. There was a cleark seated nearby and Maharaj took a notebook from him and handed it to Narsappa. 

When Narsappa looked at the notebook, on it was written in Kannada, Narsappa's native tongue, the clear instructions from Maharaj, "Recite the Bhagavad Gita, and you will benefit." His joy knew no bounds.

Vedashastra-sampanna Dattatreyabua was leaving after receiving Maharaj's darshan. Narsappa approached the scholar and narrated the incident to him and expressed his desire to learn the Bhagavad Gita from him. 

Dattatreyabua went back to the clerk and asked for the notebook that Maharaj had handed over to Narsappa. The clerk complied but the writing in Kannada was nowhere to be seen. Everything was written in Modi script. He understood that this was specific instruction meant only for Narsappa and immediately began to teach him the Gita. This continued for some months.

Once, Dattatreyabuai and a Sannyasi were discussing Vedanta, late into the night. Narsappa was asleep nearby. At around midnight, he woke up sweating and there were tears in his eyes. He sat upright and began saying to himself, " Swami Maharaj is Ishwara," and began shivering. 

Dattatreyabua went near him and asked, "Why do you say that Swami Maharaj is Ishwara?"

"Shri Swami Samarth took me to Vaikuntha", said Narsappa.

"There I received darshan of Shri Rama and Sita, seated on a jewel-encrusted golden throne, flanked by Lakshmana, Bharata, Shatrughna, and Maruti, after which Maharaj brought me back", he added.

He continued muttering to himself, "Hail Shri Maharaj! Hail Shri Maharaj! He took mercy on an insignificant being like me and showed me Vaikunta and Shri Rama! Such great effulgence! Such majesty!"

After some time he sat silently staring into the distance and then returned back to normal. From that day onwards, he was fixed in his devotion to Shri Swami Samarth. 

Once Narsappa suddenly felt a sharp pain in his right arm and the pain continued for seven days. That is when he brought it up with Maharaj.  Shri was smoking the hooka at the time and said, "I will cure your arm", and blew the smoke from the hooka onto his arm and it was miraculously healed. Such divine power!

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

091. Umabai Raste

 || Shri Swami Samarth ||

Umabai Raste from Pune had a niece named Chimatai. After the girl had gotten married, she had lost her eyesight due to some illness and life became very difficult for her. A princely sum of twelve hundred rupees had been spent but all remedies in modern medicine and those from traditional systems did not bear fruit. 

Finally, after seeing that all treatments were ineffective, one of Umabai's well-wishers suggested seeking Shri Swami Samarth's darshan at Akkalkot. Perhaps he could help Chimatai.

Then Umabai took Chimatai to Akkalkot. Accompanying them were her secretary,  an attendant, and a Brahmin. Maharaj was at the sakhar well. The group went there, and, after offering their obeisances, sat down at His feet.

The secretary prayed to Maharaj, "The girl has lost her eyesight. We beg You to shower grace upon her and give her sight."

Maharaj then asked Chimati, "What do you want?"

Chimati, who was but a child, was very forthright in her speech from such a young age. She said to Maharaj, "I want my eyesight!" 

On hearing this the most compassionate Maharaj roared with laughter and said, "Put a few drops of meow meow milk in your eyes and also drink some of it for seven days so that you get your eyesight!"

When they returned to Pune, they administered the remedy and on the seventh day, the girl could see clearly. All the Doctors and vaidyas were surprised.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||