185. Appasaheb Sabnis from Pune

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Appasaheb Sabnis, a gentleman from Pune, was suffering from possession by evil spirits. When possessed, he would forsake all meals and starve himself. Even after performing many anushthana such as the immensely powerful Gurucharitra Saptaha, he was still not free from the suffering. Finally, he decided to go to Gangapur and perform service at the feet of Shri Dattatreya.

With a few accompanying him, he set out for Akkalkot and on the way made a stop at Akkalkoti. Desirous of receiving Maharaj's Darshan, he made inquiries about Maharaj's whereabouts and was told that he was the home of Karnalkar.

Sabnis and his group offered their obeisances to Maharaj and after presenting their offerings prayed, "I am on my way to Gangapur to offer seva to be relieved of my great suffering. Please allow us permission to leave,"

On hearing this, Maharaj said, "Don't go! I will destroy completely!"

With complete faith in Shri Maharaj, they stayed there for a full five years offering the following seva - abhishek on Swami's paduka, Gurucharitra Parayan, offering food to those in Maharaj's service, and performing pradakshina (circumambulation) to the Audumbar tree.

Initially, the evil spirit, when in possession of Sabnis would arrogantly keep saying, "This anushthana is useless! I am not going to leave! I will destroy him completely! He is the reason for my state!"

He would never dare to go near Maharaj as His divine effulgence was blinding to the pisacha. He could not stand to hear the aarti of Shri Maharaj. 

Eventually, as Sabnis diligently continued to perform seva, the pisacha softened his stance and tone, and began saying, "What should I do now!? I cannot bear this beating!"

Finally, after almost five years, he left Sabnis, who immediately gained back his health. Everyone was overjoyed.

Sabnis continued to stay in Akkalkot and set up his law practice. Some time later the possessions began again. When he prayed to Maharaj and asked about why the possessions had begun again, Shri said, "Why do you do this in-between business!?", referring to his law practice.

Understanding this was a clear instruction from Maharaj to give up practicing law, Sabnis not only closed his law office but also offered all the money he had earned as law fees in Swami's seva.

One day Sabnis' mother asked Maharaj about her daughter-in-law, Saraswati. 

"She does not have a child and the entire estate will go to waste", said the old lady.

"Go! She will have a son!", boomed Maharaj, and dropped a coconut into her hands. Soon, Sabnis and his wife became parents to a healthy baby boy.

Sabnis returned to Pune with his family but continued returning to Akkalkot frequently. He was devoted to Shri Swami Samarth. He purchased a home at Akkalkot, stocked it with supplies sufficient to support a family for a year, and offered it to a Brahmin, as a love offering to Shri Swami Maharaj.

Throughout his life, Sabnis continued to offer devotional service to Shri Maharaj.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

184. Nandram Sundarji Gawandi

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Nandram Sundarji Gawandi from Pune had been suffering greatly from bladder stones for over three years. Modern medicine and traditional ayurvedic remedies did not give relief even though he spent a lot of money on all cures that were recommended to him. 

Once Gawandi happened to meet Balkrishna Joshi who advised him to visit Akkalkot and receive Swami's Darshan to be surely relieved of his suffering. 

Gawandi had heard of Shri Swami Samarth and said to Joshi, "I have also heard of the great Avatari, and if you apply the sacred ash on my forehead in His name, and if even if I feel some respite from my suffering, I will certainly visit Akkalkot."

Without any hesitation, Joshi applied the sacred ash to Gawandi's forehead while chanting 'Samarth'. The same night, Gwandi felt great relief and had a restful sleep. The next morning he quickly made preparations for this journey and immediately set out toward Akkalkot. On arrival, he stayed at Balkrishna Joshi's home as his guest.

After having received Darshan of Shri Samarth, he stayed in Akkaklot for some days and made charitable offerings for clothes and food to the poor, and offered brahman-bhojan. He was a wealthy man and did not hesitate to spend money.

Gawandi was adhering to the Somvar Vrata and ritually offered worship and sought Darshan of Lord Shiva, especially on Mondays. At the Mallikarjun temple, he saw Swami seated on the temple verandah. Only after offering his obeisances to Shri Maharaj did Gawandi, and Joshi, who was accompanying him, enter the inner sanctum of the temple.

When they entered the temple, they were in for a great surprise! The Shiva Lingam was nowhere to be seen and in its place, seated comfortably, was Shri Maharaj. To see if Maharaj was seated outside they rushed outside and lo behold! They saw Shri Samarth seated on the verandah just as before and from the deep devotion they felt in their hearts towards Maharaj, they sang His glories.

"O Trailokyadhipati! O Sarvavyapaka! O Deva! O Akhila-aishwarya-sampanna! O Deva! O Aparimita Udara! O Anatha Santakanashana! O Karunasagara! "

They sought His blessings to always remember Shri Swami Samarth and to serve him faithfully. 

In order to be of service to Shri Maharaj, Gawandi arranged for rupees ten to be offered every month at Akkalkot.

In this manner, Gawandi received the grace of Prabhuraya.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

140. Ram Upasak Kashikar Swami

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

There was once a swami from Kashi who was learned in Mimamsa, Nyayshastra (law), Vedanta, Mantra-Shastra, and other streams of Indic scholarship. He had a very sharp memory and by nature was a very calm and detached person. Not only was he a polymath, but also a polyglot, as he spoke serveral languages. He focused not only on intellectual development but also on physical fitness and had good strength. 

This swami had taken Sannyas at Jagannath Puri and spent most of his time in meditation and silent contemplation. Though he was a learned man and spiritually advanced, he still had some doubts. He tried to get these doubts resolved by meeting other Sannyasis at various holy places and discussing with them, but he still remained confused. 

Once, when the was returning back from Rameshwaram, he had a vision and was told, "Come to Akkalkot!"

He had no idea of where Akkalkot was but was determined to get there as soon as possible. Asking around and finding out the location, he set out the next day with his few belongings, out from Rameshwaram, and in the month of Paush, on the eleventh day of the dark fortnight, in the shaka year 1799, arrived in Akkalkot.

On seeing Shri Maharaj, the learned swami was ecstatic and tears of joy rolled down from his cheeks. He stood still for some time and then offered his obeisances to Shri Swami Samarth. He stayed in Maharaj's service for some months.

Maindargi is a village near Akkalkot. About one mile from the village there is a Natha math and Shri Samarth was seated there one morning with around twenty devotees in attendance. The learned swami, after completing his morning prayers, had come to offer his obeisances to Shri Maharaj. 

We do not know what he saw but it must have been miraculous because as soon as he saw Maharaj, he began offering obeisances and standing up and then offering obeisances again and standing up again. He did this multiple times, all the while tears of joy flowing from his eyes, and his body shivering. Not one word was said between them but it was certain that some great spiritual communication was underway.

The next morning, when the Kashikar Swami met Dattatreybua Puranik he mentioned that all his doubts had been cleared. Some days later, with Maharaj's permission, he returned to Kashi.

We may be able to surmise that Kashikar Swami had reached such an advanced stage of spiritual unfoldment that for him to advance further on his path he needed direction from none other that Shri Swami Samarth himself. Such is Maharaj's compassion. 

It does not matter where you are in your life's journey, Maharaj always has his eye on you and will bring you to closer to Him at the right time,  and grant you the momentum in the right direction for progress, both material and spiritual.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

139. Sitarampant Nene

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Sitarampant Nene of Garode was a devotee of Shri Ram and had been diligently and strictly performing upasana with the goal of having sakshatkar of his ishta.

Having heard about Samarth's glories, he came to Akkalkot to receive darshan, and after having received darshan, was immensely satisfied that he had met his Ram. He then decided to stay in Akkalkot, and serve Maharaj. For sustenance, he would beg for alms.

He decided on a protocol of worship. He would beg for alms and eat whatever he received; then he would sit before Maharaj and perform Shri Ram naam japa; and would not speak with anyone.

Then one night Shri Ram appeared in his dream and granted darshan. He cleared Sitarampant's doubts on spiritual matters to his satisfaction. When he awoke, he remembered all the instructions he had received, just as if he had been instructed when awake. 

After staying in Akkalkot for some days and he returned to his village singing the glories for Shri Swami Samarth.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

138. Cholappa gets one hundred and twenty five rupees

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Ever since Maharaj had come to Akklakot, Cholappa had been faithfully serving Shri. However, for the entrapment of man, Brahmadev has created two things: gold and woman. Cholappa was entrapped by gold and began looking for means to acquire it. Thus he began lacking in his service to Maharaj.

Once, Maharaj picked up a cloth that was nearby and tied knots into it, and said aloud, "Alakh!" One hundred and twenty-five rupees appeared within those knots. Maharaj handed over the cloth and the money to Cholappa and said, "Cholaya, all debts are now fully paid up!"

From the time that Cholappa had begun serving Maharaj, he had accumulated around sixty to sixty-five thousand rupees in cash and some valuable items. Perhaps all that was lacking was these one hundred and twenty-five rupees that Maharaj gave to him.

Some days later arrangements for receiving, safekeeping, and recordkeeping of amounts offered by devotees to Maharaj were made by royal decree. One clerk and three guards were appointed in the service of Maharaj explicitly for carrying out this task. From that day, Cholappa and Sundarabai were kept far away from the gifts and cash that Maharaj was offered. 

There is only one Master, and the rest are all servants, equal in His eyes. For those that can muster up the strength to even try to surrender to Sri Swami Samarth, the most compassionate Maharaj will free him from his bondages and ego.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

137. Pandurang Bapuji Jadhav begets a son

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Pandurang Bapuji Jadhav had been struck by great misfortune. All four of his sons had died in a period of two months, and he was grief-stricken.

His wife Bhagubai, a devout woman, happened to hear about Shri Maharaj and felt great devotion towards Him and began her pooja and naam-japa in front of a picture of Maharaj that she had acquired. She would feel great sorrow if anyone interrupted her worship.

One night, Shri Swami Samarth appeared in her dream and gave his darshan, He asked her, "If I give you a son, what will you give me in return?" 

In her dream, she promised, "I will offer my son at Maharaj's feet and will make him a Brahmachari!"

She conceived some days later and the couple's joy knew no bounds and they began preparing for the baby's arrival.

However, in the seventh month, an aberration happened. She had her period. This scared her. She thought to herself, "Would the baby be fine?"

In great anguish prayed to Maharaj, "Do not betray me Maharaj! Please pay proper attention to me! You are my family, my mother, and my father!"

That night, Maharaj appeared in her dream and reassured her, "Do not worry!"

Nine months later, in the Shaka year 1716, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy. 

Some days later, Bhagubai again had a vision in her dream. She saw that Maharaj was seated on makhar made of banana leaves and that two servants were offering Him seva.

Maharaj said to her, "You now have a son! As promised, you must offer Him to me!"

We do not know if she offered her son to Maharaj, but we do know that she continued to serve Shri Swami Samarth with great love and devotion.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

136. Advice to the attendants

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Once when Maharaj was in the Ram temple, the skies became dark with the gathering of rain clouds and it started pouring heavily.

Just then Maharaj ordered, "Bring the planquin!" 

Those attending Maharaj humbly suggested, "Maharaj, it's raining. Everyone will get wet." Maharaj did not relent. They all set out in the heavy downpour and everyone was drenched. 

Maharaj laughed out loud and sang, "Indra Maharaj chale idal mein, bijli chamki badal mein!" as they made their way to Cholappa's house through Khasbaug.

One day Shri Samarth was in Khasbaug and around fifty people had gathered around Him. Maharaj said to them, "Come with me, I will show you a great being."

Everyone followed Maharaj who brought them to an anthill. After some time a great naaga, with hair on its body, appeared from the anthill and started to make its way to another place. Maharaj walked with the naaga for some distance and then said to those gathered, "Mark my words, this is a great being."

Everyone then offered namaskar to the naaga and everyone returned with Shri Samarth. 

On some days Maharaj would say, "Kugram vasti kulheen seva!" or "Sangati sangadoshena sati cha mativibhrama! Ek ratra prasangena kashtaghanta vitambana."

He sometimes said, "Laxmi majhi gand dhuvat hoti!" which translated meant "Laxmi used to wash my bum."

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

135. Taming the bull

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

One morning, a raging bull went and stood on the wellhead. Around twenty people and its owners tried the entire day to get him to climb down but they were unable to do so even till sunset. They had to be careful as they did not want him to fall into the well but when they went near him, he would shove his horns towards them angrily.

The bull's owner approached Maharaj and prayed to Him to help tame the bull. Maharaj asked, "Your bull does not allow you to come near!?"

The owner replied, "Yes Maharaj. If I go near him, he gets even more angry and moves forward to hit me."

Maharaj then went to the bull and held its ears, and, as if it was a little lamb, handed it over to his owner. From then on, the bull was always very tame.

Once two women were chatting with each other near Maharaj. One said, "Do you plan on going to Kashi for the darshan of Shri Vishweshwara?"

The other replied, "Why go to Kashi when Shri Swami Samarth is Shri Vishveshwara himself."

On hearing this Shri Swami Samarth roared with laughter and said to her, "If you are so spiritually realized to truly understand this, why are you spending time cooking bhakri at your home!?"

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

226. Narayandas' wife has a safe childbirth

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

Narayandas was a Gujarati Brahmin who was staying around Mengalai in a village called Beed-Pattan. His wife was heavily pregnant and their child was to be born any day now. 

One day a Brahmin, who was on a tirtha-yatra, arrived in the village and stayed for a few days. This Brahmin and Narayandas began conversing and they soon found themselves discussing great spiritual masters. The Brahmin said that he had seen a sadpurush yogeshwar at Akkalkot. 

On hearing this, Narayandas said, "In this Kaliyuga, many sadhus, sants, sannyasis can be found wandering as a means to provide for themselves. They do this to make a living. Does performing tricks qualify them to be called an Avatari!?"

The Brahmin, slightly offended, said, "You should refrain from ridiculing mahapurushas without reason", and then got up and left.

Just then, Narayandas' wife went into labor. The contraction was unbearable but the childbirth was complicated. Narayandas was scared for his wife and unborn child and thought to himself, "I mocked Akkalkot Swami in front of that Brahmin. Is this my punishment?"

Then convinced of his offense he offered his obeisance and prayed, "O Lord! Deliver my wife from this suffering. I surrender to You. Do not turn me away!"

Just then Maharaj, who is a karunanidhi, appeared before Narayandas.

"So, You were the one mocking me before the Brahmin weren't you!?", said Maharaj.

Narayandas pleaded, "Maharaj! Please forgive me. I committed this offense out of ignorance. Have mercy on my wife who is suffering. Show us a way out!"

Samarth said, "If you are truly in need, go to Akkalkot and offer Rudrabhishek and then offer brahmin-bhojana by spending a thousand rupees."

"If my wife safely delivers by this evening, I will surely do as you instruct", promised Narayandas.

On hearing this Maharaj suddenly disappeared from sight. Everyone present who saw this happening before their eyes were mesmerized.

That day, before sunset, a son was born to Narayandas. His wife delivered a healthy baby and she was also in good health. Narayandas' joy knew no bounds.

By the time the boy turned five months old, Narayandas had forgotten about this vow. When his wife reminded him of it, he started suddenly started behaving as if he had lost his mind. He ripped apart his clothes, began jumping around like a madman, yelled out expletives, and became a terror for his family.

His wife and mother finally, with much effort brought him to Akkalkot. When he was brought in front of Maharaj, Shri said, " Tell me! You've become arrogant! Do you want more?", and then got up and walked away.

For four months, the entire family stayed at Akkalkot and offered service to Maharaj to their fullest ability. Then slowly, but steadily, Narayandas regained his sanity and began behaving normally. He then spent a thousand rupees in offering Rudrabhishek and brahmin-bhojana to fulfill his vow. Then, with Shri Swami Samarth's blessing, he returned home with his family.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

200. Pandit gets his eye-sight

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||

There was a blind Brahmin by the name of Pandit who had been to the Jagannath Yatra. He had heard of the miracles where Shri Swami Samarth had freed people from their diseases. 

When the arrived at Akkalkot, he offered his obeisances to Maharaj and then with folded palms prayed, "Maharaj! I have come here on hearing your glories."

"You are Dattatreya Himself. You are able to destroy and recreate universes."

"I pray to you to grant me eyesight so that I may be graced by Your darshan, else, I shall end my life at Your lotus feet. This is my only desire."

He then washed Shri Swami Samarth's lotus feet. 

Shri felt great compassion for him and removed the flower garland that He was wearing and placed it around Pandit's neck. 

Pandit, elated at having received Shri Samarth's prasad, touched the flowers to his eyes. Lo and behold! His eyesight was restored. He could now see the beautiful form of Shri Swami Samarth with his own eyes. Swami was now standing, hands on His waist.

Pandit, with tears of joy in his eyes, held onto Shri's feet and glorified him. He said, "I was blind from birth but now through Your grace, I can see. Allow me to serve You!"

Then after serving Maharaj for some days with utmost love and devotion, he took Maharaj's permission and returned home.

|| Shri Swami Samarth ||