ShreeSwami.org Dedicated to Shri Swami Samarth of Akkalkot, Sadguru, Perfect Master.

Childless couple

A childless Brahmin couple was visiting temples and holy shrines all over Maharashtra. They were on the look out for blessings by which they could have children. They came to Kolhapur to pay their respects to Swami. Swami explicitly told them, "Due to very serious sins in your past life, you will not have any children". Disappointed, but not disheartened, the couple started visiting other holy places, meeting other holy people. They finally reached Ratnagiri. The people there directed them to Venimadhava. Venimadhava blessed them. He promised them a son within a year. Gently he said to them, "My Swami is very kind. He can do and undo anything and everything on this earth. With his divine powers and blessings, your wish will be fulfilled. Go to Kolhapur and serve him". With hopes raised, the couple went back to Kolhapur to meet Swami. Before the couple could restate their case, Swami said, "I give you what he has promised". Within a year, a bonny baby boy was born to the now joyous couple. Thus Swami altered the course of destiny of the couple to fulfill the promise made by one of his dearest disciples.

Scholar of Vedanta

At Kolhapur there was a famous Brahmin scholar of Vedanta (interpretation of philosophy revealed in the Vedas). He had a young son whose name was Vyas. Vyas had learned Vedanta from his father and had in fact mastered it. He was so well versed on the subject and was such a beautiful orator that he was invited to give discourses at various religious meetings. He would usually talk of the relationship of the Atman (soul) with the Parmatama (God), their main characteristics being nirakara (without form) and niraguna (without criterion), and how they pervade the entire creation. Since Vyas had no spiritual experiences, after a while he got bored preaching the same old sermons.

Vyas happened to meet an illiterate man in his neighborhood who often visited Alandi, the shrine of the famous Saint Dnyaneshwar who lived in the 11th century and wrote Dnyaneshwari - the poetical interpretation of the Bhagwat Geeta in the Marathi language. In a casual conversation, the man described that on sincere prayers the saint would appear before him and guide him on the spiritual path. This advice perplexed Vyas as it was six hundred years since Dnyaneshwar had taken live Samadhi He wondered how the saint could give him an audience or dispense advice to him - impossible, unimaginable. Vyas then asked other people for advice but was not satisfied. He, therefore, decided that if someone else directs him to Alandi, he would take it as a hint for him to visit the shrine of Saint Dnyaneshwar.

Yet somebody else guided him to meet Swami. As he entered the mathi, Swami said to him, "You must visit Alandi". This left Vyas astounded as he had not even asked Swami for his advice, but had already received it.

The young man immediately went to Alandi. He sat under the sacred Ajanavriksha (tree) and started reading the Dnyaneshwari religiously. A month passed thus. Nothing happened - no dream, no spiritual experience, saint Dnyaneshwar did not appear.

One day, a devotee approached Vyas and requested him for some spiritual guidance. He said, "Sir, you seem to be a devout and learned man. I see that you are undergoing hard penance. For the past twelve years, I have been praying to Saint Dnyaneshwar. I regularly visit his shrine. Please guide me so that he may give me an audience". Immediately Vyas retorted, "Visualize saint Dnyaneshwar's image in front of your eyes and chant his name with full devotion. He will definitely appear before you". The next morning, the grateful and exuberant devotee came running to him. He said, "Sir, I am deeply grateful for your advice. I obeyed your instructions. At night, saint Dnyaneshwar appeared in my dream along with his brothers Nivruti and Sopan, and his sister Mukta". You can well imagine the state of Vyas' mind. He was shell-shocked. He had given the advice only to get rid of the devotee who was wasting his valuable time. And on his advice, he had already had a spiritual experience! Perhaps his devotion was more sincere.

Vyas then thought that perhaps he needed to go inside the shrine and pray. Thus he started walking towards the shrine temple. While walking, he started to think that "God is everywhere and so is Dnyaneshwar. Thus, he is right besides me. So, is it really necessary to go inside?" As he walked to the entrance, the doorkeeper stopped him and said, "Why do you need to go inside. You can as well see it from outside". Vyas started to think, "Although I have had no spiritual experience, yet I simply know that God is everywhere. Henceforth, I shall chant saint Dnyaneshwar's name with full devotion. Today onwards, I shall stop eating and drinking till the saint guides me onto the spiritual path". A week passed thus. Saint Dnyaneshwar appeared in his dream and said, "Now wind up your penance. Go to Kolhapur and serve Shri Krishna Saraswati Swami. He is Hanuman himself".

Vyas' joy knew no bounds. It was noon when he returned to Kolhapur and entered the mathi. Swami embraced him, "Come my son. Since Saint Dnyaneshwar has sent you, I must do your work". Swami sat besides Vyas and lovingly fed him lunch with his own hands. Vyas was very dear to Swami who lovingly called him shendephal (an endearing term used to address the youngest child of a family).

A devotee of Shri Samartha Ramdas

A resident of Kolhapur was Swami's devotee. He regularly visited the mathi. One day, he had a guest - a priest who was the devotee of Shri Samartha Ramdas. The priest was also a scholar and gave religious discourses. When the host prepared to set out for his daily visit to the mathi, the guest inquired where he was going. The host told his guest about Swami. The guest immediately said, "There cannot be anybody like Shri Samartha Ramdas, but nevertheless I shall come with you". On the way he purchased a coconut to offer to Swami but mentally he thought, "What a waste!"

They entered the mathi. The priest offered the coconut to Swami who immediately retorted, "Your coconut is wasted. Alas! I am not Shri Samartha Ramdas". The priest was rendered dumbstruck. He apologized profusely to Swami who smiled mischievously and said, "It is true I am not Ramdas. But Ramdas was an incarnation of Lord Hanuman. And I am Hanuman! See my tail". Swami turned around and showed his tail. He turned around again and lo behold! All present at the mathi saw a giant monkey - Lord Hanuman - sitting on the 'throne'. He exuded an extremely bright divine glow of light. All present were not only stunned but also trembling at this divine sight. Within a moment, the scene resumed normalcy and all present were relieved. The priest was deeply satisfied. He bowed to Swami with a newfound reverence and with full devotion offered him the coconut.

Swami's Rudra Abhisheka

'Rudra Abhisheka' is a ritual wherein water, milk or sugarcane juice is poured continuously on the Shiva Linga while the priests chant the Rudra mantra. During this process, the number of priests who chant the sacred mantras is in the multiple of eleven.

One day, a devotee invited eleven learned priests to the mathi to conduct the ritual of 'rudra abhisheka' on Swami's feet. The priests who came started grumbling for various reasons. One priest said it was wrong to conduct such a high ritual at a mere mortal's feet. Another priest was furious that he had been invited to perform such a high liturgical ritual at a prostitute's house. Yet another priest remarked that they should ignore such petty matters as long as they were paid their fees.

The priests started the ritual ceremony. Swami, who could not recite the simple 'Gayatri' mantra at his thread ceremony, now started chanting the difficult 'Rudra' mantra. To the astonishment of the priests, Swami pronounced each word correctly with scientific notations.

At the end of this ceremony, all the priests surrendered to Swami who revealed, "Your abhisheka has reached the feet of Lord Panduranga. Since Lord Shiva lies on his head, it has reached him too". This left the priests amazed as Swami was referring to the crown of Lord Panduranga at Pandharpur that has the shape of a shivalinga.

Jatarat

A sanyasi from North India came to Kolhapur. Here, he lived at the temple dedicated to Goddess Amba. He remained naked. He never asked for alms. He came to be known as Jatarat.

On the request of the local people, Jatarat started to cover his loins with a cloth. When devotees offered him milk, he would drink a drop and distribute the rest to the needy children. He never accepted eatables. Nevertheless, if someone offered eatables, he would immediately give it away to the beggars. If devotees forced him to eat, he would not be able to retain the food in his body. He would immediately vomit it out. He was evolved in many yoga techniques. He could even take his organs such as the liver, intestines and other parts out of his body wash them and place them again in their place.

People were highly impressed with this young yogi. Soon he had a large following of devotees who would gather around him and listen to his advice. One evening, a very excited Jatarat asked his devotees seated around him, "Do you all want to meet a yogi who is a Paramahansa?" Literally the word 'paramahansa' means the supreme swan (a symbol of spiritual discrimination). The title signifies one who manifests the supreme state of unbroken communion with God. Everyone present replied an equally excited "Yes". Jatarat at once got up and started walking. His devotees followed suit. Jatarat must have covered a small distance when he saw Swami with his devotees coming towards him. Jatarat rushed towards Swami and bowed reverentially to him. When he got up, he whispered something to Swami who whispered a reply to him. Jatarat was heard saying to Swami, "Thanks! This was the exact point where I was stuck in my yogic progress". Jatarat was tall and strong, Swami was short and frail. Jatarat and Swami embraced each other. In all the excitement, Jatarat picked up Swami joyously. Then both parted ways.

The moment Swami departed from the scene, chaos and confusion prevailed amongst Jatarat's devotees. They bombarded him with angry questions, "You are a pious sanyasi, while he is a fool. Why did you bow to him?" "He stays with a prostitute". "Only stupid people visit him". "You promised to show us a paramahansa".

Jatarat placed his hands on his ears and shut them. He could not bear to hear blasphemous statements darted towards Swami. When he could not bear any longer, he yelled, "Shiva! Shiva! You all are criticizing a great man. He is God himself staying in your city in human disguise. And all of you are ignorant of the fact. Fools, you all are so ignorant! Surrender to him! Get your life's dreams fulfilled by him".

Lord Vithoba visits Swami

A sanyasi, presumably from the Himalayas, visited the mathi in the early morning hours. He was young and handsome. He entered, went straight to where Swami was seated and stood in front of him. He asked Swami a question in Sanskrit. Swami replied back in Sanskrit. He then lay down in front of Swami, turning on the side, facing Swami and then using his hand as a headrest propped himself up. He kept on staring straight at Swami without so much as blinking his eyelids. Evening set in, he did not stir from that place. The other devotees irritated at this behavior asked Swami if they should move him to a corner. Swami would not allow them.

Three days and three nights passed thus. The young sanyasi remained in the same position. Devotees again requested Swami to allow them to move the sanyasi. Swami whispered something to the sanyasi who immediately got up and departed from the room. Swami gave a disgusted look at his devotees and said, "Pandharinath (Head of Pandharpur known by several names - Lord Vithal, Panduranga, Vithoba) was here and you all did not so much as offered him anything to eat or drink as prasad'. Devotees rushed out in different directions but he had disappeared without trace. How could he have disappeared within a couple of seconds? Seeing his devotees' crestfallen faces, Swami laughed and said, "Okay. We will bring him back". Within a fraction of a second, the young man reappeared and bowed to Swami who gave him prasad. All the devotees bowed to him and then he made his exit.

Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda, the foremost disciple of Ramkrishna Paramahansa visited Swami at the mathi at Kolhapur. Swami blessed him with the boon of vacha siddhi. This boon meant that all he spoke would come true and his speech would be so impressive that the listeners would be convinced of his point of view. After receiving this blessing, Swami Vivekananda was the first Hindu monk from India to ever visit the United States of America. He addressed 'the Parliament of Religions' at Chicago on September 11, 1893. He addressed a select audience of nearly 7,000 enlightened representatives of different branches of American thought who were thrilled to hear his message and welcomed him with sustained and thunderous applause. He charmed the audiences with his magical oratory, and left an indelible mark on America's spiritual development. History has recorded Swami Vivekananda's speech for posterity.

Dada Pandit

Dada Pandit was a resident of Kolhapur. He used to visit the mathi occasionally. He had however no faith in Swami and never bowed to him. He just could not fathom why ignorant people bow to a mere mortal being. Dada Pandit soon lost his wife. He then remarried. A ghost however possessed his new wife. She suffered immensely. She would often cry out and urge her husband, "Take me to Swami at Kumbhar lane". But Dada Pandit would turn a deaf ear to all her pleadings.

Dada however took his wife to Wadi. His wife's pain increased terribly. The ghost within her body told him, "Take me to the Swami at Kumbhar lane or I'll trouble her more". Dada was just not convinced. They stayed put at Wadi for three more days. On the third night, Shri Narasimha Saraswati appeared in Dada's dream and said, "Your problem will not be resolved here. Take your wife back to Kolhapur. I am living there as Shri Krishna Saraswati Swami. I will only help you there".

The next morning when Dada woke up, the ghost who possessed his wife laughed hysterically and said, "Now take me to Swami or I'll trouble her more". His wife then started crying due to severe pain.

Dada was left with no choice but to return to Kolhapur and take his wife to the mathi. Ashamed of his earlier haughty behavior, he bowed humbly to Swami and said, "O Lord! Please forgive me for not recognizing you. We are ignorant beings. The veil of illusion that you draw over our eyes keeps us away from recognizing the truth for what it is. Sir, you are the ocean of kindness. Please forgive me! Please help and cure my wife. We have come to surrender at your feet. It is well known that those who surrender to you, their wishes are fulfilled". Swami looked at Dada's wife with kindness. The ghost left her immediately and she recovered fully. The couple then became ardent devotees of Swami.

It may be noted that Dada Pandit was the maternal great-grandfather of Guruvarya Shri Madhav Saraswati

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