Swami Samarth Maharaj

Akkalkot Niwasi Shri Swami Samartha (Marathi: अक्लकोट नीवासी श्री स्वामी समर्थ महाराज), also known as Swami Samartha Maharaj, Swami Maharaj is a household word in Maharashtra and the region around.He is believed to be from the tradition of several sages in the Dattatreya sampradaya.

His Tradition

Shri Swami Smaratha comes from the age-old guru tradition of the Dattatreya sampradaya.Also a different form of famous Nath Sampradaya. The main chanting mantra of this tradition is :

गुरुर्ब्रम्हा गुरुर्विष्णु गुरुर्देवो महेश्वराः | गुरुः साक्षात्परब्रम्ह तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ||

Shri Swami Samartha is believed to be the incarnation of Shri Narasimha Saraswati, who in turn is the believed incarnation of Shri Shripad Shrivallabha. Although not much is known about Shri Shripad Shrivallabha, the life story of Shri Narasimha Saraswati is well documented.

The biography of Shrimad Nrusimha Saraswati in "Shree Gurucharitra", gives us the details of his work in guiding the devotees and the various miracles he performed to help the devotees. He stayed at Ganagapur (Karnataka State, Southern India) for a long time and then gave his "Nirguna Padukas" to his disciples and devotees, before leaving for the Kardali forests to perform Tapas [penance] .

Early Life of Swami Maharaj

The early life of Swami Samarth like that of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba is shrouded with mystery. For that matter, even Shri Shirdi Sai Baba's advent and early life has not been established. Yet it does not really matter for those who have faith in Him and continue to experience his benevolence in different ways.

Shri Narasimha Saraswati, about four centuries before the advent of Swami Samarth is believed to be the earlier incarnation of Shri Dattatreya. The 'Guru Charitra' one of the most famous books gives lot of information about Him. As per the most popular belief, Shri Narasimha Swami, after helping and spiritually uplifting a large number of people over a few decades, went away to the Himalayas for penance and went into Samadhi. In the Samadhi state He remained for about three hundred years. With the passage of time a huge anthill grew over him and he was lost to the outside world. One day accidentally a woodcutter’s axe fell on the bushes grown around the ant hill. He was shocked to find blood stains on the blade of the axe. He cleared the anthill and Lo, he found a Yogi in meditation. The Yogi slowly opened his eyes and consoled the dumbfounded woodcutter saying that it was the Divine Will for Him to re-appear in the world to resume His mission.

This Yogi, in his new role came to be known as Swami Samarth. Prior to his settlement at Akkalkot, Swami Samarth seems to have visited far and wide. While moving in the Himalayan region he visited places like Puri, Benaras, Hardwar, Girnar, Kathiawad and Rameswaram in the South. He also stayed at Mangalvedha, a town near Pandharpur in Solapur district Maharashtra, which had been inhabited earlier by famous saints like Domojipant and Chokhamela. He came to Akkalkot in 1856 where he continued his physical existence for 22 years.

He came to Akkalkot on the invitation of one Chintopant Tol and stayed at a place on the outskirts of the town.

His Disciples

Here he enlightened many disciples, such as Shree Dev Mamledar, Shree Balappa Maharaj, Shree Cholappa Maharaj, Shree Nrusimha Saraswati Maharaj of Alandi, Shree Ramanand Beedkar Maharaj of Pune etc.

Japa and Namasmaran

Following japa / namasmaran (repetition/chanting) is done: ॥अवधूतचिंतन श्री गुरुदेव दत्त॥ (Avadhootachintan Shri Gurudeva Datta)

॥श्री स्वामी समर्थ, जय जय स्वामी समर्थ॥ (Shri Swami Samartha, Jai Jai Swami Samartha)

Mahasamaadhi

Shree Swami Samarth one day suddenly announced that the time had come for him to go out of his physical existence. By Hindu calendar it was Chaitra Vadya Trayodashi of Hindu year 1800, i.e. April 30, 1878 AD, Tuesday at 4 PM. At this time he seated himself in Padmasana (Lotus Posture) and uttered his last words - "no one should weep I shall always be present at all places and I shall respond to every call of the devotees." The great sage adopted MahaSamadhi [the last conscious communion with God] under his favourite Banyan tree.

The divine game (leela) of Shree Swami Samarth did not end with his Maha Samadhi (shedding his mortal coil). His devotees continue to experience the miracles of his visible and invisible help even till today.

His assurance

"Fear not , I am always with you!!" (Marathi: भिऊ नकोस मी तुझ्या पाठीशी आहे ).

He says, "Surrender your ego and offer your unconditional love and I will fill you with immortal bliss"..

Devotee Beliefs

#It is believed by his devotees that Shri Narasimha Saraswati performed rigorous tapasya [penance] on the Shree Shail mountain in the Kardali forests for nearly 150 years. After this he took an extensive pilgrimage, covering even places, now known as Jawa, Sumatra, Indonesia, China, Japan, Australia etc., relieved many people from their miseries, and guided them on the spiritual path. Finally, he came to the ranges of Himalayas where he enlightened many devotees. Later he sat under a Deodar tree for tapasya [penance] . This Tapasya [penance] in the Himalayas lasted for nearly 250 years, but a woodcutter unknowingly axed the anthill enveloping the body of Shrimad Nrusimha Saraswati. This resulted in the break in Tapasya [penance] and Shrimad Nrusimha Saraswati then left for an extensive travel throughout the Indian sub-continent guiding the devotees. During this travel, he became popular by various names at various places. Thus at one place he was known as Chanchal Bharati and at another place he would be called Digambar Swami. As he travelled and stayed at various places, he became the Guru (preceptor) of many great souls like Shree Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Shree Sai Baba of Shirdi, Shree Shankar Maharaj, Shree Gajajan Maharaj of Shegaon etc. Finally he settled down at Akkalkot(Maharashtra State) and stayed there for 24 years from 1854 A.D. to 1878 A.D. and thus came to be known as the Akkalkot Niwasi Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj (the great sage of Akkalkot).
#Devotees believe that he is an incarnation of Lord Dattatreya the name of this spiritual master, popularly called Swami Samarth. He is revered as the teacher of all spiritual teachers (gurunam guruh) i.e. guru of gurus. He is a direct incarnation of Supreme Consciousness or Para-brahma. Shri Swami Samarth has adorned a human garment merely to grant benedictions and blessings on all who come in contact with him. He is measureless compassion and limitless ananda (bliss). He radiates unalloyed love and his heart melts at the faintest trace of unconditional devotion for God. Shri Swami Samartha can instantly grant incessant supreme divine joy on whomever he chooses. Devotees still experience his divine presence and feel reassured because of his quote "I have not gone, I am still present" (Hindi: हम गया नही, जींदा है).

References

Publications of All India Shri Swami Samarth Seva & spiritual Development Merg (Dindori Pranit)
* [http://www.divyajanani.org/saibharadwaja/books/ReadBook.asp?PNo=SW0001 The life story of Swami Samarth: "Supreme Master" written by Acharya Sri Ekkirala Bharadwaja]
*"The Sumpreme Master" (Swamy Samartha's Comprehensive Biography) [http://www.saimaster.com/Books/ReadBooks_English.html online] .
*"Shri Dattatreya Dnyankosh" by Dr. P. N. Joshi (Shri Dattateya Dnyankosh Prakashan, Pune, 2000).
*"Datta-Sampradyacha Itihas" ("History of Datta Sampradaya") by Dr. R. C. Dhere (Padmagnadha Prakashan, Pune).
* [http://www.swamisamarth.com/swamicharitra/swamicharitra.html English Biography (Charitra) of Akkalkot Niwasi Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj]
*"Shri GuruCharitra" (Sri Gurucharitra) (new, abbreviated version) [http://www.rasik.com/cgi_bin/display_online_book.cgi?bookId=ob8&lang=marathi online] .
*"Shri GuruCharitra" (Sri GuruCharitra) [http://www.saidarbar.org/glory/glory4.htm see point 2] on this page to see the difference between modern and old Shri Guru-Charitra.
*"Shri Akkalkotniwasi Swami Maharaj yanche Charitra" by G. V. Mulekar
*"Shri Akkalkot Swami Maharaj Charitra" by R. S. Sahasrabuddhe
* [http://www.dhoomley.com/meemarathi/Mantra%20Sangrah/Swaami%20samarth%20Aarti.htm Swami Samarth's Aarti]
* [http://www.divyajanani.org/saibharadwaja/books/Readbook.asp?PNo=AM0000 The life story of Swami Samarth in Telugu, by Acharya Sri Ekkirala Bharadwaja] jai jai swami samarth jai jai swami samarthTHE GLIMPSE OF DIVINITY BY SHREE MUKUND HANUMANTE

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