Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj

A Short Biography of Shree Swami Samarth 151
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Tutelary Deity
From the viewpoint of accomplishment, there are three kinds of deity’s - Kul- devata,
Upasya- devata and Ishta- devata.
A particular deity worshipped by a family through successive generations is
called as a Kul-devata or Family deity. Thus family deity becomes the protector of the
family and man worships this deity for the well being of his family.
When a Guru advises a family to worship a particular deity, that deity becomes
the Upasya devata or Adorable deity of the family. From this deity, man makes
progress in his life. Through worship he pleases the deity and makes progress on the
path of accomplishment.
The deity, whom man sincerely worships in his heart, is called Ishta devata or
Tutelary deity. To attain this deity, man offers everything that belongs to him and gets
contended. Through this deity man elevates to a higher level, which leads him to
prosperity.
For a devotee, all these three deity’s might be one and the same or different.
Whether a devotee gains protection from his family deity (Kul devata), or makes
progress in life through his adorable deity (Upasya devata), still he does not get
happiness till he sees his tutelary deity (Ishta devata). Though the same principle is
inherent in all the deity’s, due of the attachment to the external attributes, man likes
his tutelary deity. This entirely depends on one’s wish or personal inclination.
Sri Swamiji himself was the incarnation of Lord Dattatreya, the Divine Lord, the
Supreme Spirit. However, a number of devotees, even after obtaining the kind grace of
Sri Swamiji, were earnestly longing on to their tutelary deity. Hence to expel this
diversity of sentiment and to infuse a sense of oneness in the minds of these devotees,
Sri Swamiji would grace them with a vision of Him appearing in the form of their
tutelary deity or Ishta devata.
Darshan of Lord Vitthal
There was a young ascetic of the Maratha community in Mangalvedha. He had
an earnest desire for the ‘Darshan’ of his tutelary deity, Lord Vitthal184. Sri Swamiji
advised him “Go to the holy place Dwaraka and stay there making small pieces of the
earthen tiles matching the size of copper coin 242 . Then you will get the ‘Darshan’ of Lord
Vitthal”. Therefore, the young ascetic went to Dwaraka and started making small pieces
of the earthen tiles. Lord Vitthal graced him ‘Darshan’ three times.
242 In this context: A coper coin in circulation during those time equal to the sixty -fourth part of a rupee.
Copyright © 2006 Shree Vitthalrao Joshi Charities Trust