Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj

A Short Biography of Shree Swami Samarth 178
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Sadguru’s Choice of Primary Disciples
Akkalkot Nivasi Sri Swami Samarth Maharaj had initiated a number of devotees
and made them disciples. Out of these known-unknown numerous disciples, the
primary disciples who got the blessing-symbol from Sri Swamiji returned to their own
places and fluttered the banner representing devotional loyalty to Sri Swamiji. They are
as follows.
Swamisut
In Itiya village belonging to Ratnagiri District
Swamisut was born to the ‘Khot’ family. His name was
Hanbhau Tawade Khot. It was a prosperous house. For
his education he came to Mumbai. After finishing his
education he joined the Mumbai Municipality for
employment. Gajanan Khatri was his co-worker at the
time. Both joined hands and started doing some
speculation in the opium business. They suffered
heavy losses. They got into heavy debts. Hence both
of them went to Laxman Pandit whom they knew.
Laxman Pandit was a family priest of Govindrao’s
house. Govindrao was the same person whose cook
Kanojia Brahmin, by the kind favour of Sri Swami
Samarth, had unexpectedly received Rupees ten
thousand as charitable donation from the Sethani
(Govindrao’s wife).
Laxman Pandit was also in debt. When he heard the surprising story about
Kanojia Brahmin he took a vow to come to Akkalkot for Sri Swamiji’s ‘Darshan’ if his
burden of debt gets cleared within eight days. By this time both, Haribhau and Khatri
had reached Laxman Pandit’s residence and requested him that, if he stood as a
guarantor for their loan debt then he would be able to get equal share in profit, if any,
in their business venture. When Haribhau and Khatri heard the story of Kanojia Brahmin
from Pandit, they both got very impressed. Soon a miracle took place in their business.
Pandit made a profit of rupees two thousand from the business. Haribhau and Khatri
also got freed from their debt and further they also made some profit. All the three took
a vow that, till they go to Akkalkot and take the ‘Darshan’ of Sri Swamiji; they will not
accept any food.
When they reached Akkalkot Sri Swamiji was in the palace. Sri Swamiji had just
taken food and was resting. Cholappa took Sri Swamiji’s partly finished food platter and
was on his way back, when Haribhau begged for the portion of the food tasted by Sri
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