Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj

A Short Biography of Shree Swami Samarth 183
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Srikrishna Saraswati-Kumbhar Swami
A Brahmin named Appa Bhat Joshi lived in Nandani
Village, Kolhapur District. His wife’s name was
‘Annapurna’. He was very satisfied with his life and
decided to go to Nrusinhawadi Dattakshetra 275 , to
render devotional service. Dattaguru, Himself appeared
in his dream as a Brahmin and blessed him saying, “I
will myself take birth in this world through your wife,
Annapurna.”
During the year 1835, Srikrishna took birth
in Nandani village. The astrologer prepared the
horoscope and said, “This child will become a great
saint. People may consider him as a mad person, but
he will become an emancipator to this world. He will
remain a bachelor and lead people on the right path”.
During his childhood, Srikrishna was very mischievous and often disappointed
his mother with his childish pranks. To make him wise a thread ceremony was
conducted, but they still did not see any improvement in his nature. One day Srikrishna
went alone to a place called Maugasuli to visit and take blessings of the family deity,
Khandoba 276 . At Maugasuli he vowed not to intake any food until he gets the actual
‘Darshan’ of Lord Khandoba in indisputable real form. Impressed with the true devotion
of this little boy, Lord Khandoba manifested Himself in front of Srikrishna. Lord
Khandoba placed His bountiful hands on the head of Srikrishna and said, “You are none
other than a part of me. Lord Dattatrey Himself has incarnated as Sri Swami Samarth in
Akkalkot, so go and take the ‘Darshan’ of Sri swami Samarth”.
When Srikrishna reached Akkalkot, Sri Swamiji took hold of his little hands and
guided him into a deep forest. There, Sri Swamiji initiated Srikrishna and blessed him.
Srikrishna went into absolute trance continuously for seven days after initiation. Sri
Swamiji then awakened him from this trance and instructed him to go to Kolhapur and
settle there. During his stay with Sri Swamiji, he gave Srikrishna a ‘prasad’ of the
sweetmeat prepared from ‘Choorma’.
A Brahmin suffering from leprosy was rendering devotional service to Lord
Dattatrey at the holy place of Ganagapur. He had a visionary intuition and therefore
came to Akkalkot to take blessings from Sri Swamiji. Sri Swamiji then ordered him
saying, “You must accompany Srikrishna to Kolhapur and render service to Srikrishna.
Your mental wish will be fulfilled then”. The leper Brahmin thus accompanied Srikrishna
to Kolhapur and stayed there to render service to him. Srikrishna later liberated him
from the disease of leprosy.
275 Nrusinhawadi Dattakshetra: A holy place of Lord Dattatreya
276 Khandoba: another name of Lord Shiva.
Copyright © 2006 Shree Vitthalrao Joshi Charities Trust