Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj

A Short Biography of Shree Swami Samarth 189
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Cholappa
On his arrival at Akkalkot, Sri Swamiji remained at the City gate for 3-4 days
with his childish behaviour. The commander of cavalry present at the City gate took Sri
Swamiji as a crazy person and tried to make fun of him. He gave him a small smoking
pipe without tobacco along with fire to start the smoke. To his surprise, when he saw
smoke coming out of the empty smoking pipe he understood that the concerned person
(Sri Swamiji) has to be a great saint. Hence he immediately told about this to Cholappa
who stayed nearby and asked him to prepare food for Sri Swamiji. From then on, Sri
Swamiji started staying with Cholappa in his house.
Cholappa firmly believed that Sri Swamiji was a great saint and hence he
obediently attended Sri Swamiji and took good care of him. However, Sri Swamiji put
Cholappa to real test by troubling his wife, Yesubai and his children, Krishnappa and
Appa. Sri Swamiji would pick the grains from their house and feed the cows. He would
pick up cooked food and give it away to some beggar. He would relax anywhere in the
house. He would childishly extinguish a burning hearth. Because of these acts from Sri
Swamiji, Yesubai considered him as a mad-man and also cursed Cholappa for giving
him such importance. In spite of all these hindrances, his towards Sri Swamiji grew by
each day. One day when Sri Swamiji started from his home, Cholappa also followed
him. Sri Swamiji spoke in anger, “I am an ascetic. Do not follow me. Go home and take
care of your family”. Nevertheless, Cholappa earnestly replied, “I will give up my home
and hearth, but I will not give up your lotus feet”. Impressed with his devotion, Sri
Swamiji blessed him and gave him Padukas for worshipping.
Cholappa started worshipping the Padukas given by Sri Swamiji. Many people
facing difficulties in life started to visit and get blessings. Cholappa started getting
donations and monetary gifts from these devotees. The King of Akkalkot also became a
devotee of Sri Swamiji and started providing for food and other necessities on a daily
basis. He also provided for a five rupee monetary gift on a monthly basis to Cholappa.
Soon Cholappa began to get some relief from his poverty. Sri Swamiji started visiting
other devotees at their houses and accepted the food offered by these devotees as
‘naivedya’. Even after this progress, Sri Swamiji troubled Cholappa’s family members in
a number of ways. However, Cholappa always maintained his loyalty and devotion
towards Sri Swamiji.
With the increase in the fame of Sri Swamiji, they brought a lady named
Sundarabai for rendering service to Sri Swamiji. Sundarabai was hard working and took
control of everyone around with her sweet talks. She complained against Cholappa to
the Queen of Akkalkot and arranged for his removal from the service of Sri Swamiji.
Until this time, Cholappa had made thousands of rupees in his service to Sri Swamiji.
Nevertheless, even Sri Swamiji was now annoyed due to his greed for money. One day
when Sri Swamiji was relaxing in Khasbaug, a big crowd of devotees had gathered for is
‘Darshan’. Sri Swamiji made a small pouch from a piece of cloth and started repeating
Alakh 285 . This word is normally used by Gosavis when they beg for alms. The devotees
285 Alakh : Name of Brahma, the creator of universe.
Copyright © 2006 Shree Vitthalrao Joshi Charities Trust