Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj

A Short Biography of Shree Swami Samarth 202
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The Tradition Of Swaroop Sampradaya – Shree Beedkar Maharaj
Akkalkot Niwasi Sri Swami Samarth Maharaj had
ordered his most able and enthusiastic disciple Shree
Sadguru Beedkar Maharaj to propagate further the
Swaroop Sampradaya, by staying in Pune,
Maharashtra, Shree Beedkar Maharaj was the
youngest disciple of Sri Swamiji by age, but seniormost
in spiritual accomplishment. He was born on 22 nd
November 1839, in the family of a Rigvedi Brahmin.
He was very intelligent, fair skinned with bright
lustrous eyes, a charming slim body stature, and an
impressive personality.
His father worked as one of the trusted
employees of the wealthy peshwai of Pune. By
misfortune, Ramanand lost his father at a tender age
of seven. The British rulers at that time offered a
pension of two hundred rupees to his mother Gangutai
, but she declined to accept it on the grounds of self-respect and her resolve not
to subsist on the help of foreigners.
From early childhood, Ramanand had a great attraction towards the worship of
God. One particular year, he and his friends planned and started their journey towards
Pandharpur. However, after walking for some distance his friends got tired and
foreseeing the difficulties in their journey they returned, but Ramanand continued his
journey alone on foot and finally reached Pandharpur.
In Pandharpur, there was a huge crowd of pilgrims everywhere around the
temple. Overwhelmed with the huge crowd, Ramanand felt he would never be able to
get the Divine sight of Lord Vithoba; he became totally helpless and started to cry.
Miraculously, Lord Vithoba himself, disguised as a temple priest took hold of
Ramanand’s hand and walked him to the innermost part of the temple very near to the
idol of Lord Vithoba. He arranged for his ‘Darshan’ of Lord Vithoba, grabbed one of the
garlands from the idol of Lord Vithoba, and put it on Ramanand’s neck. Afterwards, the
priest took him out of the temple in open space, left him there, and then suddenly
disappeared.
Once Ramanand had been to Saptashringee Hill near Nasik, Maharashtra, for
having the ‘Darshan’ of Goddess Saptashringee. Then miracle took place. The Veeda,
which was placed in the mouth of Goddess Saptashringee, fell down in the hands of
Ramanand. It was a miracle, since this Veeda never had fallen down in the past. The
devotees standing there clapped their hands for this miracle and had respected
Ramanand saying, “You are a great devotee and the Goddess has blessed you”.
Copyright © 2006 Shree Vitthalrao Joshi Charities Trust