Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj

A Short Biography of Shree Swami Samarth 214
_________________________________________________________________________________________
expressed gratefulness for the knowledge and skill of those Brahmins and honoured
them generously.
Along with his fiery religious devotion, Shree Maharaj also had a
burning loyalty towards his country. A glimpse of patriotism was prominent in
his expressions, words and conduct. He initiated a custom of celebrating the
nations Independence Day as well as the Republic Day in the samadhi mandir
by hoisting the National Flag. He was also involved in the ‘1942 freedom
movement’. He went from village to village awakening nationalism amongst
people and carry out agitation in a secret way. When ‘SwaatantryaVeer’’
(freedom fighter) Sawarkar visited Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, Shree Maharaj
went to meet and discuss with him. This very national inspiration in him
manifested the creation of the ‘Shiv-Samarth Gad’ (Fort) at Dervan, Chiplun
Taluka (Subdivision) of Ratnagiri District, Maharashtra State in future.
In parallel to the work at the samadhi mandir of Sadguru Shree Baba Maharaj
Sahasrabuddhe in Pune, Shree Maharaj also managed the workload at Dervan as his
field of work.
A great saint Shree Sant Digambarbaba Wahalkar resided in a neighbouring
village in Chiplun, Ratnagiri District. Shree Maharaj had an old acquaintance with this
saint who belonged to the tradition of Akkalkotnivasi Sri Swami Samarth Maharaj.
Shree Maharaj also had great love towards Shree Sant Seetarambua Walavalkar, a
disciple of Shree Digambarbaba Vahalkar. Shree Sadguru Baba Maharaj had entrusted
upon him the responsibility of looking after Shree Sitarambua. Hence he often visited
Sawarde village and rendered service to Shree Seetarambua. On observing that Shree
Seetarambua faced a lot of difficulties in Sawarde he purchased some land for him in
Dervan, built a house and also made arrangements for agriculture.
Shree Maharaj formed the “Shreesant Seetarambua Walawalkar
Charitable Trust” and determinedly carried out large and important social
activities through this trust. He purchased lot of land in the vicinity. The rich
moneylenders, Muslims and political leaders, were harassing the poor people in the
area. The trust provided the poor people with free food, clothing and blankets through
this Trust. The poor people were also provided employment and free of charge Medical
facility. They were taught new methods of cultivating lands and Shree Maharaj tried his
best to get rid of their bad habits. He also encouraged their children in the field of
education. He provided them notebooks and other school necessities, free of charge.
Since their houses thatched by straw, leaked during monsoon, Shree Maharaj arranged
for roofing thousands of such houses with Mangalore tiles, all free of charge. There was
a shortage of water in the nearby villages therefore, the Trust organized tankers from
Chiplun, 20 Kms away and supplied water to the villagers.
By satisfying these daily necessities of the poor, Shree Maharaj desired
to create consciousness in them for the love and devotion towards their
religion and nation. This sent a shocking wave of disapproval amongst the selfish
people in the region, when their methods of exploiting the poor started to fail. They
utilized various means of harassing the trust and Shree Maharaj by creating mischief
Copyright © 2006 Shree Vitthalrao Joshi Charities Trust