Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj
Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj
Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj
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A Short Biography of <strong>Shree</strong> <strong>Swami</strong> <strong>Samarth</strong> 219<br />
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The Tradition Of Sawarde- Dervan<br />
Gopalbua Kelkar Alias Preetinand <strong>Swami</strong>kumar<br />
Sri <strong>Swami</strong>ji had ordered his virtuous disciple<br />
‘Haribhau alias <strong>Swami</strong>sut’ to hoist the devotional flag<br />
of Sri <strong>Swami</strong> <strong>Samarth</strong> along a seacoast. Following his<br />
orders, <strong>Swami</strong>sut erected a temple of Sri <strong>Swami</strong><br />
<strong>Samarth</strong> at Kandewadi, Mumbai (Seaside near<br />
Girgaon, Mumbai) and spread the spiritual teachings<br />
of Sri <strong>Swami</strong> <strong>Samarth</strong>. Eventually, he selected a<br />
second seaside place at Chiplun, Ratnagiri District in<br />
Maharashtra. He had sent Sri <strong>Swami</strong>ji’s ‘Padukas’<br />
(Foot prints) to Chiplun in the year 1873 through<br />
Brahmachari Buwa. Bua then handed over these<br />
‘Padukas’ to a teacher and mentioned, “Our man will<br />
come and look after these later. Until then you<br />
worship these ‘Padukas’ of Sri <strong>Swami</strong>ji”.<br />
According to the predetermined<br />
arrangements, Gopalbua Kelkar erected a temple on<br />
the banks of Markandi River in Chiplun to hoist the<br />
devotional flag of Sri <strong>Swami</strong> <strong>Samarth</strong>.<br />
Gopalbua, Gopal Ramchandra Kelkar, was born in the year 1847 AD at Korle<br />
village near Rajapur Taluka, Ratnagiri District in Maharashtra. His poor living conditions<br />
only helped him study up to English third standard and therefore, he later joined the<br />
Railway Department. Due to his hard work and expertise, he soon became the Station<br />
Master and was transferred to Nagpur. There he suffered from dropsy, a stomach<br />
disorder. He had severe stomachaches and no remedy could give him any relief. The<br />
doctor advised him to go for a climate change and hence he resigned from his service<br />
and returned home. He was so frustrated with the severe stomach pain that he finally<br />
gave up and called upon God for help, “Whoever is the God of this world, if I am cured<br />
of this severe stomach pain then except for God, I shall not render service to anybody<br />
else throughout my life”. It was a great wonder that within eight days of this keen<br />
prayer, he started getting relief from the severe pain.<br />
He then decided to go to Akkalkot and get the blessings of Sri <strong>Swami</strong> <strong>Samarth</strong>,<br />
but he had no money. By lying to his family members, he somehow managed to reach<br />
Akkalkot. He only had five paise with him at that time. With that money, he purchased<br />
two dried dates and visited the shelter of Sri <strong>Swami</strong>ji. As soon as he was graced with<br />
the blessings of Sri <strong>Swami</strong>ji, he lost his consciousness. He stayed in Akkalkot living on<br />
food provided by people and continued rendering service to Sri <strong>Swami</strong> <strong>Samarth</strong>. Once<br />
Sri <strong>Swami</strong>ji appeared in his dream, touched his stomach with his hands and said, “I<br />
shall cure your illness”. Gopalbua suddenly woke up from his dream. He then passed<br />
Copyright © 2006 <strong>Shree</strong> Vitthalrao Joshi Charities Trust
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