Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj

A Short Biography of Shree Swami Samarth 220
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plenty of urine and was cured of his severe illness forever. Gopalbua had the habit of
smoking tobacco. One day he woke up early dawn and got a strong urge to smoke
tobacco. But he could not find it anywhere. He saw a lamp lit near the place where Sri
Swamiji was sleeping. He went there and started burning a thin rope. Sri Swamiji
suddenly woke up and Gopalbua started trembling. He prostrated at the feet of Sri
Swamiji and prayed “Kindly shower your mercy on this humble servant”. Sri Swamiji
happily initiated Gopalbua. Gopalbua became fully gratified. .
Gopalbua had left his house to go to Akkalkot without informing his family and
therefore, they had become very anxious. When his wife came to know that he is in
Akkalkot, she immediately travelled to Akkalkot in search of her husband. Sri Swamiji
brought her and Bua together and then ordered Bua “There is a place called Markandi
near Chiplun, Maharashtra. A Brahmacharibua has installed my Padukas. You must stay
there and worship those ‘Padukas’. Take your wife along with you and set up a family”.
Sri Swamiji blessed them and gave two coconuts and one dried date as Prasad. After
these orders from Sri Swamiji, Gopalbua left Akkalkot, stayed with Swamisut in Mumbai
for a few days and then went to Chiplun along with his wife.
During those days, Markandi was place surrounded with thick forests. Gopalbua
settled in such a place along with his wife. Every Thursday, he would collect alms in the
form of rice, rice-gruel and prepare their food. He would then get himself fully
engrossed in the devotion of Sri Swamiji. Over time, people learnt about this place and
started visiting. A number of people had their difficulties resolved with the grace of Sri
Swamiji. A temple was then built with the cooperation of these people.
With the kind grace of Sri Swamiji, Gopalbua soon became a father to two sons
and one daughter. Sri Swamiji had named Bua as Preetinand Swamikumar. Following
his name, Preetinand was totally absorbed in the happiness that flowed from his
affection towards Sri Swamiji and rendered service with single-minded devotion. He
took samadhi in the year 1929. His Samadhi-tomb was constructed in the temple itself.
Gopalbua composed two devotional scripts- ‘Karuna Stotra’ and
‘Sadhana Vivek Saramrit’ in poetic form using the name of Preetinand Swami
Kumar. He also compiled all the known miracles of Sri Swamiji in his book
“Bakhar (historical annals) of Shree Swami Samarth”.
Copyright © 2006 Shree Vitthalrao Joshi Charities Trust