Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj

A Short Biography of Shree Swami Samarth 35
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the funeral rites as much as possible. For a month I will stay at the confluence of
Krishna-Panchganga Rivers and offer my devotional services to Sriguru”. The very next
day she reached Narasinhawadi. Everyday she would bathe in the ‘Teerth” and
devotionally worship the Padukas 76 of Sriguru and the Audumber tree. While carrying
out the Parikrama 77 around the Audumber tree, she would continuously chant
“Digambara, Digambara, Sripad Vallabh Digambara”.
On the third night she had a dream with the ghost demanding for his money. He
threatened her, “If you don’t return my money, I shall eliminate all members of your
family”. Saying that, the ghost raised a weapon and came to attack her. Fear gripped
the Brahmin lady and she started running towards the Audumbar tree. At that very
moment, she saw the compassionate Sriguru personally standing in front of her. She
went and laid herself down at the lotus feet of Sriguru. Sriguru assured her of
protection. He asked the ghost, “Why do you want to kill this poor lady? ”. The ghost
replied “Oh Lord! This lady had borrowed a hundred gold coins in my past birth. She did
not return the money in that birth. I died out of grief and became a ghost. If she
returns my money, I would silently leave without harassing her anymore”. Then Sriguru
replied, “This lady is my devotee. You cannot harass her anymore. Whatever little
amount she can manage to give you, take that and go away silently. Only then you will
you be liberated from this state and the lady would also become happy. If you get
entangled in this web of money, you will never be liberated from this state of being a
ghost”.
The ghost accepted his suggestion. Then Sriguru told the Brahmin lady “You
should perform the Dashapindi 78 funeral rites of this ghost. It will not only liberate the
ghost from its origin, but it will also make you happy. Take bath in the holy water here
and then perform the funeral rites. For seven days you bath the Audumbar tree with
this holy water. Then all your sins would be washed away”.
After saying so, Sriguru disappeared. The ghost also vanished. Then the Brahmin
lady awakened from her dream. She narrated the entire conversation to her husband
and as per Sriguru’s orders performed the Dashpindi funeral rites of the ghost, took the
blessings of Lord Amareshwar and then stayed at Narasinhawadi for the night. That
night Sriguru again appeared in her dream and offered her two coconuts. She ate those
coconuts and returned home. In due time, she gave birth to two sons with the kind
blessings of Sriguru.
After a few years, they decided to perform the thread ceremony of their elder
son who was five years old and the tonsure ceremony of their three-year-old.
Unfortunately, just a day before the ceremony, the younger son died due to a tetanus
infection. With the untimely death of their younger son, his parents were struck by grief
were completely heart broken. The Brahmin lady started beating her head. The
villagers’ came to collect the body for the funeral rites, but she did not allow them to
touch the dead body. An entire day passed, but she remained adamant.
76
Paduka: The impressions of the lotus feet of a true Guru, either on stone or wooden or metal (usually silver) sandals.
77
Parikrama: Circumambulation
78
Dashapindi: The oblations collectively to the manes of a deceased ancestor which are offered daily from the first day of his
decease until the tenth or which are offered together on the tenth
Copyright © 2006 Shree Vitthalrao Joshi Charities Trust