Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj

A Short Biography of Shree Swami Samarth 53
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Thus following Bhavani Mata’s command Nandi went to the temple of Goddess
Chandala Parameshwari and started worshipping. Nearly seven months passed. One
day, Goddess Chandala gave him ‘Darshan’ in his dream and said “Go to Ganagapur
and worship Sri Narasinha Saraswati, the incarnation of Lord Dattatrey. By his
blessings, you will be cured of white leprosy on the body”. Nandi woke up from the
dream. He felt very sad. He thought, “If I were to be directed to a human being, then
why was I detained here for seven-eight months? ”. Therefore, he remained in the
temple of the Goddess Chandala itself instead of going to Ganagapur. Finally Goddess
Chandala ordered him “Leave this place immediately and go away”.
Nandi became helpless and went to Ganagapur. Seeing Nandi, Sriguru spoke
“Oh! Why did you leave the Goddess and come here to a human being? ”. Nandi felt
ashamed and begged for forgiveness and took shelter under Sriguru. Sriguru softened
and felt pity towards Nandi. He then called devotee Somanath and said “Somanath,
take Nandi to the ’Shatkul Teerth’ of Sangam. Let him take bath in that Teerth with
mental resolve. Afterwards let him worship the Holy Peepal tree on the bank of
‘Sangam’ and let him abandon his old clothes and wear new ones”. Obeying the kind
advice of Sriguru, Nandi Brahmin took bath in the Shatkul Teerth. No sooner he did so,
the white leprosy spots on his body vanished!
Further, no sooner he worshipped the Holy Peepal tree his body became
lustrous. Finally when he abandoned his old clothes, all the filthiness of his body got
cleansed. People were amazed. However, a little white spot remained on his thigh.
When he returned back to the ‘Muth’, Sriguru told him, “Since you had a small doubt in
your mind this white spot remained. If you start singing praises in my favour, this white
spot will also vanish”. Nandi said, “I am illiterate. I do not know how to read and write.
In that case, how can I praise you? ”. Then Sriguru sprinkled the sacred ash on Nandi’s
tongue. No sooner this was done; Nandi started singing praises filled with devotion.
When he continued the last remaining white spot on his thigh too disappeared. Nandi
became a great poet. He stayed at Ganagapur till the end of his life and continued
rendering his devotional service to Sriguru.
Poet Narhari
In a village called Hippargi there lived a devotee of Sriguru. With the help of
villagers he built a temple of Lord Dattatrey. For the Prana-Pratishthan 100 of the idol, he
prayed and earnestly requested Sriguru to come there. Sriguru accepted his request.
The villagers became very happy, when they came to know that Sriguru would be
arriving shortly. They started decorating the village with great pomp to extend a grand
welcome to Sriguru.
In the same village there was a Brahmin by name Narahari. He was a great
devotee of Lord Kalleshwar. Everyday in the temple of Lord Kalleshwar, he would
compose five verses in the praise of Lord Shiva and offer the same to the Lord. The
villagers thought that if Narahari composes devotional songs in praise of Sriguru and
100 Prana Pratisthan: Prana pratistha is a rite or ceremony (Samskara in Sanskrit) by which the spirit or being of a deity is
infused or brought to inhabit a murti or cult image of that deity. Once Prana Pratisthan is performed, the Idol is considered to
be divinely charged and a representation of the Divine supreme spirit.
Copyright © 2006 Shree Vitthalrao Joshi Charities Trust