Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj

A Short Biography of Shree Swami Samarth 54
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render service to the Lord it would add beauty to the ceremony. Therefore they
requested Narahari, but he did not agree. He said, “I have dedicated my talent and
voice only in the service of Lord Kalleshwar. I will not utilise my talent and voice in
praising a mere human being”. Hearing this the villagers became very angry.
Finally the day planned for the ceremony dawned. Men and women of the village
started celebrating with great pomp. Beautiful designs were drawn on the floors with
coloured powder. The entire place was decorated with festoons of flowers and green
leaves. Banners were seen fluttering in the breeze filled with melodious music emitted
by the different musical instruments. Singing devotional songs and dancing along, the
villagers brought Sriguru in a grand procession to the village.
That day as usual, poet Narahari came to the Kalleshwar temple to worship Lord
Shiva. He performed his worship with devotion and then sat for meditation. In the
meantime he had a nap. Then he had a dream in his nap. In the dream he saw Sriguru
himself is seated in the place Lord Shiva’s idol in the Kalleshwar temple. Sriguru spoke
to him “I am an incarnation in a human form. Why do you worship and praise me? ”.
Hearing this Narahari woke up from the dream. It dawned to him that Sriguru is Lord
Kalleshwar himself. He immediately ran to the house where Sriguru had camped. He
stood before the door and started singing devotional song-verses composed by him in
praise of Lord Kalleshwar. People present there, were highly amazed to see this poet
Narahari, who had point blank refused to sing his praise-verses in the presence of
Sriguru, now has started singing the same verses with full devotion in the honour of
Sriguru.
Singing the praises he went near Sriguru. Sriguru asked him “You were
criticizing me. How is it that all of a sudden you started getting devoted to me? ”.
Narahari prostrated at the lotus feet of Sriguru and prayed “Oh! Lord, I was completely
obsessed by ignorance. Please forgive me. Till today, I rendered my devotional service
to Lord Kalleshwar. As a result of that devotional service I got your ‘Darshan’ today.
Kindly accept me as a disciple and bless me. Henceforth I will render my devotional
service at your lotus feet till the end of my life”. Then he started singing in the praise of
Sriguru. Sriguru was pleased. He accepted Narahari as his disciple and said, “I myself
exist in the idol of Lord Kalleshwar. Do not make any distinction”. Sriguru took Narahari
along with him to Ganagapur. Narahari stayed at Ganagapur rendering devotional
service to Sriguru. He composed a number of verses in the devotional praise of Sriguru.
People started regarding his as an accomplished poet.
Acceptance of Service in Eight Different forms
Sriguru’s fame spread in all directions. Devotees from all villages started coming
to take Sriguru’s ‘Darshan’. By then Diwali 101 festival came around the corner. One day,
seven devotees belonging to seven different villages came to Ganagapur and with
101 Diwali: Diwali festival - the festival of nocturnal illuminations held during the last two days of Ashwin and first two days of
Kartik, as per Hindu calendar and the month of November as per English calendar. The festival marks the victory of good over
evil. The Sanskrit word Deepavali means array of lights that stands for victory of brightness over darkness.
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