Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj

A Short Biography of Shree Swami Samarth 98
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with his mother and wife and came to Akkalkot to render devotional service at the lotus
feet of Sri Swami Samarth. He maintained his family by collecting alms. Now with the
intention of rendering devotional service, he procured the mythological book, ‘Srimad
Bhagwat’, to read in the presence of Sri Swamiji.
One day, when Puranik read the first verse in that book by sitting in front of Sri
Swamiji, Sri Swamiji shouted at him “Stop this non-sense. Who asked you to read this
book? ”. Puranik became distressed and left the scene. Next day when he again tried to
read the book, Sri Swamiji rebuked him “You rascal, go away from here”. However,
Puranik stuck to his routine stubbornly and tried, on a daily basis, to read the book.
However Sri Swamiji would drive him away by verbal abuses.
Puranik became very disappointed. He knew that Sri Swamiji was always
merciful towards poor people. But possibly, his position might be insignificant and
worse, than that of the poor people and he did not deserve favour or mercy from Sri
Swamiji. Thinking such he became dejected and silently left the village. Then he went
to a nearby hill and sat in a cave. When Puranik did not return home his mother and
wife became very anxious. They started searching for him. Two days went by. On the
third day they came to Sri Swamiji with this tale and started crying. Sri Swamiji was
smiling after hearing their woes. Puranik’s mother prostrated at the lotus feet of Sri
Swamiji. At that time, a dog named Moti, was sitting near Sri Swamiji. Sri Swamiji
asked Moti, “Go and bring that Puranik here”. That dog went to the hill, caught hold of
Puranik from the cave and dragged him back. Puranik prostrated at the lotus feet of Sri
Swamiji and washed them by his tears.
After a few days, Bavadekar Puranik had a dream, which showed that in his
previous birth, Puranik was a butcher. He had slaughtered a number of cows and
animals. Nevertheless, he had carried out one virtuous act. A Brahmin was shivering
with cold on the riverbank. At that time Puranik offered a dhotee148 and a blanket. As
a result of this virtuous act, Puranik was born as a Brahmin in this life but because he
had slaughtered animals, Puranik, his mother, and wife suffered from sickness and
poverty. When Puranik woke up from the dream, he was very surprised and started
thinking about his dream.
Next day when Puranik went to take Sri Swamiji’s ‘Darshan’, suddenly, Sri
Swamiji spoke “Instead of realising the sins committed by oneself, you are blaming
other people. You rascal, what should one say about your understanding? Do you
remember as to how many animals you had slaughtered in your past birth? ”. Listening
to this, Puranik prostrated at the lotus feet of Sri Swamiji and started praying
“Maharaj, even if I make you wear the shoes prepared out of my own skin or I
give away my life at your lotus feet, it shall not compensate for all the sins,
which I had committed in my previous birth. Nevertheless, the very touch of
your lotus feet has blessed me in this birth as well as in all my future births.
Now I shall not give up the blessings of your lotus feet throughout my life”.
He became a unique devotee of Sri Swamiji. Within a few days, he got freed
from all his worries.
Copyright © 2006 Shree Vitthalrao Joshi Charities Trust