Swami Samarth
Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj श्री स्वामी समर्थ महाराज | |
---|---|
Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj | |
Born | Nrusih-Bhaan[1] |
Died | Akkalkot, Solapur District, Maharashtra |
Nationality | Indian |
Notable disciple(s) |
Shree Balappa Maharaj, Shree Cholappa Maharaj, Shree Nrusimha Saraswati Maharaj of Alandi, Shree Ramanand Beedkar Maharaj of Pune[2] |
Influence on
| |
Quotation | "Fear not, I am always with you" (Marathi: भिऊ नकोस मी तुझ्या पाठीशी आहे)[3] |
Swāmi Samarth Mahāraj more commonly Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj (also known as Akkalkot Swāmi Mahāraj) of Akkalkot (left the physical body in 1878)[3] was a Bharatiya (Indian) Guru of the Dattatreya tradition (sampradaya), widely respected in indian states of Maharashtra,[4] as well as in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh with Shripad Shri Vallabha and Narasimha Saraswati. His existence in physical form is dated in the nineteenth century AD.
Shri Swami Samarth traveled all over the country and eventually set his abode at Akkalkot village in Maharashtra, India. Maharaj first appeared at Akkalkot on a Wednesday around the September–October period in the year 1856 AD near Khandoba Mandir. He stayed in Akkalkot for close to twenty two years. His parentage & native place details remain obscure to this day. Once when a devotee posed him a question about his life and Shri Swami Samarth indicated that he is the origin of the Banyan tree (Vata- Vriksha). On another occasion Swami said that his name was Nrusimha Bhan and that he was from Kardalivan near Srisailam .
Biography
Swami himself said that he came from the Kardali forest. He repeatedly visited places like Puri, Banaras (Kashi), Haridwar, Girnar, Kathiawad and Rameswaram as well as China, Tibet and Nepal and stayed at Mangalvedha, a town near Pandharpur in Solapur district before settling down in Akkalkot.[5] He came to Akkalkot in 1856 on the invitation of Chintopant Tol and stayed on the outskirts of the town for 22 years. He stayed at Ganagapura, Karnataka for a long time where he delivered the Nirguna Padukas to his disciples and devotees before leaving for the Kardali forest.
Swami's appearance
The description of Shri Swami Samarth's appearance has been based on the vivid descriptions given by close devotees. Though he was seen at an advanced age, his skin was not wrinkled. He was very tall and his hands were long, extending up to his knees. His belly was protruding and he had broad shoulders. His complexion was fair and pinkish. He had big ears with thin and long ear-lobes which shook with the slightest movement of his body. He had long feet. He adorned a sacred mark (thilakam) on his forehead. He always wore a codpiece (kaupina). He had a fine set of teeth and a big and deep navel. He always wore a tulasi-rosary (which is very different from rudraksha) and a crystal (sphatika). He had ear-rings inset with gems.
Teachings
Following are some of the points based on statements made by Shri Swami Samartha on different occasions
- Once having met a supreme master, the seeker should continuously meditate upon his Master, serve him with devotion and pay utmost attention to His spiritual advice, as if every word coming from His lips were a Mantra.
- Have firm belief that it is God alone exists in every seen and unseen thing in this universe.
- Earn your livelihood through sincere efforts.
- Whenever you come across an able guide on the spiritual path try to gain as much knowledge and advice from him as possible. No master will share the knowledge on his own, as no farm will yield crops on its own.
- While following spiritual practice if you gain spiritual powers then do not fall prey to the lure of using them to show miracles.
- Conduct of the people treading the spiritual path should be pure and righteous.
- Since the final goal of all religious faiths and sects preaching Divine knowledge is one and the same all sects and faiths are birds of the same feather.
- Vedic scriptures composed by seers should be read and repeated.
- Try to purify your mind too as you try to maintain external sanctity of the body.
- Do actions without expecting any rewards.
- Bookish knowledge alone will not lead you to self-realization. Try to put the acquired knowledge in to practice.
- All disciples should have a firm belief and devotion
Tradition
- The Siddha Mantra of Shri Swami Samarth is: SHRI SWAMI SAMARTH (Marathi: श्री स्वामी समर्थ )
- The biography of Shrivallabh is in the in Shripada Shrivallabha Charitramrut
- The biography of Nrusimha Saraswati is in the Gurucharitra.
- The biography of Shri Swami Samarth is in the Guruleelamrut.
Death
In the month of Chaitra (April–May) in 1878, the thirteenth day of the dark-half of the lunar month,.The Swami Maharaj lived mainly at the residence of his disciple Cholappa, where his shrine are now located.
See also
Notes
- ↑ Dr. Narendra Sadashiv Kunte (March 2000). नित्यक्रम आणि उपासना [Nityakram aani Upasana] (in Marathi). Akkalkot, Maharashtra, India: Shri Vatvruksh Swami Samarth Maharaj Devsthan.
- 1 2
- 1 2 "About Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj". Swami Samarth Swadhyay, USA. Archived from the original on 20 May 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
- ↑ "श्री स्वामी समर्थ महाराज यांच्या पादुकांची पालखी" [Śrī Swāmī samarth mahārāj yān̄cyā pādukān̄cī pālkhī]. Lokmat (in Marathi) (Nashik). 12 May 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
- ↑ Hanumante, Mukund M. (1999). A Glimpse of Divinity: Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj of Akkalkot. Kenner, USA: Akkalkot Swami Samarth Foundation ISBN 978-0-9669943-0-8
References
- The Supreme Master (Swami Samartha's Comprehensive Biography).
- Shri Dattatreya Dnyankosh by Dr. P. N. Joshi (Shri Dattateya Dnyankosh Prakashan, Pune, 2000).
- "Shri Swami Samarth Nityakram aani Upasana"(in Marathi) by Dr. N.S. Kunte (Shri Vatvruksh Swami Samarth Maharaj Devsthan, Akkalkot, 2000).
- Datta-Sampradyacha Itihas (History of Datta Sampradaya) by Dr. R. C. Dhere (Padmagnadha Prakashan, Pune).
- Shri GuruCharitra (Sri Gurucharitra) (new, abbreviated version)
- Shri Akkalkotniwasi Swami Maharaj yanche Charitra by G. V. Mulekar
- Shri Akkalkot Swami Maharaj Charitra by R. S. Sahasrabuddhe
- Pesum Deivam - Akkalkot Maharaj Arulaatchi - Tamil Version by Swami Sudan - J.S.Saikumar +919994700917
- Additional publications
- Hanumante, Mukund M. (1999, 2000). A Glimpse of Divinity: Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj of Akkalkot, ISBN 978-0-9669943-0-8
- Kulkarni, Shriram A. (2001). Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj of Akkalkot: Ashttotarshat Namavali: Vicharmanthan Sar (Marathi)
- Kulkarni, Shriram A. (2000). Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj of Akkalkot: Bhagwat Chaitanyache Shalaka Darshan(Marathi)
- Oza, Kaushik (2007). Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj of Akkalkot: Bhagwat Chaitanyache Shalaka Darshan (Gujrati)
- Patil,Rajgouda (2012) Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj of Akkalkot: Bhagwat Chaitanyada Kshana Darshan (Kannada)
- Kulkarni, Shriram A. "Amrutachi Wonzali" (Marathi)
- Joshi, Vasant G. (2006). Sulabh Shri Dnyaneshwari(Marathi) (Financial Sponsorship)
- Kulkarni, Shriram A. (2007). Sarth Shrimat Gurucharitra: Sulabh Marathi Bhavarthasaha(Financial Sponsorship)
- Shri Gurucharitra, 14th Chapter in English & Marathi, 2009.
- Swami Tava Charanam Sharanam, Audio CD of Melodious Divine Songs, 2009.
- Hanumante, Mukund M. (2010). Eternal Friend: Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj of Akkalkot
- Ekkirala Bharadwaja
- Kaliyugi Shri Swami Samarth Charitra Tatva Rahasya (Marathi Granth)
- A short biography of Akkalkot Niwasi Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj by Shree Vitthalrao Joshi Charities Trust