Shri Swami Samarth also known as Shri Akkalkot Swami Samarth is the extension of the 15th century reincarnation Lord Dattatreya. He has travelled and stayed in various places before settling down at Akkalkot in the state of Maharashtra in India. Swamiji stayed in Akkalkot for 22 years from 1856 AD to 1878 AD. Swamiji is Guru (teacher) to many of the great souls like Shree Ramakrishan Paramahansa, Shree Shirdi Saibaba, Shree Shankar Maharaj, Shree Gajajan Maharaj of Shegaon and many more. Swamiji enlightened many of his disciples like Shree Dev Mamledar, Shree Balappa Maharaj, Shree Cholappa Maharaj, Shree Ramand Beedkar Maharaj of Pune, Shree Nrusimha Saraswati Maharaj of Alandi and many more.
Avatar of Lord Dattatreya
Most of the 22 years Swamiji spent in Akkalkot was in his disciple Cholappa’s house. It is where his samdhi and shrine is located now. Swamiji used to talk to his devotees under a banyan tree is the shrine complex now with the Vatavruksha Mandir. This temple which encloses the banayan tree beneath is the main place of activities for his followers now. Free accommodation and meals are provided to the pilgrims by the Shri Swami Samarth Annachhatra Mandal. Swamiji’s disciples consider him as the Avatar of Lord Dattatreya.
Swamiji’s teachings are well received by people all over the world. Swamiji conveyed that God help those who help themselves and only through intelligent self effort, self and communal expansion is possible. One should not depend too much on others on material matters because it can expose success. Human beings are the peak of God’s creation and they should engage in physical or mental actions for world success and spiritual recovery. One has to attain self-sufficiency in properly executing the duties destined to you. While executing the duties one should not have any attachments to the result of the efforts and this helps you to concurrently maintain family responsibilities and go forward spiritually.
Inner “Self”
Maintaining family responsibilities and going forward spiritually brings in harmony in family and social life. One need to be sincere and should put in passionate self efforts to help you to build and boost confidence in one’s own capabilities. The ultimate goal of a human being is to realise the alluring glory of the fixed radiant “self”. “Self” is unchallengeable and indistinguishable from the Supreme Self which is God. Hence the “self’ is powerful and omniscient. One has to understand the inner “self” to ensure success in the worldly and spiritual subject. Swamiji suggest that self-help to his disciples to attain supreme joy of the “self”. Once the devotee remove all the impurities through the self-help they will be able realise the inner self and its sparkling loveliness and ecstasy.
