Indian subcontinent is known as the yoga bhumi because this land has seen many spiritual giants stride over it at all periods of time. Whenever there is a lull or fall in moral values and ethics someone incarnates to rudely shake off the lethargy of the people. A land which was thus steeped in spirituality was called yoga bhumi while other areas were called bhoga bhumi, meaning land of enjoyment. Into this land appeared a sage called Swami Samarth Maharaj who left his mortal coil in 1878. Strangely there is no record of his birth. Swami Samarth Maharaj was also known as Akkalot Swami Maharaj because he stayed at Akkalot for more than twenty years.
Appearance Of Shri Swami Samarth
Shri Swami Samarth who was highly respected in Karnataka Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh was believed to be the incarnation of Dattareya. It is believed that Dattatreya reincarnated three times and Shri Swami Samrth was one of them. Like the other two, one cannot trace the birth, parents or other personal details of Swami Samarth. There is a story that Sri Narasimha Saraswathi went into Mahasamadhi and emerged as Shri Swami Samarth. When questioned he has been known to say that he was the origin of the banyan tree. On another occasion he said that he was Narasimha Bahn and this confirmed that he was Sri Narasimha Saraswathi reborn.
Rooted In Vedic Texts
Since the personal history is not as important as what they did for mankind, it was left as it is. Their teaching and they life they lived became a beacon to follow. He had many disciples. The prominent ones were Shree Dev Mamledar, Shree Balappa Maharaj, Shree Ramanand Beedkar Maharaj of Pune
Shree Cholappa Maharaj, Shree Nrusimha Saraswati Maharaj of Alandi. Till today people believe in his miracles and pray to him for betterment in their material and spiritual life. All his devotees strongly believe in words, “Fear not, I am always with you.
Shri Swami Samarth did not form any cult of his own. He based his teachings on the Vedas and made it simple for the ordinary people to follow. He stressed on the importance of a spiritual guru and asked his devotees to be true to the guru. He also encouraged people to learn from all spiritual guides. He did not believe that being knowledgeable alone was enough. Practising what was learnt was more important. Upanishads lead the spiritual students to find the god within themselves. This has to be the constant search and the ultimate aim of human beings.
It was this and all that was written in the Vedas that Swami Samarth asked his devotees to follow. He attained Mahasamdhi in 1878 and his shrine is located in the house where he stayed. Though a follower of Hinduism, he strongly believed that all religions are pointing to the same goal and reaching that was important. He cautioned against the impediments in spiritual growth; spiritual growth brings spiritual powers and he warned his devotees not get enmeshed in that. One had to move on to reach Godhood promised in the scriptures.
