Shri Swami Samarth left the temple in Akkalkot and stayed in a place called “Phatak” near the village. Swamiji stayed there for three days without eating anything and on the fourth day a Muslim risaldar (chief of the cavalry unit) saw him and thought that Swamiji was some mad person. The Muslim risaldar’s name was Ahmadali and he wanted to play fool with Swamiji. He took an empty chillum and filled it with some burning coal and asked Swamiji whether he wanted to smoke. Swamiji caught hold of the chillum and without uttering a word started puffing at it and smoke started coming out from the chillum.
The Muslim Devotee
Ahmadali was shocked to see the happenings and realised that the mad man in front of him was a great Yogi. Ahmadali became a devotee for Swamiji and found out that Swamiji had not eaten for three days. He arranged for some food for Swamiji in the nearby house of a Brahmin called Cholappa. Swamiji when the food reached in front of him asked Ahmadali to touch the food. Ahamadali was not ready to do that but Swamiji insisted and told him to be afraid of anyone. Those days other caste people were not allowed to touch the food of Brahmins. Swamiji was happy that he broke his three days fast with the food touched by Ahmadali.
Swamiji never differentiated between Hindus and Muslims. Swamiji used to visit temples, mosques and dargas. This was the time when Hindus and Muslims have given up their in order for the common fight against the British. Those days the British used to rule India and were trying to bring the whole of Indian subcontinent under their rule. After seeing Cholappa, Swamiji said that Cholappa was theson of Ramchanndra Saraf who was a Brahmin and Swamiji’s devotee. Swamiji later went to stay in Cholappa’s house.
At Cholappa’s Residence
In Cholappa’s house he had his wife and two sons living with him. Swamiji used to give a lot a trouble to the family behaving like a madman. Swamiji used to feed the grains in the house to cows or give it away to beggars and other needy people. Swamiji used to urinate anywhere in the house but Cholappa and his family believed that Swamiji was the incarnation of Lord Dattatrey and adjusted to all the madness of Swamiji. Swamiji once went away from Cholappa’s home but was brought back by Cholappa. After testing the patience of Cholappa for a long time Swamiji left for Basapur. Cholappa followed him and refusedto leave Swamiji. He was ready to leave even his family to be under the feet of Swamiji. Swamiji was convinced with the devotion of Cholappa and gave him the padukas to worship daily.
