Sri Swami Samarth was offered food by his devotees every day. Food offered was called Naivedya which consisted of different kinds of delicious dishes and sweets. Swamiji always accepted the fruits and sweets, his devotees offered him.
Amongst the devotees there was one person with irrational thinking and had doubts if Swamiji was saintly or not. It is believed that a saint generally demonstrates non desirousness or non covetousness (Aparigraha). So he felt that Sri Samarth is now filled with joy, eating all those exquisite dishes and sweets. He felt that Swamiji makes the best of the opportunities he gets, to eat those dainty food items.
Swamiji was an intellectual and spiritual being. He sensed the thoughts of this clever devotee and decided to do something about it. So, when Sri Swamiji’s devotees sent him his food, Swamiji kept the food plate containing tasty and rich food aside and instead called for a plate full of red chilies. Swamiji put the chilies in his mouth, chewed on the chilies and consumed them with much gusto as if he was relishing sweets!
Swamiji always pleased and satisfied his devotees with his seeming likes and dislikes. Swamiji had eaten the chilies as if it was the tastiest food he ever ate. He had complete control and mastery over his senses and that is why he was able to eat the pungent chilies. This is a great reminder of Lord Krishna who ate parched rice which Sudama, his poor devotee have offered him to eat.
When the clever devotee saw and realized this, he felt very ashamed about his thoughts and wrong thinking about Swamiji. The devotee immediately went to Swamiji and begged and prayed to him for forgiveness. The miracles of Swami Samarth’s had one main aim and that was to make his devotees happy and in the process eliminate their sufferings.
