AKKALKOT : A TALE OF SPIRITUAL REVERENCE AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Akkalkot, a taluka place in Solapur district is known for its religious and Royal heritage. It is a famous pilgrimage where lacs of pilgrims come every day to visit the shrine of Shree Swami Samarth.
Shri Swami Samarth is considered as an extended version of the Shrimad Narasimha Saraswati born in 1378, the second incarnation of Lord Dattatreya in the fifteenth century and thus Shree Swami Samarth is said to be the third incarnation of Lord Dattatreya.
There are several myths and stories with regards to Shree Swami Samarth’s origin, however as it is mentioned in second Adhyay of “Shri Swami Samarth charitra” the biography written by Sant Wamanbhau Maharaj that Shrimad Narasimha Saraswati entered into mahasamadhi in Kardali vana near Shrisailam located in the present-day state of Andhra Pradesh in the year 1458. He entered into deep state of meditation for around 350 years. He was covered by ant hill and creepers until he was accidentally awakened by a wood cutter. The wood cutter was cutting trees in Kardalivana and while cutting the creepers of the ant hill, he hit the ant hill and it injured Shrimad Narasimha Saraswati. Blood started profusely erupting out of the ant hill and he emerged out of his state of prolonged samadhi in form of Shree Swami Samarth. Presently in Akkalkot, Chaitra Sudda Dwitiya Tithi that is the second day after Hindu festival of Gudi Padwa is celebrated as the “Prakat Din” the day of emergence of Maharaj Shree Swami Samarth.
This awakening of Shrimad Narasimha Saraswati from the prolonged samadhi and appearing in form of another divine personality is now known as Maharaj Shri Swami Samarth. After emerging out of Kardalivana Shri Swami Samarth traveled all over the country and came to be known by various different names. He traveled in different places like Andhra Pradesh, Orrisa, Calcutta, Himalayas, Gangotri, Haridwar, Kedareshwar and came to Mangalwedha in the state of Maharashtra. In Mangalwedha he lived for 12 years and later he travelled to Pandharpur, Begumpur, Mohol, Solapur and finally he came to the princely state of Akkalkot in the year 1856. He stayed here for 22 years from 1856 A.D. to 1878 A.D.
During his initial days in Akkalkot he lived in a Khandoba Mandir for around 15 days. There he would play with the idols of the God Khandoba. One day on seeing Shree Swami Samarth living in the temple a “Fakir” a Muslim a scetic, ridiculed him. Shree Swami Samarth demonstrated his powers by generating smoke out of an extinguished smoking pipe, “Chillum”. Upon witnessing this miracle Fakir believed that Shree Swami Samarth wasn’t any ordinary man but a person bestowed with divine powers. Later he started living in the house of one of his disciples, Shri Chollappa. This is the place where the Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj Samadhi Mandir is now located. Maharaj would always sit under a banyan tree and would preach his disciples. People addressed him as “Avadhoot” the Maha Yogi because he possessed great spiritual powers. His brilliance and super powers reflected from his overall persona. He was the paragon of knowledge and wisdom. He was “Ajanubahu” the one whose length of arms was such that his fingers touched his knees. He through his mystic Mantras and words of wisdom, showed common men the path of God and the appropriate way of life. He performed several miracles to help his devotees. He solved their problems and expressed oneness with all creature. Here in Akkalkot he enlightened many disciples and positively changed the lives of his devotees.
His Highness Malojiraje II, the then Rajasaheb of Akkalkot learnt about the divine powers, miraculous deeds and benevolent presence of Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj and expressed the desire to meet him. While Rajasaheb was preparing for the visit, Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj himself appeared in the Royal palace to meet Rajasaheb. Rajasaheb was overwhelmed with happiness, had tears in his eyes, he embraced Maharaj with joy and touched his feet to seek blessing. This is from where the journey of the bond between Swami Maharaj and Akkalkot Royal Family became stronger.
On April 30, 1878 on the Tithi of Chaitra Krushna Trayodashi of Hindu year, the great sage adopted Mahasamadhi in the house of Shri Chollappa. The Samadhi is considered to “Jagrut” awakened and alive even today. His spiritual powers are experienced by devotees even today. Their Prayers are answered, they are healed of their sufferings and desires are fulfilled. We can say that though Shri Swami Samarth has ceased to be in his bodily form, he certainly continues to bless his devotees. His quote “Bhiu Nakos Me Tuhya Pathishi ahe” , which means don’t be afraid I am with you, stays with the devotees forever. Our project “Anubhuti” will be in form of the manifestation of Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj’s blessings with the devotees, visitors and the locals.