Swami Samarth

Swami Samarth, also known as Swami of Akkalkot[3][4] was an Indian spiritual master of the Dattatreya sect. He is a widely known spiritual figure in various Indian states including Maharashtra[5], Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. He lived during the nineteenth century.

Swami Samarth Maharaj स्वामी समर्थ महाराज
Title	Shri Swami Samarth of Akkalkot
Personal
Born	Nrusimha Bhan[1]
Died	18 April 1878 Akkalkot, Solapur district, British India (present-day Maharashtra, India)
Religion	Hinduism
Nationality	Indian
Religious career
Disciples Balappa Maharaj, Cholappa Maharaj, Nrusimha Saraswati Maharaj of Alandi, Anandnath Maharaj of Vengurla, Swamisut Maharaj of Mumbai, Shankar Maharaj of Pune, Ramanand Beedkar Maharaj of Pune[2]
Influenced Sai Baba of Shirdi, Gajanan Maharaj[2]

Quotation

Do not have fear, I shall always be with you - भिऊ नकोस, मी तुझ्या पाठीशी आहे[3]

Swami Samarth traveled all across the Indian subcontinent and eventually set his abode at Akkalkot, a village in present-day Maharashtra. He is thought to have initially arrived at Akkalkot on a Wednesday, during either September or October in 1856. He resided at Akkalkot for close to 22 years.

His parentage and origins remain obscure. Some other Indian saints and spiritual figures including Sai Baba of Shirdi and Gajanan Maharaj of Shegaon also have similarly unknown origins. According to legend, once when a disciple asked Swami a question about his birth, Swami responded that he had originated from a banyan tree (vata-vriksha in Marathi). On another occasion, Swami had said that his earlier name was Nrusimha Bhan.

Legend

Swami Samarth is widely considered to be the fourth (third in physical form) incarnation of Dattatreya, an Indian monk, mystic and Hindu deity. He is also believed to be a reincarnation of Narasimha Saraswati[6][7], another earlier spiritual master of the Dattatreya sect.

Life

A painting depicting a meeting between Swami Samarth and Manik Prabhu's under the holy cluster fig (Audumbar in Marathi) tree at Maniknagar

According to Swami Samarth himself, he had originally appeared in the Kardali forests near Srisailam, a Hindu holy town in present-day Andhra Pradesh. He might have moved through China, Tibet and Nepal during his travels across the Himalayas and its adjacent regions. He is also believed to have visited various Indian regions such as Puri, Varanasi (also Kashi), Haridwar, Girnar, Kathiawar and Rameswaram. He might have also briefly lived at Mangalvedha, a town near Pandharpur in present-day Solapur district, Maharashtra. He finally settled at Akkalkot.[8][7]

Swami Samarth is also believed to have visited Maniknagar, Karnataka to meet Manik Prabhu, an Indian saint and mystic considered to be another incarnation of Dattatreya.[9] According to the Shree Manik Prabhu Charitra (biography), Swami resided at Maniknagar for around six months. During this period, Manik Prabhu and Swami Samarth often sat under a cluster fig tree (Audumbar in Marathi) and had conversations on profound spirituality. It is claimed that Swami Samarth regarded Manik Prabhu as a brother. [10]

Swami Samarth probably arrived at Akkalkot in 1856 on receiving an invitation from Chintopant Tol and then stayed on the outskirts of the town for about 22 years. He usually lived at the residence of his disciple Cholappa, where his shrine is presently located.

A common mantra commemorating Swami Samarth is read as “Om Abhayadata Shree Swamisamarthaya Namaha”. His biography known as Shree Guruleelamrut was authored by Sant Wamanbhau Maharaj.

Swami Samarth temple near Saras Baag, Pune

See also

• Dindori
• Akkalkot

References

• The Supreme Master (Swami Samartha's Comprehensive Biography).
• Shri Dattatreya Dnyankosh by Dr. P. N. Joshi (Shri Dattateya Dnyankosh Prakashan, Pune, 2000).
• "Shri Swami Samarth Nityakram aani Upasana"(in Marathi) by Dr. N.S. Kunte (Shri Vatvruksh Swami Samarth Maharaj Devsthan, Akkalkot, 2000).
• Datta-Sampradyacha Itihas (History of Datta Sampradaya) by Dr. R. C. Dhere (Padmagnadha Prakashan, Pune).
• Shri GuruCharitra (Sri Gurucharitra) (new, abbreviated version)
• Shri Akkalkotniwasi Swami Maharaj yanche Charitra by G. V. Mulekar
• Shri Akkalkot Swami Maharaj Charitra by R. S. Sahasrabuddhe
• '"'Pesum Deivam" - Akkalkot Maharaj Arulaatchi - Tamil Version by"Swamy Suthan" Dr.J.S.Sayikumar [phone]

Additional publications

• Hanumante, Mukund M. (1999, 2000). A Glimpse of Divinity: Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj of Akkalkot, ISBN 978-0-9669943-0-8
• Kulkarni, Shriram A. (2001). Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj of Akkalkot: Ashttotarshat Namavali: Vicharmanthan Sar (Marathi)
• Kulkarni, Shriram A. (2000). Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj of Akkalkot: Bhagwat Chaitanyache Shalaka Darshan(Marathi)
• Oza, Kaushik (2007). Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj of Akkalkot: Bhagwat Chaitanyache Shalaka Darshan (Gujrati)
• Patil,Rajgouda (2012) Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj of Akkalkot: Bhagwat Chaitanyada Kshana Darshan (Kannada)
• Patil,Rajgouda (2017) "Amrutada Anjali": Shri Swami Samarth Maharajar sanketi vakyagal vivrane (Kannada)
• Kulkarni, Shriram A. "Amrutachi Wonzali" (Marathi)
• Joshi, Vasant G. (2006). Sulabh Shri Dnyaneshwari(Marathi) (Financial Sponsorship)
• Kulkarni, Shriram A. (2007). Sarth Shrimat Gurucharitra: Sulabh Marathi Bhavarthasaha(Financial Sponsorship)
• Shri Gurucharitra, 14th Chapter in English & Marathi, 2009.
• Swami Tava Charanam Sharanam, Audio CD of Melodious Divine Songs, 2009.
• Hanumante, Mukund M. (2010). Eternal Friend: Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj of Akkalkot
• Ekkirala Bharadwaja
• Kaliyugi Shri Swami Samarth Charitra Tatva Rahasya (Marathi Granth)
• A short biography of Akkalkot Niwasi Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj by Shree Vitthalrao Joshi Charities Trust

References

1. Dr. Narendra Sadashiv Kunte (March 2000). नित्यक्रम आणि उपासना [Nityakram aani Upasana] (in Marathi). Akkalkot, Maharashtra, India: Shri Vatvruksh Swami Samarth Maharaj Devsthan.
2. "Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj - Profile". Archived from the original on 13 August 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
3. "About Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj". Swami Samarth Swadhyay, USA. Archived from the original on 20 May 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
4. "Shree Swami Samarth of Akkalkot". ShreeSwami.org. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
5. "श्री स्वामी समर्थ महाराज यांच्या पादुकांची पालखी" [Śrī Swāmī samarth mahārāj yān̄cyā pādukān̄cī pālkhī]. Lokmat (in Marathi). Nashik. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
6. Karandikar, N. S. (2008). Sri Swami Samarth. Sterling Publishers. p. 22. ISBN 9788120734456.
7. "Shree Swami Samarth".
8. Hanumante, Mukund M. (1999). A Glimpse of Divinity: Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj of Akkalkot. Kenner, USA: Akkalkot Swami Samarth Foundation ISBN 978-0-9669943-0-8
9. http://manikprabhu.org/shri-manik-prabhu-maharaj/
10. http://www.shreeswami.org/avatars/shri-manik-prabhu-maharaj/

External links