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Swami Samarth
श्री स्वामी समर्थ
TitleSwami Samarth of Akkalkot
Personal
Born
Nrusimha Bhan[2]

Chelikheda near Hastinapur (Uttar Pradesh, India)[1]
Resting placeAkkalkot, Solapur district, India (present-day Maharashtra, India)
ReligionHinduism
NationalityIndian
Religious career
Based inAkkalkot, Maharashtra, India
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[3]
Influenced
  • Shankar Maharaj[3]
Quotation

Don't be afraid, I shall always be with you
भिऊ नकोस, मी तुझ्या पाठीशी आहे[1]

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Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj (Marathi: श्री स्वामी समर्थ) also known as Swami of Akkalkot[4] was an Indian Hindu god (spiritual master) of the Dattatreya Tradition. He lived during the nineteenth century from 1858 to 1878[citation needed] and is a known spiritual figure in various Indian states including Karnataka and Maharashtra. 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 arrived at Akkalkot on a Wednesday, during either September or October in 1856. He resided at Akkalkot for close to 22 years.

Swami Samartha took a samadhi in 1878. His teachings continue to be followed by millions of people in Maharashtra, and his ashram in Akkalkot remains a popular place of pilgrimage.[5]

Origin and legend

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Swami Samarth Math in Maharashtra.

Swami Samarth's parentage and origins remain obscure. According to a 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.

He is considered to be the fourth (third in physical form) incarnation of Dattatreya, the Lord Almighty. He is also believed to be a reincarnation of Narasimha Saraswati,[6][7] another earlier spiritual master of the Dattatreya sect.

Life

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According to Swami Samarth himself, he had originally appeared in the Kardali forests near Srisailam, a Hindu holy town in present-day Andhra Pradesh. Swami Samarth was from Andhra Pradesh later he migrated to different places. He might have moved through 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 lived at the residence of his disciple Cholappa, where his shrine is presently located.[11]

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

See also

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Sources

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[verification needed]

Additional publications

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References

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  1. ^ a b "About Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj". Swami Samarth Swadhyay, USA. Archived from the original on 20 May 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  2. ^ Dr. Narendra Sadashiv Kunte (March 2000). नित्यक्रम आणि उपासना [Nityakram aani Upasana] (in Marathi).
  3. ^ a b "Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj – Profile". Archived from the original on 13 August 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. ^ a b "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. ^ "Shri Manik Prabhu Maharaj – Shri Manik Prabhu Samsthan". Archived from the original on 15 February 2016.
  10. ^ "Shri Manik Prabhu Maharaj".
  11. ^ पवनीकर, श्रीकांत (30 March 2023). "श्री क्षेत्र अक्कलकोट संपूर्ण माहिती 2023 | Akkalkot A to Z Information". bhramangatha.in (in Marathi). Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  12. ^ https://www.bookganga.com/eBooks/Books/details/4828803079317139654?BookName=%e0%a4%b6%e0%a5%8d%e0%a4%b0%e0%a5%80%e0%a4%aa%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%a6%e0%a4%ad%e0%a5%82%e0%a4%b7%e0%a4%a3
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