Swami Samarth Explained

Swami Samarth of Akkalkot
Swami Samarth
श्री स्वामी समर्थ
Religion:Hinduism
Nationality:Indian
Birth Name:Nrusimha Bhan[1]
Location:Akkalkot, Maharashtra, India
Resting Place:Akkalkot, Solapur district, India (present-day 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[2]
Influenced:Shankar Maharaj
Birth Place:Chelikheda near Hastinapur (Uttar Pradesh, India)

Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj (Marathi: श्री स्वामी समर्थ) also known as Swami of Akkalkot[3] was an Indian Hindu god (spiritual master) of the Dattatreya Tradition. He lived during the nineteenth century from 1858 to 1878 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.[4]

Origin and legend

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,[5] [6] another earlier spiritual master of the Dattatreya sect.

Life

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.[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.[8] 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.[9]

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.[10]

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

Sources

Additional publications

Notes and References

  1. Book: Dr. Narendra Sadashiv Kunte . March 2000 . नित्यक्रम आणि उपासना . Nityakram aani Upasana . mr.
  2. Web site: Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj – Profile. 20 May 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20120813074035/http://www.swamisamarth.com/parampara/samarth.html. 13 August 2012.
  3. Web site: Shree Swami Samarth of Akkalkot. ShreeSwami.org. 19 August 2017.
  4. News: श्री स्वामी समर्थ महाराज यांच्या पादुकांची पालखी. mr. Śrī Swāmī samarth mahārāj yān̄cyā pādukān̄cī pālkhī. Nashik. Lokmat. 12 May 2015. 10 June 2015.
  5. Book: Karandikar, N. S. . 2008 . Sri Swami Samarth . Sterling Publishers . 22 . 9788120734456 .
  6. Web site: Shree Swami Samarth . .
  7. Hanumante, Mukund M. (1999). A Glimpse of Divinity: Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj of Akkalkot. Kenner, USA: Akkalkot Swami Samarth Foundation
  8. Web site: Shri Manik Prabhu Maharaj – Shri Manik Prabhu Samsthan. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160215074538/http://manikprabhu.org/shri-manik-prabhu-maharaj/ . 15 February 2016 .
  9. Web site: Shri Manik Prabhu Maharaj.
  10. Web site: पवनीकर . श्रीकांत . 2023-03-30 . श्री क्षेत्र अक्कलकोट संपूर्ण माहिती 2023 Akkalkot A to Z Information. . 2023-03-30 . bhramangatha.in . mr-IN.
  11. 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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