Swami Samarth

Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj II श्री स्वामी समर्थ महाराज II
Title	Shri Swami Samarth of Akkalkot
Personal
Born	Nrusimha Bhan
Religion	Hinduism
Nationality	Indian
Religious career
Based in	Akkalkot, Maharashtra, India
Influenced Sai Baba of Shirdi, Gajanan Maharaj , Shankar Maharaj

Quotation

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

Swami Samarth, also known as Swami of Akkalkot was an Indian spiritual master of the Dattatreya Tradition . He was 6 feet tall . He is a widely known spiritual figure in various Indian states including Maharashtra. He lived during the nineteenth century.

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, 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. 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.

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. 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.

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 “Aum Abhayadata Shree Swamisamarthaya Namaha”. His biography known as Shree Guruleelamrut was authored by Sant Wamanbhau Maharaj.

Swami Samarth temple near Sarasbaug, 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 +91 86085 06816

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