(19th century)
Akkalkot Maharaj, recognized by many as an incarnation of Dattatreya, first appeared in Akkalkot in 1856. There he stayed for nearly twenty-two years. When asked about his parentage and childhood, he gave various, sometimes contradictory, answers to inquirers.
One account put forth by deotees asserts that after traveling in the Himalayas, the Swami sat in samadhi for three hundred years in a dense forest. He became completely covered by anthills, and a large tree grew beside him. Once a woodcutter came to the forest and chose that particular tree for cutting. Laying his axe first to the anthill, he was surprised to see blood oozing from it. Pulling down the anthill, he discovered the Swami beneath it.
Roused from samadhi, the Swami declared the incident to be Divinely ordained as it was time for him to go into the world and continue his mission. The Swami is said to have then wandered for a hundred years, performing many miracles, before appearing in Akkalkot.
The Swami was unpredictable, appearing mad to many, and
full of miracles. He loved his devotees with a great passion, and like
other Adepts of the Crazy Wise style, he was paradoxically full of both
human and Divine qualities. Once, when asked who he was, he replied, "I
am this infinite universe; I am everywhere. Yet my favorite resorts are
Sakyodri, Girnar, Kasi, Mathapur, Karveer, Panchaleswar, Audumbar, Karanjnagar,
Narasimhvadi, and Gangapur."
links
Shri Swami Samarth Seva Mandal, Dombivli
A Glimpse
of Divinity
Shri
Swami Samartha Maharaj of Akkalkot
a few stories from
The Supreme Master Sri Akkalkot Maharaj
(see below)
bibliography
A Glimpse of Divinity,
Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj of Akkalkot
Dr. Mukund Hanumante
ISBN 0-9669943-1-0 (amazon: 0966994302)
information and order from:
amazon.com
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and noble
The Eternal Sage
Dr. V.R.Prabhu
Jaico Publishing House
ISBN 8172245912
information and order from: (not yet)
amazon.com
| * | barnes
and noble
Biography of Sri Swami Samarth Akkalkot Maharaj
Shri N.S. Karandikar.
Bombay: Akkalkot Swami Math, Chembur, 1978.
The Supreme Master Sri Akkalkot Maharaj
Acharya E. Bharadwaja.
2d ed. Vidyanagar, India:
Shirdi Sai Publications, 1979.
( excerpt )