Shree Swami Samartha Jai Jai Swami Samartha!

Om Jai Sai Ram! It is extremely hard to describe the glory of Sadgurunath (Sainath) Lord Dattatreya. He is an enigma even to the vedas. He alone is real and all else a product of Maya. He is the true nature and antaryamin (The inner dweller) of all beings. For the sake of his devotees, says the holy Gurucharitra, he manifests in human form. He the unbounded, is only bound by devotion. I am a mere dullard, and it is hard for me to see the begining or ending of Lord Dattatreya's leelas. I therefore bow before the Sadguru, and place my ego at his holy feet. He alone is the doer. I am merely an instrument. I therefore cling to his lotus feet and beg the Sadguru to help me sing his glory.

Lord Dattatreya manifested in human form several times. To Santha Eknath Maharaj he appeared as a Yavana (Muslim) fakir, with roasary beads in his hands and contemplating on the formless self and the universe emanating from it. To Santha Eknath Maharaj's guru, Shree Janardhana Swami, he appeared as Lord Narasimha Saraswathi. For the benefit of the people he appeared as Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj in erstwhile Mangalveda, Pandharpur and finally in Akkalkot where he took Mahasamadhi in the 19th century. Before taking Mahasamadhi, he adviced one devotee that he will be henceforth in Shirdi and the devotee should take his darshan there. Hence Shree Swami Samarth and Shree Sai Samarth are one and the same. Even Shri Sadguru Sainath told one devotee "The incumbent maharaj of Akkalkot is here in Shirdi". I will now by the grace of the Sadguru, sing of the glory of Akkalkot Maharaj Shree Swami Samarth.

Of the manifold forms in which Lord Dattatreya appears to his devotees on earth, Shree Swami Samarth maharaj is one. His enigmatic presence is felt by his devotees all over the world, and his devotees are instantly rid of the fear of samsara (life), when the remember his words "Bihu na kos! Me thujha patishi aahe" ("Fear not, I am right behind you"). Swami Maharaj being the indweller of all beings, his mercy extended to everyone and everything.

On one summer day, one of the elephants in the royal stables of the King of Akkhalkot, Maloji Rao, became mad with rage. It started destroying everything in it's way and ran outside into the streets of Akkalkot. The people were worried. Like an approaching hurricane, the elephant wild with rage was running. The poor creature was under the influence of what is called balan (Something which all male elephants experince), and during such periods they are extremely angry and volatile.

The courtiers and the king, when they got to know of the incident, decided to put the animal to sleep, viz kill it, as it could harm lot of people and hence the king asked a British gentleman who was a skilled hunter to go and kill the animal.

Near the Banyan tree, devotees were assembled and looking at the resplendant form of Shree Swami Samarth. When suddenly, Swami Samarth seemed to become wild and agitated. He immediately left the place and started walking at a breath taking pace. None of his devotees could keep up with his speed.

As Swami Maharaj walked down the streets of Akkalkot in his majestic and resplendant way, he came face to face with the out of control elephant. The devotees were afraid of what was going to happen. However Pirsaheb (In arabic Pir=Saint, Saheb=sir), formerly a raisildar of Akkalkot and now a stauch devotee told the others "Crazy are you people to fear for Swami Maharj. He is verily Parvardigar (God). What is there to fear for him? See what he does now!". Shree Swami Maharaj raised his hand high, as if bestowing his blessing on the wrathful beast. The ajanabaahu (Long armed one), stood shining in the street. The elephant which was burning with rage like fire, stood still and suddenly became it's former gentle self. In front of all the devotees, the elephant saluted Swami Maharaj with his trunk and started to walk back to his place in the stables quite peacefully. The British hunter and his retinue of helpers, stood quite transfixed with their mouths agape. The British hunter had never bowed before anyone. But now, he went and fell at the feet of Swami Maharaj and kissed his holy feet. Swami Maharaj blessed them all and said "God alone is real. Datta lives everywhere. Even in the elephant. Do not take another's life in vain. respect all beings and treat them all alike. The elephant is my child too, and should not be harmed."

Thus all the devotees felt blessed after witnessing this leela, and singing Swami Maharaj's leelas they fell at his feet. There is no begining or end to Swami Maharaj's mercy. It extends to all creatures and everyone. I bow before the lotus feet of Shree Swami Samarth maharaj.

||Anantha Koti Brahmaanda Naayaka Raajadhiraja Yogiraja Parabrahma Shree Akkalakota Nivasi Shree Sadguru Swami Samarth Maharaj Ki Jai ||

||Anantha Koti Brahmaanda Naayaka Raajadhiraja Yogiraja Parabrahma Shree Satchitaananda Sadguru Sainath Maharaj ki Kai ||

Bow to Shree Sai! Peace be to all!