Akkalkot, Tembe and Baba
Shri Swami Samarth of Akkalkot
There are many similarities in the stories and teaching of Akkalkot Maharaj or Shri Swami Samarth, as he is widely know and Shri Sai Baba. Similar to Baba, the early history of Akkalkot Maharaj is not much known or documented. He came to Akkalkot, a place in Maharastra, around 1856 on receiving an invitation from Chintopant Tol and settled in Akkalkot for 22 years till His Mahasamadhi in 1878. One can fully believe that both Swami Samarth and Sai Baba were of the same divine spirit in two physical forms. Both are considered to be the incarnation of Shri Dattatreya. After His Mahasamadhi, Many devotees had vision and dreams of Akkalkot Maharaj saying "Come to Shirdi, I am staying there". Few of them came to Shirdi as directed by their Guru and found the presence of Maharaj in Baba.
Story of Padhukas
In 1912, There a devotte of Akkalkot Maharaj named Bhai Krishnaji, who lived in Mumbai. He used to pray to his Ishtadeva (Akkalkot Maharaj)' photo on a daily basis and longed to visit Akkalkot and pray to the Maharaj's Padukas. One day, he had a dream of Maharaj who said "Now, Shirdi is my resting place, go there and offer your worship". After the dream, he learnt that his close friend, Compounder of Doctor Ramarao Kothare was planning to make a trip to Shirdi to have a darshan of Shri Sai Baba along with the doctor. Krishnaji also joined them and went to Shirdi. After meeting Baba, he received immense satisfaction and felt the presence of Akkalkot Maharaj himself. In the six months of his stay in Shirdi, he become close to Sagun Meru Naik and G.K.Dixit and spent time discussing about Baba, His leelas, teachings and their experiences. They wanted to have some memorial at the place where Baba was first seen in Shirdi, under the Neem Tree. Krishnaji suggested to install Padukas as a reminiscence of his vision of Akkalkot Maharaj, when he wanted to visit to see the Padukas in Akkalkot. Others liked the idea and his friend compounder suggested if they would discuss the idea with the Doctor Kothare, then he would help them prepare for the padukas. Once the doctor was informed, he came to Shirdi and drew the plan for the padukas, which was modified by Upasani Maharaj of Khandoba. He added lotus, flowers, couch, disc, mace and following skola on the padukas
Sudhastravinam tiktamapiapriyam tam,
Tarum Kalpavrikshadhikam sadhayantam
Namameeshwaram Sadgurum Sai Natham
Upasani suggestion were accepted and the padukas were made in Mumbai and brought to Shirdi for installing them under the Neem tree. G.K.Dixit brough them on his head with all pomp and procession from Khandoba temple to the Neem Tree and installed the padukas. Though the installation needed 100 Rupees (which was high for all of them), Baba said God will provide. As He said, 75 Rupees were collected by donations and 25 Rupees were given the day before the installation by Pastha Sheth, a Parsi devotee from Mumbai.
Bhai Krishnaji wanted to visit Akkalkot after the successful installation of the padukas. He sought Baba permission but Baba , “Oh, what is there in Akkalkot? Why do you go there? The Maharaj of that place is here, Myself.” After hearing this, Bhai Krishnaji's devotion in Baba increased multi-folds and he continued to visit Shirdi to seek His blessings
Story of Harishchandra Pitale
In 1910 in Mumbai, there was man named Harishchandra Pitale, whose son was suffering from epilepsy. He tried all medication for his son but there was no help from any doctor in solving his son's suffering. He lost all hope in medicine and felt that God was not the only hope. He visited many saints in hope and in one of the journey, he came across Das Ganu, who used his kirtans to spread the message of Baba to one and all. He learnt via these kirtans, the power of Baba and how He had blessed many in solving their problems and their incurable diseases. He immediately made up his mind to visit Shirdi and seek Baba's blessing in curing his son's problem.
Along with his wife and son, he came to Shirdi with offering and fell at the feet of Baba. He placed his son at feet of Baba and sought his blessing. The moment Baba's eye fell on the boy, the boy started to very bad seizure, which looked like his end. Both parent were shell shocked and they were distraught at the turn of events. The seizure continued for a long time without end, his mother felt his end was near and wailed at their plight. She felt they had made a mistake moving him and bringing him to Shirdi. Her sorrow knew no end and Baba was moved by her sight and spoke very kindly and with love - “Do not wail like this, wait a bit, have patience, take the boy to your lodgings, he will come to his senses within half an hour.” As instructed by Baba, they moved to the Wada and within 30 minutues, the boy was back to his senses. The faith in Baba strengthen for both the parents and their happiness knew no bounds. They finally knew they have come to the right place where all their problems would be solved.
Harishchandra and his wife immediately went back to the Masjid (Dwarkamai) and fell at Baba's feet. They sat at His feet and pressed His feets softly. Baba seeing their happiness said “Have not all your thoughts, doubts and apprehensions calmed down now? Hari (Lord) will protect him, who has got faith and patience.” Harishchandra, knowing his problem have been solved, started distributing sweets to all. His wife, sat just watching Baba with tears in her eyes. Baba was very pleased with her devotion and blessed her. After spending some time in Shirdi, they planned to return to Mumbai and came to Baba's for His permission. Baba gave him Udi and three rupees in coins and said to him - “Bapu, I had given you Rs. two before, now I give you Rs. three; keep these in your shrine for worship and you will be benefitted.” Harishchandra thanked Baba, but was left little baffled since this was his first visit to Shirdi and first time getting something from Baba. Seeing the Baba didn't explain any further on the meaning of his statement, they left back to their hometown.
After reaching their home, Harishchandra shared all his experiences to his mother. He also shared the cryptic message from Baba about giving them two rupees in a prior visit. His mother, after some thought, shared a story of how his father was a devotee of Akkalkot Maharaj and he once visited Akkalkot for His darshan. Akkalkot Maharaj, pleased by his devotion, gave him two rupees coins to be kept in their mandir and to be worshipped. After his father's passing, the two rupee in the mandir was forgotten and no one cared for it anymore. Baba, who knew everything and had pointed to the forgotten gift from the Maharaj. The entire family bowed to Sai Baba, with more belief and trust in Him. They were happy that Baba has again installed the bakhti into their life and brought them to righteous path with His darshan. Once again, Baba proved that he was no different from Akkalkot Maharaj and all Saints were from the one Malik.
Story of Sri Vasudevananda Saraswati and Coconut
Sri Vasudevananda Saraswati, also known as Tembe Swami, was another famous Saint, who was considered an incarnation of Dattatreya similar to Akkalkot Maharaj. He was born in 1854 to Ganesh Bhatt Tembe and Ramabai, who were devotees of Dattatreya. He was expert in all the scriptures and travelled across the country to spreading the message of God. He showed no discrimination to any person and helped any person, who was suffering and sought his help. He setup the Datta Mandir in Mandgaon in 1883.
Once Tembe Swami was staying in Rajamahendravaram (Rajahmundry) in Andhra Pradesh. Das Ganu (also known as Pundaleekarao) and his friend visit the swamji to seek His blessing. They discussed various spritual topics with the Guru and slowly the topics turned toward Shirdi and Sai Baba. On hearing Baba's name, Swamji immediately stated that the Fakir was no other than His brother. He further stated that there was no difference between Him (a Hindu) and Baba (a Muslim). Hindus and Muslims were just children of the same Almightly and there were no different from each other, hence should not be treated differently. Anyone who treated Baba different since he is Fakir will not be welcome with Swamji. He asked Das Ganu to visit Baba as quickly as possible and gave a coconut as a offering to Baba. Das Ganu promised to visit Shirdi and offer the coconut to Baba.
After staying for a month, Das Ganu along with his friends, started to Shirdi. After reaching to Manmad via a train, they decided to have a light meal as they were very hungry. They ate some chivda, however considering the food was very spicy, they broke the coconut in their bag to mix the copra to reduce the spiciness in the chivda. After fulfilling their hunger, they again started toward Shirdi. However, in their haste, they mistakely broke the coconut, given by Swamji as an offering to Baba. Without realizing their mistake, they reached Dwarkamai for the darshan. As Das Ganu sat at the feet of Baba, Baba angrily pointed out their mistake by saying that One has to keep their word at all times and be careful with one's offering given with love. He further pointed out He has lost his brother's gift because they consumed the coconut. Das Ganu was embrassed after realizing his mistake and his sorrow knew no bounds and he couldn't look into Baba eyes and held his head down in shame. Das Ganu explained the situation in which they broke the coconuts. He offered to go out and get an alternative coconut for the offering. Baba stopped Das Ganu stating that the gift provided by His brother can never be replaced by any other coconut in the world. Looking at Das Ganu's agony, Baba, who was feigning anger, smilingly said that bygone can be bygones, Das Ganu was very close to Him and He could never be angry with him.
The entire episode again provded the greatness of Baba and His divinity. Swami Vasudevananda Saraswati also knew what would occur and He was using coconut to show the Baba's divinity to the world. Once again proving that whether it was Akkalkot Maharaj or Tembe Swami or Sai Baba, they were in different form of the same Para Brahma (Formless One).