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Swami Samarth श्री स्वामी समर्थ | |
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| Title | Swami Samarth of Akkalkot |
| Personal life | |
| Born | Nrusimha Bhan[1] Kardali van, Andhra Pradesh |
| Resting place | Akkalkot,Solapur district,India (present-dayMaharashtra, India) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Religious career | |
| Based in | Akkalkot, Maharashtra, India |
Disciples
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Influenced
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Don't be afraid, I shall always be with you
भिऊ नकोस, मी तुझ्या पाठीशी आहे[3]
ShriSwami Samarth Maharaj (Marathi: श्री स्वामी समर्थ also known asSwami ofAkkalkot[4] (took a samadhi on April 30, 1878 [as per the Gregorian calendar] / Chaitra Suddha Trayodasi, Shaka 1800 [as per the Hindu Calendar]) was an Indian Hindu spiritual master of theDattatreya Tradition. He lived during the nineteenth century and is a known spiritual figure in various Indian states includingKarnataka andMaharashtra.Swami Samarth traveled all across the Indian subcontinent and eventually set his abode atAkkalkot, a village in present-day Solapur District inMaharashtra. He is thought to have arrived atAkkalkot on a Wednesday, during either September or October in 1856. He resided at Akkalkot for close to 22 years.
Swami Samartha took asamadhi 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.[5]
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 ofDattatreya, the Lord Almighty. He is also believed to be a reincarnation ofNarasimha Saraswati,[6][7] another earlier spiritual master of the Dattatreya sect.
According to Swami Samarth himself, he had originally appeared in the Kardali forests nearSrisailam, a Hindu holy town in present-dayAndhra Pradesh. Swami Samarth was fromAndhra Pradesh later he migrated to different places. He might have moved throughTibet andNepal during his travels across the Himalayas and its adjacent regions. He is also believed to have visited various Indian regions such asPuri,Varanasi (also Kashi),Haridwar,Girnar,Kathiawar andRameswaram. He might have also briefly lived atMangalvedha, a town nearPandharpur in present-daySolapur district,Maharashtra. He finally settled at Akkalkot.[8][7]
Swami Samarth is also believed to have visited Maniknagar, Karnataka to meetManik Prabhu, an Indian saint and mystic considered to be another incarnation of Dattatreya.[9] According to theShree 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.[10]
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.[11]
A common mantra commemorating Swami Samarth is read as "Aum Abhayadata Shree Swamisamarthaya Namaha". His first biography was written by Sakharam Balkrishna Sarnaik (Chambalikar) named asShripadbhushan[12] in 1871 followed by Sant Wamanbhau Maharaj'sShree Guruleelamrut written in 1872.
Media related toSwami Samarth at Wikimedia Commons
