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Shree Swami Samarth
Appearance as Shri Swami Samarth at Akkalkot
Shrimad Narasimha Saraswati stayed in Samadhi and emerged from samadhi because a woodcutter accidentally cut through a tree and hit Shrimad Narasimha Saraswati (now Sri Swami Samarth). This awakened Shrimad Narasimha Saraswati from the prolonged samadhi. After emerging from samadhi Shrimad Narasimha Saraswati traveled all over the country. (The divine personality of Shrimad Narasimha Saraswati is now known as Shri Akkalkot Swami Samarath.)During Shrimad Narasimha Saraswati’s travel, he became popular by various names at various places. Thus at one place he was known as Chanchal Bharati and at another place he would be called Digambar Swami.
As he traveled and stayed at various places, he became the Guru (preceptor) of many great souls like Shree Ramkrishna Paramahansa, Shree Saibaba of Shirdi, Shree Shankar Maharaj, Shree Gajajan Maharaj of Shegaon etc. Finally he settled down at Akkalkot (Maharashtra State) and stayed there for 22 years from 1856 A.D. to 1878 A.D. and thus came to be known as the Akkalkot Niwasi Shree Swami Samarath Maharaj (the great sage of Akkalkot). Here he enlightened many disciples, such as Shree Dev Mamledar, Shree Balappa Maharaj, Shree Cholappa Maharaj, Shree Nrusimha Saraswati Maharaj of Alandi, Shree Ramanand Beedkar Maharaj of Pune etc.Therefore, Shri Swami Samarath is considered as Avatar (incarnation) of Lord Dattatreya.
Shri Swami Samarath lived for over two decades (22 years) at Akkalkot, mainly at the residence of his disciple Cholappa, where his Samadhi and shrine are now located. The shrine complex, The Vatavruksha Mandir, which also encloses the banyan tree beneath which the Swami would preach his message, is the hub of devotions for his followers; free accommodation and meals are provided to pilgrims by Shri Swami Samarth Annachhatra Mandal also. The other shrine is of Samadhi of Swami located at some distance from the main shrine.
