Akkalkot
Akkalkot is a city and a municipal council in Solapur district in
the Indian state of Maharashtra, situated 40 km southeast of Solapur
near the state border with Karnataka. Akkalkot is home to Shri Swami
Samarth Maharaj, a saint in 19th century who was believed to be an
incarnation of God Dattatreya by his devotees.
Akkalkot is widely known for its association with Shri Swami
Samarth a reincarnation of Lord Dattatreya. Swami Samartha lived for
over two decades at Akkalkot, mainly at the residence of his
disciple Cholappa, where his Samadhi and shrine are now located. The
shrine complex, The Vatavruksh 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 Akkalkoth Swami located at some
distance from the main shrine.
Initially Shri Balappa Maharaj used to stay in Budhwar peth area of
Akkalkot, in a room behind the samadhi of Shri Swami Maharaj. Later
on he shifted to the house of Shri Gramjoshi where Shardamata, wife
of Paramsadguru Shree Gajanan Maharaj was born.
As the fame of Shri Balappa Maharaj grew, it became difficult to
accommodate the increasing number of devotees in a small house, thus
the residence of Shri. Chitanand was also used. This house was later
bought by Khairatkar family. Shri.Baburaoji Khairatkar was later on
to serve dedicatedly as the official representative of Paramsadguru
Shree Gajananmaharaj and Math.
Even this place proved to be insufficient to accommodate the
increasing number of devotees gathering on the days of festivals. In
the year 1901 the devotees appealed in a letter to the then ruler of
Akkalkot state for providing a bigger place giving information about
all the functions and festivals of the Math. On 8th August 1901 a
piece of land belonging to Shri Dajiba Bhosale was donated to Shri
Balappa Maharaj.
As ordered by Shri Swami Maharaj a Math was now founded in the heart
of Akkalkot town and His ‘Padukas’ and all other blessed insignia
were established .
Around the same time Shri Balappa Maharaj bestowed his grace upon
Dr. Sir Chimanlal Harilal Setalwad of Mumbai. Sir Chimanlal was a
renowned lawyer and a leader of the Pragatic party. In the year 1906
he constructed the main Garbhagruha (sanctum sanctorum) of the Math
by bringing in skilled craftsmen and artists from Mumbai. The
Sanskrit verse which Shri Swami Maharaj had recited when ordering
Shri Balappa to construct the Math were carved on the wall of the
veranda in front .
Madarcham sampratisthapya mandiram karayet dhrudham
Pushpodyanani ramyani pujayatrotsavashritan
Pujadeenampravahartham mahaparvasvathanvaham
Kshetrapanpuragraman matsarsthitamiyat
This Math became well known as 'Balappa Math'. It is this math which
was glorified by Paramsadguru Shree by inheriting the Divine
tradition of Masters.
Shri Vitthal Tikaji the administrator of the state of Akkalkot
constructed the building at the back of the Math for
circumambulating the main cellar.
One day Shri Balappa Maharaj had a vision in which he was told to
travel to a town called Murtijapur. Accordingly next day morning he
set out on the journey. On reaching the town of Murtijapur he camped
in a temple. That night Shri Balappa Maharaj had a vision in which
he was told “Narayanrao Jamadar would soon be bestowed with a son.”
In the morning Shri Balappa Maharaj made enquiries about this
unknown person about whom he had been given a vision. Narayanrao
Jamadar was a rich landlord of province.However he did not have any
offspring for which he was always dejected. Shri Balappa Maharaj
blessed him saying he would soon be blessed with a son. Within a
year Shri Narayanrao had a son who was named Vitthalrao.
Shri Narayanrao was very happy and became a devout follower of Shri
Balappa Maharaj. He built an assembly hall for the Math. On entering
the hall there are two strong wooden staircases on the left and
right sides which climb up to the two galleries that run along the
length of the hall on both sides. The common ceiling to the Hall and
two galleries is elliptical in shape and constructed out of best
quality wood. Shri Vitthalrao, son of Shri Narayanrao then
constructed the Mahadwar (Main entrance door). The door has the
following inscription
“ In obdience to the wishes of Late Bhramanand Swami this Mahadwar
is built by Mr. Vitthalrao Narayan Jamadar of Murtijapur with
permission of his father – 1914 A.D.
Cost : Rs. 6800/- “
The Mahadwar is built of quality black stone and has a Nagarkhana (
a small room used for playing musical instruments during the times
of religious services).on its top.
The Ram Mandir towards the North side of the Math was donated by
Shrimant Mrudularaje Bhonsale the ruler of Akkalkot in 1972.
The house adjoining the rear side of the math belonging to Shri
Pantoji was bought for use of the Math where the kitchen and dining
halls are located.
In later years another house was also bought to accommodate the
increasing number of devotees. This purchase was done as service by
Shri Bhupatbhai Vora of Mumbai.
'Balappa Math' which is a symbol of the Eternal Guru-shishya
tradition was renamed as ‘ Guru Mandir’ by Paramsadguru Shree
Gajanan Maharaj, during His regime.
In 1974 the Main Hall of the Math was renovated. A renowned
architect, ‘Ramaswamy’ of Tamilnadu was deputed for the job. The
expenses for this were donated as service by Shri Rajeshbhai Khurana
of Mumbai.
Immediately on entering through the main gate on the left were the
bathrooms and Cow-barn. Along side the main hall was Shree’s kitchen
above which was His rest room. He used to do Anushthana in the
afternoon in this room. This room was built with Shree’s permission
by Shri Baburaoji Parkhe in 1956-57.
On this place a separate two storied building was constructed for
Shree’s residence by His disciple Shri Gajananrao Rangnekar of
Mumbai during the period from 1971 and 1973. This was named ‘Ramaramashram’.
Bhagavan Parashuram had visited the math in physical form, had taken
meal, and had been seen standing at this place where today ‘Ramaramashram’
stands. The place where Shree used to dine is exactly on the same
spot.
The room used by Shree for His daily ‘Anushthana’ was renovated in
1978 by Shri Baburaoji Parkhe. Previously this room used to be
Shree’s kitchen, in the same room Shreeji had the vision of the Holy
Fire (Siddhagni) He used to spend most of His time doing
Japanushthana ie. chanting of mantras in this room. The flooring is
of Marble and the ceiling is decorated. This work was done by Shri
Ramswamy of Tamilnadu.
Joshi Math -
There was a little vacant space and a well along sides the house of
Shri Joshi who was an ardent devotee of Shri Swami Maharaj.
Occasionally Shri Swami Maharaj used to come and sit here under the
Audumbara tree. Once Shri Gopal Bhide, Shri Mirajkar and other
devotees of Swami Maharaj thought of setting up Padukas (Sandals) of
Swami Samarth and building a Math under the Audambar tree. But the
plan did not materialize due to lack of funds. Swami Maharaj,
reading their minds once said unto them “ Try to raise funds and you
will get help, then use them for constructing a building for setting
up the Padukas.”
Then the devotees started collecting funds and soon they had
thousands of rupees. Through these funds was built the Joshi Math
that we see today in Akkalkot. This Math was built while Shri Swami
Samartha was still in his bodily form. The audience hall in front of
the Math was built by Shri Vasudev Vinayak Barve of Mumbai.
Shri Chintopant Tol (Joshibua) was serving in the Akkalkot state
government, which was under the British patronage. He was a devout
follower of Shri Swami Maharaj and used to perform regular pooja
(worship) in his house. Once When Shri Swami Maharaj had come to his
house, Shri Chintopant Tol worshipped Him by performing an elaborate
pooja at His feet and prayed “ Let thy lotus feet be here always for
me to worship” On hearing this Shri Swami Maharaj immediately said “
Right, I am always here” and went away.
When Shri Joshi cleared the leaves of Tulasi offered at lotus feet
of Shri Swami Maharaj ,he saw the imprints of Shri Swami Maharaj’s
feet on the wooden platform on which Shri Swami Maharaj was standing
during the pooja.
More than 125 years have passed and still these padukas are
worshipped in Joshi Math which presently is maintained by Gurumandir
Trust.