The Grace of Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj, Akkalkot

It was sometime in 2009 that i was gifted a book on Swami Samarth by  a cousin brother of mine. I was extremely reluctant to read the book, since my Guru and God are Swamiji and Sai Baba. I could not progress with reading the book, since i kept drawing comparison with Baba and felt my Baba was so much more compassionate, gentle and kind while Swami Samarth's methods seemed very tough to me. So i stopped reading the book. After  a year, i somehow was drawn to the book again. I prayed to Baba that the resistance in me to read the book should go away. As i started reading the book once again, i was most surprised to find that my critical attitude to the Swami had dissappeared. I was totally absorbed in reading the book and the miracles he performed stunned me. He came across to me as a 'Mahavtar' and a 'highly advanced yogi' with the highest possible realization of god, so much so that there was little difference between him and god.

Even as i read the book, i used to feel his living presence when i went for long walks in Ridley Creek State Park, Penssylvania  Somehow that was the first time, he entered my life in a big way, in the sense that he was just a character in a book earlier and now, he was a living presence that i was able to feel. I started consulting him on some critical decisions and always received guidance from him through my own mind.

 After i moved to India in 2011, i went through numerous difficult situations and the mind had lost all of its peace. At that time i was once again motivated to read his book. One of the strange things that happened was the experience of peace even when one page of his book was read. This was not a standalone event but repeated everytime i read his book. The Swami also connected with another devotee of his who had his padukas in her home. Everytime i visited her home and touched those padukas, my life situation improved dramatically. I somehow felt that those padukas were indeed powerful and the devotee was truly blessed by the Swami.

Several prayers were also responded to by the Swami. At times, reading the book would automatically lead me to deep meditation and the whole day would pass in peace.  On one of these days, the Swami appeared for the first time in my dream. I had never seen the Swami except in photographs and pictures. He was very tall and had a very commanding voice. He asked me, 'Dont you recognize me?'. I woke up thrilled and told my mother, how the Swami had chosen to bless me in the dream.  Finally , i had seen the Swami himself. How very kind of him to bless me. May his blessing be with everyone! Jai Swami Samarth!