Swami Samarth (स्वामी समर्थ)

Bhaktmal: Swami Samarth
Real name - Nrusimha Bhan
Other Names - Akkalot Swami, Chanchal bharati, Digambar Swami
Aradhya - Bhagwan Shiva and Shri Ram
Born - 1275 A.D
Died - 30 April 1878, Akkalkot
Marital Status - Unmarried
Language - Devanagari, Sanskrit
Famous - incarnations of Lord DattatreyaShri Swami Samarth also known as Swami of Akkalkot was an Indian spiritual master of the Dattatreya Tradition. 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. Shri Swami Samarth is considered as Avatar of Lord Dattatreya.

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 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 Samarth Maharaj .

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.