Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati Tembe Swami Maharaj

A compact Biography.

Datta : Shri Gurudev Datta>The wooing>The Master and the Disciple>The Apostle>The Protector and Provider>The Conflicts>The Medium and the Mediator>Gurudev Datta Love>One and the Same

• The Conflicts
  We have seen how there arose situations where the Lord and His Devotee were set against each other. During the Pavani Chaturmaas, the priests from Wadi came to Shri Maharaj to seek relief from a chain of calamities that befell them then. Not getting a positive response from Shri Maharaj, once they refused to proceed with their meal unless Shri Maharaj promised to come to Wadi to help them. Shri Maharaj prayed to the Lord for direction. Shri Guru told Shri Maharaj to proceed to Wadi after the Chaturmaas instead of going to North. When this was conveyed to the priests from Wadi, they commenced their lunch. In the evening, at the time of daily discourse, Shri Maharaj was possessed by the Lord and he, flushed with anger uttered the following words, “(should we) come to Wadi to set up shop?” Thus it became apparent that the Lord was annoyed at the coercive behavior of the priests at the lunch. When after the Chaturmaas, Shri Maharaj started his journey to Wadi, the Lord ordered him to return. Shri Maharaj prayed to Prabhu, “It is by your order that I promised the priests to come to Wadi. Now I must keep my word come what may! If you do not approve, this body is at your disposal. But it is not right to break a promise.” For this defiance on his part of Shri Maharaj was afflicted with rheumatism making it painful even to stand up or sit down. When in spite of this suffering Shri Maharaj continued his journey for about 25-30 km in the direction of Wadi, he started passing blood in feces. Braving all these odds, Shri Maharaj went to Wadi to fulfill his promise! There is no record of the Lord’s reaction, but no doubt he must have been very proud of his disciple. 

   

  One more point of contention between Shri Maharaj and the Prabhu was about visiting Kashmir. On several occasions Shri Maharaj ignored the Lord’s directions to proceed to Kashmir. Once when the Lord was insistent, Shri Maharaj prayed him to physically transport him in the manner of Tantuk- the weaver in Gurucharitra. That was the end of the controversy.

  One more very touching incident comes to mind. When leaving Mangaon, the Kagal idol insisted on accompanying Shri Maharaj. When Shri Maharaj told that it might not possible for him to offer Him all the services while on the move, the Lord (idol) said He would be content with water and ashes. The idol stayed on with Shri Maharaj and he offered regular worship. Once at Brahmavart, a learned scholar questioned his idol worship, Shri Maharaj said he was ready to give it up, but the idol wouldn’t leave him. On the scholar’s insistence he left the idol into the Ganges. However, as soon as they came out of the water, the idol reappeared before them and the scholar repented and became an ardent devotee of Shri Maharaj.

   

  In 1894 AD, after the Chaturmaas in Petlad, Shri Maharaj came to Chikhalada and stayed on till Deepavali, at the instance of many devotees and seekers who wanted to learn yoga as well as scriptures. On the eve of the first day of Deepavali, the Lord reminded Shri Maharaj of the festival and demanded He be offered Mangal Snaan (auspicious scented hot water bath). Shri Maharaj remonstrated that being a Sanyasi, he could neither touch (use) fire nor obtain any scents and perfumes. He further reminded the Lord of His promise to be content with water and ashes.

  Next day, Shri Maharaj bathed the Deity with cold water and applied ashes and proceeded with his routine. At noon, after the Bhiksha, when Shri Maharaj approached the Lord to dedicate the solicited food (Naivedya), he heard the screaming voice of the Prabhu, “ How dare you offer me food on a Deepavali day without the auspicious bath? I am sitting in the Narmada! I don’t want your Naivedya.” When Shri Maharaj came to the riverside, he heard a child’s cry. Following the direction of the sound he went into river, when a mystical light guided him to the location of the deity. Overwhelmed with love, Shri Maharaj dived into the river and clutching the Lord to his heart, came to the bank. In the meanwhile the devotees of Shri Maharaj had already gathered to find out why Shri Maharaj went to the river at the lunch hour. When these people learnt of the Lord’s wish, hot water, perfumes and other requisites were procured and the Lord was ceremoniously worshipped. Shri Maharaj composed the following verse commemorating the Lord’s Leela (play): -

   

  ʨÉjÉ Ê¨ÉjÉ VÉ®úÒ ¦ÉÉÆb÷iÉÒ* iÉÊ®ú {ÉÖx½þÉÆ BEò ½þÉäiÉÒ **1**

  nÆù{ÉiÉÒSÉÉ ½þÉä Eò±É½þ* ±É´É¨ÉÉjÉ xÉ iÉÖ]äõ ºxÉä½þ**2**

  näù´É¦ÉHòÉÆSÉå ¦ÉÉÆb÷hÉå* {É®úɦÉHòÒSÉå iÉå `öÉhÉå**3**

  ´ÉɺÉÚ ¨½þhÉä ½þÉ Ê´ÉxÉÉänù* näùiÉÉä nùkÉÉ {É®ú¨ÉÉxÉÆnù**4**

   

  “Even though friends may fight,

  They soon enough reunite

  When consorts do skirmish

  Their love doesn’t an iota diminish.

  With the Devotee the Lord’s conflict,

  Is a signpost of love transcendent.

  Says Vasu such merriment,

  Gives Datta deep enjoyment.”