I had decided that I will leave for the Himalayas after I take permission from my Master in Ganagapur. On the way, I will visit other shrines and get their blessings too.
I detrained at Akkalkot first on way to Gandgapur. I had been to Akkalkot many years ago for my distant cousin’s wedding. I must have been about 10-12 years of age. The wedding was celebrated in a very grand scale. It was a tiny village then. Now it has grown into a big town. The only thing I remember about that wedding was the size of the laddoos given to everyone. They were really very huge.
Now way up in 2007, I alighted at the small town and headed straight for Akkalkot Swami’s samadhi darshan.
It’s a beautiful place with the Samadhi mandir inside and the Vatvriksha outside. Earlier, you could touch the branches of the tree but now it is in an enclosure and people aren’t allowed to touch it.
I entered the premises and saw the samadhi and I promptly plunked myself down right in front of it. I went into a deep reverie and saw Maharaj of Akkalkot giving instructions from that lovely place. I must have sat for nearly an hour or so. No one came to disturb me. People were taking darshan and pradakshina around the Samadhi. I was crying and asking Maharaj for guidance on my path and journey to the Himalayas.
I got up from there and immediately a young man called me near the Samadhi and lovingly gave me a Coconut, a few flowers and some Prasad. I thanked him and Maharaj for their grace. I didn’t offer anything there like a Dakshina and yet he gave me a consecrated coconut. I ambled outside as if in a trance. There was a counter from where I took a small picture of Maharaj Swami Samarth. I went near the Avdambar tree and circumambulated around it. Finally, I shed some more tears and moved to sit in cool shade in front of the tree.
I sat taking in the scene in front of me. People offered some coconuts to the person outside who broke them and gave half of it as Prasad to the devotees. I thought of cracking open the coconut I had received from the shrine. I took it to the man breaking them. He refused to break it. I was surprised to see he took from everyone except me. So I asked him the reason why!
He explained that the coconut in my hand was offered as a Prasad to me and it was from the shrine. He told me that I have to take it home and give it as Prasad to everyone at home.
I told him that I was not going home. I was going to the Himalayas and I couldn’t carry the coconut with me.
He clearly told me that it was not to be. I have been instructed to go back home. I was feeling very disappointed and disturbed. He had meanwhile opened a lot of coconuts for other people. He asked me to stand aside and wait there.
He then filled up an entire glass full of coconut water and gave it to me to drink. After that, he offered me an already broken coconut and removed the fleshy part so that I could eat it. I took the two things and went to sit under the shade and quench my thirst and satisfy my hunger.
I think it must have been the most delicious coconut water and fruit ever eaten by me. I came back and returned the glass to him. He then explained the significance of what he had said. Maharaj did not want me to go to the Himalayas but return back home. Hence, he had given the other consecrated coconut to me. It is called Sriphal in Marathi.
I was in a dilemma. Should I return back or should I proceed further in my journey? Remember, I had set out to go to Gandgapur and had to meet my Gurudev there so I decided to proceed on my journey ahead. I kept the coconut in my side bag and left for the bus stand.
