Razones que motivan la aprobación de esta norma

Sriguru had promised his devotees that he would be divinely residing at the Audumbar tree in the place now called as ‘Narasinhawadi’. Devotees even now experience his divine presence and miracles.

A Brahmin named Gangadhar lived in Shirol village near Narasinhawadi. His wife was very virtuous. She gave birth to five children, but each one died within a few days after birth. They didn’t even survive until their naming ceremony. The Brahmin couple was very unhappy. They prayed to all deities with earnestness to seek a child, but all efforts were in vain. Once they both approached a well-known astrologer. He told them that in the past life, the Brahmani75 _{had borrowed gold coins from a Brahmin of Shonan}

gotra, but never returned it back. Therefore the Brahmin belonging to the Shonan gotra

gave up and committed suicide. After the suicide, he became a ghost and destroys all her children. Since the Brahmin was childless, no one had carried out his funeral rites after his death. Therefore, he suggested that they complete all his funeral rites, donate the loan amount to a Brahmin and offer services to Sriguru in order to wipe out the effects of their sins.

The Brahmani said, “I do not have wealth equal to a hundred gold coins. I am even unable to perform all the funeral rites of the Brahmin. However, I will complete

the funeral rites as much as possible. For a month I will stay at the confluence of Krishna-Panchganga Rivers and offer my devotional services to Sriguru”. The very next day she reached Narasinhawadi. Everyday she would bathe in the ‘Teerth” and devotionally worship the Padukas76 _{of Sriguru and the Audumber tree. While carrying} out the Parikrama77 _{around the Audumber tree, she would continuously chant} “Digambara, Digambara, Sripad Vallabh Digambara”.

On the third night she had a dream with the ghost demanding for his money. He threatened her, “If you don’t return my money, I shall eliminate all members of your family”. Saying that, the ghost raised a weapon and came to attack her. Fear gripped the Brahmin lady and she started running towards the Audumbar tree. At that very moment, she saw the compassionate Sriguru personally standing in front of her. She went and laid herself down at the lotus feet of Sriguru. Sriguru assured her of protection. He asked the ghost, “Why do you want to kill this poor lady? ”. The ghost replied “Oh Lord! This lady had borrowed a hundred gold coins in my past birth. She did not return the money in that birth. I died out of grief and became a ghost. If she returns my money, I would silently leave without harassing her anymore”. Then Sriguru replied, “This lady is my devotee. You cannot harass her anymore. Whatever little amount she can manage to give you, take that and go away silently. Only then you will you be liberated from this state and the lady would also become happy. If you get entangled in this web of money, you will never be liberated from this state of being a ghost”.

The ghost accepted his suggestion. Then Sriguru told the Brahmin lady “You should perform the Dashapindi78 _{funeral rites of this ghost. It will not only liberate the} ghost from its origin, but it will also make you happy. Take bath in the holy water here and then perform the funeral rites. For seven days you bath the Audumbar tree with this holy water. Then all your sins would be washed away”.

After saying so, Sriguru disappeared. The ghost also vanished. Then the Brahmin lady awakened from her dream. She narrated the entire conversation to her husband and as per Sriguru’s orders performed the Dashpindi funeral rites of the ghost, took the blessings of Lord Amareshwar and then stayed at Narasinhawadi for the night. That night Sriguru again appeared in her dream and offered her two coconuts. She ate those coconuts and returned home. In due time, she gave birth to two sons with the kind blessings of Sriguru.

After a few years, they decided to perform the thread ceremony of their elder son who was five years old and the tonsure ceremony of their three-year-old. Unfortunately, just a day before the ceremony, the younger son died due to a tetanus infection. With the untimely death of their younger son, his parents were struck by grief were completely heart broken. The Brahmin lady started beating her head. The villagers’ came to collect the body for the funeral rites, but she did not allow them to touch the dead body. An entire day passed, but she remained adamant.

76 _{Paduka: The impressions of the lotus feet of a true Guru, either on stone or wooden or metal (usually silver) sandals.} 77 _{Parikrama: Circumambulation}

78 _{Dashapindi: The oblations collectively to the manes of a deceased ancestor which are offered daily from the first day of his}

At this time a celibate boy arrived from nowhere. He tried his best to convince the Brahmin lady, but in vain. The grief-stricken mother could not grasp the higher principles of the Vedas. The lady said, “I don’t want to listen to anybody. Sriguru had promised me in front of the Audumbar tree at the confluence of Krishna-Panchganga Rivers, that both my sons would have long life”. Then the celibate boy, who was none other than Sriguru himself in that form said, “If your devotion is really true, then Sriguru himself would show you the right path. You should go back to that Audumbar tree”.

Accordingly the Brahmin lady took her dead son to the Audumbar tree. She laid down the dead body in front of the ‘Padukas’ of Sriguru and then in an afflicted tone started chanting loudly the name of Sriguru for help. In that state of grief, she dozed off and had a dream. In the dream, Lord Narasinha Saraswati appeared before her and said, “My words were true. Do not blame me. As per your son’s fate, he had to live up to a hundred years. However, in your fate there is separation from your son. But, I shall wipe out this aspect of your fate and make your son alive”. After saying so, he puffed out holy ash from his mouth.

Soon the lady woke up from her slumber and to her surprise saw her son crying. There was happiness all over. The villagers’ gathered and bowed before the ‘Padukas’ with great devotion. Then they gave holy bath to the ‘Padukas’ as well as to the Audumbar tree and worshipped the same with great devotion. They all offered their prayers to Lord Narsinha Sarswati for pardoning them and sang in praise of the Lord. Everyone realised that even after his departure from this place, he still divinely manifests there. If one worships him with true devotion, Sriguru certainly changes the fate of the person for the better. Even today, lakhs of devotees come to Narasinhawadi to seek the blessings of Sriguru and get their desires fulfilled. Depending on their devotional service and faith, their wishes do get fulfilled.