Sanjeev Vaswani
Today (15/07/2026, Wednesday, Ashadh Shudh pratipada) is Paramhans Parivrajakacharya Shreemad Vasudevanand Saraswati (Tembe) Swami Maharaj's (1854-1914) punyatithi.
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Paramhans Parivrajakacharya Shrimad VASUDEVANAND SARASWATI ( TEMBE ) SWAMI MAHARAJ (1854-1914) , who was named “VASUDEV ” on his birth, was born in 1854 AD ( Shravan Krishna 5 ) in a religious Brahmin family to Shri. Ganesh Tembe and Sou. Ramabai in the village MANGAON near Sawantwadi, MAHARASHTRA. When Shri. Ganesh Tembe was at Gangapur, Lord Dattatreya appeared to him in a dream and instructed him to return to Mangaon and attend to the duties of a householder. The Lord also promised to incarnate as their son. When Vasudev was 8 years old, his grandfather Shri Haribhatji performed his thread ceremony. Vasudev with his sincerity, sharp intellect, and remarkable memory, soon completed his studies of the Vedas and became expert in priestly duties and started contributing to the family livelihood. He used the supernatural powers acquired by him through dedicated practices to relieve the sufferings of the people. At the instance of his teachers, he had to marry at the age of 21. When Vasudev was 23 years old ( 1877 AD ), he lost his pious and simple father who was 56-57 years old at the time of his death. Due to continuous domestic clashes between Vasudev’s mother and wife Sou. Annapurna , his life was not peaceful which sharpened his detachment from worldly life. He travelled to Narsobawadi where he was guided by Shri Govind Swami and Shri. Mouni Swami. At the instance of Lord Dattatreya , Vasudev Shastri established “ Shri Datt Mandir” at Mangaon in 1883 AD. The place became well known in a short span of time and people started coming in big numbers and started addressing “VASUDEV SHASTRI ”with respect as “BUWA”. After staying in Mangaon for 7 years as per Lord’s wish , he left Mangaon with his pregnant wife and arrived at Narsobawadi. In due course, Sou. Annapurna delivered a still born child. In 1891, BUWA was instructed by the Lord to proceed to north. At Gangakhed , his devoted wife met her end due to cholera. After the mourning period of 14 days, as per his wishes, Buwa was initiated to Sanyasa by Lord Dattatreya and was ordered to go to Ujjaini and receive the monastic sceptre ( rod ) from Shri. Narayanand Saraswati Swami Maharaj who ritually presented the sceptre to him and bestowed upon him the monastic name of “SHRI. VASUDEVANAND SARASWATI.” The purpose of his life was revealed to him by the Lord when he ordered him to travel all over India and preach the ancient Vedic path and lead the people gone astray from var nashram dharma. P.P.VASUDEVANAND SARASWATI (TEMBE) SWAMI MAHARAJ traversed the country for the next 23 years following strictly the harsh disciplines of Sanyas ashram. He was medium built and dark complexioned and had flashy and piercing eyes , which appeared to look deeply into you . His speech was soft yet assertive .His possessions included 4 loin cloths, 2 robes, the sceptre, a kamandalu, occasionally a woolen wrap, a book of Upanishads, a case of worship utensils, 2 idols of Dattguru , a rope to draw water and some paper and writing materials. He washed his clothes and utensils himself and always travelled on foot and never used any footwear. Once on inspection , a devotee found and removed 20 thorns stuck in his feet. Swami Maharaj had not even given any indication of this. He passed through dense forests, hot deserts and steep mountains, facing extreme climates, wearing only a robe. Most of his chaturmas were in small villages and remote places. Swami Maharaj’s only motivation in life was to obey his Lord and all his actions were directed by Lord’s will. Inherently reserved and reclusive, he was forced to spend long periods of his life amongst crowds. All people had equal access to him. There was no discrimination inspite of his personal strict code of purity. People of all castes were the recipients of his grace and he was very sensitive and listened sympathetically to their sorrows and sufferings and provided counsel which if followed would remove or relieve their sufferings. During his stay at Narsobawadi in 1910, Swami Maharaj directed the priests there to offer Abishek to the padukas as a measure to restrain an imminent epidemic of cholera. When people asked him: “How does Abishek help to prevent an epidemic ?”. Swami Maharaj explained: “Death is also a manifestation of GOD and epidemics are his Shaktis. By propitiating GOD through the services prescribed in the scriptures his shaktis are also pacified.” Accordingly the Abishek was performed and the epidemic averted. Shankaracharya of the Sharada Peetham, Shri. Rajrajeshwar Swami was an ardent admirer of Swami Maharaj, ever since they met at Haridwar and spent the chaturmas ( Swami Maharaj’s 3rd ) together. After his 17th chaturmas at Thanjevur , while travelling along the Kaveri river, Swami Maharaj learnt that the Shankaracharya of Shringeri Peetham, Shri.Narsinh Bharti was staying at Shrirangam and proceeded there to pay obeisance to him. The pontiff was overjoyed to see him. Swami Maharaj composed hymns in praise of Shardamba and Shankaracharya. The Acharya responded with a stotra in praise of Swami Maharaj and arranged for his bhiksha and later honoured him in the following words addressed to his disciples: “You have not recognized the great Swamiji who has arrived today. He is Shri Datt Prabhu himself incarnated by the intense devotion and great virtue of his parents. His continuing endeavour of revival of Vedic religion is comparable to that of Shri. Adi Shankaracharya. Strictly living by the Varnashram code of Vedic religion, he has been responsible for religious and spiritual upliftment of a large number of men and women. Travelling on foot from Setu (Kanyakumari) to Himalayas, he has educated the seekers in the paths of action, worship and knowledge according to their eligibility. We pray to God to grant him a full life to enable him to further his work of revival of Vedic religion.” Once on his way to Pandharpur from Wadi (1905AD), at a place called Kamlapur, a tall man with his hands extending to his knees appeared to P.P.Vasudevanand Saraswati (Tembe) Swami Maharaj in his dream and asked him: “You travel all over and also compose poetry. How come you pay no attention to me?” On waking up, Swami Maharaj enquired with the Lord about the personage. The Lord answered: “He is the Swami Maharaj of Akkalkot and he desires you to visit Akkalkot and write his life on verse.” As told by the Lord , Swami Maharaj paid his respects to Swami Samarth Maharaj at Akkalkot. Shri Pundalikrao , a major disciple of Shri. Sai Baba of Shirdi, met Swami Maharaj at his stay at Rajamahendri in Andhra Pradesh and offered a kirtan service to him. On enquiring ,Pundalikrao told Swami Maharaj of his plans of going to Shirdi to see his master Shri. Sai Baba. Swami Maharaj gave him a coconut saying: “Please give this to my brother”. On the way, the party halted at Kopergaon where Pundalikrao went away to perform religious services in the morning. His companions, feeling hungry, proceeded to eat some snacks they had packed. It turned out the snacks were rather too spicy and hot. Everyone was thirsting for water, which, on that hot summer day was not readily available. Some resourceful members decided to break the coconuts in the baggage to satiate their thirst . Among these coconuts, the one given by Swami Maharaj was also broken and consumed. When they reached Shirdi, Pundalikrao was dismayed by the cold reception he got from Sai Baba, who turned his back on the party and shouted at them: “ Thieves and scoundrels !”. “where is the coconut my brother gave me? Get me my coconut first”. Pundalikrao unaware of its disposal, asked his companions for it. It was only after they confessed to having eaten it that he came to know about the sacrilege. Having impressed upon Pundalikrao and others of the esteem he had for his “brother’s” coconut, Sai Baba gave up his feigned anger and rebuked them for sacrilege. During his sojourn through Vidarbh ( 1905AD ) Swami Maharaj visited Shegaon. On the previous day ,Shri. Gajanan Maharaj instructed his devotees: “ My learned brother, a Karhada Brahmin is coming to visit. He is a strict puritan. Don’t let any bits of cloth strew his path!”. When Swami Maharaj arrived ,Gajanan Maharaj was snapping his fingers absent mindedly. On seeing Swami Maharaj, the snapping suddenly stopped and the two saints started staring at each other smilingly with joyous faces. There was hardly any verbal communication. They just seemed to enjoy each others company. Shortly afterwards, Swami Maharaj took his leave. Gajanan Maharaj just said: “Very Nice!”. Once at Narasi, when Swami Maharaj had gone to the river alone for his mid day bath, a lady from the village happened to come there to collect water. She saw Swami Maharaj sitting under a tree with a 6 month old baby (Lord ) in his lap, sucking its left toe and incessantly gazing at Swami Maharaj returning the loving gaze. She was so dumb struck by the sight that she forgot filling her pot and just stood there watching in a daze. In a little while Swami Maharaj happened to notice her when the child disappeared and the lady lost her consciousness. He went to her and revived her by sprinkling some water and told her she was fortunate to have witnessed the holy sight. In his 4th chaturmas, Swami Maharaj was on his way to Badri Narayana, where he came across a peak overlooking a steep chasm blocking his path. He saw 2 men coming down the peak who advised him to go back since the path was fatally dangerous. Swami Maharaj answered that he had come to the place to visit Nar and Narayana and did not mind losing his life in the attempt , hence he would not hear of returning. Suddenly the 2 men disappeared and Swami Maharaj had the vision of Shri. Nar –Narayan muni’s (seer). The Lord instructed several devotees that he was dwelling in the form of Shri. Vasudevanand Saraswati. An evil spirit possessed Shri. Alandikar’s wife as she put on some jewellery gifted by some bandits in return of Shri. Alandikar’s priestly services. For 10 years, Alandikar tried several means to relieve his wife of the affliction without any success and finally landed at Gangapur. After a few days of service there , he was directed by the Lord to leave Gangapur immediately and go to Garudeshwar on the banks of Narmada where the Lord said : “ I am residing under the name Shri. Vasudevanand Saraswati ”. Following the divine instruction , Alandikar went to Swami Maharaj at Garudeshwar and his wife was rid of the evil spirit by the grace of Swami Maharaj. During his stay at Thanjevur (1907) , one lady wrapped the body of her dead child and secretly left it near the place where Swami Maharaj was staying. When all the visitors left , some one noticed the child and finding it dead, brought it to Swami Maharaj. Divining the mothers desperation, Swami Maharaj took pity and told the person: “No, No ! the child is not dead. His negligent mother must have gone some where. Just rub these ashes on his body ”. On rubbing the ashes , the child started crying and the mother came forward to take it. She then confessed to having resorted to this device, as she had lost her 2 previous offsprings. Swami Maharaj was instrumental in reviving some major places of worship like Kurguddi and Peethapuram. At Peethapuram the local residents were not even aware of the actual birth place of Shri. Shripad Shrivallabh Maharaj (1st Dattavtari) till Swami Maharaj pointed out to them. Similarly, the birth place of Shri. Narsinh. Saraswati Swami Maharaj (2nd Dattavtari) was also revealed by Swami Maharaj. He has also installed several Datt idols in different parts of India. The Mahamantra “ DIGAMBARA DIGAMBARA SHRIPAD VALLABH DIGAMBARA ” was revealed to P.P. Vasudevanand Saraswati (Tembe ) Swami Maharaj and he propogated this mantra on a large scale. All his disciples, including some great saints like P.P Narsinh Saraswati (Dixit) Swami Maharaj, P.P. Yogananda Saraswati (Ganda) Maharaj, Pujya Shri Rangavdhut Maharaj (Nareshwar), Pujya Yogiraj V.D.Gulvani Maharaj (Pune), Pujya .Datt Maharaj Kavishwar (Pune), Pujya Nana Maharaj Taranekar ( Indore ), P.P. Keshavanand Saraswati Maharaj and others continued to propagate this mantra. Swami Maharaj has left behind a large body of literature. Some of the literary works of Swami Maharaj are : Shri Gurucharitam (Dwisahasri) (1889), Shri Dattpurana (1892), Shri Dattalilamritabdhisar (1897), Dwisahasri (commentary) with yogarahasya, Bodharahasya and churnika.(1898), Shri Dattapurana commentary (1899), Magh Mahatmya (1900), Shri Dattmahatmya (1901), Shri Dattkavya (Trishati) (1901), Shri Gurusamhita (samshloki) (1902), Laghu-Vasudeva-manansar (1903), Saptshati Gurucharitra sar (1904), Shri Krishnalahiri (1904), Shri Dattchampu (1905), Kumarshiksha (1907), Samashloki Churnika (1907), Shri Krishnalahiri commentary (1907), Yuvashiksha & Vriddhashiksha (1908), Streeshiksha (1908), Panch Pakshik… After a stay of 6-7 months at Chikhalda ( 22nd Chaturmas ) he crossed the dense forest of Shoolpaneshwar, guided by Ashwatthhama ( immortal character from Mahabharat) , and arrived for his final chaturmas at Garudeshwar ( Gujarat ) in 1913 AD. Soon the remote temple believed to be the site of penance of Garuda ( Lord Vishnu’s vehicle ) , was bustling with devotees of Swami Maharaj. Once, when Swami Maharaj and hundreds of devotees were celebrating Gokulashtami and singing bhajans on the banks of Narmada , suddenly the sky was filled with dark clouds and a rain storm burst out on the other bank of the river. Swami Maharaj reassured the devotees to carry on with the bhajans and not to worry about the storm. On conclusion of the ceremonies , even as everyone came indoors , the storm burst out in vengeance . Swami Maharaj commented : “This is the storm we escaped”. As narrated by him, he was afflicted once by plague, thrice by cholera, twice by leprosy, once by leukoderma , twice by snakebite and lifelong by dysentery. However he never took any medicines and placed himself utterly at the disposal of divine will. After the summer of 1914 AD, the chronic dysentery flared up and his health started deteriorating rapidly. As had been his practice all life, he trusted only one healer, his master and Lord ,Dattprabhu. As soon as Amavasya of Jyeshta month gave way to the 1st day of Ashada ,( Tuesday, Ardra nakshatra, uttarayan ) he sat in siddhasana posture facing the idol of Shri Datta and with a chant of “OM”, he left his physical form. Even after leaving his physical form more than 100 years ago ,lakhs of devotees of P.P. Vasudevanand Saraswati (Tembe ) Swami Maharaj throughout the world are feeling his presence and getting his experiences in their day to day life. His saying , “ Smratugami Samavtu.”, i.e , whenever you remember me I will come to you within a fraction of a second holds good even today.
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Reference: “ A Compact Biography of Shri. Vasudevanand Saraswati (Tembe) Swami ” By Dr.VASUDEO V. Deshmukh.
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