Vasudevanand Saraswati Met Ashwathama in Shoolpaneeshawar
Vasudevanand Saraswati, a saint who is considered as incarnation of Dattatreya by his followers, saw Ashwatthama in the dense forest of Shulpaneeshawar near Katarkheda*, in the year 1912 (2 years before he took samadhi on Mangalwar, Nakshatra Ardra, Ashadh Shuddha Pratipada).
*Katarkheda is small village located in Dahi Tehsil of Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh
In 1912 Chikhalada, 22nd chaturmaas. After a stay of 6-7 months Swami crossed the dense forest of Shulpaneeshawar near Katarkheda. He was partly guided by Ashwatthama. Thus he arrived for his final chaturmaas on the banks of Narmada with the help of Ashwathama.
The incident went like this: Tembe Swami who was also devotee of Dattatreya got lost in the dense Shulpaneeshawar forest (now in Gujarat) and was unable to reach the town. In the thick forest, an odd person appeared in front of the Swami and offered to help him in finding the right path to move out of forest. The Swami was not bewildered as he was true yogi and pious saint not to afraid of anyone. The Swami keenly observed his physique and characteristics which were very peculiar.
When they almost reached the end of the forest, the strange man who helped the Swami said, “We are close to the town. I cannot accompany you anymore. This is the farthest I can come. ” Swamiji replied, “I have observed your gait, behavior and physique very keenly. None of them seem human to me. Who are you? Are you a ghost? Are you a Yaksha? Reveal your true identity!”. The odd man replied, “You are right. None of them seem normal because I do not belong to this yuga. I belong to the Dwapara yuga. I am Ashwathama.”
This encounter with Ashwathama was written in the auto biography of Vasudevanand Saraswathi (Tembe Swami Maharaj).
Apart from meeting Ashwathama, divine beings like the goddesses of River Narmada, River Nirmala(Mangaon), River Krishna, Nar and Narayan Muni(Badri Narayan) have interacted with Vasudevanand Saraswati. Other saints like Shri Rajarajeshvar Swami (Shankaracharya from Shringeri), Shri Gulabrao Maharaj(Vidarbha), Shri Shantashram Swami(Varanasi), Shri Deo Mamledar (Nasik) also held Tembe Swami Maharaj in high regard.
Vasudevanand Saraswati preached Sattvic form of life and it was one of these preachings that made him meet divine beings who are still roaming and protecting mother earth and humans.
To cultivate Sattvic nature, diet has to be wholesome (Hit), measured (Mit) and pure (Medhya). The signs of Sattvic nature are:
– Firm faith in Sanatan Dharma,
– Meticulous observance of Dharma conducts viz.
– Firm faith in Sanatan Dharma,
– Meticulous observance of Dharma conducts viz.
Snaan (bath)
Sandhya (prayer)
Dev Puja (worship)
Five major Yadnyas
Atithti Satkar (honor to the true guest, sadhus, saints, bhramins)
Service to Gomata (Cow)
Sincere attendance of Katha, Keertan, Bhajans, Puran etc.
Soft and kind speech
Refraining from harming anyone in any way
Service and obedience to parents (for men), and to husband, in-laws (for women) and other elders.
Sandhya (prayer)
Dev Puja (worship)
Five major Yadnyas
Atithti Satkar (honor to the true guest, sadhus, saints, bhramins)
Service to Gomata (Cow)
Sincere attendance of Katha, Keertan, Bhajans, Puran etc.
Soft and kind speech
Refraining from harming anyone in any way
Service and obedience to parents (for men), and to husband, in-laws (for women) and other elders.
