Saint Shree Swami Samarth
The title “Anant Koti Brahmandanayak” (The Infinite Lord of Countless Universes) is bestowed upon Shri Akkalkot Swami, whose presence transcends time and space, touching every soul. That he had a deep connection with Baba Maharaj, then, should come as no surprise. Yet, the journey of how and when this bond manifested is worth recounting.
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The relationship between Baba Maharaj and Swami was one of deep closeness, to the extent that Swami himself seemed to be manifest in Baba Maharaj’s very being. There are many cherished stories that illustrate this divine connection.
Saint Mayabai
Saint Baba Maharaj was born on the auspicious day of Shravan Shuddha 14, Shaka 1847 (August 3, 1925), in the village of Arvi, located in Wardha district. This village had already been illuminated two centuries earlier by the radiant light of knowledge of Saint Dnyaneshwar, through the virtuous, saintly presence of Mayabai.​
Shri Samarth Ramdas Swami
One of Saint Baba's disciples recounted an event that left an indelible mark on all who witnessed it:
Looking at me, Saint Baba said, "How sanctified this land is! Every grain of its dust is imbued with the divine radiance of Shri Samarth. Come, let us go for a bath."
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With that, he rose, accompanied by myself and another seeker—a renunciate who had been residing at Sajjangad for his spiritual practices. As we made our way to the holy lake, Saint Baba suddenly removed his upper garments and began rolling in the dust of the sacred land....
Saint Tukdoji Maharaj
During Saint Baba Maharaj’s school years, Shri Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj often moved about in the state of Paramhansa in Arvi. Baba Maharaj’s father developed a deep bond of friendship with Shri Tukdoji Maharaj, a friendship that grew richer with time. The saint would occasionally stay at their home during his visits. Young Baba Maharaj was drawn to this sacred presence.
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Once, when Saint Baba Maharaj was around ten years old, he heard Shri Tukdoji Maharaj’s Khanjari Bhajan for the first time. He was utterly mesmerized.
Saint Shree Gulvani Maharaj
Before Saint Baba Maharaj took samadhi, his contemporary saint, Saint Gulvani Maharaj, met him in Solapur. However, throughout their meeting, no words were exchanged—only a silent dialogue took place through their eyes.
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Some disciples, filled with concern, asked Saint Gulvani Maharaj whether their beloved Saint Baba Maharaj would stay. To this, Saint Gulvani Maharaj replied, "Dattaguru has entrusted Baba with a great and divine mission, and he has accepted it. No matter how much one insists that he stays, he will not stay."​
Saint Swami Swaroopananda
In the modern era, though Saint Baba Maharaj’s contemporary, the great Nath Sampradaya saint of Pawas, Swami Swaroopananda, never met Saint Baba Maharaj in person, the deep spiritual bond between them is evident through Swami Swaroopananda’s heartfelt words of blessing, penned in response to Sangati, a spiritual magazine founded by Saint Baba Maharaj.
Saint Shree Gurudev Ranade
Saint Baba visited Saint Gurudev Ranade twice. During the first meeting, a discourse on the 11th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita (Vishwarupa Darshan) took place at Nimbala (Shri Gurudev Ranade's ashram). On this occasion, Saint Ranade requested Saint Baba to settle near the Karnataka-Maharashtra border. Saint Baba responded, "Whatever is God's will, so be it! What can I decide?"​
