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Chapter 11 : The Acclaim of the Shankaracharya
- Jul 24
- 2 min read
From Ladoba Prakashan's book 'Sant Mahipati by Dattatrey Naikwade
One fateful day, while the great Shankaracharya was visiting the sacred town of Pandharpur, his eyes fell upon a devoted warkari. The pilgrim's brow was adorned with twelve marks of holy gopichandana, a sacred rosary of Tulsi beads rested around his neck, and a saffron banner fluttered in his hand. Seated within the hallowed precincts of Pandurang’s temple, he was deeply engrossed in the recitation of the Bhakta Vijaya.
The extraordinary spirit radiating from that devotee caught the Shankaracharya's attention, compelling him to stand and listen until the very end of the narration. As the sacred tales unfolded, tears welled up in the Acharya’s eyes, and a shiver of profound spiritual ecstasy ran through his frame.
When the reading concluded, the Acharya approached the warkari and asked with eager reverence:
"What is the name of this scripture? Who is the author, and where might we secure a copy for ourselves?"
Bowing low in total prostration, the humble devotee replied:
"To have your darshan today is my supreme fortune! This sacred work is entitled Bhakta Vijaya, and its author is the blessed saint-poet Mahipati Maharaj of Tahharabad. He is present here in Pandharpur for the holy Wari."
The Maharaj was a steadfast and devoted warkari, frequently journeying to Alandi and Dehu for the darshan of Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram. The pilgrim offered, "If it is your wish, I shall gladly arrange a meeting between you." The Acharya readily agreed.
During their hallowed meeting, Mahipati Maharaj presented his poetic compositions to the Acharya. Reading the metrical, richly ornamented, and deeply poetic accounts of the saints' lives left the Acharya profoundly moved and filled with admiration. He declared:
"Upon you rests the guiding hand of Jagatguru Tukoba and the eternal blessing of Pandurang. This chronicle of saintly lives possesses the rare power to draw any soul toward the path of devotion. Your poetic creation is timeless and shall stand as an inspiring beacon of spiritual guidance for all generations to come."
Bestowing his full blessing upon this noble literary labor, the Acharya returned to his monastery. Meanwhile, through the holy Chaturmas season, Mahipati Maharaj remained rooted in Pandharpur, utterly immersed in the sacred creation of saintly biographies.
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