Shree Sant Seetarambua Walawalkar

Thereafter for about 8 to 9 years he took small jobs in Textile mills, cloth shops and in Police Department in Mumbai. but he was not destined for this commoners life. From his childhood, he had attraction for spiritual life, devotion, Pooja, etc. He would gather colleagues and would perform Namgajar ( Reciting Gods name loudly and continuously). While working in Textile mill, he was getting a salary of One Hundred Rupees per month. Since he was not interested in his own pleasures, he used to distribute all his salary to the poor and needy people.

Occasionally a strong urge for God-Realization would arise in him. One such day, he wore a langoti (a small stripe of cloth to cover private parts) and a Kafani (a long shirt) and came to Dabhol in Ratnagiri District with his beard grown and his body smeared with Vibhooti (holy ash) he looked very different. There he met an old colleague from Police Department. With his help he came to Kondmala, a village near Chiplun and stayed in the Hanuman Temple.

Seeing this man young in age and looking extraordinary in that attire and continuously repeating "Shivam", the villagers were pleasantly surprised and took him to the great Saint Shree Sant Digambarbaba Wahalkar staying in Datta Mandir in nearby Savarde Village. Shree Sant Shembekarbua was also present there. Shree Seetarambua started serving both the Saints and also started serving in the Datta Temple, doing jobs such as cleaning, washing etc. He lived on alms collected in madhukarni (bhiksha) and stayed in the Datta Temple. Shree Sant Digambarbaba Wahalkar Maharaj gave him Diksha (discipleship).

Then as per his preceptors (Shree Digamabarbaba Wahalakr Maharaj) directives he undertook pilgrimage (visiting sacred places). He visited the holy places like Pandharpur, Akkalkot, Ganagapur and came to Saikheda on the banks of river Narmada. From there he visited Chitrakoot and then came to Prayaga. Then he went to Banaras, Gaya and Vaijnath Jyotirling. He came back to Akkalkot where he was blessed with Divine Darshan of Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj. Later he returned to Savarde via Kedgaon, Patan and Helwak.

After coming to Dervan-Savarde he commenced service to Sadguru Shree Digambarbaba Wahalkar Maharaj in Datta Temple. In 1951, Shree Sant Digambarbaba Wahalkar Maharaj attained Mahasamadhi (last conscious communion with God). Shree Seetarambua constructed Samadhi-Mandir (Temple-shrine) of his Sadguru and a small Muth to stay.

Shree Sant Seetarambua was well built and six feet high. He was well accustomed to hard work. His service to Sadguru included hard physical labour such as farming, breaking stones for construction work etc. He was a calibate (Brahmachari) and looked radiant.

He was very kind hearted. Nobody had ever seen him loosing temper. After getting initiated from his Sadguru he spent every moment of his life and used every bit of his well built physique in serving his Sadgurus cause, in meditaion, in devotion and spiritual pursuit. It was totally a dedicated life. He knew some rare herbal medicines and was well versed in Mantra-Sadhana also. He utilised these skills selflessly in ameliorating the woes of the poor. His life was a beacon of dedicated spiritual life.

More than 40 years passed like this. In order that Shree Sant Seetarambua should not suffer hardship in his old age in pursuing his spiritual path and also enable young devotees to learn lessons from his totally dedicated life, Shree Vitthalrao Ganesh Joshi alias Shree Digambardas Maharaj established a Seva Mandal in Mumbai in 1958 which later served as stepping stone for the formation of Shree Sant Seetarambua Charitable Trust after the Mahasamadhi (last conscious communion with God) of Shree Sant Seetarambua Maharaj on January 18, 1969.

Revered Shree Sant Seetarambua was a great Saint in the Parampara (tradition) of Shree Akkalkot Swami Samarth Maharaj. The Muth (temple-shrine) of Dervan is named after him and the Trust also started in his name work for the cause cherished by him namely his selfless service for the down trodden.

In Shree Sant Seetarambuas case the saying "One lamp lights the others" comes true.

The dictum of Shree Samarth Ramdas

" Maraave Pari Kirti Roope Ooraave "

(One is remembered after ones death by the good deeds done by him) holds good in respect of Shree Sant Seetarambua Maharaj.

Our humble salutations to this great Saint!