Overview: Incarnations
“I will incarnate whenever dharma touches bottom most level.”
- Srīpāda
Srīpāda Srīvallabha
In fulfilment of the promise given by Lord Dattatreya to a group of sages, he decided to incarnate in the present Dark Age as Srīpāda Srīvallabha.
Birthplace
On the Eastern side of India, in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, there is a town near Rajahmundry called Pithapuram. In this place Lord Dattatreya took birth in the year 1320 as Srīpāda Srīvallabha.
The Name
He was given the name Srīpāda because he carried the most sublime symbols of a conch and a wheel under his feet. These are symbols of the divine presence in that form.
Father and Mother
The name of the mother of Srīpāda is Sumatī. ‘Mati’ means the mind; ‘Sumatī’ means the good mind. She was a good-natured lady, simple, austere in her discipline, ever related to the Divine.
Announcement of Birth
Suddenly a sixteen year old good-looking boy dressed like a sage appeared before her and said, “Mother! I am Srīpāda Srīvallabha. I myself will be born to you.”
Birth and Early Years
Srīpāda was very humorous and playful, and he conducted many extraordinary supernatural acts even from the age of one year on, which are described in his biography.
The Mission
Many people came to him seeking help and were enlightened. He was teaching and healing and many super-mundane revelations happened around him.
The Female Part
Srīpāda explains that he has a sister called Vasavī. She is the same essence taking to a female form, and she also manifested in South India.
Narasimha Saraswati
In his life as Srīpāda Srīvallabha, he had already announced: “To revive the ascetic way of life, I will take birth as Narasimha Saraswati and remain in that incarnation for 80 years.”
Swamī Samartha
Swamī Samartha appeared in Akkalkot, a village in Maharashtra, India, in 1856. Therefore, he is also called Akkalkot Maharaj or Srī Swamī Samarth Maharaj by his devotees.