Om SathGuru Sri Seshadri Swamigal Thiruvadikkae
CHOLAPPA’S HOUSE. THE DEVOTEES REAP AS THEY SOW THE SEED OF FAITH.
When the Swami first arrived at Akkalkot, the good fortune of offering him food fell to Cholappa and, as though this was a sign of God’s grace, the Swami happened to stay at his house for a long time.
Cholappa’s faith in the Swami’s greatness had to contend with the attitude of his wife and his two sons who considered him a mere lunatic. Cholappa’s wife was, as it were, a touchstone in the hands of the Swami to test Cholappa’s faith.
One day the Swami suddenly set out walking towards a place called Hosapur. When Cholappa followed Him He turned around and said, “I am a Sannyasi. You are a householder. You should not follow us. You must stay there and attend to your worldly affairs.” Cholappa stood there silently but did not turn back. The Swami burst out in a rage and hurled foul abuse at him. At last, with tears in his eyes, Cholappa pleaded, “I would rather leave my home; I cannot leave your holy feet.” Though the Swami was inwardly pleased with his devotion, He put on a stern expression on His face and threw His wooden sandals at Cholappa and commanded him to worship them in His shrine.
Cholappa did accordingly. In the course of years many devotees from far and near were mysteriously directed to worship them in order to overcome their hardships, and then Cholappa realised that what the Swami had given him were not “mere wood”. Even today these holy sandals can be seen in the shrine at Cholappa’s Mutt.
Viewed from one angle Cholappa is more fortunate than most other devotees of the Swami. The Master stayed in his house longer than he did anywhere else. Yet, from another point of view he was the least fortunate of them. Though his regard for the Swami was high, it never ripened into rapturous devotion.
In his very presence, many devotees derived crowning spiritual experiences by the mere touch or the word of the Swami. But Cholappa was not to be one among them. Everything in creation must either wane or wax. So it started waning. Even while the Master in his house was granting darshan of various deities in Him to countless visitors. Cholappa was visiting several holy places in search of solace and light!
In course of time love of money stole into his heart. The Swami was not unaware of it! He even hinted at it one day when He said, “The very thing, which is mine, is now turning against me!”
The Godman sees God in everything and in every one. He loves all equally but the devotees reap as they sow the seed of faith. Accordingly, the devotees either come closer or go farther from the Holy One!
Miracles of Avathars 