Aundhiya Nagnath is a famous Shiva Kshetra, 50 kms away from Pandharpur. Visoba was born here in a Yajurvedi Brahmin family. He was called Saraf because he did goldsmith work. Visoba had a Sadhvi wife and four sons. He was well off at home. His domestic life was simple and pious. Even while doing household chores, the name of Pandurang would always come out of his mouth and his mind would always be on Shri Vitthal. Guest service is the most important duty of a householder. A guest would never leave his house without hospitality. He would worship the guest considering him to be Narayan himself.
Once there was a severe famine in the southern country. Getting food became rare. Thousands of men and women suffering from hunger started gathering at Visoba’s door. Visoba thought that Narayan had blessed him. He had come in so many forms to give him the privilege of serving him. He started giving them away with open hands. Whoever came, went away satisfied. The crowd kept increasing. The foodgrains got exhausted. Very expensive foodgrains were bought with money and distributed. Visoba became poor, but the crowd kept increasing. Visoba entertained the visitors even by selling the ornaments, utensils etc. of the house. The one who was once a Nagar Seth became poor. People of the world started laughing at him. Some called him a fool, some called him mad. Those who used to flatter him when he was rich, started taunting him. But Visoba was not worried about these things. He served Narayan in the form of guests.
If this distribution continues, even Kuber’s treasury will get exhausted. Visoba was left with nothing. Now how can the poor, hungry visitors be welcomed? If Narayan himself comes to the door asking for two handfuls of food, can he be turned away? But where would the food come from to give? Visoba went to a village Kanse which is several miles away from his village and borrowed several thousand rupees on interest from the Pathan there. The Pathan knew him as the Nagar Seth, so he gave him the money. His joy knew no bounds. After coming home, all the money was spent on food and he started serving Daridra Narayan. The villagers came to know about his borrowing. His enemies went and told the Pathan about his present condition. He came and asked for the money from him. He said- ‘I will return the money in seven days.’ The Pathan did not agree, but the villagers explained to him. People knew that Visoba was true to his word. He could even give up his life to protect the truth. The Pathan left.
Six days passed. Where would Visoba arrange from? Who would lend him money now? He started praying to his God at night- ‘Nath! Till today you have not let even a single word of mine go in vain. Today my honour is in your hands. Even if Visoba dies today, his truth will be saved. O Hari, I am waiting for you.’ A continuous stream of tears is flowing from his eyes. Visoba is not aware of his body. He is engrossed in praying.
The earnest prayer of a true heart never goes in vain. The Lord, the friend of the poor, listens to the earnest prayers of even the most lowly and ignorant being. It is not possible for his devotee to pray and he remains calm. That divine playful being took the form of Visoba’s accountant and reached the Pathan on time. The Pathan was surprised as to who had given so much money to Visoba in such a time of famine; but that accountant-in-form explained to him that there was no difficulty in getting the money due to Visoba’s credibility and honesty. After calculating in front of many people, the accountant paid back every penny including the interest and got a receipt for the reimbursement written on the old note.
The next day, when Visoba sat down to recite the Gita after taking a bath, he found a torn old note in the book. After praying, he went straight to the Pathan’s house. Going there he said- ‘Brother! Please forgive me. I will return your money with full interest. Give me some time.’ The Pathan said in surprise- ‘What are you saying? Your accountant has already returned the full amount yesterday. I made a mistake by asking you for money. Take as much money as you need. I do not need you to write a full note.’ Visoba was astonished. The villagers also told him that ‘your accountant has returned the money.’ Returning home he asked the accountant. Poor accountant, what would he know. He was stunned. Now Visoba was sure that all this was the play of his merciful Lord. He felt very ashamed. Pandurang had to suffer so much for him! Leaving everything he came to Pandharpur. Now he did not feel like staying anywhere else leaving such a generous Swami. He now became absorbed in Bhajan.
Visoba joined the group of Shri Gyaneshwar later. He practiced yoga and became known as a perfect Mahatma. He himself has said- ‘Muktabai accepted Changdev and Sopandev blessed me. Now there is no fear of birth and death.’ He considered Shri Gyaneshwar to be the incarnation of God.
God ordered Shri Namdev in a dream to take initiation from Visoba. When Namdev came to him after accepting this divine order, he was lying in a temple with his legs spread on a Shivling. Namdev was very surprised by this. He said- ‘Namiya! I have become old. I am unable to lift my legs. You put my feet at a place where there is no Shivling.’ Namdev removed his feet from there and put them down, but another Shivling appeared from the ground there. Now Namdev understood. He fell at the feet of Gurudev. Namdev has sung his great praises in his abhangs.