Ramdas Swami was a great Guru from the 17th century in Maharashtra, India. Among His many disciples was disciple Kalyan Swami. Stories of Kalyan Swami’s attitude of serving God and His Guru are famous in Maharashtra. Kalyan Swami also possessed immense physical strength. The following story is one such story about His obedience to Ramdas Swami.

    Once during the religious festival of Lord Rama’s birth (Rama Navami), a yearly parade was organized. Lord Rama’s beautifully decorated statue was being carried on an elephant, throughout the town of Chaphal (in Maharashtra, India). During this parade, the elephant suddenly became wild. It started making violent sounds and everybody started running helter-skelter. The elephant rider could not control the elephant.

    Finally, Ramdas Swami called out to Kalyan, “Kalyan what are you waiting for? Control that elephant!” Immediately, Kalyan stood directly in front of the elephant and started advancing towards it.

    The huge elephant had become very wild and was a deadly force to reckon with. Everybody thought that Kalyan Swami would soon be dead. The elephant and Kalyan Swami came face to face. The elephant caught Kalyan Swami in his trunk and wanted to throw him down. But instead of curling its trunk around Kalyan Swami’s waist, the elephant caught his left hand. As the elephant tried to pick up Kalyan Swami, Kalyan Swami punched the elephant on its forehead. The punch was so powerful that the elephant collapsed and slowly calmed down.