The Tailor and Lord Jagannath
There was a tailor in Delhi whose name was Paramesthi. Although he was
very ugly and hunch-backed, he possessed all good qualities and had taken birth
in a devotee family. He was a self-realized person, and worshipped Lord Vishnu
as his life and soul. He had control over all his senses, was truthful, and
free from envy, anger and pride. He was detached from material objects and was
always blissful. He understood the temporary nature of the material world, and thus was always
engaged in chanting the holy name. His wife, Vimala Devi, was very beautiful,
humble and also possessed many good qualities. She was always engaged in the
service of her husband. They had two daughters and three sons.
Paramesthi was very expert in his tailoring job. He was so famous for
his good tailoring that the Muslim King of Delhi would send his cloth to Paramesthi.
Once the King sent some very expensive cloth embroidered with gold and
decorated with pearls and diamonds. The King requested that two pillows be made
from the cloth. He said to Paramesthi, "You should make it very nicely
with flower designs sewn onto the cloth. Make sure no one can see the
stitching. If you do a good job, I will pay you handsomely." When
Paramesthi saw the cloth, he thought to himself, "This cloth looks and
smells so nice. It is only suitable for Lord Jagannath. These pillows the King
wants sewn are really meant for Lord Jagannath—how can such beautiful cloth be
enjoyed by a human being?"
It so happened that Paramesthi received the cloth from the King during
the Ratha-yatra period, when Lord Jagannath would ride in His chariot through
Pahandi vijaya. Paramesthi started to make the pillows, and when they were
ready, he was very satisfied, as the pillows looked so beautiful. Paramesthi
closed his eyes dreamily, and began meditating on the Pahandi Vijaya pastime of
Lord Jagannath. He saw that Jagannath looked so beautiful. Thousands of people
were there to see the Lord and He attracted everyone's minds. During
Ratha-yatra, there is no difference between low-caste and high-caste; devotees
from the fourteen planets come to take shelter at the lotus feet of Lord
Jagannath. When Jagannath was moved from the temple, He was resting on a
pillow. The sevaks moved the pillow forward, and moved Jagannath onto the
pillow, and in this way He moved forward, out of His temple and onto His chariot.
Paramesthi saw all of this in meditation. Suddenly he saw the pillow burst. He
knew the Lord needed another pillow, and so he handed over the pillow he was
making for the King, just as if he were standing next to Lord Jagannath.
Jagannath took the pillow, and the sevaks. continued moving Him towards His
chariot.
When Paramesthi came to his external senses, he saw that he had only one
pillow instead of two. He suddenly realized that one pillow had actually been
taken by Lord Jagannath! Paramesthi was surprised to see this, and felt himself
so fortunate that a pillow he had sewn was used in the Lord's intimate service.
He was feeling that Jagannath was so merciful to him. He felt fear along with
his happiness: one pillow was missing, and there was no doubt that the King
would punish him! Then Paramesthi thought to himself, "This person has
become the king due only to the mercy of my Lord. He is powerful due to the
power of my Lord. So in reality, what can he do to me?"
While Paramesthi was thinking these thoughts, the King's messenger came
with an order from the King to bring the two pillows to the palace. Paramesthi
immediately went to the King with the one pillow. He offered his obeisances
many times then presented the pillow to the King. The King looked bewildered
and said, "I ordered two pillows. Where is the other pillow? Have not you
prepared another pillow? Tell me the truth—what happened to other pillow?"
Paramesthi immediately fell at the feet of the King and explained that the
other pillow had been taken by Lord Jagannath. "I have only this one
pillow with me, which I am giving to you now. Please accept this one and do
whatever you want with me." The King smiled, but inside he was seething
with anger. He glared at Paramesthi, and said, "Have you become mad ?!
Where is your Lord Jagannath ? How powerful is He ? What can He do by His hand ?
How is it possible for Him to take the pillow from you ? Sri Kshetra Puri is so
far from here. How is it possible that He could have come so far in one day and
take this pillow from you?"
Hearing all these questions, Paramesthi started to chant the holy name
of the Lord. He said to the King, "I do not fear death. I will explain to
you the potency of Lord Jagannath. He is there in His Daru-Brahma form. But at
the same time, He is all over the universe. He is the supreme controller of
this universe. He lives at Niladri nagar but is maintaining the whole universe.
Whenever you call Him, wherever you are in the universe, He can hear you, even
though He is sitting in Puri. According to the devotion of His dear most
devotees, He will accept things from them, regardless of the seeming distance
between Him and His devotee. He accepts according to mood of the devotee."
When the King heard this explanation from Paramestiii, he became very angry. He
said, "You sinful, low-caste person! Now listen to me! I do not have a
devotional mood, and yet you are filled with bhava and devotion. Now I will put
you to death. You can then remember your Istha-Deva. Let us see then how your
Lord can save you!" The King ordered his people, "Arrest this man!
Take this hunchback to the prison house and tie him in ropes. Shackle
his legs then bolt the door.Do not give him any food. Let him die of
starvation. Let us see then how his Lord will save him!"
Paramesthi was carried away and thrown in the prison house. He started
to pray to Lord Jagannath. "O Bhavagrahi, please protect me! O Kamala-saran,
please protect me! O Jagat-karan, please protect me! O, Protector. Chakrapani!
You protected Draupadi, and You protected Gajendra the king of the elephants
when they were in trouble. O Rama-dhanurdhar-dhan! O Kripasindhu! O Bhakta-kalpataru!
O Dina-natha, Dina-bandhu! O Sila-abala-karaka! O Nilachala! O
Janaranjan-nayan! O Ghora-vipad-nasan, Prahlada-uddharan! O Hiranya-hruda-vidaran!
O Girigovardhana! O Indra-garba-kharba-kari! Lord Mahadeva and Brahma meditate
on Your lotus feet. Your glories are unlimited. How can a wretched person like me
be able to know all Your glories? How can I understand your bhava ! You are
rarely attained even by great yogis. This universe is Your playground. Please
protect me from the punishment of this Muslim king. You may do whatever You
like with me, as I have no control over anything."
Praying like this, Paramesthi chanted the Lord's holy name, his eyes
closed in meditation, his mind dwelling on the four-armed form of the Lord.
Gradually he fell asleep. Lord Jagannath, the Supersoul, knew the situation of
Paramesthi. Lord Jagannath is known as the deliverer of the fallen. He cannot
tolerate the suffering of His devotees. Immediately He reached Delhi and
entered the prison house where His devotee was detained. The Lord looked very
effulgent, and He cast His merciful glance upon Paramesthi. As soon as the Lord's
glance fell upon him, Paramesthi was immediately released from the shackles on
his legs and the ropes around his arms. When he opened his eyes, he saw Lord
Jagannath before him. That Adimula, the original cause of everything, who is
Ab-haya-vara-data, the giver of fearlessness; Bhrutya-kalpataru, He who
fulfills the desires of His servants, was smiling at Paramesthi. He said to
him, "Why are you worried? As long as I am with you, you need not fear
anyone or anything. As long as I have My sudarshan in My hand, My devotees are
most powerful and are well protected." Then the Lord put His lotus feet on
the head of Paramesthi. Immediately his hunch disappeared, and he became very
beautiful. Just see the good fortune of this person! Even Indra, the king of
the demigods, could not receive blessings such as this ! Paramesthi, holding
the lotus feet of the Lord on his head, was in so much ecstasy that he could not
speak. In this way he was completely purified.
Then Lord Jagannath went to the house of the Muslim king in Delhi. The
King was sleeping deeply, and the Lord appeared near him and said,
"Foolish, ignorant King! I have given you this position, yet you are
unaware of this. You have punished My devotee for giving Me a simple pillow.
Everything in this universe belongs to Me. He simply returned my possessions to
Me. Did he give Me your fathers property? Now I order you to immediately
release him from the prison house! Fall at his feet and worship him. If you do
not do this, then I will finish you along with your entire family dynasty. I
will cut you all into pieces." The Lord started to whip the King’s back.
After whipping him, Jagannath disappeared from the palace. After being whipped
heavily, the King felt so much pain and woke up shouting and crying. He thought
he had been having a nightmare, but then he saw the red marks on his back and
understood that it was not an ordinary dream. The King said to himself,
"Who could possibly do this ? He must be God! He came here to teach me a
lesson. He did this for His devotee. If I delay in carrying out His orders,
then I will be in great trouble."
Early the next morning, the King went to the prison house and personally
unlocked the cell door. He was surprised to see that Paramesthi was free from
his bindings. He also noticed that the hunch was gone from his back, and that
his appearance was very beautiful and effulgent. He was sitting peacefully and
chanting the holy name of Lord Rama. By seeing this, the King, out of fear,
picked up Paramesthi and put him on his lap. He offered him a flower garland
and chandan, and decorated him with many ornaments. He placed a patani sari
(turban of respect) on his head. With great humility, the King said, "You
are very fortunate and blessed. You have purified this planet. I say to you
with the utmost sincerity, from today you will be our family guru."
The King then brought his principal elephant, and Paramesthi rode around
Delhi in a great procession while the King sang his glories. Afterwards, the
King took Paramesthi back to the palace. Paramesthi continued to worship Lord
Jagannath without any obstacle. At the end of his life, he went back home, back
to Godhead.
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