BHAKTA SHABARI

Shabari  and  Lord Rama & Lakshmana

Bhakta Shabari & Lord Rama

Bhakta Shabari and Lord Rama & Lakshmana

BHAKTA   SHABARI    

 Shabari was a hunter's daughter and belong to the Nishadha tribal community. The night before her marriage, she saw that thousands of goats and sheep were brought by her father, which were going to be sacrificed for the marriage dinner. Moved by compassion, during the early hours of the morning, she renounced the world and ran away to meet a Master. After days of traveling, she met Sage Matanga at the foot of the Mountain Rishyamukha and accepted him as guru, serving him with devotion. When her guru Matanga was about to die, Shabari—now an old woman—says that after serving him throughout her life, she wanted to reach the same "abode of peace" which Matanga reached. Thereupon, the sage said that by the virtue of her seva (service), Lord Rama shall give her darshan and asks her to wait for his arrival. Saying thus, the sage sitting in lotus posture attains Mahasamadhi. As per her guru's words, Shabari waits for the 

arrival of Rama.

Everyday Shabari would go out of her ashram, with the help of a walking stick and pluck berry fruits for Lord Rama. She would pluck a fruit, first taste it, and if it was sweet she would put it in her basket and discard the bitter ones. She wanted to give the good and sweet fruits to Rama. The thought never came to her that she should not taste it before it was offered to a deity. Traditional writers use this narrative to indicate that in bhakti, faults are not seen by God. Thus collecting a few fruits, Shabari went back to her ashram and eagerly anticipate Rama's arrival. Shabari is commonly used as a metaphor for an        endless wait for God.

Arrival of Rama
According to the story, even though hundreds of other yogis were waiting to receive Rama in their ashrams, Rama went only to Shabari's ashram because of her sincere devotion. On seeing Rama, Shabari became ecstatic and said, "There were so many exalted yogis waiting for Your darshan, but You came to this unworthy devotee. This clearly shows that You will neither see whether a devotee lives in a palace or humble hut, whether he is erudite or ignorant - neither see caste nor color. You will only see the true bhakti - I do not have anything to offer other than my heart, but here are some berry fruits. May it please you, my Lord." Saying so, Shabari offered the fruits she had meticulously collected to Rama. When Rama was tasting them, Lakshmana raised the concern that Shabari had already tasted them and therefore unworthy of eating. To this Rama said that of the many types of food he had tasted, "nothing could equal these berry fruits, offered with such devotion. You taste them, then alone will you know. Whomsoever offers a fruit, leaf, flower or some water with love, I partake it with great joy." Lakshmana also had a great experience tasting the fruits. Pleased with Shabari's devotion, Rama blesses her with His vision and grants her . Shabri also tells Sri Rama to take help from Sugriva and where to find him. The Ramayan says that Shabri was a very bright and knowledgible saint. Moksha (liberation).

Rama's discourse
Rama delivers his discourse on nava-vidha bhakti (ninefold devotion) to Shabari.
Such pure devotion is expressed in nine ways, .
First is satsang or association with love-intoxicated devotees and righteous people.
The second is to develop a taste for hearing My nectar-like stories.
The third is service to the Guru.
Fourth is to sing My kirtan (communal chorus).
Japa or repetition of My Holy name and chanting My bhajans are the fifth expression .
To follow scriptural injunctions always, to practice control of the senses, nobility of character and selfless service, these are expressions of the sixth mode of bhakti.
Seeing Me manifested everywhere in this world and worshipping My saints more than myself is the seventh mode of bhakti.
To find no fault with anyone and to be contented with one's lot is the eighth mode of bhakti.
Unreserved surrender with total faith in My strength is the ninth and highest stage.
Shabari, anyone who practices one of these nine modes of My bhakti pleases Me most and reaches Me without fail.
That which is most difficult for the greatest yogis was easily attained by you, Shabari, because of your sincere devotion.

Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabari

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SANT JANABAI

Lord Vitthal

Janabai & Lord Krishna - Vitthal

Janabai temple at Gangakhed

Janabai grinding grains - Lord Vitthal

Sant Janabai ( 1270 - 1350 AD )

One day in the month of Karthik (November) the Vitthal Rukmani temple in Pandhari was filled with Pilgrims. Janabai had come there with her parents as a pilgrimage to the temple. Sitting at the Mahadwar of the temple, she told her parents that she doesn’t want to go back with them and want to spend the rest of her life in Pandhari worshiping Vitthal. Jani was only 7 years then and the other pilgrims there were astonished hearing what she had to say. Her parents were greatly troubled hearing this. After several attempts to convince Jani, her parents finally left for their home, comforting themselves by thinking about her determination and love towards Vitthal.

Nama happened to see this little girl and asked her why she was alone and enquired about her parents. Jani said that Vitthal is her father and mother and that she has no one other than him. Hearing this, a feeling of compassion aroused in Nama for Jani and he took her home. Nama told Gonai that he found this girl in the temple and that she had lost her parents and we need to take care of her. From then on she would do all the house hold work in Nama’s house and would call her self the maid of Nama. She used to keep chanting the name of Vitthal whenever she did any house hold work and at night she used to sing about Vitthal and meditate upon him.

One night when Nama was asleep, a fierce wind blew and that carried away the roof of Nama’s hut. Vitthal on seeing this sent his Sudarshana chakra to revolve around his hut so that Nama and his family could sleep. There were heavy rains but not even a drop of water went in to the hut. Vitthal then rebuilt Nama’s hut. When Nama woke up he saw Vitthal’s Pithambaram (Robe) shining outside his hut and he came out and fell in his feet. Nama then asked Vitthal what he was doing so late in the night here. Vitthal then told him that there was a storm and that his roof flew away because of it and he had come here to rebuild it. Vitthal then told Nama that if he had not come in time, his children would have felt the cold and Gonai would have become very angry with Vitthal and spoken to him harshly. On hearing this, Gonai immediately fell at Vitthal’s feet. Jani then came at once and saw that Vitthal was fully wet and rubbed his back with a dry cloth. Vitthal then told Nama that he must be hungry and asked him to eat with him. Gonai then bought some food and Nama, Gonai, Rajai, Nama’s children all sat down to have food with Vitthal. Looking at this Jani was grieved as Vitthal had no pity for her and did not call her. Vitthal immediately stopped eating and told Nama that he is not enjoying the food today and he doesn’t know why. Nama immediately replied to Vitthal that it was because Jani was standing outside in grief and that he is also not enjoying his food because of that. As Vitthal stopped eating every one stopped eating. Gonai gave the plate in which Vitthal had left some food to Jani. Jani then took it happily to her hut. Nama and Vithhal were then sleeping in Nama’s bed. Once Nama was asleep, Vitthal then went to Jani’s hut and told her that he was hungry and that is why he had come to her. Jani then told Vitthal that she dint have anything other than the food he had left earlier, and that she was hesitant to give it to him. Vitthal then told her not to hesitate and asked her to bring it. He then asked Jani to sit beside him and had the food. He then told Jani that he was happy and satisfied with what she had offered. Vitthal then came to Jani and told her to arise as it was time for her to grind the grains. He also told her that he had cleaned the mill and is waiting for her to come. He then asked her to place her hands on the mill and asked her to sing her abhangs. Vitthal then did the grinding by himself and filled the basket with the flour. (This mill is still there in Pandarpur and one can touch and see this when we visit Gopalpur temple) There was still some time left and so Vitthal slept in Jani’s hut. When the dawn began to appear Jani woke up Vitthal and told him that people would be coming to the temple and he has to go there immediately. Vitthal left his necklace and shawl in Jani’s house and went to the temple with Jani’s shawl. When the priest opened the door of temple, he was surprised to see a different shawl on Vitthal. One of the devotee’s said that the shawl belonged to Jani and when they removed the shawl they also found the necklace missing. A group of people then came to Jani’s house and accused her of stealing the necklace and shawl of Vitthal. Jani said that she had not taken any of these. When they searched her house, they found the necklace and the shawl. They then brought her to Chandrabhaga to impale her. They tied her to an Iron rod and she was crying to Vitthal helplessly. The iron rod suddenly turned in to water and all the people who had gathered were astonished. All of them then praised the Jani and prayed and sang about Vitthal.

One day as Jani was singing an abhang, Vitthal started writing it down. Just as he was writing down the abhang, Gyaneshwar entered the temple and noticed Vitthal hiding something. He then asked him what he was hiding and then Vitthal told him that he was writing down the abhang composed by Jani. Gyaneshwar burst in to laughter and asked why he was noting down an abhang that is being sung on his praise. Vitthal then told Gyaneshwar that the verses of Jani are full of love. Gyaneshwar then called Vitthal to Nama’s house. When they reached Nama’s house a lot of saints had already gathered there. Vitthal then asked Nama to call Jani. Jani was doing some house hold work and on hearing this she immediately washed her hands and came there. Gyaneshwar then told Nama about Vitthal writing down the verses of Jani. Vitthal then said, I was happy to write down the verses of Jani and I will bless anyone who reads her verses, and they will not suffer any calamities in their family life.

Source : http://indiansaints.wordpress.com/2009/08/11/sant-janabai/

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Janābāi was a Marāthi religious poetess in the Hindu tradition in India, who was born likely in the seventh or the eighth decade of the 13th century. According to folklore, she died in 1350.

Janabai was born in Gangākhed, Mahārāshtra to a couple with first names rand and Karand. Under the caste system which rigidly existed in India, the couple belonged to the lowest caste. After her mother died, her father took her to Pandharpur.^[1] Since her childhood, Janabai worked as a maidservant in the household of Dāmāsheti, who lived inPandharpur and who was the father of the prominent Marathi religious poet Nāmdev. Janabai was likely a little older than Namdev, and attended to him for many years.

Pandharpur has high religious significance especially among Marathi-speaking Hindus. Janabai's employers, Damasheti and his wife, Gonāi, were very religious. Through the influence of the religious environment around her and her innate inclination, Janabai was all along an ardent devotee of Lord Vitthal, and she was also gifted with poetic talent. Though she never had any formal schooling, she thus composed many high-quality religious verses of the abhang (अभंग) form. Fortunately, some of her compositions got preserved along with those of Namdev. Authorship of about 300 abhang is traditionally attributed to Janabai. However, researchers believe that quite a few of them were in fact compositions of some other writers.

Along with Dnyāneshwar, Nāmdev, Eknāth, and Tukaram, Janabai has a revered place in the minds of Marathi-speaking Hindus who belong especially to the wārakari (वारकरी) sect in Maharashtra. In accord with a tradition in India of assigning the epithet sant (संत) to persons regarded as thoroughly saintly, all of the above religious figures including Janabai are commonly attributed that epithet in Maharashtra. Thus, Janabai is routinely referred to as Sant Janabai (संत जनाबाई).

Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janabai

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BHAKTA PUNDARIKAR

Pundalika   devoted  to  father & mother

Vithoba  waiting on the brick, Pndalik  serves his parents.

Lord Vithoba & Goddess Rukmini

                                                                                                             

BHAKTA    PUNDARIKAR


The temple town of Pandaripuram is referred to as Bhoo-Vaikundam (heaven on earth) as Lord Hari resides here. The puranas says Lord Hari defeated the Asura Dhindiran on this land and hence it was originally called as Dhindiravanam.

Once in Dhindiravanam there lived on the banks of the holy Chandrabhaga a poor Brahman named Pundarikan (also known as Pundalikan) who was a great dharmathma. He was a kind hearted person leading a humble life. Pundarkian lived along with his wife and together they took care of their parents with great respect, sincerity and dedication. Since Pundarikan was a strong willed  person ,he thought doing service to his aged parents was the greatest dharmic and  spiritual activity more superior even to performing any kind of pooja and he never even thought of or prayed to  any  deity or god. He was constantly attending to his parents needs. Daily he would bathe them, feed them, massage their feet and always stay beside them untiring and ever ready to serve them. Pundarikan never cursed his parents even when he was wrongly scolded or snubbed by them. He never mistook them and never compromised on the service.

Once Pundarika’s aged parents who could even hardly walk desired to go on a Kashi Yatra. Coming to know of their wish Pundarikan carried his parents on his back all the way to Kashi and back enabling them to have dharshan of Lord Vishwanath, the Ganges and other holy places, such was his parental bhakthi.

KRISHNA, The Lord of Dwaraka , came to know the Pithru Bhakthi of Pundarikan and came to Pandhari along with Rukhmini to meet Pundarikan. Pundarikan inspite of knowing that the visitor was the lotus eyed Shri Hari himself who had come to meet him, continued his service to his parents and humbly offered a brick and asked him to wait till he finished all his duties towards his parents. By having been made to wait standing on the brick the Lord later came to be called Vitthal (meaning brick). Thus the Lord waiting with his hands on his hip stood amazed at the kind of service that he saw Pundarikan do for his aged parents. On finishing his chores Pundarikan stepped outside his ashram and prostrated in front of the Lord and only now welcomed him, “Oh Lord , Krishna , Mukunda , you by your divine grace have given darshan to an ordinary man like me. But I have made you rest your divine feet for whose holy glimpse millions of bhakthas yearn, on this burnt brick. Oh Lotus eyed one, please forgive me for what I have done. “The Lord said he was immensely pleased with the bhakthi that Pundarikan displayed towards his parents and said that he was pleased to let the world know about his bhakthi’s greatness. He then, asked Pundarikan how he wanted to be rewarded for his unwavering bhakthi.

Pundarikan  responded, “ Oh Lord, Oh, Ocean of Mercy, you have this day given darshan to an ordinary soul like me, I would like you to stay in this place forever giving darshan to all who seek your holy feet  till the end of time.” You should bear the name “Vitthal” and this place should become renowned for bhakthi and mukthi and be called as Pundarikapuram. May the river Bhima which flows around this town become as holy as the Ganga and absolve everyone off their sins.

Henceforth Lord Krishna stayed in Pundarikapuram itself and bore the name Vitthal and is still celebrating the spirit of bhakthi and is performing innumerable leelas with all his devotes. In due course of time Pundarikapuram has come to be called Pandaripuram.

The Samadhi of Pundarikan, for whom Lord Krishna came to Pandhari, still rests on the banks of the holy Chandrabhaga river.

Source : http://indiansaints.wordpress.com/2009/09/10/bhaktha-pundarikar/

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SANT SENA NAHVI

Lord Vitthala - Lord Krishna

 SANT   SENA NHAVI

Sant Sena NhaviSant Sena Nhavi

There was a barber named Sena Nhavi. He was very pious and god loving. He used to get up early in the morning, have his bath, perform his poojas and only then look at his occupation and other domestic affairs. Sena was also the king’s barber and would have to go to the palace whenever the king called him. One day as Sena was performing his pooja in his house, the king’s messenger came looking for Sena. Sena was deep in his prayers and so his wife told the king’s messenger that he was not at home. Sena’s neighbor who was also a barber on seeing this went and complained to the king, that Sena was at home performing his prayers and had lied to him that he was not at home. He also offered to do the job himself. The Mohamedian king got angry on listening to this and sent the guards to arrest Sena. Knowing what was in the king’s mind Vitthal immediately took the form of Sena and came to the palace. The moment the king saw him, his anger disappeared. When Sena touched him the king was filled with amazement. Sena then shaved the king and shampooed his head. The king felt very happy and told him that he is the best barber in town and should remain with him in the palace. Sena then rubbed the fragrance oil on the king. As Sena was rubbing the oil, the king saw the reflection of Shri Krishna in the fragrance oil. The king was amazed on seeing this. He then saw up and it was Sena rubbing his head and not Shri Krishna with four hands as he saw in the bowl of oil. The king lost all consciousness and was absorbed in the form of god that he was seeing in the oil bowl. The men in the kings assembly started laughing at the king looking at his stage and told him that it was already afternoon and that he should go and have his bath. The king then asked Sena to be there and not to go home. The king also told him that if he leaves him he would die. Sena then told the king that he would return quickly. The king then gave a handful of gold coins to Sena. Shri Krishna then took the coins, placed it in the bag in Sena’s house and disappeared.

The king after finishing his bath came and asked his servants to go get Sena at once. He was in a completely different state and could not eat, nor dress up. He said that if Sena doesn’t come now he would loose his life. The royal servants immediately went to Sena’s house and asked him to come to the palace immediately. Not knowing anything that had happened, Sena asked them if the king was very angry with him as it was very late. Taking his bag, Sena immediately came to the palace. On seeing Sena entering the palace the king got up and greeted Sena and every one in the kings assembly laughed at this. The king then told Sena to show him the form with four hands that he had shown to him that morning. Hearing this Sena was full of astonishment. He then ordered his servants to bring the bowl of oil and saw Sena’s reflection in it, but was disappointed that he could not see the form he had seen in the morning. Sena then knew what had happened and his eyes were filled with tears and asked god why he had to do this lowly job of a barber to save him. He also told the king that it was lord Shri Krishna whom he had seen that morning. The king then rushed up to Sena and held him by his feet and told him that he had been able to see Lord Shri Krishna due to his association with him. Sena then saw the coins that god had put in his bag and distributed them to the Brahmans. The Mohamedian king then became a staunch follower of Shri Krishna. Sena then took leave from the king and decided to go in the service of god.

Source : http://indiansaints.wordpress.com/2009/08/15/sant-sena-nhavi/

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SANT KANHOPATRA

Sant   Kanhopatra

SANT   KANHOPATRA

LORD   VITTHALA

Statue of  Sant  Kanhopatra

Sant Kanhopatra


There was a dassi by name Shyama in the town of Mangalvedha which is about fourteen miles from Pandharpur. Shyama had a beautiful daughter by name Kanhopatra. She was so beautiful that there was no match to her beauty in this world. While she was young she learned the art of singing and dancing. Shyama, asked her daughter to come with her to see the king so that he would give some money and ornaments to her. Kanhopatra then said that she would not come to the kings durbar. She also said that she would only marry someone who is more beautiful than her.

One day a group of pilgrims who were going to Pandhari were passing by singing the praise of god. When Kanhopatra saw them she made a namskar to them and asked them where they were going. The pilgrims then replied to her that they were going to Pandhari to see lord Vitthal. She then asked them to describe his glory to which they said that even lord Brahma and others were unable to describe his glory and that his beauty exceeds that of Lakshmi a billion fold. Kanhopatra then asked them if she goes as a suppliant to the lord will he accept her. The saints then told her that he will definitely accept her and she then went home and told her mother that she is going to Pandhari and left with them taking a vina in her hand. She joined the pilgrims in singing the praise of lord and reached Pandhari. She had the darshan of Vitthal and decided to be in Pandhari. She would always remain in the great door of the temple and sing his praise.

One man who had come from Bedar saw her and went and told the king about her and her beauty. On hearing this, the Mohamedian king sent his guards to go get Kanhopatra from the temple of Pandharpur. The guards arrived at the temple gates and told Kanhopatra the king’s orders and that if she failed to listen to them, they would have to take her forcefully. She then told them that she would visit Vitthal for one last time and come back with them to the king. She went in and prayed to Vitthal and told him that if he abandons her now the whole world will blame him for this. As she pleaded with Vitthal, he removed her soul and united it with him. He took Kanhopatra in his lap and she died on his lap. Vitthal then asked the priest to burry her corpse at the southern gate of the temple. As soon as they buried her a tarati tree sprang up immediately in that place and everyone were surprised. We can till date see this tree in Vitthal Rukmani temple in Pandharpur. Meanwhile the king’s guards who were sitting in the main gate of the temple asked the priest what happened to Kanhopatra. They told them that she now got united with Vitthal and is no more. The guards then asked them to show her corpse to which the priest told them that it has changed in to a tree. The guards dint believe what they said and arrested the priest and took him to king. The priest then offered coconut and bukka from the temple to the king as Prasad and told him what happened. When the king took the coconut he saw a hair in the coconut and asked the priest how this came in the coconut offered to god. The priest was afraid and confused how it had come. He then decided to tell the king that it was Vitthal’s hair. The king dint believe this and asked him if it was true. The priest then told him to come to Pandhari and see it for himself and also gave it in writing. The king then decided to come to Pandharpur and visit the god to check if what they described about him was true. He entered the temple paid his respects to the god and went to god’s bed chamber and looked at the god. He then saw god’s brilliant crown, beautiful curly hair, his lotus eyes, his crocodile ear rings and the kaustubh around his neck. The moment the king saw this he became repentant and told the priest that he had seen the lord just the way they had described him. He then prostrated before the god and embraced his feet and said that Kanhopatra’s fortune is supreme in getting united with Vitthal.

Source : http://indiansaints.wordpress.com/2009/08/15/sant-kanhopatra/

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SANT DAMAJI PANT

SANT   DAMAJI PANT

LORD VITTHAL & GODDESS RUKMINI

At Pandharpur   Lord   Vitthal   &   Goddess   Rukmini  Temple

                                                                           

Sant   Damaji Pant   Temple  at  Mangalwedha

Shri Sant Damajipant



Damajipant was a great saint who was working and living at Mangalwedha near Solapur in Maharashtra. He used to work for the muslim king of Bidar by maintaining the stock of grains in the godown at Mangalwedha. He was very pious, kind hearted and immersed in Harichintana. His wife was equally cooperative and devoted. Once there was a great famine in that region and people, cattle died of starvation. On one afternoon, there came a brahmin at Damajipant’s door at lunchtime. Damajipant invited him to take food with him and other guests. While eating, the brahmin started to cry. When asked the reason of his sorrow, he told that his family was starving at Pandharpur, but he was eating heartlessly. Damajipant assured him that he would get lot of grains to take for his family. After lunch, he was given 2 khandi rice, which was loaded in the bullock cart to be taken to Pandharpur.
On the way to Pandharpur, many starving poor people attacked the brahmin and took away his rice. When they learnt that, the brahmin had received the grains from Damajipant at Mangalwedha, a huge crowd came to Damajipant and piteously requested for grains. His wife too suggested that the poor and starving people should be helped.

There was only one solution. Damajipant opened the godown of muslim king and distributed the grains freely to everyone. Soon the news spread that, Damajipant was distributing the grains and a lot of people from the areas affected by famine came. All of them received grains freely. Though all of them praised Damajipant to the skies, he remained humble However, there was one Kannada clerk working for the same king at Mangalwedha, who was jealous of Damajipant. He immediately went to Bidar and informed the king that his godown was emptied by Damajipant without informing him. The king was enraged and ordered capturing of Damajipant. The soldiers arrived at Damajipant door and showed him king’s order. Damajipant was unmoved, but requested them to take him to Bidar via Pandharpur. The soldiers agreed and they arrived at Pandharpur. Damajipant took bath in the river Chandrabhaga and went to see Lord Vitthala. There, he intently looked at the Lord and told him, that , that was the last he could be seeing Him. Tears came to eyes of Damajipant. Soldiers took him away and they started towards Bidar.
Lord Vitthala, immediately disguised as Vithoo Mahar came to the king of Bidar carrying a huge load on His back. He showed a letter written in the handwriting of Damajipant to the guards who let Him in. There Vithoo Mahar entered the Durbar of the king and offered him the salutations.
He introduced Himself as the servant of Damajipant and told the king that, there was a great deficiency of grains all over Mangalwedha and the adjoining areas due to famine and that Damajipant had sold all the grains for a very high price. He gave the huge bag of gold coins to the king and the letter written in Damajipant’s handwriting to the king and requested him to issue a receipt for the same. The king was astonished and immediately asked his treasury people to count the money. The money was uncountable and was in several lakhs.
The king was extremely happy and felt ashamed about his wrong decision to arrest Damajipant based on a false complaint. He thanked Vithoo Mahar, issued a receipt to Him and also presented ornaments, a horse and an elephant and rich clothes to be handed over to Damajipant. Vithoo Mahar took everything and went to Mangalwedha and showed it to the family of Damajipant and disappeared. However, since, Damajipant was going to Bidar via Pandharpur he did not know anything. Some time after the departure of Vithoo Mahar, Damajipant entered Durbar and offered his salutations to the king. The king was surprised to see him again. The king came to Damajipant and hugged him with great affection and offered his apologies for his mistake.
Damajipant was bewildered and looked at the king disbelievingly. Then the king told him how he had just received the money earned by Damajipant by selling the grains and so on. The king also described in minute details, the name and other features of Damajipant’s faithful servant. Damajipant immediately understood that it was the Lord of Pandharpur, who had done everything for his devotee. When tears started to roll down his cheeks, the king was surprised. Damajipant explained everything to him and told the king, that he was resigning his job, as the Lord had work for him and he did not want to trouble again. The king was surprised and praised Damajipant for his devotion. Damajipant returned to Mangalwedha and found all the gifts and the receipt at his home and told everything that had happened. He donated everything to the poor people and went to Pandharpur. He served the Lord at Pandharpur till the very end. Even now there is a temple in the memory of Damajipant at Mangalwedha.

source : http://www.mangalwedha.com/2009/07/shri-sant-damajipant.html

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NAA, NAAURI, NARENDRA

NAA, NAAURI, NARENDRA

LORD RAMA, LAKSHMANA & SITA crossing river Ganges by Nishaada king Guha & boatman

       



     
                                                                                   LORD KRISHNA with Gopies in Yamuna river Naa, Nauri, Narendra

( The Boat, Boatman, Narendra )

At that time there was almost nobody around the Narendra  ( a tank where Chandan festival is held ). The wind had calmed down. Even the leaves of the papal tree on the edge of the tank did not stir. The ripples undulating with the breeze had automatically gone to sleep in fatigue. A little while ago the chandan ground had become completely deserted and had taken rest. Even a small creature was not visible in the vicinity. Just a little before people thronged around. They congregated for the ‘darshan’ of the deities, Madanmohan, Pancha Parameshwara, Rama, Krishna, Maa Laxmi, Maa Bhudevi. They dispersed after the deities were gone to their shrines. The entire atmosphere seemed somehow desolate and forlorn. The used garlands of the deities lay scattered on the water and the platform in the tank. Up above the sky was there the silvery moon and near it veiled a little star twinkling. The demonic clouds at a little distance waited for a chance to devour them.

It was dead silent, stillness everywhere.

After the Chandan festival, Shri Jagannath had already returned to the temple quite sometime before. The Grand Road of Shrikshetra had also become lonely. Very soon the moon also disappeared. The dew drops glittered on the blades of the grass as though the twinkling stars had shed tears after the departure of deities.

The two boats were chained to the Chandan ground. In one boat were seated the deities, Madanmohan, Maa Laxmi, and Maa Bhudevi and on the other were three deities Rama, Krishna, and Pancha Parameshwar, i.e. Sree Markanda, Sree Yameswar, Sree Lokanath, Sree Kapalamochana and Sree Nilakantha.

The boatman was feeling sleepy at the prow of the boat where Madanmohan was seated. Suddenly he woke up with a whispering sound. He was startled and looked hither and thither, no one was there. Who whispered his name in a quivering voice, “Boatman ! boatman ! boatman ?”

When he looked around with incredulous eyes the same quivering voice continued. “.......Boatman.......It’s me.......... I am the boat, speaking. Won’t you recognize me ? Can’t you recollect my voice?”

The boatman said, “O Boat, haven’t you gone to sleep? What do you say?”

The boat came closer, he put his hand on his right shoulder and said reminiscing, “Boatman ! ... today all events of the past Ages dance before my eyes, I could not sleep.”

“Which event?”

“That thing, which neither you nor I can ever erase from our minds.”

“Boat?” There was a big question mark on the face of the boatman. His voice was dry and lifeless. All of a sudden the turban on his head appeared heavy and he put it on the boat.

The boat asked, “Boatman, can’t you really recollect anything?”

The boatman stared at the boat in that thin darkness of the night. He marked his tearful eyes. Holding some jasmine flowers close to his chest which fell down from the chignon of Maa Laxmi, the boat said, “Boatman, I am reminded of the incident of the day .......That day also I had the flowers which fell down from the heads of Radha and Krishna ...... I was so overwhelmed and acstatic ..... you asked for those used flowers ..... I handed them to you ... Then touching them to your head, you preserved them in the corner of your clothes tying with a knot ...Do you recollect ?”

The boatman said, “Yes, I can recall everything. With these reminiscences my body shivers. Yes, the events belong to some Ages.”

The boat noticed. With meditative eyes, the boatman was trying to recollect the remote incidents and then he stared at him. The boat heard the voice of the boatman, Boat, I am delving deep into the dead past, the remote past. Do you remember that day ..... a dwarf, about four feet in height, under a palm leaf umbrella hurriedly ran towards you, perspiring in the mid-day sun.”

The eyes of the boat were closed; within the twinkle of an eye he transported himself to the Satya Yuga. He said, “O yes ! now I remember. All the people in the boat laughed at the sight of the dwarf hurring under the palm leaf umbrella ..... a funny scene indeed. How could this dwarf climb up the boat? How could he get down from it ? Where was his destination ? What is his identity ?” A series of such questions cropped up.

The boatman said, “All the people who had already got in shouted, ‘The boat is already filled. Please start, the mid-day sun is above, the scorching heat is unbearable. I looked at the dwarf. I was enchanted.”

“What happened ?”

“ I gazed at Him in amazement. Something within me constantly reminded me. He was not merely a dwarf, an object of fun and ridicule but the Absolute (Param Brahman) proceeding towards you with lotus feet. I was about to untie the boat and start rowing. I was stuck. My eyes were riveted on the Dwarf. My grips slackened. I put down the oar on your body; and my palms joined together spontaneously to pay my obeisance to Him.”

The boat said,”Oh yes ! now I also recall it exactly. When the people lifted Him on to my body, I was thrilled. I thought, “Who is He?”

The boatman advanced further. “At that time it was beyond our comprehension thatHe was the incarnation of Lord Vishnu (in the form of a dwarf) going for alms from the king Bali. When we came to know it later, our lives became complete and blissful. Is it not ?”

The boat ruminated, “This had happened in the Satya Yuga. Then do you remember the ‘Treta Yuga ?’

“Yes, I remember. That day, when the two brothers Kausalyadhan (Lord Rama) and Sumitraprana (Lakshmana) had appeared ........we were then in the river Ganga.......”

The boat meditatively said,”Oh ! Boatman, taht day Guru Viswamitra was with them .....at that time the demons created havoc in the conduct of ‘yajna’. They made in the lives of rishis and sages miserable. Some times they blew up the sacrificial ingredients, flowers, leaves, wood and even left excreta into the pit meant for the oblation.”

Now the boatman added, “........Oh! my dear, that day all the three came to the bank of the Ganga. My eyes were purified and ennobled at the sight, all the sins of the ages were washed away. The moment I had the ‘darshan’ , the darkness shrouded by the sins of my past lives was dispelled.”

The boat interrupted, “.....Ah, how cleverly you acted on that day. Without disclosing your real intention, you said to Him cunningly, ‘ No, I can’t ferry you across the river.This boat is only my resource ... I earn my living by this ....  if it turns into a woman by the dust of your feet like the stone on the road side...’

The boatman said, “ That day Lord Rama gave a smile appreciating the inner motive of my objection and asked in his nectar-like voice, “ Then what do you want boatman?”

The boat recapitulated, “ Ah, what a fine solution you gave! ‘ O Lord, if there is dust in your feet and the dust particles fall on my boat, then only it would become a woman. I know the way out. I will wash your feet, then dry it with my towel, I will not a single dust particle cling on to your feet.”

The boatman said, “ My dear!These incidents date back to two Ages long buried in the sands of time –  do you still remember?”

The boat came closer and uttered, “ Boatman, how can I forget it? When you have humbly appealed to the Lord, His dearest Lakshmama could understand your feelings and the smile on his face at that time was quite revealing.”

The boatman further said, “ But, Biswamitra was worried. He was apprehensive, so he was in hurry to cross the river.”

Without giving a chance to speak further the boat said. “ Boatman! that day you were rewarded for your virtuous deeds of many births.... you washed the feet of the Lord and I simply stared at you with a feeling of nothingness, a sense of utter failure and futility. I was deprived of the dust from the Lord’s  feet but for your envy. You were squarely responsible for snatching away a golden opportunity from me. How clever you were...! You took the long cherished ‘padukapani’ ( the water with which the feet of the deities are washed) several times while washing the feet ! I was really envious of you.”

The boatman said. “ yes, I have also marked it. You were burning with anger and envy. When I wiped His feet with my cloth, you could not bear it and objected, “ Lord has been standing there for a long time, let Him come, ‘ isn’t it?”

The boat replied, “ That day the omniscient Lord had smiled at my words. Both the brothers put their bows on me. I was really fortunate to have their bows on my lap. And when the Lord placed His Lotus Feet on me, I clung to them, I shook on both sides and sprinkled my entire body with His ‘padukapani’. Ah! What an auspicious moment that day....!”

The boatman saw the boat closed his etes and tears rolled down. Both of them had tears of joy. They recalled their past blissful moments and preserved them.

All of a sudden the wind blew. The boat shook in the water of Narendra. Both opened their eyes.

The boatman continued, “ ......Boat, when I ferried them to the other side of the Ganga, I was in a state of celestial frenzy. Such a big river seemed to be so small ! Ah, in no time the boat reached the other side of the river. The effulgent gracious figure would go out of my sight – thinking so the oar slipped from my hand. You held the Lord’s feet with a tight grip, did not let them go,”

The boat said, “ Yes dear, I do remember all those things ! The Lord made me understand, ‘Leave me .... release my feet ... I will come again.’ In tearful eyes i asked , “When... when will your Benign Self appear, my Lord? If you don’t answer categorically I won’t let you go. Please say, when will you come!! when!!!

The boat man said, “...Oh my friend, the Lord had moved His flower-like tender palm on your body and had said, ‘In the age of ‘Dwapara’... in the river Yamuna... “

The boat continued, “ The Lord stuck to His words. O, how sincere and loving He is to His devotees. An incarnation of compassion. Do you remember the events of the age of ‘Dwapara’ ?

The boatman reflected, “Yes, they are etched in many memory. He stuck to His words and appeared on you many a time in the river Yamuna; the Lord, with the curling locks of hair adorned with peacock feather, was seated under the ‘Kadamba’ tree with golden flute in His hands, yellow robes around the waist and ‘Koustuvmani’ in the eyes – Boat, how fortunate you are!”

The boat said, “And you ?”

“Whether I was there or not, He never waited for me. He ferried the ‘Gopis’ (the milkwomen) across the river. He teased the Gopis with fun and sports in the middle of the river. Out of pique and annoyance the Gopies  also poured the milk and curd that they carried for sale on His body; you witnessed all those playful activities of the lord, heard the enthralling music of His flute on the bank of river Yamuna more than me. Do you remember Her ?

“ Whom ? Oh, Maa  Radha ?”

The boatman said, “Yes.”

The boat laughed and said, “Fortunate as I was, I had held Radha Madhaba on my lap. Ah, what a captivating serene beauty ! On several occasions the Lord and Maa Radharani have ennobled both of us...... I thought myself to be really blessed for having the flute of the Lord in my lap a number of times.”

The boatman asserted, “ Boat, is it not a fact that you got the Lord on account of me ? If I were not with you ...”

The boat took it amiss and said, “Boatman, have you not attained fulfilment because of me ? Truely speaking. If I were not there, who would have ferried the Lord across the river Ganga and Yamuna ? In fact I was the base.”

Both of them were startled. They heard someone speaking with a pale face leaning against the boat, “....And me....?”

Both the boat and boatman stared, who ? The oar ?

The oar said emphatically, “If I were not there, it would not have been possible to row the boat and carry the Lord.”

Both the boat and boatman looked at each other. The oar asked , “ Why don’t you say anything about me ? 

Both of you have completely forgotten me !  I had met all of them -  the Dwarf (Bamana), Rama, Lakshmana, Radha, Madhaba. My eyes have been purified. Holding me in His fists, the Sweet heart of Radha (Lord Krishna) rowed the boat across the river Yamuna several times. In the process the peacock feather on the Lord’s head touched me many a time.”

All the three; the boat, boatman and oar kept quiet for some time. It was almost dawn. The star Venus had appeared in the eastern sky. The boat started, “Boatman ! the night passed in no time ruminating about the past three Ages. And what about the current Age...?”

The boatman said, “ this Age is more scared. Every year for twenty one days, the Lord comes to this Narendra on the occasion of Chandan festival with Maa Laxmi and Maa Bhudevi. We take Him round alongwith both the Mothers in the midst of His servitors. The water of Narendra is sanctified. We are all blessed....... In all these lies an interrelation of the four Ages – ‘Satya’, ‘Tretaya’, ‘Dwapara’, and ‘Kali’. Three Ages are over – the fourth one is going on.

All the three, the boat, boatman and the oar held the used flowers of the deities, Sri Jagannath, Laxmi, Bhudevi, close to their chest. Tears rolled down from their eyes.

The boat asked, “The night would be over, the sun would rise and the day would pass, again the Lord would come with all his companions. What is the time now?”

The boatman said, “It seems this night won’t pass !”

The oar said, “The night would be over and then the day break. The Lord seated on the gem-palanquin would arrive from the temple. Oh ! how much time left ?”

The boat, boatman and the oar observed Narendra speaking with its stirring ripples, “ I am also waiting for Lord Jagannatha.... When would He come ?”

Narendra with its undulating surface eagerly waited for that blissful moment. One thought in everybody’s mind : that the Lord would come again...... his benign presence on the auspicious occasion of boating. Taking an opportune moment Maa laxmi would throw flowers and the water of Narendra on to the Lord. The nectar like smile would flow from His lips. The devotees on the pulpit and around would attain fulfilment at this heavenly sight.

All of them were eagerly waiting for the arrival of the lord.

The Boat .....

The Boat – the Boatman .......

The Boat – the Boatman – the Oar .....

The Boat – the Boatman – the Oar – Narendra. 

                                                      ***       ***       *** 

 Source : From the book "Lord Jagannath in the Stories of Experience"

              Author: Sri Rabindra Narayan Mishra (in Oriya Language)

              Translator : Sri Suman Mahapatra

(Permission of Sri R.N.Mishra taken to bring it to my Blog. )

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SANT KURMADAS and SANT SAVANTA MALI

                                         Pandharpur  VITTHAL   &   RUKMINI   Temple

                                                Lord   VITTHAL          Goddess   RUKMINI

                                                                    Lord   VITTHAL

                 Kurmadas was born around 70kms from Pandharpur. He was born with out limbs. As he had no limbs he only had to roll over and couldn’t walk. One day he was listening to a discourse about Vitthal and understood the greatness of Pandharpur and going there on an ekadasi day. He immediately decided that he would visit Pandhari for the next ashada ekadasi. Hearing about his decision the villagers said that it would be difficult for him to go to Pandhari and that sitting here he could think about Vitthal and do his prayers. He then told them that his love for Vitthal is so much that he will put all efforts to roll over and go there. He also said if Vitthal wishes I may reach Pandhari, else let me die on my way to Pandhari; any way I am not of any use to anyone here. He then said if I am able to reach Pandhari I will have the darshan of Vitthal and stay in Pandhari. Immediately he left for Pandhari with a group of Pilgrims. The pilgrims looking at him crawling left him behind and started moving at their own pace as they felt that Kurmadas would only delay them. However Kurmadas was firm in his decision to go to Pandhari and continued to move towards that direction. As he was rolling over the roads his body was fully wounded. Kurmadas braved all this and continued to cover whatever small distance he could everyday. One day a rich passer by saw him and asked him where he was going. Kurmadas then told him that he was going to Pandharpur for ashada ekadasi. He then told him that Pandharpur was very far and that it would be difficult for him to go there. Kurmadas then told him that he will put all efforts to go there and if god wishes he would reach Pandhari. He then asked him what he will do for his food. Kurma then told him that he can’t go to the place where food is available and that he will have food only if some one gives it to him, else he will starve. Hearing this rich man told him that doing seva for bhakthas is Panduranga seva and as he is also going only to Pandhari he will give food for him every day and they could go together. Every day the rich man would go to a distance that Kurma could cover and prepare food for both of them and wait for Kurma to come. They would then have food, sing the praise of god in the evening, sleep under the tree and then leave again the next day morning. They went for several days and almost came near Pandhari. The rich man who came with Kurma told him that the next day was ashada ekadasi and that he would like to go and visit Vitthal. He also said that if he waited for Kurma, he may miss seeing Vitthal on this auspicious day. Kurma immediately told him that he has done a great favor to him all these days and that he should now go and see Vitthal tomorrow. Kurma then requested him to tell Vitthal that a cripple by name Kurma is coming to meet him. The rich guy then left Kurma and disappeared. This rich man was none other than Vitthal him self but Kurma did not recognize him.

Kurma now sitting there was telling every yathri to think of him when they have the darshan of Vitthal. That day in the temple bhajans started as usual and saints like Namdev, Gyaneshwar were also there. Namdev and Gyaneshwar are great bhakthas who see Vitthal and speak to him. When everyone were singing and dancing Vitthal slowly stepped out of the temple and started going some where. Namdev and Gyaneshwar saw this and followed him thinking when so many sadhus are singing his praise here, where he was going and why. They then caught him near Chandrabhaga and asked him where he was going when so many thousands of bhakthas were singing here. Vitthal then told them that there is one bhaktha of his called Kurmadas and that he individually was equal to all of them in his bhakthi. Hearing this Namdev and Gyaneshwar said that they would also like to have a darshan of such a big bhaktha. Though Vitthal wanted to meet Kurmadas alone, he agreed to their request and asked them to come along with him. On the way there was a big garden, seeing the garden Vitthal said that he was feeling very thirsty and that he would go in have some water and come back. He also asked them to wait there till he comes back. Vitthal’s idea was to give darshan to another great bhaktha of his in that garden. His name was Savanta Mali, he had a huge garden and would give flowers to the temple everyday. He dint come to the temple today as he was in the process of making a huge multi color garland for ashada ekadasi. He would also prepare garlands for all the saints and sadhus who participate in the bhajans. This seva was more important for him than coming to the temple or participating in the bhajans. Vitthal came inside the garden and stood in front of Savanta and gave him his darshan. Seeing this Savanta was excited, he woke up worshiped him and asked him why he had come here when there were so many bhakthas performing kirthans and bhajans in the temple. Vitthal then asked Savanta why he dint come to the temple for the bhajans. Savanta then replied to him that he would be happy only when he sees, Vitthal wearing his garland and that he was about to finish this work and then come to the temple. Vitthal then asked him to put the garland on him. Savanta then happily put it on him. Vitthal then told Savanta that there were two thieves outside and that he wants to hide from them. Savanta then asked him if there was any place in the universe where he was not there. He then said as there is no such place and how would he be able to show him such a place. Vitthal then told Savanta that he doesn’t have time for all these Vedanta and asked him to give him some place where no one would find out. Savanta then told him that his heart would be the right place for him to hide in that case. As Savanta was a yogi he closed his eyes and sat in meditation and Vitthal went in to his heart and stayed there. Namdev and Gyaneshwar who were waiting outside for quiet some time, then came inside the garden in search of Vitthal. Nama was searching for Vitthal all over the garden but Gyaneshwar was just standing in one corner. Nama was a Prema bhaktha and Gyaneshwar was a Gyani, so Gyaneshwar understood where Vitthal was and was looking at Savanta. After searching all over the garden, Nama started crying and asked Gyaneshwar where Vitthal went, but Gyaneshwar was smiling. Nama then asked him why he was smiling. Gyaneshwar then told Nama that the guy sitting in front of him who is acting like doing meditation is the guy who swallowed Vitthal. Hearing this Nama got angry and ran towards Savanta to hit him. Seeing this Vitthal called Nama and appeared in front of him, as Vitthal dint want his bhaktha to be hurt. They then understood the leela of Pandurang, hugged each other and all four of them started going towards the direction where Kurmadas was there.

Kurmadas was sitting in the place where he was left by the rich man earlier and was crying and thinking of Vitthal. Vitthal came to Kurmadas gave him his darshan, hugged him and put him in his lap. He then became an idol there and told him that the place where you are will be like Pandhari and that I will be there with you where ever you are. This village is now called Kurmia in his remembrance.

Source : http://indiansaints.wordpress.com/2009/08/28/sant-kurmadas-and-sant-savanta-mali

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