BHAKTA SUDAMA & LORD KRISHNA

                    BHAKTA SUDAMA & LORD KRISHNA

Sudama's wife urges Sudama to go to Krishna

Krishna embraces Sudama

Lord Krishna washes the feet of Sudama brahmin

Lord Krishna and Sudama were childhood friends who had been at the Gurukula together. Years passed by and the two friends went their own ways. Fate was not kind to Sudama and he lived in dire poverty. Although he and his wife nearly always starved and did not have decent clothes, Sudama's wife never complained.

One day, his wife asked Sudama, "Why don't you go and meet Krishna, Lord of Dwaraka, and tell him your suffering? If he is your true friend, he will surely help you". Sudama was not keen on asking Krishna for help, but he decided to meet Krishna as he was happy at the prospect of meeting his friend. He wanted to take some gift for Krishna. As there was nothing else in the house, his wife gave him a small bundle of 'Poha' (beaten rice or avil ) and asked him to give it to Krishna. With the small bundle in his hand, Sudama left to see Krishna.

After a long journey Sudama reached Krishna's palace and was hesitating to enter the palace .He was wondering whether Krishna would remember him. Just as he was engaged in thought, Krishna rushed forward and embraced Sudama. He welcomed Sudama and washed his feet with his own hands. Everyone was astonished and wondered at Krishna's hospitality to a person who looked like a beggar.

Bhakta Sudama & Lord KRISHNA

They happily chatted about their childhood days. Krishna then asked Sudama with a twinkle in his eye, "What present have you brought for me?"Sudama hesitated to give him the bundle of poha. Sensing his hesitation Krishna said, "Even the most expensive gift given to me without true love and devotion means nothing to me when compared to the smallest gift given to me with true love and affection". Thus saying he pulled out the little bundle from Sudama's hands and opened it. "Why? It's poha my favourite food" and started eating it with glee. Sudama's happiness knew no bounds.

Sudama spent the night at the palace and returned home the next morning feeling extremely happy that Krishna had treated him like his brother. Only on his way home did he realise that he did not tell Krishna about his poverty and was wondering what to tell his wife. As he neared his house he was surprised to see that his old hut had transformed into a lovely mansion. His wife came out to welcome him dressed in fine clothes. It was then that Sudama realised that all this wealth and splendour could only be due to the benevolence of Lord Krishna. But even amidst the splendour, Sudama continued his simple life and praised Krishna's glory and greatness.

source : http://kuchdilse-stories.blogspot.in/2009/04/sudamas-gift-to-krishna.html

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SANT SAKKU BAI

                     SANT   SAKKU BAI

Sant Sakku Bai & Lord Krishna

Sakkubai tied with ropes by husband

Lord Vitthala & Maa Rukmini

Sant Sakku Bai


The supreme sadhana to attain bhagavan is through prema bhakti. ”What is the use of money, tapas, education without pure prema” says the bakti sampraday. So to reach god and attain divine bliss one should leave all the worldly possessions and indulge in pure Prema bhakti which will surely lead to Krishna darshan. A person who earnestly cries for god with real thirst is surely a blessed soul.

There was a small village near Pandharpur called” Sinchirunipuram” and there lived a rich man named Gangadar Rao who was a great devotee of lord Vitthal. He was a honest, truthful and straightforward man involved in numerous bhagavat sevas. His wife kamala Bai was also a great bhakta. The couples were childless for many years. One night lord Vitthal blessed them in a dream, saying that soon they would get a beautiful girl child. Both of them were happy with this and they praised lord Vitthal and chanted many hymns on him. Soon kamala Bai gave birth to a girl child and she was named Sakku Bai. At a very young age Sakku Bai started singing bajans and at times due to divine ecstasy she used to dance and shed tears. Everyone was amazed on seeing her bhakti, beauty and on hearing her melodious voice.

One day Sakku Bai was playing with her friends; building small sandcastles. At that time Vitthal disguised as an old man came over. He wore anklets in his legs, thulasi malas around his neck and carried a chipla and thambura; and came there singing ‘panduranga vitthala pandarinatha vitthala’. He came near to Sakku Bai and walked over the sandcastles she had built; completely destroying them and stood as if he did nothing. Sakku got angry and shouted,”Swami, I spent a lot of time in building a beautiful sand house, why did you walk over it. I will not let you go till you answer me.”The old man answered,”My child, on singing lords name I was engrossed and was lost in it. I didn’t notice it and walked over it by mistake. I will build you a better house than this. ”Sakku seriously said,”you talk sweetly and politely but you have done a great mistake. Just imagine, If you have walked over us instead of these small sandcastles what would have happened to us. Vitthal replied mischievously,”I apologize. Why are you not leaving me for such a small mistake? ”Sakku replied,”this may be a small thing for you but it is a marvelous thing for me.” Vitthal then said,”ok, I surrender, you punish me.” Sakku immediately said,”You should handover your thambura to me.” Vitthal pretended as if he was not willing to give the thambura. Sakku begged him and finally got hold of it .Her face blossomed like a lotus after getting the thambura; she didn’t know to play it however. Vitthal on seeing this taught Sakku tuning and playing the thambura. Vitthal blessed her, raising his arms,”My child, you have to render songs in praise of the lord daily with this”. He initiated her with the Ashtakshara Japam and asked her to chant repeatedly and said she would get dharsan of lord Vitthal for whom she longed so much. Vitthal narrated the Gajendra moksha to make her realize the essence of Ashtakshari. Sakku looked at the old man so gracefully and returned the thambura to him and asked him to forgive her. Then Sakku eagerly asked,”where are you going and when will you come back?” Vitthal happily said,”My child, I am going to Pandharpur and I will come back in five days.”At first her eyes sparkled hearing the name of Pandharpur and then became sad that he was leaving. Vitthal then said,”don’t worry child, I will come back and tell you about Pandharpur” saying so he went away. Days went by, Sakku waited anxiously for the old man, but he didn’t return. As years passed her thirst for Vitthal began to grow more and more.

She by then attained the age of marriage, but she only wanted to marry Vitthal. She was not attached to anything and she had lost her heart to Vitthal and didn’t want to marry anyone else. But finally Sakku Bai was forced to marry Krishna Sharma. He was not a good soul &was very arrogant and miserly .She however served her husband with great love and respect. Whenever possible, she would sing, dance, meditate on Vitthal and shed tears and would be in a state of ecstasy. Without knowing about Sakku’s prema bhakti towards Vitthal, Krishna Sharma thought that she had become insane. Her mother-in-law also tortured Sakku by beating her and giving her a lot of household chores. But in spite of all this; while milking the cow, cleaning the house, cooking and moping the house she would always be in thinking and chanting about Vitthal.

One day she went to the pond to fetch water thinking all the while of Vitthal. At that time a group of bhaktas came that way. She was delighted to see them & asked them,”Where are you going?”They said,”we are going to Pandharpur to see the lotus-feet of our Vitthal, Who are you?” On hearing the very mention of Pandharpur her heart leapt out in great happiness and tears rolled out of her eyes. Sakku asked,”Pandharpur, My name is Sakku Bai, shall I come along with you?. I too want to touch the lotus feet of Vitthal on ekadasi day with you sadus.” All were surprised on Sakku’s bhakti. They said,”Surely there is no problem taking you with us. But you should get permission from your husband.”That very moment Sakku with great eagerness ran to the house to seek permission from her husband. But her husband was unwilling to send her. He said,”Sakku, be patient, it is not possible to allow you to go to Pandharpur all of a sudden. We shall go together on an ekadasi day. But Sakku again asked,”Today I met great bhaktas, going along with them and serving our beautiful Vitthal would be a great pleasure. Please let’s both go along. If you cannot come, at least let me go.”But Krishna Sharma was so stubborn and he didn’t let her go. Her heart was broken and she burst out into tears and pleaded him. Krishna Sharma’s face became red with anger and he began to beat her and dragged her to the next room and tied her to a pillar. Her in-laws too slapped her.

Sakku with extreme pain and distress prayed to Vitthal,”Prabu, pandarinatha, prananatha, I don’t know anything about sastra or about worldly matters. I am just bound in the tides of samsara and swirling in it. O lord,”show mercy on me and take me to your lotus feet.”My eyes want to see you alone. Just then there was a bright radiance in the room, a lady came in and she totally resembled Sakku & told her that she was Maya Sakku. Now Sakku couldn’t believe her eyes. She explained her situation to Maya Sakku. Maya Sakku  said, ”I have come here to help you have  darshan  of Vitthal .He will welcome you with his beautiful eyes, sweet smiling face, his lotus feet and both his hands will be ready to embrace you; this will  surely make you blissful. ”Sakku was thrilled, but out of concern said,”If I leave you alone here you will have to face lot of difficulties.”Maya Sakku said,”Don’t worry nobody can identify me, I will manage everything. You start immediately and enjoy the darshan of our divine Vitthal.”

Everything seemed like a dream, she could hardly believe it, but her eyes sparkled and with great joy she ran towards Pandharpur. As she kept nearing Pandhari the joyous singing of,”vitthala vitthala, jai jai vitthala, panduranga vitthala” was heard by her.

On entering Pandhari she ran straight into the temple and she finally had darshan of Vitthal and her happiness knew no bounds. She was stunned and screamed with extreme happiness .She drank the nectar of his beauty. She then ran towards him and touched his face, embraced him and her soul rested on his lotus feet and was totally consumed and she became one with him. All were surprised and shocked on her intense bhakti and a few bhaktas who witnessed all the happenings came back to the village and narrated the unbelievable divine incident to Krishna Sharma; he immediately went home to check on the Sakku Bai who he thought was there all along, but found that she had vanished now. Krishna Sharma was at first surprised to find her missing, but he soon realized this divine leela of lord Vitthoba, and cried at his great loss & misfortune of not having known about his wife’s greatness.     Thus Sakku Bai who was completely immersed in gopi bava got relief from samsara as she totally desired & happily united with the lord.

source : http://indiansaints.wordpress.com/2009/08/19/sant-sakku-bai/

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WORSHIPPER JAYRAM SINGHARI IN SRIJAGANNATH TEMPLE

Badasimhara Vesha

WorshipperJairam Singhari, in the year 1972:

After Pahuda, the last ceremony of the day, no one is allowed to be inside the temple. Many divine beings come to attend the Lord at this hour. In the year 1972, Jairam Singhari, a worshipper, who was decorating the deity daily, narrated about this occurrence. He saw two ladies mysteriously entering the west gate of the temple after the doors were sealed in the night. They were quietly talking to each other. From their talk, Singhari overheard that the name of one was Manjujosha. Later he read in a reference book called Amar Kosha that she is one of the eight dancing girls of Kinnara Loka, a space beyond this earth.

source : http://jayjagabalia.blogspot.in/2012/05/anubhabare-srijagannath.html

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HARIHARA GURU (PRAKRUTA PANDA) - SRIJAGANNATH TEMPLE

SriJagannath Temple, Puri

Tiger Gate of SriJagannath Temple

SriBalabhadra, Maa Subhadra and SriJagannath

Harihar Guru, who was one of the greatest worshippers of Jagannath Temple. He was called Prakruta Panda, a real worshipper; for the help he rendered to all. This event occured in 1969:




Harihar Guru lived in recent times but he was one of the most honest, simple and sincere worshipper ever to serve Lord Jagannath. In spite of his limited income, it was his habit to help poor people. In fact, he became poor himself, helping others. He used to come daily to the temple at 4 A.M. by the west gate, known as Byaghradwar or "Tiger's Gate". One morning he saw three beautiful ladies also going through the same gate. They had a divine fragrance around them and were nicely dressed, decorated with flowers but no ornaments. Their faces were veiled. It was raining heavily at that moment, but Guru could not see them wet, even though he was completely drenched and shivering from the cold. The three ladies seemed to be going inside as if there were no downpour. Their saris were dry and there was no sign of their foot prints on the earth. Seeing all of this, Guru approached them to ask who they were. They simply vanished! Only the sound of soft laughter was heard. When he narrated this episode to his friends, he was told that the ladies were divine beings from Kinnara Loka.

source : http://jayjagabalia.blogspot.in/2012/05/anubhabare-srijagannath.html

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Story of KRISHNA CHANDRA RAY & JAGANNATH TEMPLE

SRIJAGANNATH Temple at PURI

Northern Gate - Koili Vaikuntha

Krishna Chandra Ray; an Oriya man from Khurda District, in the year 1969:

Koili Vaikuntha is the place where old deities are buried during Nabakalebara Yatra, or the great festival of Metamorphosis in which the deities are changed and new ones made. This occurs only after a gap of at least twelve years. Dayitapatis, who are considered to be the kith and kins of Lord Jagannath, carry the old deities out, just like dead bodies. Nobody except them can see this procession. It is said that if anyone else sees this event, he will die immediately.

Krishna Chandra Ray from Khurda district considered this to be an act of blind belief, a silly superstition. So on this special day he hide himself inside the temple at midnight. When the Dayitas carried the old deities to Koili Vaikuntha, he saw it all from the branch of a tree. The Dayitas returned after burying the deities. The whole atmosphere was dark and frightening. Ray heard the sobbing of ladies. He saw rays of different colours, but nobody was there. It had been told that beings of other Lokas come in the most sorrowful mood. As the master of the universe leaves His body, all cry, out of deep sadness.

 In the early morning hours of the next day, people found the dead body of Ray. This happened in the year 1969. The notes he had written of what he had seen was found beside the body. 

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WORSHIPPER HARIHAR GURU (Prakruta Panda) & LORD JAGANNATH

SRIJAGANNATH temple, Puri

Tiger Gate (West Gate)

Harihar Guru, who was one of the greatest worshippers of Jagannath Temple. He was called Prakruta Panda, a real worshipper; for the help he rendered to all. This event occured in 1969:

Harihar Guru lived in recent times but he was one of the most honest, simple and sincere worshipper ever to serve Lord Jagannath. In spite of his limited income, it was his habit to help poor people. In fact, he became poor himself, helping others. He used to come daily to the temple at 4 A.M. by the west gate, known as Byaghradwar or "Tiger's Gate". One morning he saw three beautiful ladies also going through the same gate. They had a divine fragrance around them and were nicely dressed, decorated with flowers but no ornaments. Their faces were veiled. It was raining heavily at that moment, but Guru could not see them wet, even though he was completely drenched and shivering from the cold. The three ladies seemed to be going inside as if there were no downpour. Their saris were dry and there was no sign of their foot prints on the earth. Seeing all of this, Guru approached them to ask who they were. They simply vanished! Only the sound of soft laughter was heard. When he narrated this episode to his friends, he was told that the ladies were divine beings from Kinnara Loka.

source : http://jayjagabalia.blogspot.in/2012/05/anubhabare-srijagannath.html

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LORD JAGANNATH and BHAKTA JAYRAM SINGHARI

Lord Jagannatha

MAHAPRASAD

Jayaram Singhari, a worshipper of Jagannath Temple, in the year 1963:

Jayaram Singhari was considered one of the most learned men in the society of worshippers in the present day. He did not have any educational degrees or diplomas but he had profound knowledge of the ancient epics of India. Many people coming from different parts of India revered him as their spiritual guide. He only ate Mahaprasad, the rice meal offered to Lord Jagannath. One day for some reason his sons did not bring it from the temple. Even though he had not taken any food all day, he never revealed his hunger. Only his wife knew. As she looked sad, Singhari consoled her, "He will give, He will send!" But at midnight who would give? All slept, his wife also.

After sometime there was a soft knock at the door. On opening the door, the old man found a banana leaf in which there were seven types of temple cakes! Nobody was there. The next morning when he narrated this happening, nobody believed him. All day long this miracle of Lord Jagannath was very much in mind. The next night a voice told Singhari in a dream, "Did you eat everything that was given?"

source : http://jayjagabalia.blogspot.in 

DECOIT (THIEF) FROM BIHAR STATE < IN THE YEAR 1910.

SriJagannath Temple, puri

Suna Vesa of Lords

A Decoit (thief) from Bihar State, in the year 1910:

A thief from the state of Bihar wanted to steal the costly Chitta, which Lord Jagannath wears everyday over his third eye. The present value of this rare gold ornament studded with priceless gems would be millions of rupees. This thief was known as Bihari Daku. He went to the temple daily to learn every detail about the timings of the rituals, as the deities were guarded closely. Finally he came to know that after Pahuda, the last ritual of the day, nobody is allowed inside the temple. So he made a plan. Wearing a black cloth, he hide himself inside the temple one night, just behind the sealed doors of the inner sanctum. He was with the divine trinity, but with evil motive. After all left, he stealthily climbed the altar where Lord Jagannath is worshipped. When he was about to take off the divine Chitta from the forehead of Lord Jagannath, he felt as if bitten by a thousand snakes!

The next morning worshippers and many other pilgrims saw Bihari Daku lying dead on the temple floor, surrounded by five cobras, who were also dead. The most aged worshipper present there said, "From Patala or Naga Loka devas come up as snakes to guard the deities while asleep. 

source : http://jayjagabalia.blogspot.in

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PADMANAV KHUNTIA & LORD JANNATH , PURI

Puri SRIJAGANNATH Temple

DakhinaKali Temple entrance

ShyamaKali Temple entrance, Puri

ShyamaKali Mandira, Puri

Shani Deva

Padmanav Khuntia, a worshipper of Jagannath Temple, in the year 1902:

Padmanav Khuntia was a very humble sincere worshipper of Lord Jagannath. He used to return to his house at 2 A.M. after attending the last Pahuda Ceremony of the temple. It was his daily habit to bring from the temple used flowers and garlands. These he would later offer to local deities such as Mothers Dakshinakali, Shyamakali and Baseli. On his way home, he would throw petal to the smaller temples as he passed by.

However, one night he forgot to offer any to Shani Temple, the temple of planet Saturn. Suddenly he felt someone following him in the darkness. Dogs also barked and sensing the presence of some being Khuntia looked back. He saw only the head of someone, but not clearly visible. As if in a humble way, the voice requested, "Just a leaf of the garland used by Him, I am Shani! (the god of planet Saturn).

He vanished at high speed when only a leaf from the garland was presented to him. Khuntia stood dead still and speechless. Later on when he told his friends of this event, they said, "Khuntia, you are saved! He would have caused you many difficulties had he not been obliged. He is the planet Shani, who comes to Lord Jagannath, but usually in the disguise of a lame man or a one-eyed person or someone with a deformed body. You were lucky to meet him, but still we hope you will not meet him again!" 

TRUE TALE OF MEKAP WORSHIPPER IN JAGANNATH TEMPLE , PURI

By a Mekap worshipper in the temple, in the year 1890:


The Mekap worshipper in Jagannath Temple is in charge of the deities' dresses and the store room known as Ratna Bhandar. Inside this sealed room are kept costly pearls, diamonds, emeralds, golden necklaces and many other precious ornaments used to decorate the deities during Suna Vesha or Golden Decoration. The deity in charge of this store room is Loknath, who is a form of Lord Shiva Himself. It is told that anyone who is greedy and tries to steal any ornaments from here will one day suffer from leprosy and everybody in his family will also die.


This actually happened once, in 1890. One Biswanath Mekap stole from the store room some ornaments, thinking nothing would happen. In his dream that night, two cobras entered his bedroom and he was bitten. His wife heard someone saying in a loud voice, " We have been sent from Nagaloka by Lokanath Shiva to punish him." Biswanath Mekap died of snake bite and all his family members died prematurely and he was left heirless.

Source : http://jayjagabalia.blogspot.in

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VIBHISANA AND PATTAJOSHI MAHAPATRA

Experienced by head priest Pattajoshi Mahapatra, in the year 1810:



Vibhisana was one of the brothers of the demon king Ravana in Lanka during Tretaya Yuga. Yet he took shelter at the feet of Lord Rama. After the death of Ravana, he was made king of Lanka. He always felt that Rama was the Supreme Lord, and it is believed by the people of Puri that he comes every day to Lord Jagannath, feeling that He is Sri Rama Himself. Like all the devas, Vibhisana comes to see and enjoy the last ritual at midnight, known as Pahuda Arati.


It was in the year 1810, when there was no electricity and the town was dark at night. When returning home through the horse gate of the temple, head priest Pattajoshi Mahapatra felt somebody walking beside him. The person was not visible owing to the darkness, but he was so huge, it seemed his head was touching the sky. Pattajoshi Mahapatra was totally overwhelmed. Out of fear, he questioned, "Who are you, Sir?" The answer was, "I am Vibhisana from outer space. I come here daily to see the last ritual of Lord Jagannath."


Still the head priest doubted him. He asked again, "Please give me some proof that you are from the outer space!" So Vibhisana gave him the huge golden armlet he was wearing and vanished. Even now, almost 200 years later, this ornament given by Vibhisana of Devaloka is worshipped in the residence of Pattajoshi Mahapatra's family. It may be seen and verified. The ornament is the size of a wheel of a bullock cart. It could never have been used by a human being.

source :http://jayjagabalia.blogspot.in/2012/05/anubhabare-srijagannath.html

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JAGADGURU BODHENDRA SWAMIGAL

                                           JAGADGURU   BODHENDRA   SWAMIGAL


Jagadguru Bodhendra Swamigal was born in Kancheepuram. Kancheepuram is one of the 7 moksha shethrams in India and the only one in South India.


Jagadguru Bodhendra Swamigal

There were a couple in Kancheepuram by name Kesava Pandurangan and Suguna. They did not have a kid for quiet some time. They prayed to their guru, Vishwadikendhra Saraswathi, who was then the pontiff of Kanchi mutt. He blessed them that they would have a child very soon and they returned happily. They then had a male child born to them shortly. They named him Purushothaman. Purushothaman was a very bright kid. They performed his upananyanam (sacred thread ceremony) and took him to their guru Vishwadikendhra Saraswathi. Their guru enquired who the kid was and they replied that it was the Guru’s kid. The guru then asked Kesava Pandurangan if he would give the kid to the mutt if he really meant that he was his kid. Kesavan then told his Guru that he would check with his wife and let him know. He then stepped back to speak to his wife. They knew that if they give him to the mutt he would become a sanyasi and that their lineage can not continue as he was their only son. Suguna was now crying and when her husband asked her the reason, she said that she was crying for the only reason that he had told their guru that he would check with her and then give their son. She then said that she and the kid belonged to him and that he belonged to his guru, and there was no need to ask her for permission. Kesava Pandurangan then happily gave Purushothaman to Vishwadikendhra Saraswathi. The guru arranged for a teacher who would teach Purushothaman all the Vedas and sastras. Purushothaman studied along with another boy called Gyanasakaran. He finished all his studies when he was only 18. The only thing left to be learned was Bhramavidhyai and he wanted to learn this from his Guru and Vishwadikendrar had also promised that he would teach him Bhramavidhyai personally. However Vishwadikendrar had gone on a yatra and was now in Kasi. Purushothaman and Gyanasakaran had to go by walk from Kanchi to Kasi. One day they started their journey to Kasi to meet their guru. Gyanasakaran was good in astrology and knew that he would die on the way to Kasi. As they were close friends he told Purushothaman that if something happens to either one of them the other should perform their death ceremony and then give up his life in the Ganges so that both of them can be together even after death. They had only covered half the distance and Gyanasekaran suddenly fell ill and passed away. After performing his death ceremony Purushothaman continued his journey to Kasi. On reaching Kasi he met his guru prostrated to him and told him what had happened to them on their way. He then asked his guru’s permission to give up his life in the Ganges. The guru felt bad as he had planned to make Purushothaman as the next pontiff of the mutt. He then told Purushothaman that if he has do what he promised to his friend and also do what he wanted him to do there was a solution and asked him if he would agree to it. Purushothaman immediately replied that he would agree to his Guru’s words. The Guru then said that getting in to Sanyasa ashram was like having a new birth. This way he would keep up the promise made to his friend and also keep him happy by becoming the next pontiff of the mutt. Vishwadikendrar then gave him sanyasa and named him as Bagavannama Bodhendrar. He then stayed in Kasi and learnt everything from his guru. His guru then asked him to go back to south India and do Nama pracharam and show the power of Bagavan Nama.

There was a great saint called Lakshmidharar in Puri, who had written a book called Bagavannama kowmudhi which was a nama siddhantha grantham. Vishwadikendrar had also instructed Bodhendrar to collect this book on his way back and wanted him to master that that book too. He then came to Puri had darshan of Lord Jagannath and then went to Lakshmidharar’s house. Lakshmidharar had passed away and his son Jagannatha Pandit was there. It was evening and the house was locked from inside. Bodhendrar not wanting to disturb them sat down outside the house and started meditating.

A few days earlier an event had happened there. A couple from south India had come on a yatra to Kasi. One night when they were staying in that village the husband woke up the next morning and found that his wife was missing. He searched for her the next morning and could not find her. He then told the villagers about this and they said that some Muslims would come in the night and kidnap any women they find and take them to be with them as their mistress. The husband felt very bad hearing this but dint want to stop his Kasi yatra because of this.

He completed his yatra and was returning back through the same village that day. He was performing his rituals in the river and a Muslim lady seeing him came running to him and started crying to him. He then realised that it was his wife. When he asked her what had happened, she told him that there was no time now and that they have to escape now and promised to tell him what happened later. They then ran through the forest and came to a safer place. The lady then told him that they had kidnapped her in the night by tying her mouth with a cloth and ravished her. She then asked her husband to save her from them and asked him to have her as maid if not as a wife. The husband then told her that if the sastras allowed this he would take her. They then decided to come to see Jaganatha Pandit to check with him on what the Dharma sastras say.

The couple reached Jaganatha Pandit’s house the same night to ask him what the Dharma Sastras say. Bodhendrar was meditating outside the house and they knocked the door to wake up Jaganatha Pandit. When he opened the door they told him their story and feel on his feet asking him to give them a solution. Hearing this he asked her to say Rama Rama Rama and after that they could live together. As he said this his mother who was seated inside asked him why he degraded the power of Rama Nama by asking them to say it 3 times and told him that his father would ask even the biggest sinner to utter Rama only once and that would take care of removing all his sins. Bodhendrar who was sitting there now stood up and asked Jaganatha Pandit if there was any proof for what he was saying. Jaganatha Pandit then said that his father’s book had the proof for the same. Bodhendrar then asked him to show the book. Bodhenrar finished reading the book the same night with the help of a small lamp. The next day he called the couple and Jaganatha Pandit and said that the sastras were true and that his father had mentioned very clearly what he told yesterday, but the outside world wouldn’t believe this. Bodhendrar then asked the couple to go to the river and take a dip after chanting Rama nama. He then said that though she is now wearing a Muslim dress once she takes a dip after chanting Rama nama she will get back to her old attire and become as pure as how she was before she left her husband. The entire city gathered on the river bank to see this event. The lady came and prostrated Bodhendral and he asked her if she believes that by saying Rama nama all her sins would go away. The lady said that she doesn’t know about Rama nama but she believes him and considers him as her guru. She then said Rama and took a dip in the river. As she came out she had flowers in her head, kumkum in her forehead and turmeric applied all over her body. On seeing this everyone started chanting Rama nama and she happily went to her husband. The couple then prostrated to Bodhendral and took his blessing. Bodhendral then continued his yatra to south India.

On reaching Kanchi he wrote several books as desired by his guru. Some of them that are available today are Bagavannama Rasodhayam, Bagavannama Rasarnavam, Bagavannama Rasayanam. Our guru Sri Krishna Premi Maharaj has translated Bagavannama Rasodhayam in Tamil and the same is now available for people who don’t know Sanskrit. Botherndral was waiting for his guru to come back so that he could show his books to him. Vishwadikendhra Saraswathi finished his yatra and came back to Kanchi. Vishwadikendhra Saraswathi was very happy with his work and asked him to preach the importance of Bagavan Nama. Bodhenral then travelled across India and made everyone chant Rama nama and also preached that the only way to attain god in this Kaliyuga was chanting the name of god.

Sridhara Ayyaval, of Tiruvisanallur was a contemporary to Bodhendral. He was elder to Bodhendral. They happened to meet each other once and after that they would go together to the villages to do Nama pracharam. They would go to a village and initiate everyone in the village with Rama nama. Once done they would move to the next village. Bodhendral once came to a village called Perambur. One day he was invited by a person to his house for Biksha (lunch). His son was dumb (incapable of speaking). Bodhendral would go to places only where people chanted Rama nama. So he initiated him with Rama nama and also asked him to ask his wife to chant the name of Rama while cooking. When Bodhendral came to his house for lunch he felt very bad that there was no way for his son to say Rama nama as he was dumb. He then felt that his nama siddhantam could not help people like him to reach god. After the lunch when the family prostrated to Bodhendral he was filled with tears in his eyes for the boy. On seeing this, the man said that it was his destiny to be born like this and asked him not to be worried about him. Bodhenral then told him that he was only worried about how he would attain god and not because he is dumb. The man immediately told him that now he knew that his son will definitely reach god as there is a guru who is bothered about him. He also said that his guru kripa will help him attain god. After that the kid automatically started chanting Rama nama in his mind. Forever he would be with Bodhendral and do service to him. Bodhendral was about to leave Perambur after 4 months and the kid started crying as he could not bear the detachment from his guru. Bodhendral then gave him his Sri Padukas and left.

Bodhendhral made the Nawab of Arcot as his disciple. Arcot was hit by plague once and there was no treatment for this. The Nawab was also attacked by plague and it so happened that Bodhendral was there in Arcot then. The people in the city went and told their problem to Bodhendral who then asked them to get together and chant Rama nama. Once they did this everyone were cured and there was no trace of plague in the city. The Nawab then gave some land to his mutt and became his follower.

During his yatra Bodhendral once went to a village called Thirukokarnam for nama pracharam. He was initiating everyone in that village with Rama nama. A dassi came there to him and asked if she could also chant Rama nama and if he would initiate her. Bodhendral initiated her with Rama nama without any hesitation. Those days sanyasi’s were not even allowed to speak to women and when he directly initiated a women that too a dassi, the villagers started speaking ill about him. After some days Bodhendral left the village. The dassi was chanting Rama nama religiously and would chant though out the day. Bodhendral happened to come back to that village after some time. By the time Bodhendral came back she had finished chanting crores of Rama nama. The dassi came to have a darshan of Bodhendral and after prostrating to him she left this world through Kabala moksham(spirit leaving the body, opening the top of her skull at her own will) in front of her guru like how a yogi leave this world. The villagers were surprised seeing this and realised their mistake.

One day kids were playing in the banks of Kaveri. They would keep their feet in the mud and close it with mud and then remove the disappeared leg from the sand. Bodhendral had now planned to leave this world, so he went to the children and said that he would come out if they buried him inside the sand. Taking this for true the kids dug a pit and asked him to get inside. They then closed him completely with sand while he was meditating. Next day people in the village were searching for Bodhendral and they couldn’t find him. The kids then told them that he is buried under the sand and that he had asked them to do that. The villagers were now frightened. They then decided to start digging there and all of a sudden there was a voice saying that he was in Samadhi here and that no one should disturb him. After a few years the exact location of his Samadhi was forgotten as they had not build an Adhishtanam.

After 100 years of his Samadhi, Maruthanallur Sadguru swamigal decided to find his Samadhi and build an Adhishtanam around it. He searched for the exact location in Govindapuram. He would tie his legs and crawl on the river bank as he did not want to accidentally touch the Samadhi on his feet. At one place he could hear Rama nama being chanted and he immediately found out that it was the location where Bodhendral had attained Samadhi. He then went to Maharashtrian king who was then ruling Thanjavore and with his help built the Adhishtanam there.

Source : http://indiansaints.wordpress.com/2009/12/24/jagadguru-bodhendra-swamigal/

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BHAKTA BHANUDAS

                                                   B H A K T A      B H A N U D A S 

There was a pious Brahman who was a Vishnu bhaktha, Bhanudas was born in this family. As he grew up the ceremony of the scared thread was performed and he was sent to learn the Vedas. Bhanudas was not interested in learning and would not go to the classes properly. His father was angry about it and shouted at him. Afraid of his father Bhanudas decided to run away from home. He went in to the forest and found an underground temple. When he went inside the temple, he saw the statue of Lord Narayana and prostrated at him lovingly and began his prayers. Seeing the kid’s devotion god was pleased and took the form of a Brahman and came in front of him and gave him some milk to drink and asked him not to be afraid of any one and assured that he would take care of him and feed him regularly. Meanwhile his parents were searching for him every where but could not find him. They also prayed to the god for his return and decided that they would not shout at him and ask him to study anymore. Bhanudas was in the underground temple for 7 days. One day when he came out, a villager from his village saw him and went and informed this to his father. His father then came to the forest with a few other villagers and started searching for him. They finally entered the underground temple and saw him sleeping with his head on the feet of the god. His parents were happy seeing him and embraced him and asked him how he survived for seven days in this temple with out any food. Bhanudas then told them that a Brahman would come and give him food regularly and take care of him. They then understood that it was god who had saved his life and that god would take care of him and so dint send him to school any more.

Bhanudas then devoted himself completely to the worship of god. A few years later he was married. Years passed by and his parents passed away too. Bhanudas was now forced to take up his father’s profession. Bhanudas was not interested in worldly affairs but only wanted to be in the service of Vitthal. A few men came to Bhanudas and told him that his father had taken care of his family needs till now and now it is the duty of Bhanudas to take care of his wife and children. They also told him that since he did not study he will not be able to earn like other Brahmans and then came out with a proposal. They said that they would give him capital to become a cloth peddler and he could make his living out of this. Slowly he could return them the initial amount given by them. They then bought clothes for him from the market and called the other cloth peddlers and asked them to teach Bhanudas the secrets of the trade and take care of him. The peddlers agreed to this and happily took Bhanudas with them. They then thought him the secrets of the trade and finally told him not to speak the truth to any customer as otherwise he would only be making a loss. Bhanudas then replied to them that he would never lie to anyone. The peddlers then laughed at Bhanudas and said that once he sees money by not speaking the truth he would change automatically. Bhanudas would sit and chant the name of god continuously, he never lied to anyone and as a result everyone coming to the bazaar would go only to Bhanudas. He would tell his customers his exact cost price and the margin he was expecting. If they bargained he would ask them to go to the next shop and continue with his chanting. Now all customers were buying clothes only from Bhanudas. As a result other peddlers were not happy with Bhanudas and felt that he was drawing all their customers and that he was the reason for their poverty.

One day all the peddlers went to a far off village to sell their clothes. It was almost evening when they reached the village and Bhanudas came to know that there was a Hari kirthan happening in the village that night. He then asked the other peddlers if they would come for the kirthan. All of them refused and said that they were too tired to go the kirthan. Bhanudas then asked them to take care of his cart and clothes and went to the kirthan. He went there, embraced the saints and started participating in the Hari kirthan. In the mean time the peddlers spoke to one another and decided to free the horse of Bhanudas so that it would get lost. They also took the bundles of cloth from the cart and threw it in a pit. They then decided that they would tell Bhanudas that when they were sleeping some thief had come and taken these away. Vitthal on seeing this came as a Brahman and took the horse of Bhanudas and sat down in the market place holding it. Vitthal then decided to teach a lesson to the other peddlers. A group of thieves came there and took the clothes and horses of all the peddlers and ran away. Bhanudas then finished his kirthan and came back to take some rest. When he was returning he found a Brahman holding his horse, as soon as he came near him the Brahman disappeared. He then took his horse and went to meet the other peddlers. The peddlers on seeing him told him the truth and said that it was because of their greed that Vitthal had punished them. Bhanudas now understood that the Brahman who was holding his horse was none other than Vitthal and felt bad that god himself had come down to take care of his belongings. He then decided that he would not get in to worldly affairs any more and would return home and be in the service of god. Bhanudas then gave his horse, cart and his clothes and asked them to distribute it among themselves. From then on for every Ashadh (July) and Karthik (November) ekadasi he would go on a wari (lead a band of people to Pandharpur by singing the praise of god)

There was a Brahman living in the sacred city of Pandharpur who decided to set out on a yatra. One day he was at Vidyanagar and decided to meet the king Ram Raja, so that he could get some gifts from the king. (It was customary those days for the kings to give dhanam (gift) to Brahmans) He went to the palace and told that door keeper that he had come from Pandhari to meet the king. The king then called him and gave his respects to him and asked him to join him in his prayers to Ambika. He then took the Brahman with him to his temple and on the way was a huge garden which was created by the king to send flowers to the temple. The temple was built in a great manner and the walls were platted with silver. There were a lot of Brahmans performing poojas. The goddess was adorned with lot of jewels and the best garments. The king then performed his pooja to the god and sat down for a while. He then asked the Brahman if he had seen any temple and god equivalent to this, also told him that it is hardly possible that Vitthal would be worshiped with so much of elegance at Pandharpur. He then said that as it is the poor Brahmans who do the service to god there it may be difficult for them to spend so much as he does here in this temple. This made the Brahman get angry and then he told the king that he has told this without seeing Pandhari. He then said that the city of Pandhari was designed by none other than Vishwakarma (He is the architect of the Devas) and that the temple was plated with gold. He then said that the city of Pandhari had forests of wish trees, herds of wish cows and there were a lot of touchstones. He then said that there were vaishnavas who perform kirthans on Vitthal, there is Chandrabhaga flowing with nectar. He also said that Indira and all the 330 million gods stand there at his service. He then said that this Ambika who is the king’s family goddess comes to Pandhari regularly and sweeps the temple. Listening to these words of the Brahman the king was furious and said that he is going to punish the Brahman to death. The Brahman then told the king that if one had not seen the ocean he would think that the river in his city is the biggest and that he was also deciding in a similar way. The king then agreed to go with the Brahman to Pandhari and asked his ministers to prepare for the journey.

The king then started towards Pandhari with a small army and the Brahman was coming behind him. On the way the Brahman was thinking that if the king doesn’t see the things the way I have described to him, he will kill me, so thinking of Vitthal in his heart he was praying all the way. On reaching Pandhari, the king sat on an elephant and started looking at the city. He saw that the temple was glittering with gold and all other things exactly as how the Brahman described it to him. He then prostrated to the Brahman and told him that what he told of Pandhari was true and he could see that. The Brahman was amazed and thanked Vitthal for saving his life. As they entered Pandhari the king saw a herd of wish cows, saints and brahmans performing kirthans, all rivers taking a bodily form and coming and taking a holy dip in Chandrabhaga. The king then had a dip in Chandrabhaga and went to the temple. When he went in there, ashta maha siddhis (8 supernatural powers) were serving god and he could see his deity Ambika as one of them. He then saw Narada singing the praise of Vitthal there. The king then embraced Vitthal and then fell on his feet. The king then fell on the Brahman’s feet and told him that he was his Sadguru and said that he had seen a million times more than what the Brahman had described and that he has not seen a sacred city as wonderful as Pandhari.

Ram Raja then prayed to Vitthal asking him to come with him to Vidyanagar. Vitthal then told him that he would come with him to Vidyanagar, but if on the way he keeps him down he would stay there and that after coming there if the king is guilty of any injustice he would return to Pandhari. The king was overjoyed hearing this and he ordered people to be placed at intervals between Pandhari and Vidyanagar and took Vitthal to his city. The temple officials did not resist as they knew that he was a king and that their resistance would be in vain.

During the month of Ashadh (July) the warkaris arrived at Pandhari and learned that Vitthal had gone to Vidyanagar with Ram Raja. The city of Pandhari and it people now seemed depressed and desolate. The saints and sadhus who had come there for the Ashadhi ekadasi discussed among themselves and decided that someone should go to Vidyanagar and get Vitthal back to Pandharpur. Bhanudas who was sitting in this group then told them that he would go and get Vitthal from Vidyanagar. Bhanudas then left for Vidyanagar. After walking for several days he finally reached Vidyanagar and enquired the people there about Vitthal. No one answered to Bhanudas due to fear from the king. However one Vaishnava told him that Vitthal was in the palace temple and that the king worships him privately and the temple is closed as soon as the king finishes his worship and that the temple is heavily guarded. Bhanudas was happy and at midnight he went to the palace temple. As he approached the temple, the guards fell asleep and the lock opened automatically. He then went in and prostrated to Vitthal and embraced him and pleaded with affection and asked why he had deserted all the bhakthas at Pandhari and came here to be with the king. Vitthal then told him that it was the king who had brought him here forcefully and that he was missing Pandhari. Vitthal then told him that tomorrow morning he would come with him to Pandhari. He then removed his necklace and placed it on Bhanudas and asked him to go and take some rest as he now has to prepare for a journey to Pandharpur tomorrow. The king came to the temple in the morning as usual to see Vitthal. When the pooja was being performed he saw that the necklace was missing. He was very angry and ordered the guards to immediately search for the same. The guards went in all directions to look for the necklace. Bhanudas had bathed in the river and was singing the praise of god. The guards saw the necklace on him and immediately arrested him. They then took him to the king and gave the necklace to the king. The king ordered the guards to impale Bhanudas. Bhanudas then requested the guards that he be allowed to see Vitthal for one last time before his death. The guards then took him to the temple and Bhanudas asked Vitthal why he had done this to him. He then asked him if he had done this only because he had come to take him back to Pandhari. He then told Vitthal that he has understood that he would do this to anyone who comes here to take him to Pandhari as he has now started enjoying the royal service. He then said that even if he takes thousand births he would only come back to him and not leave him. The guards then took Bhanudas away from the temple, placed the impaling stake on his shoulder and hastened to fasten the sharp stake on the ground. As they were about to execute him the impaling stake had burst and flowers fell on Bhanudas, The crowd that had gathered to see his execution and the guards were amazed and they started praising Bhanudas and said that he was a true vaishnava. The guards then ran to the king and told him what had happened. The king then came to Bhanudas and apologized to him and took him to the temple again. As soon as Bhanudas saw Vitthal he embraced his feet. Vitthal then asked Bhanudas to carry him to Pandharpur. Ram Raja then held the feet of Vitthal and cried why he was leaving him. Vitthal told him that he had done injustice by punishing Bhanudas and so he would now leave. He also said that he had come and stayed with him for a few days because of the good deeds he had done in his previous birth. Bhanudas then asked Vitthal how he will be able to carry him all by himself. Vitthal then took a smaller form and asked him to put him in his bag. Bhanudas placed Vitthal in his bag and started his journey towards Pandharpur. When Bhanudas arrived near Pandharpur, he placed the bag on the ground and went to have a bath in the river. When Bhanudas came back after his bath he saw that Vitthal had grown to his old size. He then asked him how he would be able to carry him to the temple. Vitthal then asked him to go to Pandhari and inform the priest that he is back and that all would come with him to take him to the temple. Bhanudas then went to the temple and told them that Vitthal is back and all the saints and the sadhus there were extremely happy to hear this. They then came performing kirthans to welcome Vitthal and took him on a procession around the city and on the banks of Chandrabhaga and took him to the temple and placed him there. The whole city of Pandharpur was in a festive mood and there were celebrations all over. Everyone praised Bhanudas for his deed.

Source : http://indiansaints.wordpress.com/2009/08/23/sant-bhanudas/

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Eknath was born sometime around 1530 AD in an illustrious Brahmin family of Pratisthan (Paithan today). They were said to be the Kulkarnis of the village, his real name is Eknath Suryajipant Kulkarni. Sant Bhanudas, who brought back the sacred image of Lord Pandurang, from Vijaynagar to Pandharpur, was Eknath’s great grandfather.

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The Period of Bhanudas (1448–1513) and Eknath (1533–99)

It is traditionally believed that King Krishnadeva Raya of Vijayanagar had the image of Panduranga taken to Hampi, possibly to prevent desecration by Muslim invaders. The absence of the deity sent the whole of Pandharpur into a pall of gloom. It was Paithankar Bhanudas Maharaj who brought back the deity to Pandharpur. Bhanudas’s family was traditionally devoted to Vitthala. 

Source : http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Vithoba_of_Pandharpur

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