Fisherman Raghu
The waves striking against a rock continuously soften the rock. The good thought waves striking against a mind purify the troubled heart. This is the story of a man who could measure the length of a wave but could not match his wavelength with his job.
Once upon a time there lived a man called Raghu in Piplichati near Puri famous for Lord Jagannadh temple. He had to support his young wife and ageing mother. He was a fisherman by profession, but a kind man by nature.
As per the demands of his profession, he eked out his livelihood by catching the fish and by making a profit out of his catch. But as per the dictatis of his innate goodness, he could not bear with his own atrocities. Each day was a torture to him. He was torn between the two. The strangling of the fish symbolised his strangling inside. Once caught by him, they had no wayout of his net. Once caught in the materialistic world he had no way out of his work. Being head of the family, it is his humble duty to look after his family. In terms of Manu Dharma Sastra, a man has to look after his mother in her old age and his wife in her middle age. This is the only profession he knew ! When others believed in eat, drink and be merry he could not digest the motto ‘catch, kill and be merry!’.

The other fishermen reasoned out to him in so many ways. ‘You are not the only one that catch fish. God has designed us thus! It is the same God who designed them to swim and who taught us to catch them. It is a balancing point ! If it is harmful to the fish, why do men relish them ? Why do they stand in long queues to buy them from us ? There is a demand for fish and we are mere mediators. We supply that demand. If you stop catching, do you think they will stop eating ? Of course not ! They will go to somebody else ! Moreover do you know something ? The moment the fish are away from water, they become senseless. They can’t feel the pain of the knife over them. So come on, relax, join us, think of your loved ones at home and not the unfeeling creatures in the sea.

These arguments may look sensible enough and strong points to any one ready to commit a sin, but not to an extremely good soul. If everybody thinks in these lines where will good be ? What will be the fate of the world ? He continued to catch the fish and continued to face the torment of his heart on par with the torment of the fish. He could neither control his mind nor could he give up his cruel job. In such a state of mind, he came across a Sadhu and opened up his mind to him. The Sadhu asked him to meditate upon God and gave him Tulasi mala. All through the free hours he prayed to God, chanted his name and spent his time in bhajans. The spiritual path he followed made him feel more for others. His pain knew no bounds. He began to believe in God manifests, Himself in all His creation. He began to weep. Oh God! Why did you create me in such a heartless caste ? I have no other way out except to continue as a fisherman. I know how much the fish would suffer when I cut them into pieces ! I feel the knife is passing through my heart ! But what can I do ? I can’t help it if I want my family to survive and if I have to fulfil my dharma! Won’t I go to hell for depriving innocent creatures of their right to live ? Leave alone my fate, how can I offer a seat in my heart to you when my heart is so corrupt! Should I be deprived of your love, your care then ? If that is the case, I don’t want my family ! I don’t want to fulfil my mundane dharma.You are dearer to me than all these minor things. The minute this realization landed on his mind, then and there he decided - ‘Oh God, from this very day I give up my cruel job.’

He left his work and was lost in Hari nama, but how long ? Not many days ! People around him, his family and to accept shamefully, his own hunger did not allow him to continue this life style beyond a few days. He was forced to go back to his normal life and to his regular fishing joint. All through his short walk to the fishing joint he cursed himself, cursed his family, cursed the society and cursed the shastras which insisted on his dharma. He could ignore his hunger but he could not ignore the hunger of his family members. So he asked God to show him a way out of it.

Raghu as usual let his net into the water and being an expert in his work, caught a big fish in no time. Raghu as usual looked at the reddish fish, as it struggled for its last breath with pained eyes, but surprisingly this time it looked like the Matsyavatar of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu adorned the shape of a fish to kill the demon Sankhasur. He put one step backward in respect of God, but the next minute, the pitiable faces of his wife and mothers appeared before him. He was torn between a sense of duty and a sense of worship. The sense of duty dominated over the sense of worship, so before he raised his knife he prayed to the fish thus, Oh my dear ! I am so sorry. You may be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu Himself or you may be just an ordinary fish like any other fish ! Whatever are my feelings for you, I cannot save you ! I am forced to kill you ! In fact you are to be blamed for this ! Why was I born into a fisherman’s family which knows only killing ? So, don’t call me a sinner...’

So saying, he was about to shatter the face of the fish into two, but the words Oh Narayana save me ! Please save me! ‘Shattered his strong determination. He was wonderstruck. He heard those words crystal clear from the fish’s mouth. He was overwhelmed with joy. On his way he asked God for a solution and that was the solution ! God wanted him to give up that cruel act. He spoke to him directly. At once he held the fish caressingly in his hands, took it to a small pond beside a mountain, far from the vicious eyes of people and let it free into the pond. The fish danced away happily in the water and his heart danced more happily. His mother and wife had clean got out of his mind. He sat down there to meditate upon God.

‘Wants are unlimited is the law of life ! That applies not only to physical wants but also to spiritual wants. Raghu was not happy with the words of the Lord. He prayed thus to Lord, Oh Lord! The words I have heard from the fish were undoubtedly yours ! I am happy about it, but I am not satisfied with this boon of yours ! When your words are sweet to my ears, your darshan will be a feast to my eyes. Oh God ! Please bless my poor soul with your magnificient darshan. I will not ask for anything more ! I just want to fill my eyes with your divine presence! He prayed thus, for three days according to our calender. He did not know it. He forgot the material world around him. He did not know the passing of time. We learn in Bhagavat Geetha that God gives us revelation only when we are ready for it with heart, mind and soul. God could feel his total surrender, but as it was His practice, He came down to test him first. Disguised as an old man, he approached him and showered a number of questions on him like who are you ? Why are you here ! What makes you pray in such a lonely place ? What favour do you want ? Raghu heard these words, opened his eyes, got up from his seat, wished him politely. He answered softly but refused to have a chat with him since such an idle talk would deviate him from his spiritual path. Then the old man asked: How can ever a fish speak in a human voice ? Don’t you think it is your illusion ? Why don’t you go back to your family instead of wasting your time thus ?

Raghu was wonder struck! How did this man know the cause of his prayer without his speaking out ? Even as he was wondering thus, he answered ‘Oh Sir! I am not competant enough to tell you, but don’t you know that God is Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omnicient ? If God could come out of a pillar for Prahlad, can’t he speak to me from a fish ? I may be an ordinary man, born lowly, committed to a sinful life, but God is a forgiving soul ! His love is beyond comprehension. So He can speak to me ! I have no doubt about it. Why do you doubt it ? Are you testing me ? You are older and wiser than me ! Why don’t you lead me on the path of spiritual bliss? Why don’t you help me have His Darshan ? Even as he was speaking these words, the truth dawned on him. This old man was none other than God himself ! He has come to test him. He prostrated before him and prayed ‘Oh God, please speak out ! Am I not correct ?’ His tears of joy filled God with bountiful of love for him. Thus spoke God ,My dear son Raghu ! Your devotion for me is praiseworthy. I came down to this forest from Heaven to bless you! I spoke through fish. Are you happy?’

No, he was not happy ! He wanted to see God, not as an old man, but in his Nijarupa with Sankhu, Chakra, Gada in his four hands. He prayed to God again, Oh God ! I am an ajnani. I haven’t yet reached the stage of seeing you in your creation. I am blinded by my sins. You wash out my sins and bless me with spiritual eyes to have a real darshan of you ! Your words made me give up my material comforts. I am prepared to give up my body if needs be, to have your darshan ! You were so generous that you ignored my caste, creed and my sinful behaviour. Then what stops you from appearing before me ?
The old man turned into Lord Vishnu in his full fledged form and said ’What is your desire ! Tears of joy rolled down his cheeks. He was spell bound. His joy reached its zenith. He got all that he wanted ? What else could he ask for ? Bhakti and darshan of God are two good boons any body could ask for and he got them both ? Should he ask for anything else ? Should he ask for forgiveness, mercy etc? God’s darshan speaks volumes about his forgiveness, his blessings , his mercy, his love for a simple, ordinary soul like him! No need ! ‘Oh my Lord, let my heart be filled with you and let my eyes be filled with your sight !
God sanctioned it and asked him to seek one more blessing ! He thought for a minute and came out with the unending conflict in his heart. ‘By birth I am a fisherman. I am forced to kill fish to earn my livelihood. Presently I am a changed man and I have given up fishing, but God knows what is in store for me in future ! I should never face a situation which would force me to be cruel. I should think of you alone until my last breath !’ God said, ‘Tadhastu’ and disappeared.

Raghu could see now God’s presence in everything. He walked back home unknowingly. His neighbours attacked him with a battle of words. ‘How could you ever leave your family to their fate thus ? They would have died if the Zamindar had not come to their rescue ! They were....’ The rest of the words did not reach his ears. He stopped at the words, ‘the Zamindar helped’. Yes, God helped them not the zamindar, because he never before helped them in situations worse than these! So their attacks were like blessings to him. His wife and mother were happy at his safe return.

Raghu was a changed man then. He told his people to pray to Lord Hari and they too started praying with him. All through his wakeful hours he was praying, chanting or meditating even as he was going around the village. He never asked anyone for anything, but people willingly came to him and offered him various eatables. He brought them home to his mother. He knew it was God’s blessings, but his mother wondered at the respect he evoked in public, though she was delighted at it.

Raghu was beyond all these feelings. He did not gossip with anybody at home or outside. He did not bother what others thought about him. In one word he became a sadhu or a saint. Some naughtly children made fun of him or cursed him since his spiritual joy looked like mental disorder to them. When he was beyond earthly comforts, how would petty feelings like anger, sorrow or suffering disturb him ? His body was a mere portal to his soul. So he ignored the children but that only aggravated their mischief ! They even threw stones at him. If a passer by shouted at them, they stopped. Otherwise they were beyond control.

One day a naughty boy hit him on his back with a thorny stick. Raghu didn’t react to it. That doubled his mischief. He continued to hit him still, he bled profusely, but Raghu did not utter a single word.

Raghu passed in flying colours in God’s test. Will God leave him then ? After Raghu left the place, the naughty boy fell down on the ground and died on the spot. Passers by saw him and called his parents. At once the parents and the villagers knew that the boy was nipped off in the bud since they could not nip off his cruel actions. That was the punishment metted out to him for illtreating a staunch devotee. They arrived at the conclusion that if Raghu forgave him, he would come back alive. Accordingly, the parents pleaded with him. We know our child is very bad, but our love to him blindfolded us ! We cannot live without him. You are a devotee of God you are equal to God, who treats both Good and Bad alike. In that case, why did you take revenge on our son? ‘They fell on his feet’.

Raghu did not know that the boy died! He was taken aback when he heard it! He lifted the parents up and said, ‘I am a low caste man. Why do you fall on my feet ? I am not a great man. I have never longed for your son’s death. If he had beaten me, I only deserved it I must have committed some sins in the previous janma or this janma. Unless Lord siva designs, even an ant cannot hurt anybody. The boy was only a tool for my suffering , but that brought upon suffering to him. Oh God, how sinful I am! My sins brought death to a young one and misery to his parents. I did not even curse him when he was cruel to me.

Tears were rolling down his cheeks as he spoke these words and said’ Let’s all do ‘Hari nama japam’ for the boy’s safety. We’ll ask him to wake up. Accordingly all of them started praying together. Raghu was dancing in ecstasy. Their staunch devotion, the powerful chanting and the blessings of Almighty showed a miracle. The boy who was dead, moved his hands and feet and sat up as if awake n from deep sleep. Their joy knew no bounds. This time the people renewed their chanting with added vigour and the boy also joined them. After sometime Raghu advised them to pray unto Lord everyday. They went back home still lost in joy at the miracle before their very eyes.

Slowly it spread like wild fire that whatever Raghu spoke came true. Naturally it brought a train of followers to him. Name and fame pull you down to mundane earth. They are hurdles to your spiritual path. Saints realize this and rise above these. Raghu was one such saint. Raghu wanted to go far from the maddening crowd.He disappeared to a lonely place. Then he completely involved in prayer. He was leading a happy, peaceful life.

One day Raghudasa felt the God of Puri, Sri Jagannadh requested him to offer him something. Raghudasa was thrilled. He offered food in a lonely place. God being touched by his devotees’ whole hearted love, touched his food wholeheartedly and ate it !
At the same time, back in Puri, the Maharaj of Puri sent his offerings to Lord Jagannadh. That mantap was a little away from the main temple. A big mirror in the temple reflected God’s image and the pandas offered food to the reflection. That had been the custom for years together ! That day, the mirror was in tact, there was no object in between, but the Lord’s reflection was missing ! The panda was flabbergasted. He said, ‘My Lord, something is wrong somewhere ! Otherwise, why will not the God accept it ?
The Maharaja sank to the ground at the main pillar totally shocked at the scenario. He cried sadly ‘Oh God ! What sin have I committed ! Why are you angry with me ? What’s wrong with the food ? Please lord ,let me know my mistake and show me a way out of it. I am ready to face any consequence whatsoever. Please relieve me of my crime. Please accept our food as per your custom.

As he was praying, unknowingly he dozed off to sleep and had a dream in the sleep.’ Raja ! Why do you feel sorry for no crime of yours ! It is not your crime but somebody else’s love that took me away from you. Presently I am not in Puri. That’s why you could not see me. I am in pipli, with a fisherman. He may be a low caste man but he ranks high in his unmatched love for me. As my devotee you know well that I am touched by love more than the offerings. He has totally surrendered himself to me. I cannot leave him as long as he doesnot leave me. Patram, pushpam, phalam toyam whatever is offered, should be offered wholeheartedly. I go to them and receive them in person. Nothing can bind me but a devotees’ ecstasy. So if you want me to come back to puri, you should bring this man to my place along with his family said the Lord.

Immediately the Raja woke up and rushed to Piplichati on horse. He located Raghu’s house and called out his name, but where will Raghu hear it ! He is busy serving his lord his offering. All his five senses were in tune with Lord Jagannadh, so one sense could not hear the Loknadh’s (king’s ) voice.

The king called him for a long time but had no response. He was forced to enter uninvited and was wonderstruck at Raghu’s appearance. Raghu was affectionately offering food to the Lord then. Of course the king could not see the Lord. He could only see the outstretched hand of Raghu with a morsel of food in his hand. He was offering it to somebody. He could not see that person’s face properly. It looked as if he sat behind a curtain which nobody dared to lift. Only God will lift it up when he feels it is the right time. Till then one has to wait. God knows when it is the ripe time !

After sometime the God disappeared. Then Raghu started crying. He was like a fish out of water. ‘No wonder the Lord left his temple in answer to the prayer of a small man thought the king. He went to Raghu, made him lie down in his lap and consoled him! You are a blessed soul Raghudasa! Where did you get this blessing? How I wish the Lord will bless me too ! Come, let’s go to Puri.

Raghu came back to normalcy and was shocked to see himself in the lap of the Maharaja. He was about to prostrate before the king but the king prostrated before him. He explained all that had happened till then. Raghu couldn’t oppose his request, since it was God’s order. The king took him back to puri along with his family. At the same time, the Panda saw God’s reflection in the mirror. He was delighted at it and offered food as usual. All chanted the name of the Lord.

Raghudasa and his family were provided a beautiful accomodation to the south of the main temple. Raghu prayed unto the Lord with his family from the day he received the call to Puri till the day he received the call to blend his Jeevatma with Paramatma !
Jayadeva had not only the name ‘deva’ (God) imbibed in his name, but also God Himself seated on a large throne within his heart. Jayadeva, known for his Gita Govindam, was popularly known as Bhakta Kavi. His undaunted devotion for Lord Krishna turned him into a poet and made him pen down many Ashtapadis on Krishna’s Rasa Leela. Krishna’s ‘Leela Vinodam’ could be observed in Jayadeva’s life.

Jayadeva was a blessed soul and that was revealed to the public even in his youth. Jayadeva’s father was Bhoja Deva and mother was Vamadevi. They were settled in Kendubilva village in Bengal. Jayadeva lost his parents when he was a child. God looks after the needy was proved true in the case of Jayadeva and he was turned to a Haridasa, due to his innate goodness. He had his education with the meagre earnings as Haridasa. He prayed to God not for material comforts but to seek His blessings.

The world is full of cheats and villains. One such cheat Niranjan’s vicious eye fell on the house of Jayadeva. Luckily for him Jayadeva’s father owed him a little in his life time. He could easily convince Jayadeva regarding his debt and fool him into giving away his house against the loan. He was so sure of his success and even prepared documents accordingly. Yes he was hundred percent correct. Jayadeva was more than willing to part with his house. He readily signed. A vicious smile dawned on Niranjan’s face only for a fraction of a second since the next second he was confronted with a shocking news. Being a worldly man he could guess every move of a fellow human being, but how would an atheist like him know the powers of omni potent God who protects his devotees with thousand hands ? His little girl came running to him ‘Oh Papa hurry up ! our house is on fire.

Before Niranjan could digest the news and run to his house, Jayadeva ran! Anybody in Jayadeva’s place would have thought, ‘He deserved it for his villainous actions’ , but it was not Jayadeva’s nature to curse anyone. If he was to do so, God would not have let such a thing happen! Jayadeva walked into fire unmindful of the heat. What a miracle! The moment he walked into it, the flames disappeared. Nothing is impossible to the staunch devotees of God.

The devotee gets the powers of God and then poison becomes nectar, enemy becomes friend and heat becomes ice.
Niranjan could at once understand the greatness of the simple man before him. He was a fool to treat him a fool. Material comfort is nothing before God’s blessings. He tore off the documents at once and with tears running down his cheeks, he fell prostrate before Jayadeva ‘Oh Jayadeva’. Please forgive me ! I have wilfully cheated you being greedy. Had you not come to my rescue, my house would have been burnt down to ashes. You are a blessed soul. Through you, we have come to know of the miraculous blessings of God for his beloved ones.
Ever since then Niranjan was a purified soul. He spent the rest of his life in Kirtanas of God.

Jayadeva too was touched by the showers of God. He wanted to be closer to Lord Krishna. He proceeded to Puri known for its Jagannadh Temple, with his brahmin friend Parasara. He had no money for his expenditure. All that he had was the ‘harinama’ on his forehead and the golden image of hari in his heart and the harinama japa on his lips. One day Jayadeva felt very thirsty. It was mid summer, the heat was unbearable and no trace of water in the vicinity. Jayadeva unable to bear his thirst, fainted on the way ! Will the God leave his disciple thus to his fate ? No ! He came down personally as a cowherd boy, offered him water and milk. He guided him and his friend to Puri. The minute they reached Puri, the boy disappeared. Till then, neither Jayadeva nor his friend could realise that the boy was no other than God himself! But it was too late !

Jayadeva was lost in his prayer of Lord Krishna incessantly. One day, when he was in an ecstatic mood, he had a divine visualization. There Yamuna river was flowing through the four blue mountains. Beside the river bank, under a tree, the heart throb of Gopikas, lord Sri Krishna was playing on the flute wonderfully. The vision of Krishna and His song thrilled Jayadeva so much that he composed a sloka extempore. This gave birth to the famous epic, ‘Gita Govindam’ proving true the statement ‘Poetry is spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings and emotions’.

Jayadeva described the dasavataras of Lord Sri Krishna in the Astapadi ‘Jaya Jagadesa Hare! He had a visualization of those avatars too ! When he came back to normalcy, he saw before him not the Brindavan, but the vast ocean which depicted the presence of God in the vast creation. Then he prayed to God and went to Jagannadh Temple with his friend Parasara. He was filled with joy. He led the life of an ascetic there. He had no permanent abode. He spent his time in prayer, meditation and chanting ! He was begging alms for his living.
There was a brahmin called Sudeva in Puri during those days. He had no children for a long time. He prayed to God to bless him with a child and promised to offer the child to God. He was blessed with a girl. He named her Padmavathi and as promised , he offered her to the Lord ceremoniously. That night the lord appeared in his dream and told him that he had accepted the offer. God advised him to perform her marriage with his devotee Jayadeva.

Accordingly Sudeva and his wife went in search of Jayadeva and told him of God’s wish. Jayadeva refused to marry since he was leading the life of sanyasi and since he was unfit for Grihastadharma. But Sudeva refused to listen since it was God’s order and since there was no going against His orders. Jayadeva was forced to oblige since he too wouldn’t oppose God. He married Padmavathi and came back to his village Kendybilva. They lived happily there for sometime and prayed to Radha Madhav in their house.

After sometime Jayadeva went on Pilgrimage. On his way, a king was very much impressed with him and forced him to stay with him for quite few days. Finally, when Jayadeva proceeded on his pilgrimage he forced Jayadeva to take huge amount of money. Jayadeva pleaded, ‘Money and gold are like poison to one who seeks the blessings of God. Money mindedness makes one egoistic or cruel. I don’t want to accept such a harmful one.’ But his words of wisdom fell on deaf ears. He was forced to accept the huge amount.

Jayadeva’s statement ‘Money mindedness makes one cruel’ proved true in no time. Jayadeva was walking innocently, as usual lost in his prayer. This was watched by a few thieves and they wanted to amass the wealth of Jayadeva. Jayadeva would have happily donated the money to them for a mere asking, but how would the cut throats know that there are good people still in the world! Even if they were told so, they wouldn’t believe it. So they hit upon a plan. They attacked him from behind, cut off his hands and feet and threw him into a well beside. They ran away happily with his bundle of money. Little did they know that they were loaded with crimes and sins.

Regarding Jayadeva, he was thrown into a well according to the thieves, but God was behind him. There was no water in the well. Jayadeva was not at all hurt. There was a stone in the well. Jayadeva sat on it and continued his prayer. He didn’t lose his faith on God inspite of his suffering. He thought he deserved such a punishment for accepting money. Though he knew that a bhakta like him shouldn’t accept it. Why did he do it? He should reap the consequences of his crime. God too cannot save him.

Repentance is the best punishment. God did save him already! He further saved him in the form of a king called Lakshmanasena of Gouda. He heard the song of Jayadeva and made his servants bring him out of the well into his kingdom. Jayadeva’s knowledge and devotion made him a disciple of Jayadeva. The king asked him to reveal the names of his enemies, but a true devotee wouldn’t even dream of harming his enemies. ‘Forgive thine enemy’ was the teaching of his Lord and he followed it verbatim. He refused to speak a word about them.

Jayadeva was cured of his wounds in no time. The king made him the President of his court. After a few days. Jayadeva’s wife, Padmavathi too joined him with their Radha Madhav’s statue. The king showered the couple with lots of wealth but Jayadeva took only as much as he needed to lead his life.

As time was passing on thus, once there was a grand gala festival in the kingdom and many beggars, guests, brahmins and sadhus were invited. The thieves who harmed Jayadeva came in the guise of sadhus, but they were shocked to see Jayadeva on the seat of prominence when he should have lost his eye. Jayadeva was delighted to see them. He felt that they had harmed him only because they were badly in need of money. ‘Any way the king was ready to shower him with money, why not I make him donate that to these people!’ The moment this thought flashed in his mind, he made the king do accordingly. The king had no objection to it since Jayadeva never sought a favour. But the thieves couldn’t believe their eyes. Perfection is not loved in this imperfect world. They could not understand Jayadeva’s goodness. They took it as some vicious motive behind. Jayadeva sent even officers and four soldiers with them for their protection.

The officer, out of curiosity, asked how they were so close to such a saint like Jayadeva. He asked what kind action of theirs was being reciprocated. The thieves who were basically bad, spun a wicked story against Jayadeva. They said ‘Jayadeva and we worked under a king. We were officers there and he was our servant. For some crime of his the king wanted him to be beheaded, but we very generously left him off by just cutting off his feet and hands.

‘God sees the truth but waits’, waits for the right moment. The minute the thieves spoke these words, the earth under their feet tore open with a thundering noise and pulled them down. They lost their lives before the very eyes of the officer. He went back with the treasure and narrated the story to the king. The king sent for Jayadeva and informed him of the same. Jayadeva felt sorry for them and the next minute his feet and hands grew and he came back to his normal physique. This doubled the surprise of the king. The king asked for the actual story.

Jayadeva narrated the whole story ‘oh ! Maharaja! I am an unlucky soul. I am responsible for their tragic death. In spite of knowing the ill effects of money, I carried it with me. These thieves brought misfortunes to me but they have done me a great favour because they showed me practically what I knew theorectically. I wanted to repay their kindness. If I suffered because of them they were only instrumental.I must have really done a great crime. But instead of punishing me God has blessed me. He brought me back by normal statue. He punished them for my sake. I am so sorry for them. Oh king ! If God has forgiven me and has punished them it speaks of two things. The ill effects of money mindedness as opposed to the miraculous powers of God.

The king was touched by Jayaeva’s good nature blended with spiritual feeling and since then became his disciple.
Jayadeva’s wife was a perfect match for him. She too was a pious lady. She was inspired by her husband’s faith and treated him as God. She spent her leisure hours in discourses on religion to other ladies in the court. The Queen too was one of her disciples, as good as Padmavathi herself but unknowingly the pride of belonging to a royal family proped up now and then.

Once Padmavathi was discussing Sati Sahagamanam. She opined ‘whoever dies on her husband’s funeral pyre is not a great lady. A true wife is one who breathes her last, the minute she hears of her husband’s demise.’ The Queen felt jealous of Padmavathi. She felt that she was showing off before others.

So she played a practical joke on her. The next day she informed Padmavathi with crocodile tears that Jayadeva was killed by a lion in the forest. Before she could complete her statement Padmavathi became unconscious. On close examination, the queen could feel that she breathed her last ! The Queen was shocked. She was worried how Jayadeva and the king would react to her foolish behaviour. But Jayadeva did not curse her. He did not wonder how a dead person could be alive ! He had so much faith in his Good and his wife that he coolly said, “ she lost her life because she heard that I had lost my life. Now when she comes to know that I am safe and sound, she will come back to life ! There is no doubt about it”. He prayed to God not because he loved her physical body, but because he wanted the Queen to be relieved of her repentence. Faith in God never goes waste. Within no time, Padmavathi woke up as if from sleep and she too joined their prayer. The Queen’s joy knew no bounds and she promised never to repeat her practical jokes. Everybody was thrilled at the bhakti of Jayadeva and the pious nature of Padmavathi.

After some time Jayadeva came back to his village. He composed Gita Govindam there.
One day while he was composing it, he was struck in a poem. He couldn’t continue any further. He was struck in the line ‘Smaragarala Khandanam Mama Sirasi Mandanam’. Then Padmavathi advised him to go for his bath and prayer. Jayadeva welcomed the idea and left for Ganges. But he came back in a few minutes and called ‘Padma’ get me the slokas! ‘When Padmavathi expressed her surprise he said,’ I was struck with wonderful lines on my way and so came back.’ She brought the slokas, palm-leaves and the stylus (Ghantam). He completed the line as ‘Dehi me Pada Pallava Mudaram’. He made Padmavathi arrange water for his bath, he had his bath, his prayer, offered nivedan to God, he had his stomachful and dozed off comfortably on his bed.

As usual, Padmavathi began to eat, but she was surprised to see Jayadeva standing before her. Jayadeva was more than surprised. He questioned her ‘What’s wrong with you today’ ? Have you ever dined before offering food to the lord or before I had my food ? I have never seen such a thing before !’

Padmavathi was even more shocked ‘Are you pulling my leg ? You came back from your trip, took the poem, completed it, had your bath, food and you were relaxing inside. Now you look as if you had your bath just now. What’s happening. I can’t understand anything. Jayadeva could guess half the truth. He rushed to his bedroom but nobody was there. He asked Padma to bring the sloka to see how it was completed. Yes his guess work was correct. There was a new line unwritten by him. The Lord himself has come down in his form to complete his poem. He wanted to write the same way, but he felt delicate to do so. He was thrilled as it but also felt sad. How lucky was Padmavathi ! She saw God and served him personally. He cried unto the Lord. ‘Oh Lord! Oh Krishna! Oh mighty Lord! what wrong deed have I done that you did not allow me to have your darshan. You left me out and blessed Padmavathi alone.’ He grabbed the food from Padvamathis leaf since it was the food of the Lord Himself! He did not care for the pleadings of Padmavathi that he was eating from her leaf, which was not expected of a husband.

After this incident, Jayadeva completed his Gita Govindam with renewed vigour. He was deeply involved in his songs and sang them wholeheartedly. The Lord followed him, invisibly and wholeheartedly, to listen to his song. How lucky was Jayadeva ? Jayadeva experienced God’s love unto him and people around him could feel God’s protection of him.

Jayadeva used to go to the Ganges 18 miles away from his house. There was a belief that in his old age when he could not walk to Ganges, Ganges came to his doorstep and that he recited a sloka in praise of Ganges.

Jayadeva spent his last days in Brindavan with his wife and his disciples. He was spending the whole day thinking of and visualising the Rasa Leela of Krishna with the Gopikas.

Finally Jayadeva’s Jeevathma joined Paramathma, leaving behind his Astapadis!
Every year on Sankranthi, there is a big mela in memory of Jayadeva in his village Kendubilva. More than a lakh of people take part in it.
Jayamu to Jayadeva ! Jayamu Jayamu to Jaya’s Deva !