The Stories of Bhaktas
Bhakti doesn't mean mere praying to God or following the rituals blindly. It means total faith in God. It means surrendering oneself to God totally. To such people God manifested himself in human form. This shows how God moved with his devotees !
The fact that God lives in the heart of his devotees is proved literally in this story.
Once upon a time there lived a bhakta called Savithamali in a village called Arunabhendi. He had seeds of bhakti in him by birth. They were nurtured and promoted by his father through his devout songs, stories and his ideal life. Savithamali's bhakti grew up with him as he grew up.
He took up the gardening work like his father. He woke up before dawn , had his prayer, served his parents and went to the garden to do his duty there. As he was performing his gardening work, his mind was engrossed in the name of God.
His garden turned out to be an epitome of God. Every flower that shone, every plant that grew, every fruit that was borne seemed to speak, every brook that sang seemed to speak volumes about god.
His parents performed his marriage with Janabai. Marriage was no hindrance to his spiritual path. He balanced his marital life with his spiritual life in such an ideal way that he became a role model to his generation. His parents were proud of him. They breathed their last breath without any worry about him. Their death enhanced the already existing bhakti and vairagya in him. He observed the transient nature of human life and realized that there was no point in being attached to the material world. So he engrossed himself more in the name of God.
Janabai's relatives visited them once Savithamali who was in his own sweet world was not paying any attention to the guests. They were offended at his indifference and complained to Janabai. She took it to heart and fought with her husband .She opined that he was indifferent to them just because they were her relatives.
Savithamali clarified her doubts in a pleasant way. ‘If my ways look strange to you, I am helpless. I don't have any differences between your people and my people. My mind is centred round the Lord Almighty. So I am not interested in the mortal human beings with whom our relations are but a passing phase. We took up many janmas before this janma. What happened to relatives of those janmas ? Remember one thing ! Only one bondage comes with us forever. That is the bondage with God. Our ananda is satchitananda. My relatives are those who have faith in God. I will honour them wholeheartedly. I am not inclined towards these relatives. I am sorry if I have hurt your feelings. Janabai felt sorry for misunderstanding her husband since she could see the divinity in him. So she fell to his feet and asked for forgiveness.
Savithamali's name and fame spread far and wide. It reached the ears of the great bhakta Namadev. He came to visit him. Savithamali was thrilled at his visit and Namadev was pleased with his bhakti and devotion. Both of them spoke at length the miracles of the Lord Vittala and the 'Vibhutis' they experienced.
The next day as they just sat for their lunch, a ‘phakir’ reached his doorstep. He looked very shabby and poor. He expressed his desire to have lunch with them. Savithamali strongly believed in 'Athidi Devobhava'. So he had no objection to it, but Namadev couldn't take it lightly. He appreciated the broadmind of Savithamali earlier, but he could not face it first hand. All the same he sat through the ordeal silently. Savithamali unaware of the conflit in his guests mind carried on his work peacefully. Later the phakir left them.
Namadev and Savithamali went to the temple in the evening to have the darshan of God. But lo ! They couldn't believe their eyes. The idol of Lord Vittala disappeared and the ‘phakir’ who ate with them appeared in His place. Namadev was shocked and Savithamali was stunned. The next minute, they could see the Lord they prayed to, in his usual form.
Savithamali's joy knew no bounds when he could realize that God came down personally to his house in the guise of a ‘phakir’ to bless him. Namadev felt ashamed of himself. He knew God is Omnipotent but he couldn't see God in ‘phakir’. God wanted to teach him a lesson. He appreciated Savithamali for his knowledge of Brahman.
One day, Jnanadev and Namadev were singing bhajans on God. God appeared before them and said 'I am going to a village called Bahula' to save a devotee of mine. Why don't you accompany me! 'They were more than delighted at the invitation and silently followed Him. As they reached a garden, God said that he was feeling thirsty and that He would go inside to quench his thirst. Panduranga asked Namadev Jnanadev to wait outside till He came back.
That was the garden of Savithamali. He was busy watering the plants. When he saw God in human form he fell to His feet and prayed to Him. He felt that his life purpose was fulfilled by touching the Lotus feet of the Almighty, God said, 'Savitha! I need your help.
'Oh God! you help all the living beings in three lokas. Imagine me helping the Omnipotent God! Why do you pull my leg ?'
Then God said, 'Oh Savitha ! You are mistaken. I never make fun of my devotees. Trust me! I am speaking the truth. I really need your help. You should save me from two thieves who were following me. I ran into your garden to avoid them. You hide me somewhere so that they cannot find me.
Oh Bhagavan ! What a test for me ? Where can I hide an Omnipresent God ?
Can we confine the infinite sky in a small pot or a vast ocean in a mere well ? Impossible ! Hiding you somewhere is equally impossible.
‘Savitha is this the time to discuss Vendanta ? Do something quick!’ ordained God.
Savitha thought over it for a while and then struck upon an idea. He picked up his garden knife, cut open his heart and said, 'Oh God! I can't think of a better position than my heart. So please enter my heart. God became as small as a thumb and entered his heart.
There outside the garden, Namadev and Jnanadev waited long enough for God to return, but there was no trace of Him. Unable to wait any more they stepped inside. They saw Savithamali lost in deep meditation. Namadev was glad to see Savitha again and asked if he had seen Lord Vittala. Savithamali wished them and replied in the negative.
Namadev was worried as to what could have happened to his God! Unable to bear his grief, Vittala spoke from inside, 'Oh Namadev' I am here! They realized that God wanted to show them that He resides in the heart of his devotees ! They prostrated before God when He stepped out of Savithamali's heart. Namadev reminded God of their errand.
Savithamali was curious to know where they were going. The lord answered “Oh Savitha we are on our way to save a devotee like you. We happened to see you on our way.” Savithamali wanted to know more about the disciple.”Oh God! May I know the name of the devotee?What a blessed soul is he to have gained your special attention? “ “Jnanadev” narrated the story of Kurmadas and Savithamali also proceeded with them.
Thus Savithamali continued to be a special devotee of God and composed many keertanas in praise of the Lord. He joined paramathma ultimately on an auspicious day !
God comes down to us if we cannot reach Him provided we have Ananya Bhakti in Him. Here is a touching story of a crippled man who was personally taken care of by God man who was personally taken care of by God Himself. God had settled Himself in a place just to please His devotee!
There lived a Brahmin called Kurmadas in a village called Python. He was by birth handicapped. He was born without feet or hands. One day a Haridas came to their village and spoke extensively on the miracles of Panduranga Vittala. Kurmadas was captivated by the leela of God. He wanted to visit the holy place of Pandharpur at once, but how would it be possible? He requested a troupe of devotees on their way to the holy place but they flatly refused. They feet a person like him with no hands and feet would only be a nuisance to them. Some even laughed at him. ‘We are hale and healthy but we are not thinking of going there since we are old, on such a lapse how can you go being a lame person.’ But Kurmadas was firm in his devotion. He did want to go by hook or crook. He proceeded all alone hoping God to take care of him. God took good care of him.
On his way, he came across a Hanuman temple. He was tired and hungry by then. He went in, prayed to the Lord, 'Oh Lord Vittala! I have no one to take care of me except you. ‘Then Panduranga Vittala appeared before him in the guise of a business man and asked, ‘where are you going? Isn't it difficult for you to crawl thus without feet?’ When he heard about his mission, the business man said, ‘Oh! That’s fine. I too am proceeding to Pandharpur. I am a business man there. My name is Vitobha. We make good company.’ Kurmadas laughed at it. How can we make good company? You can walk very fast, while I cannot even walk. Vitobha assured him, 'Don't you worry. I'll take care of you. So saying he provided him food, clothing and shelter for the night. Next morning Vitobha asked Kurmadas to proceed slowly. He said he would wait for him in the next village with food and shelter.’ I serve the poor pilgrims on their way to Pandharpur. That is my duty he added.
Kurmadas with great difficulty reached nearby village by evening. Vitobha was eagerly waiting for him there with delicious food. He served him food and made him sleep comfortably for the night there. This practice continued for nearly four months. His food and accommodation was taken care of all throughout the journey. If there was no village enroute by the evening God created one for him to make his stay comfortable.
He crawled like a lizard on the road continuously for four months? He reached a village called Bahula. By then, his body was totally scratched with blood oozing out everywhere. He couldn't move an inch any more.
He then stayed back at Bahula and sent word to Panduranga Vittala about his pitiable condition through another group of devotees. They were touched by his pathetic story and offered to convey his message. Will God be unmindful of such staunch devotees? When his devotee could not reach him, God reached him. He went personally to Bahula accompanied by three more devotees Jnanadev, Namadev and Savithamali.
Can words describe the joy of Kurmadas on seeing his Lord Vittala with his devotees, come down to personally bless him? Oh God my life purpose is fulfilled. Your Darsan liberates me from the cycle of life and death. I will attain Moksha, He cried like a child.
Vittala was moved by the Ananya Bhakti of his devotee. He embraced his devotee. Lo! Kurmadas turned out to be a healthy man. He was blessed with feet and hands. In addition God wanted to shower him with one more blessing.
‘Oh God! Why do you divert my attention? Why do you want to tempt me with desires? You have imbibed in me that desires lead to sorrow. Desires arise out of Ajnana. Do you want me to fall a prey to them? Oh God, suppose a millionaire dreams of his being a beggar, will he ever really beg when he comes out of his dream! Impossible! What desires do I have except seeking you! Don't I know the stories of Ravana and others who faced a tragic end due to their greedy ways?
I guess you want me to seek a favour for the good of others. But I am sorry my lord. Somehow I cannot think of any such social good. My mind has become a blank. My Indriyas have come to a stand still. If one who is fast asleep is forced to get up, he opens his eyes for a minute, but sinks back into deep sleep the next minute. My condition at present is no different from that. My eyes which are blessed with the sight of your celestial beauty will not be compromised for any lesser beauty. My ears which were blessed with the nectar like sounds emanated from you are deaf to any other sound, however interesting it may be.
A honeybee, if it is dropped into a big vessel of honey, enjoys the honey to its maximum and remains there itself. Presently, I am like that. I am dead for the rest of the world. I have a new birth into your Kingdom. I don't have any more desire! My life’s purpose is completed.
All the same, I can't deny your grant of wish. It is not fair on my part to refuse a boon offered by you in the presence of your devotees. Let me seek a favour from you. There may be many more crippled and handicapped people like me who may not be able to visit Your holy place. So please You stay back here in this Bahula village. As per his wish, Panduranga Vittala turned out to be an idol there and disappeared with his three devotees.
Even today, Bahula is treated on par with Pandharpur. The devotees who go to Pandharpur in Ashad and Kartik months visit Bahula after the special Utsavams there.
Om Tat Sat
(Continued...)
(My
humble salutations to Sreemathi. Madduri Rajyasri
garu and telugu bhakti dot com for
the collection)
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