‘Some are born great. Some are made great. Some attain greatness. Some strive hard but do not become great.’ This applies to the lives of Bhakta also. Mangal attained greatness in this fashion.

Once upon a time there lived a pious Brahmin called Ramadasu in a village near Krishnaveni river. He had a son called Bilva Mangal. The father brought him up in the true orthodox way. He was trained in the Shastras. His upbringing and the religious training moulded him into a kind natured, soft-spoken, god-fearing man. But his good qualities were short lived.

His parents died at an early age. He was left with lots of property. There was no one to control him. Wealth brought him fame. Wealth and fame brought him too many friends all too bad. He fell into bad ways. One day he happened to see the dance programme of a prostitute named Chintamani. He was lured by her charm. The physical lust for her drove his reason away. He became a slave to her. He gave up his body, heart, money, family prestige, his dharma and the norms of his caste. All through his wakeful hours he thought of her and in his sleep he dreamt of her. Chintamani was his constant ‘chinta’ (thought) as if she was a mani (gem). He could not live one day without seeing her.
He was forced to stay back one day, since it was his father’s death anniversary. He had to fulfil his duty as a son and he was going through the rituals with body present mind absent. He was not at all interested in the rituals, but he could not say no to them. At last it was all over thankfully by the end of the day. Some wiseacres advised him not to go to the prostitute’s house on the day of his father’s death anniversary since he had performed the rites! But ‘kamaturanam nabhayam nalajja’ A lustful man knows no fear or shame ! He gave a deaf ear to them.

Bilva Mangal rushed to the riverbank to reach his heartthrob on the other side of the river. God’s leela is indescribable. There was a sudden change in the weather. There was a storm accompanied by heavy down pour of rain with lightening and thunder. The fishermen and boats men ran ashore seeing the ghastly weather. It was pitch dark everywhere. No boats man agreed to take Bilva Mangal across the river though he offered a huge amount! Who would risk his life for mere currency! But Bilva Mangal was knee bent on reaching Chintamani. He had lost his reasoning power long back. He dived into water without a second thought! A dead body was floating across the river. In the darkness around, he mistook it as a wooden plank and held it for his support. His clothes were torn but he was not aware of it.

Finally he reached Chintamani’s house. He told her the previous day that he would not be able to go to her house that day due to his father’s ceremony. So Chintamani closed all the doors and dozed off to sleep happily. Due to the heavy down pour, his voice or the banging of the door did not reach her ears. In the lightening flash he saw a rope along the wall. He climbed the wall through the rope and entered Chintamani’s house and woke her up.

Chintamani was shocked to see him. He was half naked, he was thoroughly drenched and he was emitting a foul smell. She wondered how he reached her in such a ghastly weather. He told her that he held a wooden plank and climbed up through a rope. Just then the rain stopped. She came out to see the scene outside with the lamp. The rope he mentioned was a poisonous snake and the plank was a decaying dead body. Bilva Mangal was shocked and the lady was irritated at his indecent behaviour - ‘Are you not ashamed of yourself? Are you a true Brahmin? Are you not supposed to do the religious rites to your father? Can’t you control your senses for one day? Are you so mad after a body, which has nothing but flesh and blood? Should you ignore your dharma for this temporary pleasure and reach me in the dreadful night holding a dead body and a snake? Can’t you understand the simple logic that this external beauty of mine is but a passing phase and that sooner or later I will be floating in water like that decaying dead body? Had you shown half the interest you show on my body on lord Krishna he would have blessed you and you too would have enjoyed spiritual bliss as opposed to the physical happiness you derive from me.’

These words were more powerful than a slap on his face! They struck him like a thunder! He analyzed himself. One never knows what thoughts or words or deeds bring about a drastic change in anybody. These words of admonition cleansed the perverted heart of Bilva Mangal and brought him back to his original good self. Tears rolled down his cheeks.

He fell prostrate before Chintamani and said, ‘You are my guru. you have opened my eyes. I am very grateful to you.’ Chanting the name of Lord Krishna he left her house.

Bilva Mangal was making a frantic search for Lord Krishna. He was wandering all over the country ‘Old habits die hard’. One day he came across a very beautiful lady. He followed her up to her house. Poor lady, unaware of his admiration for her beauty walked in. Unable to forget her, he sat outside the front gate. Her husband happened to come out after a while. He was surprised to see a stranger at his doorstep and enquired his whereabouts. Bilva Mangal frankly told him the truth and added ‘I am enchanted by her beauty. If you don’t mind, I would like to stare at her to my heart’s content. Please call her out.’ The man was a Sethji and the woman was his wife. But unlike any other man he was touched by the stranger’s frankness. He found no wrong in showing his wife for quite sometime. So he went into explain it to his wife.

He found no wrong but God found it wrong. So He made Bilva Mangal realize his mistake. Bilva Mangal cursed himself for such crazy behaviour. When the lady came out to make a feast to his eyes, his mind had separated from his eyes. Instead of enjoying with the eyes, his mind cursed his lustful eyes, which brought shame upon him. So he hurriedly fetched two thorns from a nearby tree and poked his eyes with them. He felt that was the right punishment for his misguiding eyes. Blood rolled down his cheeks but he was dancing away happily, chanting the name of Lord Krishna, which echoed to the sky. The Seth and his wife were shocked to see the situation but were helpless. But this situation cleansed him of the remnants of his immoral behaviour.

Now the sole intention was to seek Good and have his Darshan. As Chintamani advised, unknowingly, he was singing songs of God melodiously all the time. He was unmindful of physical comforts like food, comfortable bed and rest. With tears rolling down his cheeks, he was chanting the name of God moving from one village to another. Being blind he could not move easily but he never minded. But how will God say ‘never mind’ to the suffering of his devotees? He came down to him personally as a shepherd boy. With a sweet voice he said ‘Dear Bilva Mangalji, you seem to be very hungry. Please have this sweet and water. Bilva Mangal was lured to the voice of the boy. He asked the boy his details.

Then the boy replied - I stay quite close by, I don’t have any specific name. People call me with different names and I answer them all. I look after the sheep. I am kind to those who are kind to me. Don’t worry. I will come to you every day and feed you with good food. ‘So saying he left Bilva Mangal, but took his heart with him.

Bilva Mangal was totally enchanted by the small boy. Little did he know that the boy was the Lord himself come down to bless him. So when he was falling a prey to the attractions of the boy, as days passed by, he began to curse himself. ‘I thought I had passed the stage of being lured by women. I thought I am interested only in God but I am mistaken. Still I am pulled down towards a human being, towards this boy. How is this attraction different from other attractions? ‘The boy read his mind and asked him with his sweet voice.’ What are you thinking about? Shall we go to Brindavan?’ He was thrilled at the offer but came back to his senses. He expressed his inability. But the boy did not leave him. He said ‘Come on, hold your stick, I’ll lead you. God leads us all to the righteous path no doubt but here! God was literally leading the path of a blind devotee, blinded by his love for him, to eternal bliss. As they reached Brindavan, the boy wanted to go away, but Bilva Mangal held his hand tightly. The very next minute he felt his body was electrified. He could feel the current waves passing from the boy’s hand through his body. He had divine knowledge. He could guess at once that it was God Himself that took personal care of him. With tears of joy he held tightly the boy’s hand and said ‘Now I know who you are. It was very late but atleast now I know you. I will not leave you any more. I will never leave you.

God touched his eyes with the other hand and at once he got back his eyesight. He had a feast to his eyes. He saw to his heart’s content the magnificent, glorious God. He couldn’t believe himself. He fell down to the feet of God and continued to wash his feet with his continuous flow of tears of joy.

As long as he lived, he spent his life in spreading the powers of God through his songs and when his time had come to leave this physical body he joined Paramathma.

Thus like ‘Bilva Patra’ (a leaf used in the prayer of the lord) Bilva Mangal proved himself worthy and remained as one of the special devotees of God, being blessed by God.

God is moved by the total faith of his devotees and the devotees are elevated by the blessings showered upon them by God’s immense love.
One need not be a man of letters to be devoted to God. A pure humble devotion takes him closer to God than a sea of learning.
Once upon a time there lived a gardener called Manidas in Poori. He made his livelihood by selling flowers. He was not an educated man nor was he rich as per the norms of the modern society. But he is more than any educated man by virtue of his nature. He was compassionate , truthful, god-fearing and honest man. He was free from the petty jealousies and hatredness since he believed in ‘God Manifests Himself in every small object and every human being.’ He was not a landlord but Lord of himself. He might not be appreciated by people around but he won a special place in the heart of Puri Jagannadh. Since he prayed to God not for material gains but for spiritual bliss, he led a happy life.

In due course, Manidas lost his wife and children one after the other, but he was not grieved by their loss like any other human being. He took them as God’s blessings. He felt ‘If I have family, I will be tied down to them and my attention to God will be deviated. But God freed me of my family ties and responsibilities. Now I will devote my full time in praise of God and in service to God.
Such people are rare ! When we flourish in life we give the credit to ourselves. When we suffer we blame God. When we face any suffering we ask ‘Why me ?’ When we enjoy we don’t ask ‘Why me ?’ Manidas did not seek material gains or name and fame, so he turned to God totally.

Now Manidas donned the dress of a Sadhu and devoted his full time on prayer of God. Everyday he woke up early and went to the temple. He sang songs in a melodious voice till the temple door was opened. Sometimes he danced ecstatically. When the door was opened he went inside, stood behind a pillar close to God and stared at God to his heart’s content. He prayed thus to God everyday with tears rolling down his cheeks. ‘Oh Lord ! blessed are they that enjoy your love. How I wish that I breathe my last breath here in your divine presence. You are a touch stone to orphans like me. You are my God Father. You are my Protector. You are my Saviour.
He would continue his singing once again. Some times he would dance vehemently, In his ecstatic mood he would go close to God and his ‘chandanam’ vessel and would come back. He experienced different types of satvik feelings - He laughed, cried, sang loudly, became dead silent, sang songs or praised the Lord. He described the lord’s beauty thus ‘Oh Lord! Oh Jagannadh ! your beauty is indescribable. Your mighty chest resembles the fragrant lotus flowers. Your neck is decked with many garlands and you are decked with various diamond studded ornaments. The crown on your head has a radiant glory. The pleasant, cool face fills the hearts of the devotees with happiness, Your lotus eyes liberate the suffering souls from their misery, Your hands bless the world and the sankhu, chakra, gadha in Your hands are a feast to the eyes. One who seeks your feet will have a great relief Oh Lord ! You are Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient God. I surrender myself to You. I know nobody except You. Don’t You ever separate me from You.
There arose an occasion which separated him from God. He had been dancing in and around the temple as long as he liked and ate whatever was offered to him. He dedicated his body, heart and soul to the Lord himself. This practice continued till something happened oneday, Religious discourses were arranged in one part of the temple and many pilgrims listened to them intently. Once one pandit was delivering lectures. His lecture was captivating, but he was not captivated by God. There was no depth in his prayer but people continued to be inspired by his speeches. One day Manidas came there in his usual vein, singing loudly and dancing away happily unmindful of the surroundings or the nuisance he was causing. He danced very close to the pandit and disturbed his concentration. He was so deeply engrossed in his love for God that he was unaware of the situation. The pandit was angry at him but nobody bothered, since they were used to his pranks. But when the pandit got angry for the second time all the audience joined hands with him and started beating him black and blue. Manidas was forced to come back to his senses and he was very much offended. He was offended not for the behaviour of the people but for the silence of God. If they could beat him very much in the presence of God, it conveyed the fact that God too supported them ! He left the place at once and sat in a ‘matam’ Poor Manidas or the poor pandit did not know then that God did not support their foolish action ! God wants not an intelligent mind but a pure divine soul surrendered to him totally !
The sun set in the evening. The evening prayers were conducted. The temple doors were closed with the original pomp and show but there was no sign of Manidas. He did not touch his food too !

That night the king of Puri had a wonderful dream. The Lord Jagannadh Swami appeared before him and said, ‘Oh Lord! you are unmindful of the injustice meted out to my priya bhakta. The day doesn’t end happily for me if I can’t hear mesmorizing song of Manidas but today he was kicked out by your ‘Praja’ ! He is brooding over in the imatam’ outside my temple without touching food. You hasten at once to him and make arrangements for his song and dance ! Mind you, they should go on eternally unperturbed by such speeches henceforth ! Hereafter you arrange such things in Lakshmi Mandir but not in the main sanctum sanitorium ! That is to be left out exclusively for my dear devotees!’

How devoted is the Almighty to his devotees. He made arrangements thus and went to the suffferer. He appeared before him as a glow of light, touched his head caressingly with his hand and said lovingly’. Dear Manidas ! why are you starving ? You know something ? Even I did not have food today ! How do you except me to eat when you are starving ?’ When Manidas came back to his senses, he saw before him the plate containing Mahaprasad ! He forgot his anger against God and accepted it.

In the meanwhile, the king woke up from his sleep and wondered whether it was his hallucination or whether it was really God’s command. He couldn’t leave it lightly and when he probed into the matter he found that it had really happened. The king brought Manidas with royal courtesy to the temple and said ‘You are a realized soul! You need not be born in a high caste to win the heart of God. You dance happily before God and I too will derive the pleasure out of it.

Manidas needn’t be requestsed a second time. He was so thrilled at this gesture that he danced his best dance and sang the best song. He continued thus as long as he lived and inspired the lives of thousands around. Ultimately his Jeevathma joined paramathma.
Ever since then speeches were arranged in Lakshmi Mandir and the main temple was open to true devotees for their bhajans !
God takes care of them who surrender themselves to God and who shower their ‘navarasas’ on God himself as if he is their friend or son !