Panduranga - 20

Thukkaram - 4

      Radhekrishna! The Lord has created the universe with the help of 'pancha bhuthas'! The wise men see the world as the Lord's expression only. They can see the Lord in everything and everywhere! Hearing about these great people can inculcate bhakthi in our mind. 

      Thukkaram was such a great bhaktha. His elder brother was Savaji and younger brother was Kannaiya! They represented the thrimoorthies ! His father Bholoba was running the family business. When he felt he was old enough to retire he entrusted his business to his elder son. But he refused to accept it as his mind was interested only in the Lord. As he was the 'amsa' of Lord Sankara he was firm in his decision. 

         Thukkaram was now entrusted with the business. Bholoba taught him the intricacies of business which he learnt soon. Business was doing well. Bholoba was relaxed and retired from work. Bholoba married his three sons off. Thukkaram's wife was not healthy and suffered from asthma. Thukkaram showed care and affection to her. His parents felt sorry for him and found another suitable girl for her. His second wife was Jijayi alias Avali. His responsibility increased as the family was expanding. He was the only earning member who had to take care of all the members!

               One by one his parents attained the Lord's feet. His elder brother's wife left this world. Savaji had nothing to hold him back now. He left the home in search of ananda. His younger brother also left him. Thukkaram was alone running the house. All of a sudden the business got some setback. There was loss over loss. Whatever he did failed. Jijayi tortured him with harsh words. He silently bore that. People also began to criticise him. Some people said he was useless. Some were of the opinion that he was naive and can be easily taken for a ride. Some said he was not fit to do business at all. Thukkaram surrendered to the Lord and considered everything as His 'leela'.

             His faith led him forward. We have to be always positive. Have the firm faith that whatever God does is for good only. He knows everything. Never try to condense His grace into our limited perception. Thukkaram considered Jijayi's abuses as his 'prarabdham' and so was happy that his prarabdham was being spent that way! The Lord's calculation can never go wrong! He kept chanting Vital Vital more fervently now!

       Once Thukkaram along with some of his friends with the purpose of doing some grain business went out of the village. They had to pass through a dense forest. It was raining heavily. The forest was full of wild beasts. Since he was immersed in chanting often he did not notice that his friends had all gone and he was now alone. When he came to his senses he was not scared  But complained to Vital how he was going to make it. One of his bullocks was dead. The single one fell down and the grain bag fell into a pit from the  cart. He could not pull the bag out single handedly. He cried out 'Oh Vitala! Please come and help me. How can I carry the weight of the grain all alone. I have nobody else but you! Hey 'anaatha naatha deena bandho' hurry to your bhaktha's call !'

        What happened then, we will see in the next issue. Till then keep chanting like Thukkaram. Radhekrishna! Radhekrishna!

Panduranga - 19

       Thukkaram 3

      Radhekrishna! Continuation from last month's story! Amabhai and children continued worshiping the Lord with full faith. Amabhai also started getting the Lord's darsan frequently. She also got ashtamasiddhis - mystic powers. Everything was going fine. Eventually Hari and Mukund thought of joining the King's cavalry. They started earning a comfortable salary. They were given nice accommodation etc. So they gradually pulled their family to their place. Their wives and children went to them but Amabhai was very reluctant to leave Dehu. The boys insisted very much and finally she was forced to go. She thought of spending a few days with them and then coming back. But the sons were very reluctant to let their mother go. 

         The Lord came in Amabhai's dream one day. He said He had come to Dehu just for the devotion of Viswambharar. If that be so what is the meaning of her keeping away from Dehu? He insisted her to come back to their village. The Lord promised to take care of her. She told her sons about her dream but they refused to accept that. The Lord came again in her dream and was very sour with her for not paying heeds to His words. He warned her that a great war was impending in that place and it was only advisable for them to move away immediately. She became scared and told her sons about the impending war. But they refused to believe her and said there was nothing of that sort as far as they know.

          Our life is impermanent. Only devotion and faith supports it wonderfully. Accepting that fact we should be devoted. Bloated with the ego of their achievements in life Hari and Mukund ignored the Lord's advice. But the inevitable happened. All of a sudden their country was attacked by their enemy country and a great war occurred. As it was totally unexpected their army became very weak and was defeated by the opposite party. Both Hari and Mukund were seriously injured. Realizing their fault now they pleaded with the Lord for mercy. They admitted their mistake and cried to Him. He gracefully took them on to His lotus feet!
         The Lord took their lives from the bodies to prevent them from further getting into the depths of samsara ! Bhagavan gives least importance to the body. He is concerned with the atma only. We must understand that whatever the Lord does there must be some purpose in it and accept it ! The enemies entered their house and began to loot it. Amabhai wanted to escape from there with her daughters in law. One them did not want to leave so she committed sathi in her husband's funeral pyre itself. We need not discuss the pros and cons of it. Just accept the fact that the woman did not want to  live without her husband and died. Her other daughter in law was pregnant so she went to her home. Amabhai came back alone to Dehu. Panduranga was waiting for her patiently. The Lord wants to be with His devotees. He consoled Amabhai that her sons were in Vaikunta loka with Him. She was relieved and continued life with her devotion. She was staying alone in her house. But Vittal took a human form and started living with her. She was becoming weaker and weaker with age. Rukmini devi also came with them helping in cooking etc. The Lord did service to her as a son would do. He used to lead her to the temple gently holding her hand. He would even press her feet when she felt pain. People thought some relative had come helping her. When the ripe time came the Lord took the atma from her body smoothly and she attained moksha ! The Lord Himself did the funeral rites for her. He even arranged an elaborate feed for the people of Dehu. 
        The daughter in law who had gone to her home for her delivery decided to visit her mother in law and came with her son. Reaching here she heard about the demise of her mother in law and was grief stricken. She told her son all that happened to their family from the beginning. The child got so wild with anger that he ran to the temple and shouted to the deity. "Why did you do this to our family? You have cheated my grandfather with your false tricks ! You should have protected my father instead of taking their life etc. etc" The Lord instantly appeared before the boy and hugged him with love. Tears welled up in the boy's eyes and he felt himself melting in the hands of the Lord. He lost his heart to Panduranga that instant. The lineage of Viswambharar will not go in vain ! The boy called Vittoba became a great devotee of Lord Panduranga. 
       Vittoba had a son who too was devoted to the Lord. His great grand son was Sankar. His son was Kannaiya whose son was Bolobha. Bolobha had no issues for many years and finally his prayers fetched him three sons representing the thrimoorthies! His second son was Thukkaram who was born as per Viswambharar's wish to have a great devotee. Thukkaram was the rebirth of Uddhava the great devotee of the Lord! Uddhava who came as Namadeva was born again as Thukkaram to complete the abhangs pending to be sung. 
       The child when born was offered to the Lord on the 10th day itself by its mother. On the purification day of 13th Mother Rukmini walked in as a woman and named the child Thukkaram. She chanted the nama Panduranga in to the ears of the child thus giving upadesa for the child. The boon given to Viswambharar by the Lord was fulfilled after so many generations in the family. Radhekrishna! Radhekrishna! 
      

Panduranga - 18

Thukkaram 2.

            Radhekrishna! In the last episode we saw that Viswambharar an ordinary business man of Dehu becoming a great devotee of Panduranga. He became so immersed in devotion that he felt it was impossible for him to be separated from his Lord. His heart melted with the grief of viraha. Bhagavan could not stand the suffering of His bhaktha. He appeared in the dream of His bhaktha and promised to stay with him forever. In the dream Viswambharar saw Vittal running towards a dense wood on the outskirts of Dehu and suddenly disappear. Viswambharar woke up excited and called everyone for searching the Lord. At last they found a heap of tulasi leaves on the ground. He believed that the Lord must be there only and so instructed to unearth that place. Then a voice was heard from the heavens - "  The Lord standing on the brick has come here attracted by the devotion of Viswambharar. Gently remove the sand with hands.Then you can see!"
        Viswambharar chanting "Vittal Vittal" gently started removing the sand with his hands. Suddenly his hand felt something hard. When he removed more sand he could see the crown of the Lord. He was over joyed and began to unearth excitedly. Slowly the forehead, the eyes, the nose the lotus lips came out in the order. On further search he could feel Rukumayi devi also standing near the Lord. The crowd became very excited and all began to chant "Panduranga Panduranga" with full devotion. Finally the deities came out. Immediately somebody brought some water milk, flowers etc. Abhisheka was done to the deities there and flowers offered. The people of Dehu were so happy to see the Lord has come to their place along with his consort. A temple was built in that place and the deities consecrated there. Even today we can see the Lord in the temple in Dehu on the banks of Indrayani river. 
      Viswambharar became more more devoted to the Lord because of him simplicity. His wife Amabhai and children Hari and Mukund were also very much devoted to the Lord. Viswambharar's mother was happy seeing this and prayed to the Lord to take her back. Her purpose was fulfilled. It is the duty of every mother to see that her children are devoted to the Lord. When that was fulfilled she decided to go back. The Lord very much pleased with her prayers merged her in Him. Viswambharar offered all the karmas he did to the Lord. Whatever we do must be to please the Lord only. Then our karmas reach the Lord directly. When the doership is not there then the results also do not affect us in anyway!
        Viswambharar led a life of a karmayogi. The Lord appeared before him and asked what he wanted. Viswambharar smiled, what more did he need. He had the Lord at his beck and call in his village itself. Still when the Lord insisted he said he would like to have a great devotee in his clan who could purify the world with his devotion. He will be remembered for generations to come. Hearing this Panduranga was more pleased with his demand. He did not ask for any wealth or riches. He has asked for a pure devotee! Immediately the Lord gave him the boon that a great devotee would be born in the family who would benefit 21 generations above and below! Viswambharar was over joyed at this. 
         Life was going on well like that. Viswambharar felt he had enough of this life and wanted to reach the Lord. With prayers he attained the lotus feet of the Lord. Radhekrishna! Radhekrishna! 


          

Panduranga - 17

                      Thukkaram 1

                Chanting of bhagavannama is a sure way from the samsara - the sea of worldliness. Every jeeva is immersed in the sufferings of this world and wants to get out of the vicious cycle. An easy way tested and proved by great mahathmas of our country is namajapam. How the sweet names of the Lord should be chanted? Great bhakthas have shown us the way. Not only the sanyasins or the ascetics but the worldly people also can attain the Lord easily. In order to prove this many bhakthas have taken birth in this holy country. Thukkaram is such a great bhaktha who proved the power of chanting of the divine names of the Lord.

       Dehu is a beautiful village situated on the banks of river Indrayani. There was a merchant named Viswambharar. He did his business with honesty and sincerity. His business was doing very well. One day his mother called him aside and told him that he was alright in doing his business, looking after the family, loving his mother, giving alms etc. But she said that was not enough. He must do something for his athma also. Making money and running the family are for the body only. These are transient. The body might perish along with the wealth acquired. He must acquire a wealth which will never perish. It will support him not only in this birth but in all his births to be.  Viswambharar was surprised at her words and with folded hands asked her what it was.

       The great lady then instructed him to go to Pandharpur and take a bath in Chandrabhaga. She advised him to cry and pray to Pundalika for devotion. Then he should go to the temple. He must cry aloud 'Panduranga' and rush towards the Lord. He must take hold of the Lotus feet of Vittal who is standing on bricks. His blessings are the only unperishable wealth in this world, she said.Their ancestors did the same she said. It was because of their holy Pandhari yathra that he was doing fine now. Hearing this Viswambharar prostrated her and immediately started for Pandharpur singing bhajans from his heart.
        Viswambharar reached Pandharpur and went straight towards the river Chandrabhaga. He prayed to her sincerely to teach him devotion. Then he proceeded to the sanctum of Pundalika. He prayed to Pundalika to give him devotion to see Vittal. Then he went to the temple. He raised his hands over his head and cried aloud 'Panduranga'.  He rushed towards the deity and set his eyes for the first time on the Lord. The Lord standing with his hands on his hip, stood smiling at him. Viswambharar was simply captivated by the enchanting look. His eyes showered tears. He felt he had lost all these years without seeing Panduranga. Now he was happy that he had made it. He wished that he should stay back there seeing the beautiful form of the Lord daily. He prayed to the Lord that He should make him visit again for the divine darsan.
       At last he had to make up his mind to go back with a decision to visit Pandharpur frequently. Viswambharar came back home a changed man. He fell at his mother's feet and thanked her for the great gift she has given. He told her that he would like to go on Ekadasi days. The mother was overjoyed at this. She wanted her son to be devoted to the Lord. She said he was on the right path in his life now. Viswambharar was pained by the separation from the Lord. He cried and cried out his heart. He began to wait eagerly for Ekadasi days. He never missed a single Ekadasi day to visit Pandharpur. 
        It was during one Ekadasi he felt very sad to leave Pandharpur. He cried to the Lord and Bhagavan gave darsan to him. He consoled him saying He is present everywhere. Viswambharar pleaded the Lord to give a place at those lotus feet. Bhagavan promised to give him darsan when he wanted and instructed him to go back to his home. Viswambharar returned home reluctantly. His mother was pleased with his viraha bhava. That night bhagavan came in his dream. He called with great love "Viswambharaa! Dont cry! I will be with you always!" saying this the Lord began to run away. Viswambharar followed him running. Bhagavan reached inside a deep wood. Suddenly Bhagavan disappeared and Viswambharar opened his eyes. He kept thinking of the dream again and again. He remembered the wood was very familiar to him and then recognised it. It was on the border of Dehu. 
         Then he knew that the Lord had come in truth. He called everybody and said the Lord had come to Dehu. "Come! Come! Lets all go and receive the Lord" he cried. The people thought that he had gone out of his mind. Still they wanted to see what was happening. So everybody rushed towards the wood. They could't see anything first but there was fragrance of tulasi leaves in the atmosphere. Viswambharar felt the smell and searched frantically. He found some tulasi leaves lying on the ground. He followed the leaves and found a heap of tulasi leaves at a place. He shouted "the Lord is here! the Lord is here!". 
         Could Viswambharar find the Lord inside? Wait and see in the next issue. Radhkrishna! Radhekrishna!

Panduranga - 16

       Radhekrishna!  Bhagavan takes over the responsibilities of those devotees who have offered their lives to Him. The little child who lies in bed near its parents has no worry about anything. It will ask his mother for water and call the father to take him to the toilet. The parents attend to its call without any hesitation. The child puts forward its demand without fear. Because it has full faith in its parents. The parents also oblige since they know it is fully dependent on them.  The same parents when the child has grown up and demands for water, the mother will ask him to go and take for himself.  If we surrender to the Lord like the child He will take care of our lives.

           Once some devotees of Lord Vital gathered together and were singing bhajans. It was late night. It was suggested that some sweet drink be made with jaggery (panakam) and offered to the bhakthas. One of them ran to a shop to buy the needed things. The shop keeper had put off the light and was on the process of closing the shop. The bhaktha requested him to give him the things. The shop keeper agreed and hurriedly gave the things the man demanded and closed the shop. The drink was prepared with jaggery, dried ginger etc. and distributed to the devotees. Whole night the bhajan was going on without any hindrance. They all sang with full devotion.

            It is only due to the Lord's grace that we are able to sing. But we  think that it is our inert talent in our. It is only the Lord who is making us sing and talk. Even a dumb one is able to make sounds, but cannot talk. Unless God gives us the power we cannot do anything. The bhakthas sang without any trace of ego and didn't even know the time was running. Well it dawned ! The shop keeper as usual went to open his shop uttering the Lord's name. He tried to arrange the things and suddenly his eyes fell on a box kept over the table. It contained rat poison. Wondering how he had left it there he suddenly remembered last night's incident. He was shocked to find that he has parcelled the poison instead of jaggery by mistake. Since it was dark inside and he had kept the two sacks side by side this mistake had happened. 

       He cried out 'Panduranga' loudly fearing he has done a grave mistake. His body was shivering. He has given poison to all the bhakthas who were singing the Lord's name ! What a great sin he has done! All of them would be dead by now. He has fallen into the hell for many births to come ! He collected himself and ran towards the house crying out Panduranga Panduranga! When he neared he could hear the bhajan still going on. He felt relieved. Oh by god's grace they have not used the thing he thought. Anyway he hurried inside the caught the man who had come last night. He asked him where he has the kept the things he bought last night. He innocently replied that they were used last night itself. They had made the drink, offered it to the Lord and have taken it.

       The shop keeper was stunt. He couldn't utter a word. How come they are all still alive even without a mark of illness! He stared at the deity of the Lord. Suddenly he noticed that the deity had turned blue in colour below the neck. He broke down and cried aloud. The devotees seeing his strange behaviour asked him what has gone wrong. Then he narrated everything and said the Lord had saved them all from the poison. The Lord had accepted even the poison he had offered ! All of them were speechless. They all did bhajans for their sake only. They sang bhajans to forget their problems, to purify themselves and to attain moksha. But the Lord has protected them in spite of that. So now thankfully they started singing bhajans again. 

       Put all your worries at His feet and sing His songs. His karunyam is seamless. You chant the nama while doing all your works. It is not necessary that you sit in a group and sing bhajans. It is not at all necessary that you should be able to sing. If you chant the Lord's name sitting alone in your home the Lord will listen to it with pleasure. You offer your mind and heart to Him. He needs only that. Radhekrishna! Radhekrishna!

Panduranga - 15

Naraharisonar

      Radhekrishna! A staunch devotee of Lord Siva and a severe rival of Lord Panduranga Naraharisonar was faced with a strange problem in his life. First he was forced to make an exquisite jewellary for the one whom he despised most! Then he was forced to enter the temple also and touch the deity with his own hand. Now he was staring face to face with the one whom he never wanted to see in his life! What more punishment he needed in this life! Naraharisonar stood bewildered. Whenever he closed his eyes and felt with his hands he could clearly feel the form of his favourite Lord Siva. But when he opened his eyes he saw Lord Vittal. He was confused and defeated. He couldn't understand what was happening. His ego would never allow him to accept the power of Vittal.

              He was sure he felt the kapaala haaram, the smooth and cool snakes that ornamented his Lord, the trident in his hand, the matted hair with Ganga matha in it, the axe in one hand, everything when he

searched with his hands keeping the eyes closed. But as soon as he opened them he could see the beautiful form of Lord Vittal only. He was puzzled. Each time he looked at the form he was being attracted to that beauty. Slowly he was tempted to look at the form again and again. He fought in his mind but failed miserably. The Lord was looking  at him as if to say 'where else will you go my dear. You will have to come to me ultimately'. Slowly it dawned in him that all the gods are present in Him only. Slowly he was being defeated by this enchanting form of Vittal. He understood that all the other Gods are chanting His name only. He now saw the form of Lord Siva inside Vittal and the form of Vittal inside the form of Lord Siva. How could he separate the forms, he realised. 

       Suddenly he broke down and cried at the feet of the Lord. All his inhibitions were washed out completely. 'Oh Lord how I have wasted my whole life so far!' People around were stunned to see the change in him. The place was filled with the cries of 'Jai bolo Pandurang ki' and Jai jai Vittal'. Naraharisonar welcomed the cries to his heartful. Now he realised the grace of the Lord. What a leela he has played to bring him towards the Lord. He washed the feet of the Lord with his tears. The bhaktha who was watching all this too was moved with emotions. He cried 'hey Panduranga! Karunasagara! Please accept my humble offering also Vittala!'. Hearing his heart rending cries the Pujari full of pity for him casually tried to put the jewel on the deity. Wonder of wonders the jewel was just right for the Lord. It shone like the bright sun on his hip. The Lord had accepted the bhaktha's offering whole heartedly!

         If somebody like Narahari who had been hating the Lord was pulled towards Him then what to say if we hold on to the lotus feet and do continuous namajapam! Will not the Lord take us on His lap? Do hold onto him bhakthas and do namajapam continuously. You will realise the power of the Lord. Radhekrishna! Radhekrishna!

Panduranga - 14

Naraharisonar 2

      Radhekrishna! In the last issue we saw that the ornament made by Naraharisonar for Panduranga did not fit to the Lord. The bhaktha's disappointment was great. He was worried that Panduranga did not accept his offering. His anger turned towards Naraharisonar. He came running to Naraharisonar's shop with the golden belt. He shouted at him 'Do you know your work?'. Naraharisonar became red faced and asked him why he was blaming him. The bhaktha then told him that the jewel did not fit the Lord since it was a bit smaller. Narahari took the jewel from his hand and checked with the measure string. He was surprised to see that the bhaktha was right. It was a bit smaller than the mark in the string. He couldn't understand how it happened. He was sure he did the work with utmost care and concentration. It is now proved that the mistake was on his part. He was puzzled. Anyway he admitted his mistake and promised to remake it to fit the size.  

        So Narahari cursing himself started and work again. He finished it and handed the jewel to the bhaktha's hand. He said it was the last time that he would venture into such project and said not to disturb him anymore with this. The bhaktha took the jewel and with his heart full of prayers entered the temple. He hoped that this time it should be the right fit and the Lord should accept the offering. He apologised to the Lord if he had ego in his mind. The Pujari took the jewel from him and tried it on Panduranga. This time it slid down the hip easily as it was a bit loose. The Pujari tried again and again to fix it somehow. But it would fall down again and again. The bhaktha was again defeated. 
         With tears in his eyes he went to Narahari's shop. Seeing him Narahari guessed that something was wrong again. When he was told that the jewel did not fit again he got very angry. He said that he would not do anything now. Those people were testing his patience he said. But the bhaktha also was not prepared to leave the matter. He said Narahari had promised to make the jewel perfectly as he wished. Now he has not fulfilled his words. It was not his falt. He had supplied the necessary gold, precious stones etc as Narahari demanded. Inspite of that he has disappointed him. By now people hearing about the strange story gathered around the shop. Now they all supported the bhaktha. What was the use of a jewel which did not fit to the lord?  Hot words crossed and finally it was decided that Narahari himself should take the measure and finish the jewel.  He tried to oppose it saying throughout out his life time he has never entered that temple and how could they expect him to come there. But he was alone on his side.
         Narahari felt he was trapped well. He could not get out of this situation. He had to do away with the work once for all. Now he has no other way but to measure the hip of Vittal himself. Hating himself for agreeing to such a nasty work he mutely agreed to come to the temple of his worst enemy. But he put forward one condition. He would tie his eyes and then only enter the temple. He would take the measurement with his hands. Everybody agreed to him. His eyes were tied and was led into the temple. Lord Siva danced with joy that one of his bhakthas was pulled by Sri Vittal. Narahari went inside chanting Namasivaya, Namasivaya loudly. The Lord smiled ' aha at last you have come here. Now let me see how you escape from here'!
           Narahari asked somebody to take his hands to the hip. The Pujari place his hands on the hip. He searched around with his hands. He felt his hands were touching tiger skin. He could even feel a snake. He was surprised. 'What is this! Is it not my Lord Siva? Are these foolish people calling my Lord only as Vittal?' he thought.  Excited he slowly led his hands downwards. He could feel ash on the body and also snake anklets on the feet. He was sure it was his Lord Siva himself. Encouraged he felt his way upwards towards the hands. He could feel the trident of the Lord very clearly. He couldnt control himself anymore. He just tore open the cloth covering his eyes and lo, before him was standing his enemy smiling mischievously. 
         Narahari was baffled to see Vittal. How could he have been mistaken? He hurriedly closed his eyes again. He felt very much embarassed. How he was fooled so easily ! He felt sorry for himself. Chii ! What a fool he has been! He would finish the measuring and leave the place immediately he  thought. He hurriedly took his hands to the deity. By mistake his hand touched the shoulders. He could clearly feel the smooth and cool serpant now. He felt upwards and felt the matted hair with Ganga on it. Hurriedly he half opened his eyes only to see the naughty smile of Vittala. 'Hey here you are caught' was the expression in His face.  Narahari couldn't accept his defeat. Again with closed eyes he searched now purposefully. He wanted to know what has tricked him to believe it was Lord Siva.  Now we will leave him like that for sometime. Let the Lord play with him as He wishes. See you all at the next issue. Till then Radhekrishna! Radhekrishna!