Dwarakanatha - 9

Dwarakanatha - 9

    Once there was a devotee of Dwarakanatha, Banvari Rajaputhra! He was living away from Dwaraka. But had staunch faith in Ranchodji. It was a Deepavali day and Banvari Rajaputhra chanted Krishna Krishna along with many devotees. They all jointly were singing bhajans. Suddenly Banvari Rajaputhra stopped singing and with his hands made signs of brushing his dress. The king was also at the bhajan and asked Banvari why he behaved strange.  He replied that it was aarathi time at Dwaraka and a piece of camphor from the pujari’s hand fell on Lord Dwarakanath’s dress. So he hurriedly brushed the dress with his hands to put out the fire. The king could not believe this. How come when the accident occurred at Dwaraka this man brushed his dress to put out the fire? Bhakthas don’t buy dress for themselves and wear. What ever they wear they wear it as Krishna prasadam only. So as far as Banvari was concerned he was wearing Bhagavan’s dress only. We say that some dress was gifted to us by somebody.  We can mentally offer our dress to Bhagavan and then wear it. Uddhava knows the pleasure of wearing the dress worn by Krishna! Is there anything to equal the greatness of this?  Banvari Rajaputhra realised its greatness and enjoyed. The king wanted to know the truth of this incident. He sent a messenger from his country to the present king of Dwaraka to convey his Deepavali wishes and asked if there was anything special in Dwaraka on Deepavali day.  The reply came that everything went on fine there and on Deepavali day it so happened that during the Arathi time a piece of burning camphor from the arathi fell on Bhagavan’s dress. The dress caught fire and as all of us rushed to put out the fire it subdued by itself miraculously.  The king was stunned to hear this. He fell at the feet of the bhaktha Banvari Rajaputhra and asked him how he got to know about the accident.  Banvari replied that only his body was there during the bhajan and his mind was in Dwaraka only and so he could see what happened there! Such a great devotee!

Such a merciful Bhagavan! Dwaraka is always crowded with pilgrims from all over. Let the Lord of Dwarakanath who swallowed Meera Matha swallow us too. For that we must do bhakthi as the great devotee. Radhekrishna! Radhekrishna! Radhekrishna!

Dwarakanatha - 8

      Dwarakanatha - 8

      The great devotee Narasimha metha had deep devotion for Dwarakanath.  He ran away from his home once and reached a Shiva temple. He took hold of the Lingam and cried to Lord Siva to give him manthra upadesam!  Lord Siva appeared before him and gave Krishnamanthra for him and also showed him Bhagavan’s divine Rasakreeda!   Narasimha metha was also inflicted with the prema roga as Lord Siva. He forgot everything including his family. Now it was Bhagavan’s duty to take care of his family including the marriage of his daughter. From somewhere a rich man came in search of Narasimha metha’s daughter’s hands for his son. The marriage went off well. But it was only after the marriage that the mother in law realised she was cheated as Narasimha metha did not have much money to give his daughter. She began to torture the poor daughter in law. She asked her son to leave the daughter in law at her house and she should come back only with the necessary money and things. Narasimha metha left everything at the feet of Ranchodji.  At a particular stage the people around also began to talk about Narasimha metha’s daughter. So one day he took her to her in laws house.  The mother in law showered insults on him and told him not to come here without the money. Narasimhametha with full faith in Dwarakanatha made a promise to her that he would come back in a short time with the necessary money and left. He surrendered completely to the Lord. At that time some pilgrims from far off came to meet Narasimha metha.  They were going to have darsan of Dwarkanath. They were carrying money for their expenses there. But as it was not very safe to carry money on the way they wanted to keep it in the safe custody of Narasimha metha. But at the same time Narasimha metha should do some arrangement for them in Dwaraka for their expenses there. They hoped that Narasimha metha had some contact there in Dwaraka.  Narasimha metha took advantage of the situation and lied to them that he had a shop there in Dwaraka which was run by a man called Shyamala.  He wrote a letter for Shyamala  signed it as Krishnadasa and handed over it to the pilgrims. They left their money in Narasimhametha’s custody in the faith that his contact there, Shyamala would take care of their needs there. Narasimha metha handed over the money to his daughter’s mother in law who was now pleased very much. Now Narasimha metha began to feel guilty of what he had done. He began to cry out Krishna Krishna thinking the difficulties those pilgrim would be facing there in an unknown place like Dwaraka. The pilgrims also searched everywhere in and around Dwaraka for a person called Shyamala who was Narasimha metha’s aid. They could not find such a person and by evening they became tired and sat on the beach worryig what to do next. Just then a dark coloured pleasant looking young man came there calling out Narasimhametha’s name. They were relieved to see the young man. He gave them the money due to them and also a note signed as Shyamala for the money he had paid them and after sending his love to Narasimha metha he went away.  With that money the pilgrims stayed comfortably there and returned after a few days. Meanwhile Narasimha metha could not forgive himself for the mean way he had cheated the devotees.  At last the pilgrims reached Narasimha methas house.  He fell at their feet and begged for their pardon. They didn’t understand why he was behaving like this. Then he told them that he had no shop or contact there as he had lied to them. He apologised for being to mean with them. But they had an entirely different story to tell Narasimha metha. Narasimha metha could not  believe their words. They described Shyamala as a dark skinned, pleasant looking young chap. Narasimha metha understood who it was and broke down at the mercy of Bhagavan. The pilgrims were thoroughly surprised at this and fell at Narasimha metha’s feet as  it was because of him that Bhagavan came to them as Shyamala! Narasimha metha cried out that it was the pilgrims’ bhakthi that gave them the divine darsan and not  his. He himself had not had Bhagavan’s darsan till now. Sadguru is like this. He would do all the work for the disciple to enjoy Bhagavan. He would not want to enjoy for himself alone! Narasimha metha cried out to Dwarakanatha to give darsan for him too. Bhagavan appeared as Shyamala. He cried “Prabho you obliged even a liar like me?” asked Narasimha metha. Bhagavan responds to pure bhakthi only.

        Once a devotee from Brindavan decided to go to Dwaraka with some pilgrims. At night Radhika Rani appeared in his dream and told him not to go. She said “ Don’t go to Dwaraka! It is Krishna’s official place! You will find Krishna holding the conch, disk, gada etc. You can only see Him there! Only in Brindavan you can enjoy Krishna’s leelas! So don’t go!” But the devotee did not pay heed to her words and started for Dwaraka. He had darsan of Krishna with conch disk etc, and chanted Narayana Narayana! After some time he reached back Brindavan. As he was tired he lied down to sleep and Radhika Rani came in his dream. She ordered him to get out of Brindavan as he did not pay heed to her words before. The bhaktha with folded hands prayed to her “Hey Radhe I am leaving Brindavan. I came back just to see your reaction only. With your blessing only I saw Dwarakanatha. I know now onwards I will always be in your mind as you keep remembering those who leave Brindavanam. You cant stand anybody leaving Brindavanam!” With this peayer he returned to Dwaraka.

Srinathji - 12

Dwarakanatha - 7

Dwarakanatha - 7 

         Once a sage did penance in Dwaraka in order to enjoy Bhagavan as a child. He wanted to pet Him, play with Him, and enjoy Him as his own child. Controlling all his senses and mind with full concentration chanted Krishna nama continuously.

Kulasekhara Alwar gives the greatness of the nama very clearly in the following sloka in Mukunda mala –

   “Shathru chedaika manthram sakala upanishad vakya sampujya manthram

    Samsaarothara manthram samupachitha thama sangha niryana manthram

    Sarvaisvaryaika manthram vyasanabhujaga sandashta santhaana manthram

    Jihve sree Krishna manthram japa japa sathatham janma saaphalya manthram!”

 

           No puranas or ithihasas have given such definition for the greatness of bhagavannaama as Sri Kulasekhara Alwar. This manthra is capable of defeating all our enemies such as kama, krodha, madha and mathsarya!  Just the chanting of the nama is enough to shatter  our enemies.  All Upanishads praise Krishna manthra as the ultimate manthra. With the help of this manthra it is very easy to cross the ocean of samsara because it removes the darkness of agyaana from us. It gives us all sorts of riches because it is capable of making us cross all our difficulties easily. So hey tongue ! Chant the manthra again and again so that your birth attains its purpose !

            The yogi sitting in Dwaraka, doing puja for his Salagrama murthy, chanted the nama with great sincerity. Bhagavan became tied by the sincere namajapam of the sage and appeared before him as a 2 year old child. Seeing the charming plump child, dark skinned, with lotus like feet, hands, eyes and coral lips, the sage was very much impressed and attracted towards it.   With his anklets tinkling, the peacock feather on his hair swaying,  he came rushing towards the sage. The sage could not take his eyes away from the child. He asked the child who he was. The child stared at him for some time.  Then brushing the amritha trickiling out of the corner of His mouth, He smiled and told the sage that He had no parents or anyone.  Seeing His actions the sage was losing his heart to the child. The child said He liked the sage very much and would like to stay with him. The sage felt immensely happy at this and readily welcomed the child to stay with him. The child now put on a condition that the sage should never get angry with Him. The sage couldn’t help smile at the innocent condition of the child and promised Him that he would not get angry with Him at any cost. All his senses were attracted towards the child and he completely lost his heart to Him.

“Thath kaisoram thath cha vakthraaravindam,

That kaarunyam they cha leela kataksha!

That saundaryam saa cha mandasmitha shree

Sathyam sathyam durlabham daivatheshu”

 says, Leelasukar in Krishna Karnamritham.  Absolute truth only! Bhagavan’s beauty, the enchanting smile, are indeed irresistable!  No wonder the sage fell for Him! Now the child re assured that the sage would keep his promise of not getting angry with Him whatever he did.  The way the child asked pointing  his finger at the sage in a threatening manner was so enticing that the stage immediately assured Him that he would never get angry with Him. He couldn’t control himself any more and hugged the child with both his hands. The child sat on the sage’s lap ready to be fondled. The sage’s happiness knew no bounds. It was in explicable. Anyone with sincere bhakthi and namajapam can experience all these. Only the mind is needed for it.  Didn’t Periyaazhwar and Swami Ramanuja experience it in this same Kaliyuga? Everyone should take efforts for the experience. That is the purpose of human life! The sage gave Him a tight kiss on the cheeks. The cheeks reddened with the force. The child complained that it hurt Him and told the sage not to do like this again.  The sage was in heavens living with the divine child. At night the child would lie on his lap and insist him to tell some stories.  The sage would tell about a blue little boy, with lotus like feet, lotus like arms, coral red lips, lotus like eyes, wearing a pitambaram, with tinkling anklets on his feet, and a fluttering peacock on his hair. Inquisitive the child would ask who was that boy. The sage would immeidately reply with a laugh it was none other than the child. The child seemed to be pleased with that. The sage did not realise that it was the same Bhagavan, to attain whom he was doing penance for long years.  Morning the child would wake up and would again gladden the sage’s heart with fresh pranks of His. The sage would sit for meditating the Lord while the Lord Himself was playing in front of him. The child would hug him from his back and the sage would feel that a softest thing in the world has brushed him. If he turned to see who it was the child would try to hide Himself behind a tree and or shake Head negatively as if to say “not me! not me!”  Sometimes when the stage was meditating it would jump on to his lap, pull his tied hair down and pretend He was riding a horse! These actions were very much pleasing for the sage. Sometimes the sage would do nivedyam or offering food to the Lord. He would close his eyes and mentally offer the food to the Lord with all sincerity. He would be startled to hear the sound of the bell near his ear, done by the naughty boy, requesting him to hurry up the process as He was really hungry ! Sometimes as the sage closed his eyes before offering the nivedyam the boy would silently slip in and finish off with the food by Himself ! ! Sometimes when the sage was immersed deep in meditation the boy would pinch his thigh and wake him up. As he opened his eyes He would say ‘an ant bit him’ ! Oh the great devotee Radhika knows the pleasure of being pinched by Krishna. At times when the sage sits with closed eyes for meditation the child would cover both his eyes with His lotus like soft hands and ask him who was covering his eyes !  Sometimes while the sage was drenched inside in Bhagavath dhyaana, the child would drench him outside too with the water in his kamandaloo !  The sage enjoyed all these pranks very much. He never got tired of His pranks. So ultimately Bhagavan was slowly being defeated by the devotee. Bhagavan decided to irritate him some how. So one day while the sage was doing puja for his Salagrama murthy, the child took the murthy in His hands and put it inside His mouth. 

            Due to divine sankalpa the sage got furious with the child for playing with the Salagrama murthy which was his object of worship for the past few years.  In a fit of anger he pushed the child away with his left hand. Immediately He became insulted and His eyes became redder and began to run away from him. Now the sage was in a fix. He could not stand the child going away and tried to run behind to call him back.  The child did not pay heed to his calls and kept running.  Thoroughly defeated the sage  surrendered to Bhagavan and resorted to namajapam. Now he hated Dwaraka and began wandering from that place chanting and asking everybody on the way about the child. He was crying aloud and was holding on to his life with the sweet memories of the child’s pranks. He wandered a long way and at last he reached a place where he saw the child sitting inside the cavity of an old iluppa tree. Delighted he ran towards the tree when the tree fell down with a loud noise and he saw Bhagavan lying as Padmanabha stretching over a few miles.  He was lying with His head in  Mathsya thirtham,  feet in sankha theertham, and both his hands in dharma theertham and adharma theertham in a huge form, with a lotus in His naval.  It was only Dwarakanatha who came here as Pathmanabha !

       The sage Divakara muni was scared at the sight itself. He pleaded with Bhagavan to shrink this huge size so that he can see Him properly and also do pradakshina.  Bhagavan complied to the prayers of this devotee and condensed His form to three times of the stick or dhantu in the sage’s hands. This leela is depicted in Syanandurapura varnanam by garbhasriman maharajah Swathi Thirunal. So the residents of Ananthapuram need not go to Dwaraka to see Dwarakanath for He Himself has come down from there for the people of Ananthapuram.  

Dwarakanatha - 6

Dwarakanatha - 6

     

     Once some of the residents of Dwaraka became proud with ego. Sudarsana azhvar had the ego that he was the foremost among the attendants of Krishna. Garudazhvar thought that there was no one to equal his speed and power to carry Bhagavan wherever He goes.  The 16108 consorts of Bhagavan developed the feeling that Bhagavan liked them most. Bhagavan can never stand ego of any sort. He decided to subdue their pride. He decided to use Anjaneya the great bhaktha. 
      As antharyami He induced Anjaneya   to come to Dwaraka. Anjaneya entered a park in Dwaraka and began to destroy it. The security people came running and reported about a strange monkey which they couldn't control. Bhagavan first sent Sudarsana azhvar  to take care of the monkey.  Sudarsana felt very proud that Bhagavan knew his powers and dedication and so has selected him for this kainkaryam. He kept circling around Anjaneya for some time to scare him. Anjaneya noticed this strange thing whirling around him with a whistling noise. Disturbed, he caught it in his hand and kept it under his armpit. Bhagavan waited for some time but Sudarsana did not turn up. 
      The all pervading Bhagavan knew what had happened and now called Garuda towards Him. Garuda was happy that Bhagavan had some kainkaryam for him.Bhagavan told Garuda that a strange monkey had entered Dwaraka and was destroying a garden there. He instructed Garuda to tell the monkey that the King of Dwaraka was calling him. Garuda wondered why Bhagavan was sending him for such a trivial service. Anyway he went and called Anjaneya - "hey monkey! Our Lord of Dwaraka, SriKrishna  has sent for you." 
Surprised, Anjaneya retorted - "And who are you, a bird to call me like this?"
Garuda, irritated said "I am the topmost among the attendants of Bhagavan SriKrishna. People call me Periya thiruvadi."
Anjaneya:- Oh is it so? Well I am not concerned with that.
Garuda:- My swamy wants you to meet him immediately. 
Anjaneya:- Who is your swamy?
Garuda:- Sri Krishna, the Lord of Dwaraka.
Anjaneya:- Well I don't know him.
Garuda:- What? Haven't you heard about my swamy Sri Krishna 
               who killed Kamsa?
Anjaneya:- No
Garuda:-  Haven't you heard about the cowherd boy of Brindavan 
                  who lifted the Govardhana mountain with one finger?
        Anjaneya who himself had lifted heavy mountains looked 
                sarcastically as if what is so great in it and said "No".
Garuda:-  Haven't you heard about the lover or Radhika Rani?
  Anjaneya unconcerned said "No".
 Garuda:_ Don't you know about Brindavan?
Anjaneya:-  No.
Garuda:- Then what else do you know?
Anjaneya:- I know about Ayodhya, Rama, Sita matha, Lakshmana, 
                   Bharatha, Dasaratha, etc.
       Garuda could not force him further. Thoroughly defeated he came back to Bhagavan and told Him that he could not bring the monkey here. The monkey was a devotee of Rama and refused to come here he said. Then Bhagavan instructed him to go again there and tell the monkey that Rama calls him. Garuda felt humiliated when he was asked to go again. His ego got a big blow.  
      Second time he approached Anjaneya with more respect. He told him that Bhagavan Rama calls him. Anjaneya also showed respect now and said he would come immediately. Garuda thought that as Anjaneya was a monkey it would take much time for him to reach the palace and so asked him to hurry up. Anjaneya laughed at him and told him that he would go and meet Bhagavan. He asked Garuda to proceed. 
      Meanwhile Bhagavan was excited in the palace awaiting Anjaneya. Seeing His excitement everyone became inquisitive. Bhagavan replied them that His great bhaktha Anjaneya was coming and He was preparing to meet him. So Bhagavan now turned Himself into Rama and said that some one should come as Sita to meet Anjaneya. Bhagavan's queens hurriedly dressed up themselves as Sita and came.  Bhagavan could not find any one to equal Sita, who was without an iota of ego in her. She  had only Rama dhyanam in her. But all his queens thought they could become Sita and their ego defeated them. If they had prayed to Bhagavan for His grace to turn themselves in to Sita then they would have definitely become Sitas. Anjaneya came inside shouting Jai Sitaram! He prostrated before Bhagavan and stared at Sathyabhama who was sitting near him. 
 "Rama! who is this> Is this your maid servant? Why are you sitting near her? Swamy! where is my Sita matha?" asked Anjaneya.
Sathyabhama was thoroughly shattered to hear this. She was under the impression that she was the most suitable wife of Krishna and the blow she got was very heavy. Meanwhile the real Sita entered from somewhere. Anjaneya prostrated her happily. 
      Bhagavan enquired Anjaneya what he was holding under his arm. Anjaneya replied that it was nothing but a disc (chakram) - a play thing of kids which was whirling around him making noise and so he had kept it under his arm. Sudarsana felt blasted. He thought himself to be the topmost of attendants while Anjaneya degraded him to a child's play thing. When Bhagavan requested Anjaneya to give Him the disc Anjaneya released Sudarsana and handed over him to Bhagavan.
     Anjaneya now turned towards Sita matha. 
"Sita matha!  Please take care of our Swamy. Beware of these maid attendants. They take too much freedom with our Swamy which does not suit Him." After taking leave from Rama and Sita Anjaneya left. 
      Great men say it was none other than Radhika Rani who came as Sita matha because she never had any wish of her own. She always changed herself according to Bhagavan's wish. Great is Radhika Rani's selfless devotion!
     By this time Garuda reached the palace. He prostrated before Sri Krishna and informed Him that the monkey at last has agreed to come there and would be reaching there in a short while. Everyone laughed at him Garuda looked puzzled. Bhagavan smiled at Garuda and told him that Anjaneya had already come and left before Garuda could reach the palace. Garuda could not believe his ears. So far he was under the impression that there was no one to equal him in speed whenever Bhagavan wanted to go somewhere.  His ego was subdued then and there. Thus Bhagavan played this wonderful leela by changing Dwaraka into Ayodhya for a few minutes for the sake of the bhaktha Anjaneya and also for destroying the ego in His people. This Dwaraka is now called Pett Dwaraka .  Still more to hear about Dwarakanatha!! Radhekrishna! Radhekrishna!
  

Dwarakanatha -5

Dwarakanatha -5

     Can anyone buy Bhagavan with gold? Only bhakthi can buy Bhagavan. Ramadasa looked  at his wife meaningfully. She gave him a consoling look and took out the only gold ornament she was wearing - her mangalsuthra, the icon of a married woman which is her most precious jewel. Ramadasa completely surrendered to Bhagavan. He prayed to Bhagavan that he was not a good devotee as Rukmini who with a leaf of Tulsi could equal the weight of Bhagavan where Sathyabhama failed with all her gold ornaments. But he requested Bhagavan to consider him too as His child and save him from this situation. Bhagavan looks only for the pure heart and not the riches we offer. He accepted the handful of rice flakes brought by Kuchela with great love.

     Now Bhagavan was kept on one side of the balance against the woman's mangalsuthra. Bhagavan became lighter than thelight jewel and his side of the balance went up to everyone's bewilderment. "Pathudai atiyavarkku elliyavan"!! Nobody could believe their eyes. Were they dreaming they wondered. The devas from the heaven too were watching all this. The pujaris tried to lift Dwarakanatha and check the weight. He weighed heavy. When they took the jewel it was light. But Bhagavan's side of balance remained up only.  They checked the balance again and again for any problem. But the balance was correct. Slowly the truth began to dawn on them.  All of them could now understand the poor couple's devotion and surrendered to them.  They told Dwaraka Ramdas that he had every right for the deity, so could take it with him. They decided to make another deity for their temple.  Dwarakanatha is an ocean of mercy indeed! Just for the sake of the poor couple he denounced everything including His temple, wealth, people and country and came with them. 

      Antal has sung in praise of Dwaraka in her Nachiyar thirumozhi. Antal brought up a parrot in her home. She taught the bird to call out Govinda! Govinda! She was in krishna viraham. Viraham is a feeling which hurts and pleases the heart at the same time. It cant be explained. Unless one has guru kripa one cannot experience it. It happens in a higher state of devotion. When Antal was suffering in Viraham the parrot sings in loud voice - Govoinda! Govinda! which only highterns her pangs of seperation. She feigns anger and tells the bird to shut up and not to repeat the name. Actually one side of heart ached to hear her lover's name repeated, but at the same time the name triggered the viraham in her. Just like the gopis who are very happy to see a messenger from their Krishna. But they pretend they are angry with Krishna and say that they don't want to hear anything about Him. But at the same time their hearts were singing His nama only.  Likewise Antal also is angry with the bird for singing Krishna's nama and reminding her of Him.  She closes her ear and scolds the bird not to utter the name of Krishna whom she hates. She warns the bird that she would not give it food since she was starving for Krishna. The bird now understood that Antal does not want it to repeat the nama Govinda. Then it started to cry out Ulakalanthaan Ulakalanthaan loudly. Antal became exaspirated. What spell Krishna has done to this parrot she wonders. She complains to her relatives that she has lost her heart to a truant who rant away from Mathura  to Gokulam when He was born, from Gokulam to Brindavan, from Brindavan to Mathura again and from Mathura to Dwaraka.  'So please leave me at Dwaraka which is full of sky scraping palaces and beautiful gardens. I hope Dwarakanatha will hear my cries then. I will be Krishna's Dasi along with the 16,108 consorts' says Antal. So deep was her devotion to Bhagavan that she imagined Bhagavan was still living there with his consorts!

     Once sage Durvasa visited Dwaraka. When Bhagavan heard the quick tempered sage was coming he called Rukmini and entrusted her the responsibility of entertaining him without evoking his wrath in anyway. Rukmini agreed  and made all arrangements. The sage was seated and honoured, then food was served to Him. Krishna was supervising the services and telling Rukmini to offer this and that to the sage. Rukmini obeyed Bhagavan in everyway and in that

hurrying she felt thirsty. As she took sometime to come out Krishna went inside and enquired. Rukmini complained to Bhagavan that He was pressurising her too much and that the sage was quite comfortable but for Krishna's pampering. She requested Him to stand aside for some time and just watch her do. Krishna agreed to that but asked Rukmini to take some water if she felt thirsty.  But Rukmini hurriedly refused saying that it was not dharma to take even water before the sage finished his meals. Krishna convinced her that there was nothing wrong in it and that Durvasa would not mind. At sKrishna's repeated telling Rukmini agreed to drink water. Just as she had a mouth Durvasa noticed that and instantly got angry. He blamed her of having insulted a sage like him. Krishna now turned sides and blamed Rukmini for doing so and pleaded with the sage to pardon her. Rukmini understood that Bhagavan had some plans and so this leela.  Durvasa cursed Rukmini to remain seperated from Bhagavan. Rukmini could not  hear that and cried for  mercy. Bhagavan also interfered and the sage agreed that after doing penance for some time Rukmini can come back to live with Krishna. Till then she will be living in a corner of Dwaraka and do penance. So Rukmini had to stay from Krishna for some time. We can see the temple of Rukmini which is situated away from Krishna's temple. After some time she came back to live with Krishna.  We will be back with more of Dwarakanatha's stories! Radhekrsihna! Radhekrishna!

Dwarakanatha - 4

Dwarakanatha - 4

     Radhekrishna! Bhagavan's mercy is limitless. Nobody can predict to what depth it can go. For the sake of a true bhaktha like the old man Ramadasa, Bhagavan was prepared to leave even Dwaraka and go with him. Hearing Bhagavan's  instructions the old man was very happy. He hurriedly called his wife and asked her to pull with him the cart containing Bhagavan before anybody noticed. She didn't understand a thing. Bhagavan sat inside the cart and the couple began to pull the cart. This is the secret of life! Bhagavan should be made to sit in the cart called life and the couple should jointly pull Bhagavan. This is the great difference between the animal life and human life. Animals live for the sake of their body only. Humans must live for the sake of Bhagavan only.
      This blessed couple began to pull Bhagavan jointly. After sometime they became tired. They were old and not very healthy as to pull the weight of akhilanta koti brahmaanda naayakan!   They felt so sleepy that they didn't know that they had stopped the cart. Both of them sat there and slipped into a mild slumber. After some time they woke up with a start and saw the cart was moving. They were surprised to find themselves inside the cart and Bhagavan was pulling them with His four arms. The same Bhagavan who helped the devas and asuras during the churning of the ocean of milk. by holding the mountain- manthara parvatham with his four arms was pulling couple in the cart. The secret is once we start pulling Bhagavan in our life then He will take over and pull our life smoothly. The couple were bewildered to the core.  This is the greatness and kaarunyam of Bhagavan!
      Ramadasa cried out in agony in seeing the plight of Bhagavan. He couldn't stand the sight of Bhagavan bearing their weight. Bhagavan obliged and again sat inside the cart and the couple began to pull Him now with new energy. Meanwhile it was morning and the temple of Dwarakanath was opened for morning puja. The people were shocked to see the absence of Bhagavan's deity inside the sanctum. They began to search for Him everywhere. Their sorrow knew no bounds. Then somebody said that Dwaraka Ramadasa was seen sitting in front of the sanctum at  night crying. Then the people putting one and one together came to a conclusion that he would have stolen Bhagavan. So all of them started to catch Ramadasa red handed. 
     They ran and reached him. Seeing them approaching Ramadasa was bewildered and asked Bhagavan to hide Himself into a well on the road side. Bhagavan did so and prompted Ramadasa to lie to the people of Dwaraka. The people of Dwaraka reached and questioned Ramadasa again and again about the deity. Bhagavan was prompting him from inside to say 'I don't know! I don't know!' The old devotee was repeating what Bhagavan was telling him. But as he was not used to lying he kept glancing at the well again and again. Now the people began to get their own doubts and somebody peeped inside the well to find the deity inside it. For them it was the deity of Ranchodji. But for the old couple it was Bhagavan Himself. They took out the deity and the old man cried in pain. It pained him to know that they would take away Bhagavan from him.  
      Bhagavan consoled him and asked him to tell the people that he was prepared to give gold to equal the weight of Bhagavan. Then he can take the deity with him. The poor man was in a fix now. He was very poor. How can he promise gold equal to the weight of Bhagavan the Lord of the Universe? He looked at Bhagavan questioningly. Bhagavan assured him not to worry and carry on with his promise. So he requested the people to come to a compromise. He made the promise of giving gold to equal the weight of Bhagavan to get the deity for himself. The pujari and the other devotees laughed at him. Even the temple authorities were finding  it a great task to decorate Him with enough gold jewels. How can this poor old man give gold equal to the weight of Bhagavan? They sarcastically agreed to the condition thinking that the old man can never keep his promise. Was he able to fulfill his promise? Or was he punished by the authorities for stealing the deity? Keep chanting till the next issue to know that. Radhekrishna! Radhekrishna! Radhekrishna!