Panduranga - 11

Kooba kumbhar 2

     Kimiva srunuma kasya brooma katham krithamaasaya

Kathayatha kathaam dhanya manyaamahe hridayesah

Madhura madhura smeraakaare mano nayanotsave

Kripana kripana krishne thrishnaa chiram batha lambathe.

       Sri Leela Suka asks in his Krishna Karnamritham that what else is there in the world to do, but enjoy Krishna. What is there to hear? What is there to talk? What is there to do? The Lord resides in our heart. So instead of talking about useless worldly things talk about the leelas of Krishna which will increase the devotion in your heart. He is sweeter than sweetness. His form is pleasing for the eyes. I am so fascinated by Him like the attachment of a miser to his wealth.

      Radhekrishna! Kooba Kumbhar was very much happy to do the service devotees. The devotees were very pleased with his sincerity and devotion. They wondered how he could manage food for so much people. Kooba Kumbhar humbly replied that everything was managed by Panduranga Himself. This is the truth. But people seldom realise it. Usually we tend to say that  we approached this person, convinced him to agree to help etc etc. But who are we to convince? Isn't it the Lord who as antharyami makes us do everything? We conveniently forget that part and claim the credit of everything. Once a neighbour of a mahan kept complaining about a tree which curved into his compound. The mahan daily used to chant Vishnusahasranama and pray to the tree to curve to his side since it was disturbing his neighbour. In course of time the tree slowly reversed its course of growth. It is the Lord as antharyami in the tree who has done it. We must realise the truth. 

         Kooba Kumbhar had staunch faith and believed it was the Lord who has arranged everything. Kooba Kumbhar's wife was very much pleased when she heard how everything was arranged. She too was happy with the Lord's decision. He has given them an opportunity to serve the bhakthas as well as the shop keeper. She considered everything as Vittal's blessing. She was confident that they can finish the work since namajapam was with them. They never thought that they did things. Both of them started digging the well after the bhakthas left. 

         Both of them chanted Panduranga while working. Kooba Kumbhar was digging and his wife kept removing the sand. They didnt even feel tired as they were very much enjoying the chanting. By evening surprisingly they had reached a long depth. Suddenly Kooba Kumbhar felt a rock and broke it. Water gushed out from under. They were very happy and cried out Panduranga! Panduranga! We might wonder whether it is possible at all. But with the Lord's grace anything is possible. Kooba Kumbhar realised the Lord's grace and told his wife that their service to the Panduranga bhakthas has earned them this grace. Both of them danced with happiness. 

       Suddenly the earth from one side began to slide in and fall on Kooba Kumbhar. As people were watching from outside Kooba Kumbhar was completely caved inside the earth. All of them were shocked. Kooba Kumbhar's wife cried out Panduranga! Immediately rescue operation was started by people. But how much ever they dug they couldn't find out Kooba Kumbhar inside. Kooba Kumbhar's wife didnt lose her faith. She said he was definitely inside somewhere and would come out. They searched in the mud for a long time and lost hope. They tried to convince her that everything was over and there is nothing more to be done now. The shop keeper was very much sorry for the accident. He felt guilty that it was because of him it had happened.

           Kooba Kumbhar's wife was hopeful and waited for her husband chanting. The devas didn't know that the Lord would come as a fish, tortoise?  Hirnayakasipu never dreamt that the Lord would appear as Narasimha from a pillar. Nobody imagined that the Lord would do so much leelas in Krishnavatara. Our imaginations, and expectations are limited. But the Lord is beyond and above our intelligence. He is sarveswara! She was fully aware of the Lord's power and patiently waited doing namajapam. Let us also wait till next month doing namajapam like her. Radhekrishna! Radhekrishna!

Panduranga - 10

Kooba Kumbhar

Naaham vande thava charanayor dvandam advantha hetho

Kumbhipaakam gurumapi hare naarakam napanethum

Ramyaam ramaam mridu thanu latham nandane naapiranthum

Bhave bhave hrudaya bhavane bhaavayeyam bhavantham!

      Radhekrishna! The above sloka is taken from Sri Kulasekhara Alwar's Mukuntamala! Always cries out to the Lord that he is worshiping the Lord not with a definite purpose. He says he does not want to reach non duality. Nor does he worship the Lord to avoid getting hell or naraka of kumbhipakam! He is also not interested in enjoying the pleasures of heaven like roaming in beautiful gardens with pretty damsels. He worships the Lord because he enjoys worshiping Him. Devotion for the sake of the Lord only and not for anything else!

      But usually it is the other way round among many devotees. They worship the Lord with a definite purpose of getting some desire fulfilled. Kulasekhara Alwar loves the Lord so much that he enjoys worshiping Him! Real bhakthas love the Lord for the Lord's sake only! The Lord is playing with the jeevas each and every minute to create drida visvasam or firm faith in them. Devotion is not imagination, or blind faith but experience! If we have firm faith we can definitely experience the Lord's mercy! Bhagavan's karunyam is seamless. We must try to lead the life according to His wish! We are going to see the story of a real bhaktha of Panduranga from this issue!
      There was a potter named Kooba Kumbhar in a village. They were very old very much devoted to Lord Panduranga! They did their karma, duties without any sort of attachment or likes and dislikes. They never had any sort of expectations in their life, not even worldly or spiritual! They made pots out of mud, sold them and earned their livelihood. They were happy with what they got from this which was enough for their hands to mouth existence. The local ruler of that area was a greedy man and imposed tax on the people. He ordered them to give a certain number of pots as tax to the King. 
        Kooba Kumbhar and his wife found it very difficult to meet his demand. Since they were old they could make only a few pots. But they with firm faith left everything to Panduranga and were free or worries. With full faith in the Lord and full acceptance of what was due to them they chanted the Lord's name. They kept the raw pots they made in the furnace for baking.  Every time they took pots after baking, there would be enough pots to be given to the king as tax. With tears in their eyes they accepted the Lord's mercy quietly. They never expected that a miracle could happen or never imagined that the Lord would play some leela. They never boasted this to anybody else also. They just did their duties perfectly for the sake of the Lord, and the Lord took care of their life. 
        When one chants the Lord's name He feels indebted to them and keeps showering His grace. When the Lord is showering His grace the devotee chants His name in return for the grace received. But Bhagavan gets pleased with that and is ready with His blessings again. Thus the cycle goes on and on! It is our duty to do chanting continuously. That is the only thing we can do. Chanting will cleanse our hearts completely. Bhagavan will watch our chanting keenly. At times he will test our maturity. He will watch what our attitude is during certain situations. 
       Kooba Kumbhar and his wife were enjoying various Bhagavan's leelas. But they kept it to themselves.  Once a group of devotees going to Pandarpur happened to pass through this village. Kooba Kumbhar was overjoyed to see this group of devotees and offered his service to them. He had no money at all with him but he wanted to serve them food. He approached a shop owner and requested his help for this. He said that he wanted to feed the big group of above hundred people who were on their way to Pandarpur. He had no money with him right at the moment but promised to pay the money back in small instalments as and when he could. 
        The shop keeper said that he was definitely in a position to give him the provisions now. But he was  very dubious of the repayment. He said Kooba Kumbhar was totally inefficient to repay the money. He knew Kooba Kumbhar was struggling to make two ends meet. But he had an alternate suggestion. He had bought a new land. But there was no well in it. He Kooba Kumbhar to dig a well for him in the land as repayment. Kooba Kumbhar was very happy to hear this. He thanked Panduranga for keeping a helping person as the shop keeper near him. He wanted to do service to the devotees. Though he had no money at all he could now feed them all. Isn't it all due to Lord Panduranga's grace? Not only that now he had the chance of doing another service - digging a well for the shop keeper!
         He brought the necessary provisions for the feast, and prepared enough food for the group. Looking at him the devotees wondered how he could do that. He didnt look rich enough to be able to provide food for the whole group. Kooba Kumbhar replied that it was Lord Panduranga who has provided with all the necessary provisions. He served the devotees with the food he had brought and they had their stomach full. Kooba Kumbhar was immensely happy that he could do at least this small kainkaryam (service) to the devotees who were on the pilgrimage to Pandarpur! We will be back with the rest of the story in the next issue. Radhekrishna! Radhekrishna!
    

Panduranga - 9

Sakkubai - 5

Aabhyam vilochanabhyam 

Ambuja dala lalitha lochanam baalam

Dwaabhyam api parirabdhum

Doore mama hantha daiva saamagri! 

         Radhekrishna! 'Krishna's eyes resemble the petals of a pink lotus. How I wish to hug  Him with both my hands! But the grace of God is still far away from me to do that' says saint Leela Sukar in his Krishna Karnamritham. Sakkubai who could hug the Lord directly now did not want to lose the fortune from her hands. She stuck to Pandarpur doing small small services in the temple. She was enjoying her life. But mother Rukmini was worried of her husband. What fate has the Lord to do all the house hold chores for a human family! He has promised Sakkubai that He would remain there till she returned. So the Lord had to remain there till she came. 

      The great devotee Sakkubai's longing for the Lord became so intense that she left her body and was dead. The people there took her body and did the last rituals. It so happened that a brahmin from Sakkubai's village was there in Pandarpur who witnessed everything. He felt sorry for Sakkubai and thought he would inform her people about her demise. He returned to the village and headed straight for Sakkubai's home. 

        Meanwhile mother Rukmini could no longer bear the separation of her Lord and she forced back Sakkubai's athma in to a new body by her divine sankalpa. She ordered Sakkubai to go back to her home and spend the rest of her life doing service to her husband and in laws.Wasn't it her duty to relieve the maya Sakkubai who had come to help her? When the mother reminded Sakkubai of this she immediately agreed to go and started towards her village. 

       When the brahmin from Sakkubai's village reached her home the maya Sakkubai had gone to the pond for washing clothes. He started consoling them saying athma thathva. Sakkubai's husband was puzzled when the brahmin said he met Sakkubai in Pandarpur and that she was no more. He also said he himself attended her funeral ceremonies. Sakkubai's husband began to laugh thinking that the brahmin had gone out of his mind. Now the brahmin looked puzzled and asked why he was laughing. Sakkubai's husband replied that she was very much there and how could the brahmin have met her in Pandarpur? It was all his imagination or a mistaken idendity. But the brahmin was sure it was Sakkubai herself that he had met in Pandarpur. He had talked to her personally. 

     The argument was going on when original Sakkubai from Pandarpur entered the house. She was feeling slightly hesitant since she had gone out of the house without their knowledge. She has to somehow get into the house and relieve the other lady who had helped her. She must apologise to her first for taking such a long time. Seeing Sakkubai her husband pointed her to the brahmin jubilantly. "Didn't I tell you my wife is here?" The brahmin was totally taken aback. He couldnt believe  his eyes. He has seen Sakkubai's dead body and the cremation with his own eyes. How could this be he wondered. 

      Seeing the brahmin Sakkubai was also startled. Oh Vitala! He would have told everything to them she wondered. Her mother in law approached her and asked her lovingly whether she has finished washing so quickly? Sakkubai didnt understand a thing and stared blankly. Her husband turned towards her and told that the brahmin had mistaken somebody else for Sakkubai in Pandarpur. Then Sakkubai interrupted him saying that the brahmin was absolutely right. Suddenly there was a silence in the room. 

"What are you blabbering my dear?" asked her husband. 

"The truth my swamy! I must apologise to you now for what I have done!" replied Sakkubai.

"But you have done nothing wrong! You were only serving us the most appropriate way my dear! Why should you apologise?"

"I am sorry to say that it was not me who was here! It was another woman who resembled me!"

Nobody could believe her. They all stared at her in surprise. Then Sakkubai narrated everything that had happened till now and said she wanted to apologise to them all and also to the lady who had volunteered to take over her duty. The neighbours had all gathered there hearing the commotion and somebody rushed to the pond to see the other Sakkubai. But she had disappeared miraculously. Sakkubai could now guess who that other lady was. She remembered how mother Rukmini took interest in her case and sent her back with a new body. Immediately she cried out Vital! Vital! with tears flowing over her cheeks. 

     The story was now clear to everyone and everybody started chanting Vital! Vital! thrilled to the core. What fortune they had to have the Lord Himself with them all these days! Sakkubai's in laws recognised her devotion and accepted her whole heartedly. They were changed completely. The whole village was moved with the grace of the Lord. Sakkubai now entered into a new life of devotion along with her husband and in laws. The whole village changed itself and devotion spread among them. 

      A single devotee could bring about devotion to a whole village! Panduranga's grace and simplicity to stoop to such a low level conquered their minds. He is bhaktha vatsala!  We have to give our mind to Him like Sakkubai to enjoy the grace! Radhekrishna! Sakkubai's story has been an inspiration for many people. We will meet with the story of another bhaktha of Panduranga in our next issue! Radhekrishna! Radhekrishna!   
 

 

Panduranga - 8

Sakkubai – 4

Leelaananambujam adheeram udeekshamaanam

Narmmani venu vivareshu nivesayantham

Dolayamana nayanam nayanabhiramam

Devam kada nu dayitam vyathilokayishye!

           The Lord’s face resembles the lotus which Lakshmi devi is holding playfully in her hand.  His eyes are active running around in all directions!  He blows many secret feelings through the holes of His flute. When will I be able to set my eyes on the sweet Lord who is a feast for my eyes? Sri Leela Suka blurts thus in Sri Krishna Karnamritham.

Sakkubai’s heart ached like that to see her Vital. She has heard that the Lord’s looks has the power to entice anybody. She desperately wanted to experience that. The woman who came to help her also was describing the Lord. She shattered all the restrictions from her mind and ran madly. Yes she was mad of Panduranga! Vitala! She was not bothered about her family people any more. Her only concern was to go to Pandarpur and enjoy her Vital! Luckily she got into a good company. It is very important that we should be in the proper company. Others in the group should also have the same attitude for the Lord. If we fall into the wrong group then we will be led away from the Lord and pushed in to worldliness.

         The mahathmas in the group were surprised to see her midway. They saw she was bruised all over her body. When they enquired she told everything that happened. Seeing her truthfulness they took pity on her. The mahathmas could guess that it was Lord Panduranga Himself who has come to relieve her. So they were only happy to take the staunch devotee in their group. All of them now proceeded towards Pandarpur singing bhajans.  From a distance Sakkubai saw Chandrabhaga river. When she was told it was Chandrabhaga she swooned and fell down.  Gaining consciousness she ran towards it. They all took a dip in the river. She felt very much excited. Is it not the same river where great bhakthas like Namadeva have bathed? The same water runs over it now!  Tears welled in her eyes. After finishing the bath she began to run towards the temple chanting ‘vital! vital!’ She became mad in devotion. She inched through the crowd forwards. From the distance she could see the divine form. She shuddered at the first sight. Her excitement grew.  She desperately wanted to touch the Lotus feet.  Viraham tortured her. She was impatiently waiting for her chance to go near Him. All the devas from heaven were watching eagerly at Sakkubai.

         At last she came near Him. Her breathing stopped for a few seconds. She forgot the world itself and was drinking the divine form with her eyes. She couldn’t take her eyes off the deity. All the people were wondering at her bhava. What a bhakthi? They thought.  With trembling hands she touched the cool feet of the Lord. She felt she was losing herself in an ocean of indescribable bliss. Time stood still for her. The Lord gave her His divine darsan. She could see the actual form before her smiling at her. She forgot who she was, where she was, she forgot her husband and family, she forgot she has left another woman in her place she forgot everything. She could only see the lotus feet, lotus hands, coral lips which sported a sweet smile, the long and beautiful nose, the lustrous golden crown etc.

      She cried out to the Lord, ‘hey Panduranga! What have I don’t for this favour? Your mercy is limitless. Have I done any bhakthi to attain this? Oh Lord! You have showered your karunyam on this mean janma too. How can I ever repay you?’

Slowly as somebody pushed her forward she came to her senses. She forgot her whole past. She was now only aware of her Lord. She decided to settle there doing service to her Lord. Sakkubai’s life changed totally. Daily she would do kainkaryams such as cleaning the temple, making garlands for the Lord washing His clothes etc. She was enjoying her present life like anything.  So far she was doing all services for others thinking of her Lord. But now she was doing all her work for Him only. Her happiness knew no bounds.

       Meanwhile in Sakkubai’s house the fake Sakkubai was standing tied to the pillar. Her husband came in after sometime and asked her whether she would behave herself hereafter. She meekly said yes. ‘Will you ever say you want to go to Pandarpur again?

‘No my lord! Why should I want to go to Pandarpur now?’ she replied. Since there was plenty or work pending in the house he untied her.  Panduranga who had come as the maya Sakkubai now gave a beautiful smile. For reasons unknown Sakkubai’s husband was captured by that smile.  The Lord who took the mohini avatara could enticed the devas as well as asuras. There is no wonder if a mean human being as Sakkubai’s husband was attracted by the maya Sakkubai. He felt some kindness towards his wife. The maya Sakkubai did all the chores in the house meticulously. Somehow the food she prepared tasted more delicious. Every work she did impressed them all. They did not want to scold her anymore. Even the mother in law started liking her very much.

        God’s mercy is limitless we have heard mahans say. Here in Sakkubai’s story it is proved beyond doubt. The Lord of the Universe stooped down to such a low level as to do menial service to Sakkubai’s family. Other than doing all the house hold chores, the maya Sakkubai pleased her husband in the bed too. She even took over the pain of Sakkubai’s monthly periods.  Is there anything to equal this mercy of the Lord?  He will go to any extent for the love of His bhakthas! The whole family was feeling a divine peace in their hearts. They could not but love this maya Sakkubai. There was gradual change in them. Life was going on like this.  What quality those people had to have Panduranga in their life like this? Their only quality was their connection with Sakkubai. Sathsangam brings jeevan mukthi. The chanting she had done in that house gave them all such a fortune! Sakkubai’s chanting made Him do all things!

         In Pandaripuram the real Sakkubai was immersed in the new bliss and was not aware of any of these changes happening in her house. She never even remembered them. Now mother Rukmini started worrying. What is this strange leela of the Lord? Has He forgotten who He was? He seemed to have forgotten everybody including Rukmini for the sake of His dear bhaktha Sakkubai!  This is how our bhakthi should be. We must do such chanting to tie the Lord with our devotion. Do chant and wait for the next issue. Radhekrishna! Radhekrishna!

Panduranga - 7

Sakkubai – 3

Paripalaya nah kripaalayethi asakruth jalpitham athma baandhavah

Murali mrudula svanaanthare vibhuh aakarnnayithaa kadaa nu?

       Radhekrishna! The above sloka is from Krishna Karnamritham by Sri Leela Suka.He cries out to the Lord, ‘hey the source of mercy! When you are playing sweet music in your flute (venu) how will you be able to hear our cries to save us from this samsara, world? We keep crying out again and again but can you hear our cries amidst the sweet music of your venu?’ The truth is the Lord is straining His ears to hear us calling out to Him even when He is engaged otherwise. We must have the full faith in Him to do that. Panduranga was listening to Sakkubai's calls with love!

         Sakkubai never doubted the Lord’s mercy. She believed the words of her guru and kept on chanting. She did all her work for her Panduranga only. She thought she was washing clothes for Panduranga. She cooked for her Vital only. She cleaned the house for her Panduranga’s comfort.  Her heart was fully dedicated to Panduranga only. People of the world could not understand her bhavam. Her in laws and husband started torturing her in many ways. But she never considered them as sufferings. She accepted everything as bhagavath prasadam only. So she was happy.

     One day when she was washing clothes in a pond she heard some people singing bhajans. She came up to the road and saw a group of  bhakthas with various musical instruments singing abhangs and moving forward very happily.  She was very much fascinated by their singing. She slowly approached one of them and enquired where they were going to.  The man replied that they are proceeding towards Pandarpur. She was thrilled to hear that. The desire to go to Pandarpur which she kept in her heart now jumped out. She became so excited and forgot everything. Till now she was enjoying her Vital in her heart. But now she wanted to see Him directly. She can even touch Him she thought.  “Can I also come with you?” she blurted out in excitement. The bhakthas saw her enthusiasm and eagerness. But since they thought she was a married woman they advised her to get permission from her husband.

         In the meantime some of her neighbours who did not like Sakkubai told her in laws that Sakkubai was flirting with some people on the way. The infuriated in laws received Sakkubai with harsh words mid way. Sakkubai was very happy to see her husband coming towards her and told him that some bhakthas are going to Pandarpur. She begged that they should also go with them. Her husband red with anger slapped her harshly.  By the unexpected reaction she fell down. She got up and again asked him whether they can also go with them. But the man had turned an animal and began to beat her in front of everybody.  The antharyami Lord in Sakkubai inspired her to ask him again. She felt she should go to Pandarpur now.  She again asked him to let her go at least for once. She wanted to see Panduranga once.

        Her husband got more irritated now. He pushed her down and began to draw her to their house. Her whole body was bruised. But she was adamant in her demand.  Her mother in law kept asking whether she had a secret lover in Pandarpur. Sakkubai shivered at her words. But some how she was obsessed with the idea of going to Pandarpur. All her in laws’ admonitions didn’t help at all. Whatever happened Sakkubai wanted Vital only! Her faith was so firm! At last her husband got tired and tied her to a pillar in the house. Sakkubai was hurt all over. They locked the room from outside. Sakkubai felt miserable. She was not bothered by the tortures to her body; her only concern was that the bhakthas might have left for Pandarpur without her. She wanted to go with them.  She prayed to her Vital whole heartedly. “Bhagavan! Are you not aware of my desire?  Is it wrong on my part to wish so? Don’t you think I too have the right to come and see you? I very much want to come and see you my Lord! I am not asking much. I am asking only to let me go to Pandarpur and see you. Can’t you do something? You are karuna sagara – ocean of mercy! Please hurry my Lord. Please I beg you to fulfill my life’s desire.” The Lord was moved by her sincere prayers.  The Lord never desserts His devotees.

           Suddenly a woman’s soft voice called out to Sakkubai 'why are you crying'? Startled she saw a woman standing by the window on the road looking at her. Sakkubai told her that she very much wanted to see Panduranga. Then the other woman asked her why she was kept tied to the pillar. Sakkubai replied that since she said she wanted to go to Pandarpur her husband has tied her up. The woman asked whether Sakkubai hasn’t seen Panduranga before. Sakkubai replied she has not. Then the woman said that it is a real loss that she hasn’t seen Panduranga. She started describing the Lord.  The elegant way He stands on the brick, His style of wearing the peethambara, the unique way of tilak on the forehead, long nose, lotus like eyes, coral lips all very enchanting, she said. Sakkubai’s desire flame was fanned by this woman. You must see Him at least once in your life said the woman. Hearing her Sakkubai broke down and cried. 'It is only asking for that I am suffering now' she said. What a loss for her! Such a beautiful chance slipped away from her! She couldn’t control her sorrow.

          The woman silently entered the room from the back door. She came to Sakkubai and dried her eyes. She tried to console her. Sakkubai told her that the only wish in her life cannot be fulfilled. For that the woman told her that to see Panduranga one can adopt any means. She can even cheat her family members! Surprised Sakkubai looked at her face. The woman now came near her and said both of them had strong resemblance. She would untie Sakkubai and help her get out of the back door to see Panduranga. Instead Sakkubai can tie the other woman in her place and slip away before anyone notices. If those people come, the woman herself will pretend to be Sakkubai till she comes back. Sakkubai couldn’t believe her ears and just kept staring at the woman’s face. The woman released her from rope and hurried her to do as she told. She repeatedly told Sakkubai that there was nothing wrong in that. Sakkubai somehow got convinced and did as she has told. She sent a thankful look at her and hurried out through the back door. She felt like a bird freed from its cage. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her in the direction of the devotees. Without long she could catch up with them. They were totally surprised at her appearance there. They happily took her in their group and they all proceeded towards Pandarpur loudly singing bhajans.

         You would be eager to know what happened to Sakkubai and the woman afterwards. We will be back with that in our next issue. Till then keep chanting the divine nama! Radhekrishna! Radhekrishna!