Yogakshemam Vahamyaham

The emperor of Bishnupur, Raja Gopal Singh of the Malla dynasty (1730–1745) was a

Vaishnava. He tried his best to spend most of his time after work in chanting the name of God. The emperor had a  temple of Shri Krishna called Madan Mohan Ji in his fort capital. It is said that his ancestors had begged for the statue of Madan Mohan Ji from a poor Brahmin who used to worship the statue for years.

The Malla dynasty was extremely strong for several decades due to the popularity of its kings and the loyalty of the subjects to them. The kings of the neighboring kingdoms were jealous of the prosperity, strength and popularity of the kingdom. But with the news that the emperor Gopal Singh spent most of his time in worship, Bhaskar Rao of the Maratha state felt a potential weakness in the state and attacked Bishnupur.

After a grim battle, the Maratha army penetrated the state. They captured city after city and reached the outskirts of the capital city. Raja Gopal Singh being a devotee took a decision that made the citizens awe. He asked all the citizens to come in the fort with their families, animals and belongings. He then asked to do a continuous Harinam Sankirtan till the enemy left.

The people had a lot of faith in the king. Although, they felt this was the time to get the citizens to build an army and fight, they started chanting loudly in front of the Madan Mohan Ji's temple. The small army of the king took guard at the fort and fought the Marathas.

As the night came close, the chanting continued loudly from inside. Both the Malla and the Maratha armies were tired. The Marathas retired to a forest close by. But suddenly a warrior came out of the Malla fort on a large horse. He had two cannons - one on each side of the horse. He followed the retreating Maratha army and started firing cannon balls from a very close distance. In a matter of minutes, half the Maratha army was dead and the rest were trying to flee. The horseman after this swift action was seen returning to the fort. He dismounted the horse, dislodged the two fuming cannons and went back into the fort in the dark.

A few Maratha soldiers thought that they would not be able to escape alive from Bishnupur with such commando type soldiers in the state who could wipe out half the army single handed. So they went to the doors of the fort and surrendered. They were brought in front of Raja Gopal Singh who asked them why did they surrender. The soldiers told them about the horseman and that they hadn't seen anything like this in their lives. Gopal Singh asked his army general - Who was he? But the general had no answer. Suddenly, one of the Maratha soldiers saw the statue of Madan Mohan Ji where the king was chanting with his fellow citizens and said - That was him. That was him. I am sure that was Him.

Gopal Singh went close to the statue and saw that the statue's clothes were smelling of

and dripping sweat. Gopal Singh fell at the lotus feet of his lord. He said - O Prabhu! You had to go to defend the kingdom for me? How can I ever thank you? And the emperor started crying. He let the Maratha soldiers go free and asked them to leave the kingdom immediately. The crowd started chanting the praises to Madan Mohan Ji loudly in ecstasy.

Moral Of The Story

As per Bhagwat Geeta, Shri Krishna pledges that He protects those who depend on Him 100%. "Yogakshemam Vahamyaham" and God keeps His word.

This story is a true example from the history for God's pledge. An evidence of this fact is that one of the cannons which is still displayed in Bishnupur as a historical item developed no rust on it even after staying for centuries outside in rain.

Gopis Ignore Aishvarya

Everyone likes to share their secrets with their close friends. And the same is true with

God - Shri Krishna who is more known as Shyam Sunder in Vrindavan.

 

So once Shyam Sunder thought that He should show off His Aishvarya to His dearest Gopis. One day, He disappeared and the Gopis were dismayed. They went from one Kunj to another and started looking for Him.

And in one Kunj, they found a man whose face was like Shyam Sunder but had four arms like MahaVishnu. The four arms had Shankh, Chakra, Gada and Padm as the Gopis had seen in the statues in temples. The Gopis were taken aback.

Then one of them said - This must be MahaVishnu as we see Him in the temple.

So they all bowed to Him and then left and continued looking for Shyam Sunder.

Shyam Sunder was very disappointed that the Gopis did not give any value to His MahaVishnu appearance.

Moral Of The Story

Shri Krishna has two forms - one of Aishvarya and the other of Madhurya. The Aishvarya form is the ruler and the law enforcer while the Madhurya form is the lover.

In Vrindavan resides the Madhurya form of Shri Krishna. Krishna forgets that he is the ruler of the universes and begs for the love of Gopis.

This story tells us that even the Gopis also love the Madhurya form of Krishna and ignore the Aishvarya form. They do not want to love Krishna as God. They just want to love Krishna who is a cowherd and who plays with them and does Leelas with them and his cowherd friends.

Growing the crop of Bhakti

Deenu was a poor farmer in Rampur. His father had a small farm where Deenu used to grow sugarcane. But due to the money they owed to Bharat Seth, the farm was no longer their property.

Deenu was a devotee. He prayed to God - O Ram! This seems to be your grace. Please give me the true purpose of my life.

And one day, an old friend of Deenu, whose name was Ramesh visited Rampur from Mumbai. Ramesh met Deenu and heard his sad story.

Then he said - Listen Deenu! I have a small piece of land outside the village. There is nothing on that land except a shop which no one seems to run at the moment. Why don't you start your farming there?

Although that land was very dry and hard, Deenu quickly agreed as his Lord's decision.

Deenu worked hard to till and plow the land. He watered it twice a day to make the soil soft. And then he planted sugarcane in it.

In the evenings too, Deenu stayed in the field and protected it from the birds and passers by.

And by the grace of God, Deenu had a good harvest. The sugarcane he harvested was of very good quality and Deenu managed to make a good profit by selling it in the market.

Moral Of The Story

Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj refers to this story to teach us how bhakti is so similar

to farming. Just like Deenu tilled the hard soil of his field, the devotee starts depending on God due to his helplessness. Just as Deenu planted the crop in his field, God sows the seed of love for Him through a saint. Just as Deenu watered the plants everyday, the devotee softens his heart by crying and Anukool chintan and fosters it with Nishkamata and Nirantarata. And just as Deenu protected the field from the birds and passers by, the devotee protects his mind from the worldly company.

And with all this hard work, Shri Kripalu Ji says that it is possible that Deenu may not get a good harvest as he did in the story. However, the devotee is guaranteed to get the love of God. This is God's law.

Once A Beggar Now The Owner

A beggar was begging without shoes and proper clothing in a hot summer month. There was very hot air blowing in the open. He was sweating, he was hungry and he was looking at people for their help and sympathy.

When no one gave him anything for some time, the beggar thought he will go and rest

under a tree. He moved and felt stiffness in his body. May be he was sick.

He walked a bit and saw a house in which a well dressed man was sitting in the courtyard. There were fans around him and the courtyard smelled of nice perfumes.

The beggar went to the man and requested - Sir! You must be the owner of the house. I am poor and I am sick. If you allow, I can lie down in the aangan for some time.

The owner replied - Yes, sure! Please take this carpet and lie down on it in that cool corner.

The beggar thanked the owner and lied down in a corner under a fan.

The beggar however continued to sweat. He saw the living room inside which had a large carpet and an air conditioner.

The beggar again went to the owner and asked - Sir! You have been extremely kind to me. But I seem to be suffering from a heat stroke and have fever. Since there is no one in your living room, can I go and lie down there for sometime? Hopefully I will feel better and then I shall go back home at sunset.

The owner was a bit reluctant since the beggar was a stranger. However, he was a noble person and so he allowed the beggar to go and sleep on the carpet in the AC.

A little while later, a lady who was probably the owner's wife entered the living room. She was a bit surprised to see the beggar but on inquiring with her husband, she let the beggar rest in the room. In fact, she was very nice and brought some medicine, fruit and cold water for the beggar.

The beggar felt that the floor was pretty hard. Also, since it was made of stone, it was pretty hot. He was not sure but he asked the lady - O noble lady! I know this is not civility but you are kind and generous. If you allow, can I go and sleep on the bed in the bedroom?

The lady asked the owner (her husband) and after some discussion let the beggar sleep on the bed in the bedroom.

In the evening, at sunset, the owner woke up the beggar and said - Hey you! You have slept for 4 hours now. The sun has set and so I request you to go back to your own home.

But something happened to the beggar. Instead of leaving he said - Sir! You have lived in this house for so long. Didn't your desire satisfy in all this time? I think it is time for you to leave this house now.

Moral Of The Story

Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj teaches us that Bhakti is the beggar, the house is the mind and the owner of the house is Maya, the world.

Bhakti slowly sneaks into a jeev's mind and slowly becomes so powerful that it kicks out Maya which has lived in the mind for countless lives like an owner.

Keep The Devil Busy

Once a priest Ramji meditated continuously for many days. Pleased with his meditation, a

Jin appeared.

The Jin said - Ramji! I have been sent to serve you. I will do whatever you desire me to do.

The Jin continued - However, please note Ramji that if you have nothing for me to do, I will disappear and will never come back. I cannot stay idle for even a split second.

Ramji was very happy. He was an old priest. He was poor. He had never seen any worldly pleasures. He had a small field in which no one had worked for many years.

So Ramji first asked him to plow the field, then sow seeds, then water it and guard it in the night. But whenever the Jin completed his work, he would come and ask for his next command.

Very soon Ramji became rich but he started becoming irritated with the Jin. The Jin would come and wake up Ramji in the middle of the night and ask his for the next command.

Ramji was tired and he went to an elderly wise person of the village Budhimatt Ji.

Ramji said - Sir! That Jin does not let me even sleep. The reward has turned into a curse. Please advise how should I deal with this problem?

Budhimatt Ji thought for a while and then said - Ram Ji, I think I have a solution for you. Dig a pillar in your field.

Ramji said - OK! What will that pillar do for me?

Budhimatt Ji said - Listen carefully. Tell the Jin that when there is nothing to do, he should go up and down the pillar until he gets the next command.

Ramji was very happy. He thanked the wise man and came back. And he gave the same command to the Jin.

The Jin never gave him any more trouble.

Moral Of The Story

Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj teaches us that the mind is the vehicle to spiritual freedom and the Divine Love. But this mind, like the Jin, cannot stay free for even a split second.

Just like Ramji made the Jin busy by asking him to go up and down the pillar, we should make our mind busy in chanting the name of Radha Krishna all the time. This is the path of Bhakti which can glide us to the abode of God.

Nishkamata of Gopis

One Gopi was fanning Radha and Krishna in the kunj. Since it was a hot day, the fanning was giving pleasure to Yugalvar. Shri Krishna turned around, looked at the Gopi and smiled as if thanking her. Shri Krishna’s smile gave so much bliss to the Gopi that she went into Samadhi and became unmovable. And so the fanning stopped.

After a few moments, she regained consciousness and realized that her fanning had stopped.  Realizing this, she cursed the Premanand that obstructed her Seva.

Moral Of The Story

Such is the level of selflessness (Nishkamata) of Gopis that the happiness of Radha Krishna is their only goal. They do not even desire the Sevanand or the Anand that they get from their Seva.

This is the reason why Narad Ji says that Gopis are the teachers (Acharyas) of selfless love. And Shri Krishna says that although I gave my abode to both the Gopis who loved me selflessly and Putana who came with an intention to kill me, I am totally indebted to the Gopis and will never be able to free myself of that debt.

Protect Me From The Honey Bees

Ramesh was a little boy. He used to go to the park with his grand father for walks. If he

was tired, his grand father would ask him to sit under a tree while he completed his walk.

That day, his grand dad did the same. He asked him to rest under a tree while he completed a round of the park.

But just as his grand father left, someone threw a stone at the tree and some honey bees which had made the tree their home, attacked him.

Ramesh shouted - Help, help! And he ran.

The honey bees followed him. There was a small pond in the park. Ramesh jumped into it and dipped himself under the water. But he was out of breath in less than a minute. And so he had to raise his head out of water to breathe.

The moment he did that, the honey bees attacked him again. 

This went on for some time when a security guard smoked the bees away and rescued him.

Moral Of The Story

The Gyani is in pursuit of the formless God with his own strength. While perfecting his practice, he is able to achieve a state in which he is conscious of himself only. His senses do not work, so he cannot see or hear anything. This is called the state of Samadhi. Maya cannot enter the state of Samadhi and so the Gyani gets the bliss of the soul in this state. But this state is interrupted by hunger, fatigue, kaam, krodh, lobh, moh or any desire.

In this story, a state of Samadhi can be likened with Ramesh under water. While Ramesh stays under water, he is protected. But as soon as he raises his head out of water to breathe, the honey bees or Maya attacks him again.

See God Everywhere - 3

Sant Namdev Ji has been one of the greatest Bhakt saints ever. One great lesson that the devotees draw from him is his realization of God everywhere in both inert (Jad) and conscious (Chetan) entities around him. Here is another example.

Sant Namdev made some rotis under a tree. And before he ate them, he went to wash

himself.

Just as he was returning, he saw a dog running away with the rotis in his mouth.

Sant Namdev saw God in everything and everyone. He immediately picked up a cup of butter and ran after the dog.

Sant Namdev Ji cried out - O Lord! The rotis are dry. Please let me apply this butter on them, then eat them. Please come back.

And as Sant Namdev Ji was running after the dog, his God Vitthal appeared to him from the dog with four arms and Shankh, Chakra, Gada and Padm.

Moral Of The Story

God lives in the heart of the conscious. He also lives everywhere in the world as Nirakar Brahm. When a devotee calls out to God with such feeling as Sant Namdev's, God is forced to reveal Himself and Grace the devotee.

The Power Of Love

Sant Gyaneshwar and Sant Namdev were contemporaries. Both saints were famous for their efforts to progress towards God. However, they followed different paths. Sant Gyaneshwar was a Yogi while Sant Namdev was a Bhakt of Vitthal in Pandarpur.

The two saints once traveled together for a pilgrimage and were returning from their

journey. They were passing by a village named Kolayati near Bikaner, where they thought they should rest for some time.

Both were thirsty, so they looked for water. They found a well which seemed to be dry. There could be some water that was so deep that it was not possible to bucket it out.

Sant Gyaneshwar had sidhis. So using the Laghima Sidhi, he made his body subtle and

entered the well. He drank water to his heart fill and came out satisfied. He brought some water for Sant Namdev too.

Instead of drinking the little water that Sant Gyaneshwar brought for him, Sant Namdev Ji started saying in ecstasy - Does my Vitthal not care for me? However, if he wants me to stay thirsty, then how can I accept the water that you have brought?

God is in control of his devotees. And the moment Sant Namdev Ji uttered those words, the well suddenly was overflowing with water.

Sant Gyaneshwar was  stunned with this. He saw the power of love of a Bhakt. He could not stop himself praising Sant Namdev Ji.

He shook Sant Namdev and said - Look what Vitthal has done for you. Please drink some water now.

Moral Of The Story

God loves his devotees. The devotees give up everything to God and expect nothing but God's love. And so God becomes fully controlled by the devotees and looks for opportunities to serve the devotee.

Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj says that one definition of divine love is the power which makes God forget that he is God and makes the devotee forget that he is a servant. Instead, God becomes a servant while the devotee starts commanding.

God Prefers Karm Yogis

One day Narad Ji visited Lord Krishna. 

He said  - O Lord! I wanted to know who is your most favorite devotee? 

Actually Narad Ji was always a staunch devotee of Lord Krishna and he wanted to be appreciated by the Lord. 

Lord Krishna said - Welcome Narad Ji! You have asked a good question. Actually I was just thinking of  a farmer who is my most favorite devotee. 

Narad Ji was shocked. He decided to test the devotion of that farmer. He visited the farmer's house early morning and noticed that the farmer after feeding cows and short prayer went to field for work. In the evening the farmer returned and again after the short prayer and spending time with family went to sleep. 

Narad Ji was puzzled that how this farmer could be the best devotee of the Lord if he

remembers His name just twice a day.

Narad Ji returned to Lord Krishna and asked Him the reason for His judgement. 

Lord Krishna said - Narad Ji! I know you are curious but before I answer you, can you

please walk to my palace with this earthen pot. This water is special. So please ensure that not a single drop of water drops from it. 

Narad Ji followed His order and walked to the palace. But while walking he was extremely careful that not a single drop of water falls on earth. Having placed the pot in the palace carefully, Narad Ji returned. 

Lord Krishna asked Narad Ji - Narad Ji! Tell me how many times did you remember Me or utter My name while walking with the pot?

Narad Ji replied - O Lord! My entire attention was on the Seva and I did not remember or utter your name even once. 

Lord Krishna now said - O Narad Ji! That farmer has so many responsibilities but still he manages to  remember me. He is a real Karm Yogi. And I love those devotees who fulfill their duties and remember me at the same time. That is why he is my most favorite devotee.

Narad Ji understood.  He felt overwhelmed that Lord had so mercifully taught him that he should not have any pride for his devotion.

Moral Of The Story

A Karm Sanyasi ignores his material duties and tries to involve himself only in devotion. Whereas a Karm Yogi does his duties and practices devotion at the same time.

Krishna says that when He descends to earth, even He cannot ignore His duties as a son, a friend, a lover, a husband and as a king. This is despite the fact that He is eternally free and will not get the result of any of His actions.

And that is the reason he loves Karm Yogis more than the Karm Sanyasis. I love the devotion of a Karm Yogi because he lives in the fire of the world and still does not get burnt. In other words, a Karm Yogi lives in the physical world but does not get trapped in attachments, ego or Raag/Dvesh.

Bhakti Changes Our Priorities

There was once a man who was attracted to the daughter of his priest. The man was

married and the priest's daughter had a natural inclination towards Krishna. There was no way he could possibly marry her.

But his attraction became an obsession. And he decided that he will give up his life since his desire could not be fulfilled. His wife could not bear his husband's plight. So she went to the priest's daughter and narrated the situation to her. She requested the priest's daughter to marry him.

The priest's daughter was a devotee of Krishna. She was calm, humble and wise. She could see the conflict clearly. She never wanted to marry a person who was infatuated with her material beauty. But on the other hand, if she declined, the man would die and she would become responsible for his death. The Dharam Sankat was very clear to her.

The priest daughter closed her eyes and prayed to Lord Krishna - O Lord! Save me. Tell me what to do.

Then she opened her eyes and smiled.

She said to the man's wife - Go and tell your husband. If he really loves me, he should live in isolation and pray to Krishna. I will come and meet him there. I shall talk to him alone.

As was expected, the man went to the forest and started praying to Krishna. He could do anything to fulfill his desire.

He was praying to Krishna but in the back of his mind he was waiting for the priest's daughter to come. Days went by one after the other. Two weeks went by but the priest's daughter did not come. But in the meantime, the man started getting the nectar of Bhakti from Krishna and he started becoming intoxicated with it. He was no longer waiting for the priest's daughter.

One evening the priest's daughter dressed herself in a beautiful attire and perfumes and arrived in the forest with a big plate of prasad. The man was meditating at that time.

She said to the man - My dear! Please accept this prasad. Don't you recognize me?

The man opened his eyes but due to the effect of the meditation closed them again.

The priest's daughter went close to the man and said - O Maharaj! Please open your eyes. I am the same priest's daughter whom you wanted to marry.

The man had attained a good level of Vairag due to his devotion. He thought for a minute what he would like now. On one hand was the intoxicating nectar of Bhakti and on the other was that beautiful woman for whom he was so crazy. It took him no time in realizing that he did not want anything from the world anymore.

So he opened his eyes and said - O lady! Please excuse me. I did recognize you. I thank you for coming for me. But I have changed. I am no longer the same person who was so crazy for you. Please forgive me.

The priest's daughter understood that Krishna had solved her problem. The man's life was saved and at the same time he no longer was attached to her. So she went back happily.

Moral Of The Story

The story teaches us that Krishna Bhakti is extremely powerful and it changes our priorities. Krishna Bhakti is the real bliss and the one who has tasted it does not want to go back into the world.

See God Everywhere - 2

Sant Namdev was one of the greatest saints ever. He was born in Narsi village of south Hyderabad region of the modern India. He spent most of his life in devotion in Pandarpur in Maharashtra. There are several stories of how Namdev Ji saw God in both inert (Jad) and conscious (Chetan) entities in the world. One such story is as follows -

Once Namdev Ji was travelling away from his village. On the way, he was tired and he settled down to rest in a deserted house.

A villager came to him and said - Maharaj! There is a belief that a demon (Brahm Rakshas)

lives in this house. The demon wakes up in the night and kills anyone whom he finds living in this house. Please do not stay here.

But Namdev Ji could see nothing but God everywhere.

Namdev Ji smiled fearlessly and said to the villager - I believe you brother. But only my Vittal would have taken the form of the demon. Isn't that true?

The demon came in the middle of the night. Namdev Ji saw him. The demon had a huge body and had a scary face.

Namdev saw God even in the demon and bowed down to him.

And then he sang these lines in keertan - 

Bhale Padhaare Lambaknath!
Dharani Paanv, Swarg Lon Maath, Jojan bharke Lambe haath
Siv Sanakadik paar na paavein, anagin saaj sajaaye saath
Naamdev ke tum ho Swami, Keejai mokon aaj sanaath.

O God, today you have come as Lambaknath - the owner of a huge body. Someone who cannot be measured by even Shankar Ji or Sanakadik, has come to my corridor decorated in a new form. O God! You alone are the master of Naamdev. Please make me your own now, so I stop being an orphan.

The demon form immediately changed to the form of God.

The change of the form was for material people like us, Namdev Ji was seeing God in the demon right from the beginning.

Moral Of The Story

The saints teach us that whether it is a Jeev or Maya, they are both powers of God and God resides in both of them.

The story teaches us to raise our level of Bhakti by having the consciousness that God is everywhere. He is omnipresent and if we realize this fact all the time, we will get the Grace of God in no time.

See God Everywhere - 1

Sant Namdev was one of the greatest saints ever. He was born in Narsi village of south

Hyderabad region of the modern India. He spent most of his life in devotion in Pandarpur in Maharashtra. There are several stories of how Namdev Ji saw God in both inert (Jad) and conscious (Chetan) entities in the world. One such story is as follows -

Once the hut of Namdev caught fire. The fire ignited from one side of the hut. Namdev Ji was meditating when he saw the fire.

Namdev Ji saw the fire and thought God had come in the form of fire (agni). And he started throwing his things from the other side (which was not burning) in the fire.

He said - O Prabhu! What a surprise that you have come to me. Today you have come with red flames all around you.

Namdev Ji continued talking - But why did you come only from one side of the hut. Why did you not come from everywhere? You accepted my things on only one side. Did the things on the other side do any sin (paap) towards you that they do not get your Grace? Please accept them as well.

Namdev Ji kept throwing even the smallest things into fire and started doing keertan and dancing in ecstasy. 

The fire extinguished in a little while. Namdev Ji became homeless.

And then came the rains. There was no shelter for Namdev Ji.

God Himself had to come as a laborer and built another hut for him.

Such was the love of Saint Namdev Ji.

Moral Of The Story

The saints teach us that whether it is a Jeev or Maya, they are both powers of God and God resides in both of them.

The story teaches us to raise our level of Bhakti by having the consciousness that God is everywhere. He is omnipresent and if we realize this fact all the time, we will get the Grace of God in no time.