Santh Chokamelar

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Santh Chokamelar

 

Supreme devotion, pure heart and total surrender with faith have no

boundaries. No rules can stop such person from reaching God. In fact,

God will reach out for them. That is the story of Santh Chokamelar.

 

Manu's Varnashrama Dharma is blamed for the caste system in Bharath.

It is always misunderstood or never attempted to understand. This was

a system to improve life as a whole for the entire society. There was

nobody better than anybody. As every system is misused this was

misused too. But for individuals like Chokamelar who immersed

themselves with Lord Pandurangan, there is no need to do or think of

anything but Pandurangan. For others who don't see Pandurangan inside,

was jealous of Chokamelar. Even though they were blessed to be near

Pandurangan they were thinking everything else except Pandurangan.

 

 

His job was to clean the path around Pandurangan temple. Daily he woke

up early in the morning, took a dip in the river, performed poojas,

and then did his job joyfully. Chokamelar wanted everybody to be in

the blissful state he was. He did as much as he could to change the

people around him. But the jealousy, greedy bunch wanted to see him

suffer.

 

They said he was from a lower caste and have no right to be near the

temple. They thought if they chase him away from the temple and if he

can't see Pandurangan, he can't have the grace of Pandurangan. But

Chokamelar was a spiritual giant. Pandurangan was with him all the

time. Chokamelar can see, talk, and experience Him anytime. He

continued to pray, sing to Pandurangan from his place.

 

Pandurangan decided to show Chokamelar's devotion to the world and

teach everybody a lesson. He showed himself in front of Chokamelar and

asked, why didn't you come to see me today?

 

Chokamelar replied, Panduranga! I am not allowed to see you and enter

your temple. What can I do?

 

Pandurangan said, My dear son! Don't worry. You are no different from

anybody. Come to see me with Namadevar and Kabirdasar

 

Chokamelar went to the temple next day. The greedy bunch saw him. They

started shouting and yelling at him. They even started to beat him.

Even then Chokamelar told them that Pandurangan Himself came and asked

him to come to the temple. That answer did not satisfy them.

 

They argued, Why didn't you tell Pandurangan that you are not fit to

enter the temple. You can't even stay in Pandharpur. Get out of here

and go across the Chandrabhaga River.

 

Chokamelar did not fight back. There was no necessity. He went to the

other side of the river and lived in a small hut. His Pandurangan was

with him. Nobody can take that away.

 

One auspicious Ekadesi day as usual he sang, prayed, and enjoyed

Pandurangan in his home. Pandurangan came in front of Chokamelar and

told him that His Ekadesi Paranai(Auspicious food offering to God) was

at Chokamelar's home. There was no limit to Chokamelar's happiness. He

ran to his wife and ecstatically told her Pandurangan himself would

come to eat in his home today.

 

Somebody overheard this and told everybody in Pandharpur. They wanted

to know what was happening in Chokamelar's hut. They all went there,

hid themselves and listened. They heard voices coming from the hut.

Chokamelar and his wife were treating Pandurangan. Chokamelar

excitedly singing and praising, Panduranga! Murari! We can't be

blessed anymore! Your love is indescribable! We want to remember your

Lotus feet in all our lives.

 

Chokamelar and his wife were treating Pandurangan with variety of

food. They were asking if everything was right. On hearing these

conversations those hidden people can't resist themselves. They peeked

inside. Chokamelar and his wife were serving curd to Pandurangan.

Those who peeked didn't see Pandurangan. They just saw Chokamelar and

his wife talking and serving, but there was nobody.

 

They went to the king and told him Chokamelar was a cheater and

disgrace, and should be punished. The king ordered to bring

Chokamelar. Guards went to Chokamelar's hut and yelled him out. He was

serving curd to Padurangan. Chokamelar was tense and shocked because

of that disturbance. He accidentally spilled some curd on

Pandurangan's Peethambaram (Dhothi). But gurads came in and took

Chokamelar to the king.

 

The king asked Chokamelar if he cheated. Chokamelar answered, No.

Pandurangan really came to our hut and took Ekadesi food. Pandurangan

is for everybody. You all can go near Him, see Him and talk to Him. It

is possible only by devotion and love. If you call Him wholeheartedly

with pure heart, surrender yourself completely to Him, He will come.

It is true that he came and ate. I can see the beauty of Him eating

all eternity. The only mistake we made was we spilled some curd on His

Peethambaram and came here before cleaning it.

 

The king and others did not see the simple truth in Chokamelar's

answer. Instead they got angry and the king ordered a death sentence

by tying and dragging Chokamelar to a yoke on the ground with two

bulls dragging it.

 

Chokamelar was tied put on the ground, but the bulls never moved. They

beat the bulls, changed them but that was of no use. Chokamelar's wife

heard about the punishment and ran to the scene. She saw Pandurangan

himself was standing and holding the bullock cart from moving. She

cried and prayed to Pandurangan to save Chokamelar's life. Nobody saw

Pandurangan but her.

 

A thunderous voice came from the sky, These things happened to show

Chokamelar's devotion and greatness to the world. He is my true

devotee. Come to the temple and see the truth by yourself. Everybody

ran to the temple. Pandurangan was standing there in his beautiful

dress. In his Peethambaram there was some curd spill. The king and

everybody realized the true Chokamelar. The king and everybody paid

utmost respect to Chokamelar and brought him to the temple. Everybody

realized that Chokamelar is in the heart of Pandurangan.

 

Chokamelar sang a lot on Pandurangan. His story tells us there is no

difference in true devotion. You can go near God only with the purest

devotion and love. Nothing else can take you there. Pandurangan

Himself will come and take over our life if we totally and undoubtedly

surrender ourselves to Him like Chokamelar.