Namdev

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Namdev

Source:http://www.ramakrishnamath.com

 

Thama Chetti ran a tailor's shop in Pandaripur. He had unswerving

devotion towards Lord Vittal, the Lord of Pandaripur. Every day he

would go to Vittal's temple and offer the deity the sacred food

prepared by his wife Kone. After that he would take the meal.

 

Once Thama Chetty had to go to another village. So he entrusted the

work of carrying the offering to his son Namdev. Next day, Namdev

carried the offering to the Lord. He arranged rice, curries etc. on

the leaf. He called on the Lord Vittala to come and take the

offering. Nothing happened.

 

He called him again and again. Still nothing happened. Namdev started

weeping. He wept wondering how he would tell his father that the

Lord did not accept the offering. He drew the screen and stood

outside. After a while, he drew the screen aside and looked into the

shrine. Still his offerings remained untouched. Crying piteously he

ran out of the shrine and climbed on the top of the compound wall.

He was about to jump down from the compound wall and end his

life. He heard a voice stopping him and asking him to come into the

shrine.He came down the wall and ran inside. He saw that the leaves

were empty. He went back home happily.

 

He returned empty handed to his house. He told his mother that the

Lord ate up all the offerings and so there was nothing left. His

mother was wonderstruck. She decided to follow the boy the next day.

 

She followed Namadev and noticed the boy arranging all the offerings

on a leaf and then pull the screen and stand outside. When he drew

back the curtain the leaves were empty. Seeing this miracle her hair

stood on end.

 

The next day the father returned. Namadev's mother told him all that

had taken place. He also followed Namadev to watch what happened. He

saw with his own eyes that the Lord consumed all the offerings. They

rejoiced at their good fortune to have such a son.

 

In this context we shall remember what Sri Ramakrishna was telling

once to one of his desciples in Dakshineswar: " One attains God when

one feels yearning for Him. An intense restlessness is needed.

Through it the whole mind goes to God. ... One must have childlike

faith - and the intense yearning that a child feels to see its

mother. That yearning is like the red sky in the east at dawn.

After such a sky the sun must rise. Immediately after that yearning

one sees God. "

GOMU <gokulmuthu