Stories of Bhaktas 18 - Jana bai

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Jana bai

 

There are various ways to reach God. Bhakti yoga is one of

them. The word Bhakti yoga means total surrender to God. There is

no element of doubt in the Almighty. All their thoughts, words and

deeds will be decided to God. God too doesn't ignore such staunch

devotees. He comes to their rescue.

 

The Bhakta stories reveal to the world two aspects. One is

the all pervading; omnipresent God yields to the whole hearted faith

of his devotees and settles down in their heart. Secondly God comes

down personally to drive out the problem and sorrows of His

devotees. They are revealed to the world as the miraculous powers

of the devotees.

 

A five year old girl called Janabai was taken to

Pandaripuram to have the darshan of Panduranga. That visit decided

her fate. She wanted to devote her life to the services of the Lord

and so she refused to go home with her parents.

 

Her parents' grief was unquenchable. They asked her to

consider their love for her and their plight in separation from her.

 

Janabai coolly answered, `I agree you love me, you miss me!

But can you keep me with you for ever? Won't you give me away in

marriage to an eligible bachelor? All these bondages are but

temporary in this world of Maya. The bondage with God is the only

everlasting one. I have decided to lead the rest of my life here.

That's final. There is no going against it'.

 

Her parents had no other go. They had to leave her alone.

Janabai went back into the temple and said, `Heh God' I've freed

myself from the fetters of the world for your sake' She sang

extempore a keertana.

 

Yere yere maadhyu Rama

Mana mohana meghasyama...

 

It meant oh God! You have entered my heart and my life

purpose is fulfilled. Let me continue to be detached and let me get

the company of satsang.

 

In answer to her prayer Namadev guru entered the temple

then. She fell to his feet and explained `God is my father and you

are my guru'. Namadev took her to his house to the loving care of

his mother Gunabai.

 

One night there was a heavy down pour of rain. The matted

roof top was blown away by the rain. Panduranga Himself came down to

his devotee's rescue. He held his Sudarshan Chakra as an umbrella

for the inmates so that they could sleep undisturbed, while He

repaired the roof top. Janabai happened to open her eyes and

witness this miraculous scene. She was thrilled at it.

 

We may wonder at this incident. Why should God come down to

repair it when He can at one waive of his hand, replace Namadev's

house with a palatial building. But that is distracting the devotee

from the main path. If the devotee is overflowing in material

comforts, he may be lured by the earthly objects.

 

Janabai fell to the feet of the Lord `Oh Lord! How happy I

am to witness such a scene! How great a devotee is Namadev to you!

How lucky I am! I could serve such a great devotee. Through my

services to your special devotee, I was blessed with your Darshan.

What else can I ask for in life?'

 

Panduranga answered with a smile, `How can I ignore

the suffering' of my dearest disciple! His every word, thought and

action is centered round me. He becomes restless if he is separated

from me! I enjoy his devotional songs. It is my utmost duty to

help him in his suffering.'

 

Janabai felt convulsions in her body, `Oh God! We cannot

describe your Krupa in words. Bless me also to be as staunch a

devotee of You as Namadev. I will serve you and him for the rest of

my life.'

 

Namadev woke up in the meanwhile and was surprised to see

the ever shining Almighty in his poor house. He asked innocently

what brought Him there. God answered even more

innocently, `Namadev! I am very hungry. I came to eat food prepared

by Janabai'.

 

Namadev made arrangements and in the meanwhile looked after

God. Janabai cooked food in a jiffy and all the members of the

family sat with God for dinner. Human nature is very

unpredictable. Janabai spoke to God personally, cooked food with

her own hands, was to serve Him personally, but still she was not

happy. She cried to herself in the kitchen for being deprived of

the company of God. Panduranga, who lives in the heart of His

devotees, knew at once the desire of Janabai. He immediately got up

from food saying, `Namadev! I need some rest. Keep my food aside. I

will eat it after a little while. God pretended to go to sleep till

Namadev himself went to bed.

 

Then God woke up and beckoned Janabai to serve him food.

Janabai served him with great love and was staring at him with rapt

attention. God tasted a little and said, `Janabai it is so tasty.

Why don't you try? He fed her personally. Tears of joy rolled

down her cheeks. How, many devotees had such a privilege of eating

from God's hands? God discussed spiritual topics with her and

disappeared early in the morning.

 

Once a few devotees like Jnanadev, Nivrithinath, Sopan,

Muktabai, Ramananda Swami and Kabir Das came to Namadev's house. At

that time, Namadev was away. Janabai was deeply engrossed in fight

with neighbouring lady over the cow dung cakes. Kabirdas questioned

Jananai `How can you claim those cow dung cakes to be your own?'

Janabai said, `You are truthful people. You should give a proper

judgment. While I was preparing the cow dung cakes, I chanted the

name of Panduranga. So you can hear his name from my cow dung

cakes. How strange but how true! Her cow dung cakes were chanting

the name of Panduranga very melodiously. The other devotees were

taken aback at her devotion.

 

Gradually Janabai's name spread far and wide. People

flocked together to have her darshan. She did not believe in Jnana.

Her path was Bhakti Yoga. She totally surrendered herself to God.

She explained the same in her song.

 

`Dharila Pandariche chora gala. bandhoniya dora'

`I garlanded God with my bhakthi and imprisoned Him in my heart.'

 

One day she was asked to grind Jowar. That night, after

everybody went to bed, she was grinding it; the philosophy of life

was churned out in the course of her grinding. Panduranga was

impressed and touched by her philosophical rendering and helped her

in her task. He sat beside her and discussed various aspects.

 

The day broke and the voices of devotees were heard from a

distance. Janabai hastened Him to his sanctum sanctorum. God in his

hurry left his jewelry beside her and covered Himself with her

rug.

 

When the priests opened the doors what did they see? All the

jewels of God were missing and in their place was a torn rug.

Somebody identified it as the rug of Janabai. Immediately the

priests lodged a complaint against her. A search warrant was

issued. The jewels were found beside her grinding stone and at once

she was arrested and death sentence was passed against her.

Namadev's pleadings fell into deaf ears.

 

Finally the day of her execution had come. She was dragged

along the streets. She was badly injured but nobody cared. She

requested not to drag her along, but to no use. Finally she was

brought to the place of execution. Her disciples cried for her but

some self seekers gloated over her misery. Little did they know,

God likes one for his Bhakti but not for his caste or creed.

 

Janabai with folded hands prayed to God `Oh God! Why are you

so cruel to me? Are you angry with me because I made you do

household works? Frankly speaking, did I force you to do them? Did

you not volunteer them? How can you ignore me now when I am punished

for no fault of mine? I am not scared of death. In fact that takes

me closer to you, but should not the people know the truth?' Then

she addressed the people thus, `Why do you gather here. Is it a

feast to the eyes? Go home and pray to God. God alone can save you.'

 

She was about to be hanged. The name of Panduranga rose in

the air and echoed into the sky. The onlookers' could not believe

their eyes. The rope disappeared and in its place a garland of

flowers decked her neck. Janabai was filled with joy. The self

seekers were ashamed of the mischief

 

One day Panduranga was writing something seriously.

Jnanadev was surprised to see it and asked him the same. God

answered, `I am copying the song s of Janabai', Why, when there are

so many songs of Vyasa and Valmiki, where is the need for these

songs?' God answered, `whoever sings these songs and leads a life

accordingly, will be blessed by Me.'

 

Janabai is a realized soul. She was blessed and she laid an

ideal path to others.