Sant Tukkaram- Part-9 by Sri.Sri.Muralidhara Swamiji

[Guest guest]

Radhe Krishna To All,

 

Living with Bhagavan is easy. There is no wonder in Sita having lived with Rama

or Rukmini having lived with Krishna. To marry a Bhakta and live with him is a

task beyond all imaginations. Bhaktas are birds that fly very high. It is very

difficult to comprehend their moods and behavior (as they are steeped in the

thought of God).

 

Whenever Tukkaram returned home his wife used to offer water to wash his feet.

But, one evening his wife was not at home when he returned. When she came home

after some half-an-hour he asked her, " Where have you been? " She said

hesitatingly, " The children at home have to be fed. You are unable to attend to

the family needs. Therefore, I earn through cleaning the dishes in few houses. "

The shocked Tukkaram said to her in an apologizing tone, " From tomorrow do not

go anywhere. I will try to get some job and earn something for the family. " He

went to some houses in the village to ask for some work. But, the moment he

entered a house he was welcomed with honor and affection. They washed his feet

and offered something to eat. When he told them the purpose of his visit they

were aghast. They said, " Swami! You are a great Sadhu. How can we make you work

for us? It is verily a sin. We will provide you with all your needs but do not

say that you wish to work for

us. " But, Tukkaram would not accept a single paise or grain from anyone. Since

every one knew him in the village he went to the Harijan colony where none had

seen him. There he managed to get the job of guarding a field.

 

Tukkaram was happy to have secured this kind of a job, which posed no block to

his Namasankirtan. He happily said to his employer, “I will take good care of

your field.â€

 

He sat on the wooden platform that had been placed on a tree and singing the

Name of the Lord watched over the field. Soon he lost himself in the thought of

Bhagavan. Birds, goats and cows entered the field. To Tukkaram every one of them

seemed to be Panduranga. He said, " Oh! Panduranga! Come! Come! Have a feast. Eat

to your fill. All are verily yours! " All of them had a great day and that

evening when the owner came to the field he was aghast to find everything lost.

The whole field was in havoc. The furious man caught hold of Tukkaram and shook

him up. He shouted angrily, " What have you done? I asked you to guard my field

from animals and birds. I have lost everything. You have to make up for the

loss. " Tukkaram, who was now out of his trance, realized what had happened and

deeply regretted the negligence on his part. He said, " Sir! I have nothing with

me to pay you. If I did, I would not have sought this job from you. I am sorry

for what has

happened. " The employer said, " Well! Let us go to the king and ask for

justice.†The horrified Tukkaram said, “No! Let us not go to the king.â€

Tukkaram was not afraid of the king. Shivaji was his disciple and if they went

to him this good man who had offered employment to him would have to face the

wrath of the king. He wished to avoid this situation. He, therefore, said to

him, " You may beat me as much as you want for the wrong done.â€

 

The employer tied up Tukkaram to a tree and slashed him with a whip. Tukkaram

exclaimed, " Vittala! " The angry employer barked, " Are you the great Tukkaram

that you call out 'Vittala'? " Tukkaram said, " I am Tukkaram. " The employer was

horrified to learn that it was the great Sadhu Tukkaram whom he had employed and

had now tied to a pole and whipped. He fell at Tukkaram’s feet and pleaded,

" Master! What a great sin I have committed. Please say that you have forgiven

me; otherwise my whole family and the generations before and after me will stand

cursed for my misdeed.†Tukkaram hugged him and said, " You have not done any

wrong. " The man said, " Your Lotus Feet have touched this field. What has been

lost now will soon be gained in hundred folds. I have nothing to worry on this

account. " He then filled a cartload of sugarcane from another field of his and

offered it to Tukkaram.

 

Riding the cart of sugarcane Tukkaram reached home. He said to his wife, " I have

earned a cartload of sugarcane today. " She said, " What can we do with this

sugarcane? Please take them to the market and sell them so that we can buy food

for our children. " Tukkaram turned the cart towards the market. Children are

fond of sugarcane. Tukkaram had hardly gone a few yards when children came

rushing to the cart singing loudly, “Ramakrishna Hari! Vittala! Panduranga! "

The Name of the Lord was enough to distribute the sugarcane to the children.

With just one sugarcane left in the cart, Tukkaram returned home. Tukkaram's

wife asked him, " Have all sugarcane been sold out? Where is the money? Let us

buy food for our children. " Tukkaram said to her, " Oh! No! I have not sold them

in the market. Children came running to the cart singing the Lord’s Name. I

could not help distributing it to the children who joyously cried out the

Lord’s Name.â€

 

His wife could take it no more. She lost her temper. She was deeply distraught

that her children had to go without food for another day. She picked up the last

sugarcane in the cart and beat Tukkaram's back with it. The sugarcane split into

two halves. Tukkaram smilingly pointed out to her, " See! How great Bhagavan is!

He has used your hand and my back to split the sugarcane into two equal halves

so that we do not quarrel over our share. " Coming back to her senses, his wife

fell at his feet and said with tears, “How can you smile even at this moment.

Don't you feel angry? How is it that you do not lose your temper at any point of

time? What have I done in my anger? Please forgive me. " Tukkaram consoled her.

He said to her, " How happy is our life! Everyday, every moment we enjoy the Name

of the Lord. Sadhus visit our home frequently. There is Nama sankirtan every

day. "

 

!!! Will continue !!!

 

Regards

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

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