Sant Tukkaram- Part-10 by Sri.Sri.Muralidhara Swamiji

[Guest guest]

Radhe Krishna To All,

 

Tukkaram had sung innumerable kirtans on Bhagavan. Once a great Brahmin scholar

was discoursing. Finding a lot of people moving past his place he enquired of

those few who sat listening to him, " Where are all these people going? " They

said that these people were going to listen to Tukkaram. Every night Tukkaram

used to sing his simple kirtans and now and then stop to discourse on it. All

the villagers would gather round to listen to him. This would go on until three

in the morning. During the day, at work, all of them would sing Tukkaram's

kirtans that were very simple and devotion filled. Hearing this the scholar was

furious. He met Tukkaram and said, " You are a Vysya and not a Brahmin. Only a

Brahmin can impart 'upadesa' (advice). I am a learned Brahmin. I know all the

Shastras. You should stop your discourse from now. " Anyone else would have

argued with the Brahmin. But, Sadhus are humility personified. Therefore

Tukkaram said, " Sir! I am sorry. But,I

have never offered any ‘upadesa’ to any one. All my kirtans only praise the

Lord. They describe the Lord’s beauty and 'gunas'. However, you are a learned

Brahmin. As such you know better. Tell me what should I do? " The Brahmin said,

“Bundle up your kirtans and throw them into the Chandrabhaga river. And from

now onwards stop singing your kirtans. " Tukkaram bundled all his kirtans and

threw them into the Chandrabhaga. He experienced deep pain as if he had pushed

into the river a child of his whom he had brought up lovingly. He then sat on

the banks of the river without food or sleep.

 

After three days, when the Pandas (priests) in Pandaripur temple opened the

doors of Lord Panduranga’s sannidhi they found a wet sack on the head of the

Lord. It was dripping with water and the Lord's garments were totally wet.

Wonder struck they took the sack from the Lord's head and opened it. They found

innumerable writings with the stamp of 'Tukkaram' in them. They realized that it

was the kirtans of the Sadhu who visited the temple from Dehu Road. They

immediately took the kirtans to Tukkaram.

When Tukkaram saw them with his writings, he asked them, " It is I who had thrown

them in the river. Why did you retrieve them? "

 

The Pandãs explained, " No! We did not retrieve them from the river. We found

them on the Lord’s head this morning when we opened the door to perform

'prabodanam'. Since they all carry your stamp we realized that they are all your

kirtans. We, therefore, came to return them to you.â€

Tukkaram's joy knew no bounds as he realized that Panduranga had accepted his

kirtans.

 

He asked the Lord, " If you approve of them why this delay in bringing them to

me, Oh! Lord! I have been sitting here without food and sleep these for the past

three days. "

 

The Lord said to him, " Tukkaram! They were so wonderful that I have been reading

them for the past three days! "

 

Learning about the incident, the Brahmin scholar came running to Tukkaram and

fell at his feet. " I did not realize your greatness. Please forgive me for the

wrong done. " Tukkaram shrunk away pleading, " You are a Brahmin and a great

scholar. You know all the Shastras. How can you fall at my feet? Please do not

fall at my feet. " Such is the humility of Sadhus.

Once during a discourse many people were placing lot of offerings. A devoted

lady from a very wealthy family deeply desired to offer something but her

husband was a miser. He would certainly not permit any offering. Without her

husband’s knowledge she brought a small old brass pot that was in use in her

home. She hid it in her saree 'pallu' and with lot of embarrassment gave it to

the man who was receiving and offering the gifts from the people. Seeing such a

wealthy lady offering an old ‘in-use’ brass pot he decided to mar her name

in public. He, therefore, wrapped it up neatly in a cloth and announcing the

name of the lady said that she was offering a golden pot. The lady felt deeply

embarrassed and was in tears. She was at a loss to know what to do. Tukkaram

recognized the lady's 'hrudaya' (heart - the feeling of her heart). He took the

cloth bundle from the man and returned it to him. On opening the bundle the man

found a golden pot inside and

not the old brass pot! Such is the compassion of Sadhus.

 

!!! Will continue !!!

 

Regards

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

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