Saint Sketch -4- Bhakta Chokamela -Last Part By Sri.Sri.Muralidhara Swamiji

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Radhe Krishna To All,

 

Chokamela stopped going to the temple. He would stay at home and meditate upon

the Lord. He saw all the pujas in his mind’s eye itself. The experience was

blissful.

 

Time came when Panduranga decided to enact his divine play. One night, after the

priests had completed the puja and locked the temple, Panduranga came to

Chokamela’s humble abode. Chokamela’s joy knew no bounds. He cried thinking

of the Lord’s compassion and totally lost himself in the happiness. The Lord

told Chokamela that he would fulfill any wish of his. Chokamela immediately

replied “Lord! There can be no greater thing to wish for, than your darshan.

Now that you have blessed me with that, I beg of you to show me your temple. I

have never been inside even once in my lifetimeâ€

 

In a flash, the Lord took him inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple and

they talked with each other all night long. The conversation was so fascinating

that time flew away and it was morning already. The priests opened the doors of

the temple and were shocked to find Chokamela inside the sanctum sanctorum. They

cursed him and took him to the King. “This man who hails from the slum has

entered the temple. Your majesty should punish him appropriately†they said.

Chokamela replied “I did not go there on my own. How could I have gone inside

after the door was locked? The Lord himself took me insideâ€.

 

Nobody was willing to believe his words and they all alleged that he was a

magician. The king, without proper enquiry, punished him by banishing him from

Pandarpur. He ordered that Chokamela should not live inside Pandarpur and that

none from the town should have any contact with him. Chokamela silently accepted

this also as the will of God. He put up a hut on the opposite banks of the river

Chandrabhaga and continued with his life as before. He and his wife would fast

on Ekadasi day and on Dwadasi day, they had the most special visitor one can

ever wish for to have a meal at their abode – the Lord himself. This became a

routine affair.

 

On a particular Dwadasi day, Chokamela was seen beating and cursing his wife.

The priests from the temple who had come to the river witnessed that scene and

felt sorry for the poor woman. “ You have lost all your respect and

commitment. Is this the way to serve the Lord? You have committed a great sin by

spilling curd on his robe, careless woman!†Chokamela screamed.

 

These words of Chokamela shocked the priest. They told each other “Oh! What is

he saying? He is saying that the Lord has come to take food in his place. How

can that be? He is definitely mocking at us. The punishment has not taught him a

lesson. He has become more arrogant! We should report him to the king again’

 

Saying so, they went to the temple and opened the doors. What they witnessed was

the most unbelievable sight. The robes of the Lord were drenched in curd. They

could not believe their own eyes.

 

“Chokamela was right after all. Lord Panduranga had been to his place. Oh!

What a blunder we have committed by insulting and ill-treating a true Mahatma.

Let us all go and seek his pardon. Only then the Lord will accept us†they all

said in one voice and rushed to Sri Chokamela’s hut. They all narrated the

happenings and fell at Chokamela’s feet. Chokamela though, was embarrassed by

this act of the priests. He said with tears in his eyes ‘Great Priests! I am

just a humble servant of Panduranga. Please do not fall at my feet. I am speck

of dust!â€

 

The entire town and the king realized the greatness of Sri Chokamela and hailed

his bhakti. The Lord had once again enacted a divine play to make the world

understand true devotion.

Regards

 

Please Chant

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

 

and be happy

 

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