When The Lord Served A Bhakt
The holy town of Pandharpur in Maharashtra. Dawn is breaking. The rising Sun is painting the sky red. The temple of Lord Vithala, an incarnation of Lord Krishna. The sound of birds greeting the new day. Bells begin to ring. The temple doors open and the devotees rush in.
They are astonished to see that the idol of Lord Vithala has a tired expression. They bow before the idol, and ask in the simple but moving way that true devotees speak. ’Lord, what happened? Why are you looking so tired?’
Lord Vithala uses a language that is not heard by the ears, but by the heart. The Lord speaks. ‘That Janabai! She summoned me to her house. It has taken Me from early morning to finish the grinding for Jana. I took her water jar and carried a great amount of water for her. As Jana swept, I filled a basket with the refuse and threw it outside. I washed the clothes with my four hands and pounded rice for her.”
The Lord smiles a smile that radiates heavens. He continues, ‘Janabai’s bhakti is so strong, that God Himself becomes her Sewak.’
Bhakti whispers the greatest of secrets in our hearts — that what makes God truly happy is the bhakti of a true devotee.
I Have Overcome All Social Barriers
In Maharashtra, eight centuries ago, was born a girl, Jana. At the tender age of five, she was taken to the temple of Lord Vitthala or Vithoba in Pandharpur, the center for the Varkari tradition. She refused to leave, telling her parents that although they loved her, she wished to remain in the temple and devote herself to God.
Jana was taken in as a sewak by the father of Sant Namdev, in which role she spent her entire life. Janabai had a mystic connection to Sant Namdev, who was her spiritual mentor in every age.
Janabai never went to school. Yet, her songs (abhangs) are poetical and musical treasures.
In the medieval era, women were secluded. Janabai sings:
‘The pallu of my sari falls away, yet I will enter the crowded marketplace.
O Lord, I have overcome all social barriers to reach Your home.’
My Lovely Grindstone
The most monotonous and tiring job of women was to grind grains. The Lord helped Janabai grind!
My lovely grindstone spins so enchantingly. Come to me, my Lord.
If the Ganga flows to the Ocean, can the Ocean turn Her away? Can a mother spurn her child? O Lord. You must accept those who surrender to You.
The Lord Eats Leftovers with Janabai
Only You, in everything.
I wish the world were made that way.
So Jana prayed and night fell.
And with it, He came.
One rainy night, Lord Vithala Himself visited Namdev’s house. Namdev, his parents, and siblings sat down to eat dinner with Him. The Lord soon saw that Janabai was not eating with them — as a sewak, she ate leftovers in the kitchen. The Lord stopped eating, and went to Janabai’s hut, and He and Janabai ate leftovers from the same plate!
The Lord Saves Janabai
Once, Lord Vithala left His necklace in Janabai’s hut. A group of people came to Jana’s house and accused her of stealing the necklace of Vithala. When they searched her house, they found the necklace. They then brought her to execute her, tying her to an iron rod. The iron rod suddenly turned into water, and all the people who had gathered understood that Janabai was innocent and blessed.
Sant Kabir visited Pandharpur and went to meet Sant Janabai. She was engaged in collecting yagna cake from cows. The cows were providing yagna cake to Janabai in large quantities, which made the other women present jealous. They stole Janabai’s basket. A quarrel ensued. When Sant Kabir reached the venue, Janabai appealed to Sant Kabir. Kabir took some yagna cake from the disputed basket. When he put his ear to the cake, he heard the sound of ‘Vithala, Vithala.’ Sant Kabir declared that this basket could only be Sant Janabai’s!
Verses Full of Love
One day as Jana was singing an abhang, Vithala started writing it down. Just then, Sant Dyaneshwar entered the temple. Dyaneshwar burst out laughing, and asked why He was noting down an abhang that was being sung in His praise. Vithala replied that the verses of Janabai are full of love.
I wrote down Jana’s words as she sang.
This has not made Me any less divine!
With the ink of Eternity, Vithala writes with Janabai.
Thus the Lord proclaimed Janabai’s greatness to the entire world.
The Festival of the Powerless
O Gopala,
help celebrate the festival
of the powerless.
Devotees are the source of Your strength.
O Hari, haven’t I understood Your secret?
I caught the Thief of Pandhari
by tying a rope around His neck.
I made my heart the prison cell
and locked Him up inside.
I whipped Him with the word Soham,
while Vithala complained bitterly.
Lord, I will not let You go.
Sant Janabai bound the Lord in her heart. Her songs bind us to Divine Love, centuries after her passing.
Written by Bhavesh Parekh and Sadhvi Tattvamayi
First published in the The Art of Living magazine ‘Rishimukh’, February 2021.
Copyright Bhavesh Parekh and Sadhvi Tattvamayi
