Vitthaldas

During a great utsava, Shri Vitthaldasji did what no one could fathom. He offered his own putra as nyochavar to Bhagavat. That was the kind of bhakta he was. Nothing held back. Everything surrendered.

He was a noble Mathar Chobe Brahmana who gave honor to all yet kept none for himself. He had great priti for the tilaka of the Uddhava-pura lineage and the kanthi-mala. His tongue carried only the praise of saints and bhaktas throughout his life. He was saral-hridaya, santoshi, devoted to the welfare of others. And whenever he uttered the name "Govinda," he did so with such prem that everyone who heard it was drowned in ananda.

Once, accompanied by sadhus, he arrived at a Rana's court. All were steeped in vinaya and prem. The Rana rose and honored the samaj with respect. But ill-wishers had laid the bedding for the night's jagaran on a slippery terrace roof. During kirtana, Shri Vittalji became so besudh singing the Bhagavad-yash-nama that he fell from the terrace with a thud. The Rana was horrified. He rebuked the wicked plotters harshly. The sadhus lifted Vittalji into their laps and carried him home. By the kripa of Shri Bhakta-rakshak Bhagavan, not the slightest injury touched his body. He lay still for three days, and then consciousness returned.

When the fainting spell passed, his mataji told him everything about the treachery. That very night he left home. He came to the village of Chhathikara, where Shri Yashodaji had once celebrated the chhathi ceremony of Bhagavan, and there he became absorbed in the seva and puja of Shri Garuda-Govindji, gazing upon Prabhu's beauty in constant rapture. The Rana's servants searched everywhere but could not find him. His wife and mataji found him, wept, pleaded. He would not listen to a single word. At last, defeated by his resolve, they stayed there too.

Now, a princess of the Rana's household was a shishya of Shri Rangirayji. When she learned that her guruji had been given as nyochavar to a dancer by Vitthaldasji, she gave up food and water. She sent word to the dancer: "Take whatever wealth you want from me, but return my guru Bhagavan so I may have his darshana." The dancer replied: "I do not hunger for money. But if you truly plead, I can give my tan, mana, and dhana."

The rajkanya arranged a Bhagavat-samaj once more. Gifted performers danced and sang. She gave generous gifts. She herself danced before Bhagavat. Shri Vittalji began to offer himself as nyochavar, but the dancer would not accept. Then the dancer adorned Shri Rangirayji beautifully, seated him in a palanquin, brought him forward and said: "Now it is your turn to dance." Shri Rangirayji performed such nritya and gana that the dancer, completely captivated, offered Shri Rangirayji as nyochavar back to Vitthaldasji. When he would not accept, the rajkanya took her guru and was supremely delighted.

At that very moment, Shri Rangirayji offered his very prana as nyochavar to Bhagavat.

Hold fast these incomparable charitras of the rasikas in your hridaya. If you wish for firm prem-bhakti at the charana of Shri Yugal Sarkar, these stories are the way.

Shri Hariram Hathilaji was fiercely tejaswi, generous, prem-purna, and a rashi of rasa. His voice was ever gadgad with bhava. In the Rana's royal court, he stood without the slightest fear and spoke plainly of what fruit comes to one who offends a Hari-bhakta, citing the fate of Hiranyakashipu. By the bala of Bhagavad-bhajana, the Rana held no terror for him.

In that same court sat a sannyasi who played chaupar with the Rana daily, and through that intimacy had grown bold enough to seize a vairaagi sadhu's land. The sadhu went to the court and cried out for justice. The Rana, under the sway of the sannyasi, had him thrown out with mockery.

The vairaagi came to Shri Hariramji and told him everything. Without hesitation, Hariramji said: "Come, let us go." He took the sadhu and sat in the Rana's court. The Rana did not even acknowledge that a Hari-jana had arrived. Then Shri Hariramji rebuked the Rana directly and described the consequence that befell Hiranyakashipu for wronging a saint. The Rana restored the sadhu's land. They all parted in mutual contentment.