Thursday, December 1, 2011

gurucharitra adhyay 10

Sripada Sri Vallabha's continued showering of His Grace on his devotees
even after his Mahaprasthan.

The devotee Vallabhesh being protected from murderous thieves.

Namdharak entreated Siddhamuni to enlighten him further on the Leelas and Mahimas of Sripada Sri Vallbha, which are said to continue, to be occurring even after the physical form of the Avatar.

Siddhamuni narrated the following ancedote which is just one among countless such occurrences.

There was a Brahmin by the name of Vallbhesh. He used to earn his livelihood in some small trade. He was an ardent devotee of Sripad, and used to visit Kurvapur every year for the Darshan and worship of the Guru Padukas enshrined there. Once he was planning to take up a new business venture, which was fraught with considerable risk. He took a vow that in case he would succeed in the venture through Sripada's Grace, he would feed a thousand Brahmins at Kurvapur. To his joy he succeeded in the venture and earned a handsome profit.

In order to fulfill his vow, Vallabhesh set out to Kurvapur, taking along with him quite a sum of money for spending for the proposed feast. A group of three thieves learnt of his journey and followed him. they told the Brahmin that they were also devotees of Guru Nath and visited Kurvapur every year for the Darshan and worship of the Padukas. Vallbhesh believed them and felt happy that he had good company for the journey. They halted in the forest for rest in the night. The Brahmin fell fast asleep. The thieves dealt a heavy blow on the head of the Brahmin with a huge stick. The Brahmin opened his eyes writhing in pain, and felt aghast to see his companions trying to kill him. He closed his eyes and prayed to the Sripada mentally and uttering "Digambara Digambara Sripada Sri Vallbha Digambara". As the thieves dealt further blows, also inflicting knife injuries in his neck, he fell unconscious and died. The thieves seized the bag of money of the Brahmin and started to run away from here. But they were aghast to find a person with matted hair smeared with ashes and holding a trident in his hand and looking fiercely at them and blocking their way. The strange Sanyasi pierced three of the thieves with his Trident who died instantly, and he was about to kill the fourth one also. But the latter in mortal fright, feel at the feet of the Sanyasi and pleaded "Oh Divine one! please spare my life. I was actually not in that group but just accompanied them. I pray you to pardon me." The Sanyasi relented and giving Vibhuti to him, said, "Apply this Vibhuti over the injuries of the Brahmin and keep strict watch for the safety of the body until daybreak." Saying thus the Sanyasi disappeared just as instantaneously as he appeared before. The thief was spared his life, did as commanded by Sanyasi. Lo! in the early hours of dawn, and as the darkness was melting away giving way to the light of sunrise, the Brahmin came back to life, just as if waking from a sound sleep. There were no marks of injury on his head and body. The survivor thief narrated to the Brahmin all that had happened, and begged his pardon. The Brahmin, seeing also the dead bodies of the three thieves, realised that it was none other than Sripada Sri Vallabha Deva that had come to his rescue. With tears of gratitude welling out from his heart, he sang praise of him. The thief completely reformed now, handed over the money bag safely with him.

The Brahmin safely reached Kurvapur, and gave a rich and sumptuous feast to more than four thousand people, and fulfilled his vow in a much bigger way.

The Siddhamuni finally said Sripada Sri Vallabha Deva is ever present, and is everywhere, giving succor and protection to whosoever prays and offers devotion to him".

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