Feeding of Thousands of people, with but a small measureful of rice.
From this chapter begins the Bhakti Kanda section of Sri Guru Charitra.
The influx of devotees to Gangapur for Guru Nath's Darshan was increasing day by day. They used to offer Bhiksha to Guru Nath and they also used to do Samaradhana, i.e., feeding a large number of people of the town on that occasion. Not a single day passed without a Samaradhana in the town of Gangapur.
One day a poor Brahmin by name of Bhaskaryya came to Gangapur for Sri Narasimha Saraswati's Darshan and also with the intention of offering him Bhiksha. But, as he could not afford much, the provisions he brought along with him for the purpose of the Bhiksha were scant and would hardly suffice two or three persons. He had Guru Nath's Darshan and requested him that, although he was poor, Guru Nath should, on any day, accept Bhiksha from him also. To this, Guru Nath gave no reply but kept silent. But Bhaskaravya was hopeful he would get the opportunity and Guru Nath would certainly accept his Bhiksha one day.
Thus Bhaskaravya had to remain at Gangapur hoping that Guru Nath would accept his Bhiksha some day. He used to stay in the Math itself and for his food, he used to go to the Samaradhana everyday. The other Brahmins started criticising and ridiculing him that it was not proper for a Brahmin to be taking his daily food at the Samaradhanas only. But the Brahmin had no other means, and he carried on like this for three months, waiting for Sri Narasimha Saraswati to talk to him and accept his Bhiksha.
Then one day, in the morning Guru Nath did send for Bhaskaravya and told him that he should prepare for the Bhiksha that day. The Brahmin felt very happy. With the meager provisions which he had brought along with him, he started cooking food for the Bhiksha, which should suffice Guru Nath and himself. Sri Narasimha Saraswati told all the Brahmins who came for his morning Darshan not to leave the place nor go back to their homes without partaking of the food at the Bhiksha and Samaradhana which Bhaskaravya was going to do at the Math on that day. All the Brahmins thought that Guru Nath must have provided for the Math all the provisions needed by the Brahmin for the Samaradhana. Sri Narasimha Saraswati then told the Brahmin to bring the food he had cooked and to place it before him. The Brahmin, with great trepidation and embarrassment, brought the scanty food he had cooked and placed it in before Sri Guru Nath. Guru Nath covered the vessel containing the food with his shawl. The Brahmin then offered his worship to Guru Nath. After worship was over, Guru Nath asked the brahmin to start serving food to al the assembled Brahmins, but keeping the vessel containing the food, covered with the shawl. The Brahmin started serving and the food became "Akshaya", i.e.,in exhaustible and undiminishing. Besides the Brahmins, people of all the castes, their families and their children were also served the food and Guru Nath said that the Brahmin should now take his food. The Brahmin was asked to remove the shawl that was covering the food all along. The shawl was removed Lo! whatever food Bhaskaravya had cooked and what was in the vessel originally, remained. Bhaskaravya thanked Guru Nath who asked Bhaskaravya to feed dogs, crows etc., for Bhuta-Trupti and also offer it to the aquatic creatures (fishes, etc) in the river waters. The little residual food still continued to remain undiminished.
Ah, the small measureful of rice which the Brahmin had cooked could feed thousands of men and several other creatures too. Faith and Grace can work wonders indeed!
Thus ends the Thirty Eighth chapter of Sri Guru Charitra describing "The poor Brahmins's Samaradhana".
Glory to the All merciful, the Omnipresent and the ever responsive Guru Nath! The influx of devotees to Gangapur for Guru Nath's Darshan was increasing day by day. They used to offer Bhiksha to Guru Nath and they also used to do Samaradhana, i.e., feeding a large number of people of the town on that occasion. Not a single day passed without a Samaradhana in the town of Gangapur.
One day a poor Brahmin by name of Bhaskaryya came to Gangapur for Sri Narasimha Saraswati's Darshan and also with the intention of offering him Bhiksha. But, as he could not afford much, the provisions he brought along with him for the purpose of the Bhiksha were scant and would hardly suffice two or three persons. He had Guru Nath's Darshan and requested him that, although he was poor, Guru Nath should, on any day, accept Bhiksha from him also. To this, Guru Nath gave no reply but kept silent. But Bhaskaravya was hopeful he would get the opportunity and Guru Nath would certainly accept his Bhiksha one day.
Thus Bhaskaravya had to remain at Gangapur hoping that Guru Nath would accept his Bhiksha some day. He used to stay in the Math itself and for his food, he used to go to the Samaradhana everyday. The other Brahmins started criticising and ridiculing him that it was not proper for a Brahmin to be taking his daily food at the Samaradhanas only. But the Brahmin had no other means, and he carried on like this for three months, waiting for Sri Narasimha Saraswati to talk to him and accept his Bhiksha.
Then one day, in the morning Guru Nath did send for Bhaskaravya and told him that he should prepare for the Bhiksha that day. The Brahmin felt very happy. With the meager provisions which he had brought along with him, he started cooking food for the Bhiksha, which should suffice Guru Nath and himself. Sri Narasimha Saraswati told all the Brahmins who came for his morning Darshan not to leave the place nor go back to their homes without partaking of the food at the Bhiksha and Samaradhana which Bhaskaravya was going to do at the Math on that day. All the Brahmins thought that Guru Nath must have provided for the Math all the provisions needed by the Brahmin for the Samaradhana. Sri Narasimha Saraswati then told the Brahmin to bring the food he had cooked and to place it before him. The Brahmin, with great trepidation and embarrassment, brought the scanty food he had cooked and placed it in before Sri Guru Nath. Guru Nath covered the vessel containing the food with his shawl. The Brahmin then offered his worship to Guru Nath. After worship was over, Guru Nath asked the brahmin to start serving food to al the assembled Brahmins, but keeping the vessel containing the food, covered with the shawl. The Brahmin started serving and the food became "Akshaya", i.e.,in exhaustible and undiminishing. Besides the Brahmins, people of all the castes, their families and their children were also served the food and Guru Nath said that the Brahmin should now take his food. The Brahmin was asked to remove the shawl that was covering the food all along. The shawl was removed Lo! whatever food Bhaskaravya had cooked and what was in the vessel originally, remained. Bhaskaravya thanked Guru Nath who asked Bhaskaravya to feed dogs, crows etc., for Bhuta-Trupti and also offer it to the aquatic creatures (fishes, etc) in the river waters. The little residual food still continued to remain undiminished.
Ah, the small measureful of rice which the Brahmin had cooked could feed thousands of men and several other creatures too. Faith and Grace can work wonders indeed!
Thus ends the Thirty Eighth chapter of Sri Guru Charitra describing "The poor Brahmins's Samaradhana".
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