Sant Janabai

Pranams at the lotus feet of Janabai!

Chapter - 3

Once Gonabai wife of Dhamseth noticed Jana was talking to someone while grinding the flour, she rushed to see whom Jana was conversing with but she could not see anyone, she threatened Jana to reveal the name of the person with whom she was talking all day long, Jana was speechless, instantly Gonabai found the lotus feet of Panduranga before the grinding stone, she was stunned watching  the devotion of the young Jana.

Gonabai and her daughter-in-law used to admire her dedication to household chores, sometimes they used to baffle at her speed of work in the household activities like grinding flour, filling waters, making Rotis etc.. They have always remembered her as the daughter of Vittal who was born in the low caste.  Namdev advises his mother and wife to respect Jana as the favorite soul of Vittala, never disrespect her as she was born in the lower caste.

Once Jana was returning from collecting water, she found a lady of the village picking cow dung patties, they both had an argument and it continued for long saying that she had stolen the cow dung patties prepared by Jana. While she was seriously arguing for the cow dung patties, there arrived Sant Gnandev and Kabir Das Maharaj to visit the house of Namdev.  Kabir Das Maharaj told Namdev " Gnandev mentioned about young Jana who is a staunch devotee of Lord Panduranga working in your house, she is not an ordinary woman, Lord Panduranga is doing all her work, we have come all the way from Kashi to meet that divine soul who is the beloved daughter of Lord Panduranga."  Gnandev Maharaj asked, " Where is Jana?" Namdev's mother said, " She must have gone for picking woods or cow dung patties." Namdev brought Gnandev and Sant Kabir Das to the place where  Jana was arguing with a woman on cow dung patties.  Sant Kabir Das spoke" Jana are you arguing for a cow dung patty like an ordinary woman?" Janabai said, " she has stolen the cow dung patties prepared by me."  Sant Kabirdas said " how can we find out which is yours and hers? It has become difficult now."  Janabai said with a smile " No, it is not at all difficult, kindly check all the patties by keeping close to your ears, I have made patties while reciting Vittal Nama, therefore you could listen to the Vittal Nama from my patties."  Sant Kabir das picked each patty and he could listen to Vittal Nama from the patties made by Jana.  Sant Kabir Das was mesmerized at the devotion of her, he was deeply moved at the devotion of Jana to Lord Panduranga and said, " Jana, kindly sanctify me keeping your hands on my head, you are divine soul beloved of Lord Panduranga".  She replied with humility " Kabirdha, Lord Panduranga is the father of all, he listens to me,  my preceptor is Namdev who is beloved of Panduranga, hence I am a Dasi of Namdev /Namayachi Dasi who is the staunch devotee of Lord Vittal."