Sant Gnaneshwar Maharaj
Pranams at the lotus feet
of Sant Gnaneshwar Maharaj!
Chapter – 10
Yogi Changdev decided to
meet Gnandev in person. He mounted on a
leopard and accompanied by a large number of disciples and proceeded to the
hermitage of Gnandev, people cheered in loud noises and conducted journey
through the woods. Gnandev with his
siblings was sitting on the little wall could hear the reverberating noises
from the wood. Soon they realized that
it is Mahayogi Changdev with his disciples arriving to meet them. Nivriththinath expressed his view that a
Mahayogi like Changdev should be received with great honor so they have to
leave the place immediately. Gnandev
gave instructions to the wall to move; soon it started flying in the sky to
receive the Yogi. Changdev was mystified
to see Gnandev and his siblings arriving on a wall that was flying high in the
sky. It troubled the pride of the Mahayogi,
he used his Manthrasiddhi to defeat Gnandev, but the Nagasthra which was aimed at Gnandev turned into a garland and
fallen on his neck, but Changdev was not willing to accept his defeat he
continued his Manthrasiddhi, but none of the Asthravidhya did work. Finally, Changdev could witness Lord Vishnu in
place of Gnandev, instantly Changdev realized his grave sin, he abruptly got
out of the leopard and approached Gnandev with folded hands “ Prabho, kindly
forgive me. I have failed to understand
your divinity. I was wandering in the
darkness” He has fallen at the feet of
Gnandev and begged for forgiveness.
Gnandev said, “ Mahayogi, you were not wandering in the darkness, you were
wandering in the woods of ego.” Mahayogi Changdev with tears overflowing revealed
his desire to serve Gnandev and invited him to his village. Yogi Changdev cursed Radha’s father for adding
ghee into the fire against Gnandev. Later,
he was forgiven at the request of Gnandev.
Radha’s father who was ignorant in all his life, fallen at the feet of
Gnandev and begged for forgiveness.
Sant Gnandev revealed his decision to embrace Mahasamadhi, the people were shocked to hear the
announcement. Mahayogi Changdev
expressed his desire to serve him in rest of his life, Gnandev replied “
Yogiraj, a service should not be bondage, be a light of wisdom and knowledge
and spread light in the life of people who are wandering in the darkness of
ignorance, alleviate their sorrows and miseries, self-less service to human is the service to Lord Parameshwara, eventually it
could lead to liberation from repeated births.”
Gnaneshwar went to seek permission to undertake Mahasamadhi, met his elder brother Nivriththinath “ Preceptor, kindly give me your
permission to embrace Mahasamadhi.” Nivriththinath sadly spoke “ Gnandev, your
Karma has not come to an end.” Gnandev said “ Preceptor, our Karma has no end,
but our life span did not wait to fulfill all our Karma, like the green leave turns yellow and die, in place of that a new one sprout, in this way the Karma
continues. Preceptor, kindly liberate
me from the worldly bondage, allow me to attain the eternal bliss.” Nivriththinathji
embraced his brother and said, “My blessings are always with you.” Sopandev and
Mukthabai was in tears, Gnandev pacified them.
Gnaneshwar Maharaj was 21 years old, it was on 13th day of Krishna paksha in the month of Karthik, as the entire villagers were witnessing
with tears, Sant Gnaneshwar who was followed by his siblings moved to the cave
where he was decided to undertake Mahanirvana and attained union with the
Bramham.