Sant Sakkubai

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sant Sakkubai!

Chapter – 3

One day Sakkubai went to fetch water from the pond as usual, on the way she saw a group of Panduranga devotees and Varkari Saints singing praising the glories of Lord Vittobha, conducting journey to Pandharpur.  Sakkubai rushed towards the crowd and stood there listening to the Namasankeerthana, eventually she was transported to a world of bliss, she forgot her family, she handed her mud vessel to the woman from the neighborhood and proceeded with the crowd to Pandharpur.  She amiably enquired the saints whether she could follow them to Pandharpur, the Varkari saints were very happy to see the devotion of young Sakkubai, they happily agreed to take her to Pandharpur.  The neighborhood woman returned with the empty mud vessels and handed it to her mother-in-law and said: “ Your daughter-in-law has gone to Pandharpur with the Varkari saints.”  Her mother-in-law was infuriated she ordered her son to bring back sakkubai  to home forcefully.  Sakkubai’s husband rushed behind the Varkari saints and pulled her out from the crowd.  They tortured her physically and tied to a pole in a dark attic,  and she was kept locked for a few days.  Sakkubai cried her heart out praying to Panduranga.

Lord Krishna and Goddess Rukmini was exploring happily through the woods, suddenly Lord stopped and looked anxious, Goddess Rukmini enquired the Lord for the reason for his weariness and said “ Lord, your ardent devotee Sakkubai is in trouble, won’t you help her out? You are Pranatharththihara, you have to reach her help immediately.” He said, “ Sakkubai is in deep trouble, I have to save her.”  Instantly Lord Krishna disappeared from the woods informing Goddess Rukmini to stay there itself.

 Sakkubai was kept in a dark room without serving the meal.  Soon a lady appeared before Sakkubai who was tired of humiliation and hunger, the lady introduced her as a devotee from the crowd of the Varkari group, she came to check on her and take her back to the journey to Pandharpur.  Sakkubai was extremely happy, she released Sakkubai from the pole and tied herself with the pole, she asked Sakkubai to rush to the place where she left her journey to Pandharpur.   Sakkubai was worried about the woman who tied herself with the pole and the lady consoled her saying that she would make her way back very soon.  At home Sakkubai’s mother-in-law found it difficult to perform the household tasks in the absence of her daughter-in-law.