Sant Sakkubai

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sant Sakkubai!

Chapter – 5

Lord Krishna who was assumed the form of Sakkubai sensed the grave situation, Goddess Rukmini became anxious, it was the pastime of Lord to serve the in-laws of Sakkubai in her absence so that the family would change their attitude towards his staunch devotee Sakkubai  when she returns to Karaveerapuram after Pandharpur Dharshan, Lord Krishna would return to his abode.  Ma Rukmini approached Lord Krishna waveringly and informed the demise of Sakkubai in Pandharpur.  Lord Krishna insisted Goddess Rukmini to bring back the life of Sakkubai so that he could be freed from the responsibility. 

The Varkari Saints arrived to meet the mother-in-law of Sakkubai were surprised to notice the great transformation in her attitude.  She received them with great respect, the Varkari saints were hesitant to inform the death of Sakkubai in Pandharpur, but they have no choice left, they detailed all that happened in Pandharpur.  Sakkubai’s mother-in-law was in utter shock, not ready to believe any of these, she was seeing her daughter-in-law happy and healthy all these days, serving the family.  She took the Varkari saints to the small shrine where Sakkubai engaged in the worship of Lord Krishna.

Goddess Rukmini rushed to funeral ground and sprinkled water on the funeral pile of Sakkubai, soon Sakkubai was brought back to life.  Goddess Rukmini advised Sakkubai all about Lord Krishna who is serving her family in her absence in Karaveerapuram, and instructed her to get back to home to release Lord Panduranga from household responsibility.   Sakkubai shed tears of gratitude thinking about the boundless compassion of  Lord Krishna. 

The Varkari saints were brought inside the small shrine where Sakkubai used to conduct worship, they have found the divine symbol of lotus feet of Lord Panduranga, the householders explained, that was the place they found Sakkubai was conducting her worship of Lord Krishna.   The Varkari Saints understood it is none other than Panduranga who was serving the family all these days, he said the real Sakkubai was with them in Pandharpur and left her mortal coil at the feet of Lord Panduranga.  The saint opened the remaining of the funeral pile of Sakkubai and found a small idol of Lord Vittala.  The real Sakkubai arrived home and detailed all that happened to her in Pandharpur and how she was saved by Goddess Rukmini.  Her mother-in-law felt guilty for all those wicked deeds against her daughter-in-law, the peace was restored in the family, afterward, the family members became ardent devotees of Lord Vittobha.

Sant Sakkubai

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sant Sakkubai!

Chapter – 4

The lady tied on the pole assumed the form of Sakkubai.  The mother-in-law and son became worried about the situation at home, if they keep Sakkubai starving for long, she would die of hunger and the villagers will not spare them.  So mother-in-law instructed her son to serve a handful of meals to Sakkubai.  He went to the dark attic and saw Sakkubai, her face was serene, glowing and pleasant.  She smiled at her husband who released her from the pole and fed her.  He felt ashamed of his rude behavior against his innocent wife.  Sakkubai was extremely calm as usual, she did not complain about anything to him.  Instead, she inquired about his well-being.  Her husband made up his mind that he will not support his mother for further torture against Sakkubai.   Days went on, Sakkubai performed all the household tasks, took great care of her in-laws and husband.  Eventually, all the members of the family started behaving very different, pleasant and calm, previously the house was a battlefield, now all three started performing worship of Lord Krishna, listening stories from scriptures and started living in harmony.

The real Sakkubai once again joined with the crowd of Varkari Saints singing and praising the glories of Lord Panduranga.  In this way, they have traveled a long route by foot to the famous shrine of Panduranga.  Finally, they have arrived in the shrine, Sakkubai was anxiously waiting for her turn to worship Lord Vittobha, when her turn arrived she rushed to the sanctum and embraced the feet of Lord Vittobha “ Oh! My Krishna, Oh! Prabho, I have been waiting for this moment. I have to go through many tortures to take shelter on your lotus feet.  I am truly fortunate, kindly liberate me from this worldly matters, I want to be freed from this worldly illusion.  I do not want anything other than shelter on your lotus feet.” Saying this she bowed her head down on the feet of Lord Panduranga.  The people waiting in the queue for getting the Dharshan of Vittal became impatient, they started complaining about Sakkubai.  One of the Varkari saints went near Sakkubai and called “ Daughter, get up we have two more days to worship.  Please give way to others to enter into the sanctum.”  There was no response from Sakkubai, he touched her shoulder and her lifeless body fell on his lap.  The people were shocked, eventually, the Varkari saints arranged for the funeral of Sakkubai near the shrine.  The crowd of Varkari saints mourns on the death of their beloved devotee Sakkubai who left mortal coil at the feet of Lord Vittobha which is not easy to attain for an ordinary soul.  They picked the remains from the funeral pyre and brought back to the village of Karaveerapuram.

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.

Sant Sakkubai

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sant Sakkubai!

Chapter – 2

Sakkubai had to face hellish torture in her mother-in-law’s home, the family members were against the worship of the idol of Lord Krishna.  One day her mother-in-law sneaked in her attic and taken away the idol of Krishna, with a wicked smile she ran out of the house and deposited the idol in the pile of cow dung.  She returned home with great pleasure thinking that Sakkubai's veneration of the idol has stopped from now onwards.  As she entered home and peeped inside the attic to enjoy the empty space, Alas! She could see the idol of Lord Krishna in the same place.  She was all frustrated rushed to the room and once again plucked the idol vehemently and ran out of the house, she came to the closest pond and threw off the idol in the water with a wicked pleasure, thinking this time she is not going to give any room for the mistake.  She returned home with great satisfaction that the idol has gone forever, she wanted to make sure that the idol did not come back, she went inside the room and saw the idol in the same place.  This time she was shocked, she was really frustrated, bend down on her knees before the idol and kept her hands on its feet and made an effort to pluck it, but it was firm on the ground.  At that moment, Sakkubai entered the room and found her mother-in-law before the idol, her head bowed down before the idol, she was surprised and thought that she might have changed her attitude about the idol worship.  Soon, her mother-in-law got on her feet and threw a hatred look on Sakkubai and left the room.  On the next day, her mother-in-law and her husband brought a Tantric who is famous in black magic, she wanted to teach a lesson to Sakkubai,  they tied her on the pole and tortured her.  In this way, the family members found immense joy in making her life miserable.

Sant Sakkubai

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sant Sakkubai!

Chapter – 1

Sant Sakkubai was born in a poor Brahmin family lived in Pandharpur.  Her parents were staunch devotees of Lord Vittobha.  This couple had a contented life; they sincerely prayed for a child to Vittobha, as they have yearned, shortly the couple blessed with the birth of a girl child who has intense devotion and faith in Lord Krishna.  She was named Sakkubai, this little girl spent her days in the recitation of Vittal Nama and worship of Lord Panduranga.  She was soaked in the pure love for Krisha from the early years of childhood.  As the years passed, Sakkubai was grown up to a beautiful young maiden.  The people in the village praised her virtues and firm devotion to Lord Krishna.

At the age of twelve Sakkubai was married  to a son of wealthy Pandit of Karaveerapuram, a small village located near the river banks of Krishna.  Sakkubai’s parents were immensely pleased to send their daughter to a rich family, at least she could spend a comfortable life in her in-law’s home for the rest of her life.  She had been living in poverty since childhood.  Her parents are not aware of the real nature of the groom’s family.  The reality was these family members were wicked and selfish, they are non-believers in God, her mother-in-law has complete control over the family, her son and husband follow the wicked command of her.  Soon after the marriage, Sakkubai was taken to the house of the groom, her mother-in-law employed her as a servant maid at the tender age of twelve; she was verbally and physically abused.  She had no support system in the family, her husband follows all the wicked command of his mother.  The whole villagers were aware of the nature of this family, they felt pity for the young bride Sakkubai.  She had to travel a long way to fetch water from the pond, grind flour, taking care of cattle, feeding cows, cooking and serving the family members.  Her days start with the veneration of Lord Krishna, an idol she was brought while leaving home after marriage, she installed the idol in her small attic and conducted worship.  Her mother-in-law and husband were not happy with it, but she continued her practice of veneration of Lord Krishna in the early hours of dawn, picking flowers from her small garden, decorating the idol with flowers and garlands, lighting the earthen lamp, worship of Ma Tulsi and offer water.  They make Sakkubai work so hard, she was served with stale food or sometimes she had to starve, in the long run, it took a toll on her health.   Though the family was so rich, they do not offer even a morsel of grain as a charity.  Her mother-in-law was dominant, she showed all her aggression on the young bride.  Sakkubai served all the members without any hesitation.  In this way, Sakkubai lived the life of a slave in her own house, she had accepted all the ill-treatment of the family members as her fate, without any complaints she continued her service, relentlessly chanting the name of Lord.

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 13^th 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.

Sant Gnaneshwar Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sant Gnaneshwar Maharaj!

Chapter – 9

The people of the village Alandi was extremely happy to hear the return of Nivriththinath, Gnandev, Sopan Dev and Mukthabai.  Gangadhar Shastri made all the preparations to receive these young saints.  The whole village was decorated with flowers, people assembled from all villages to see them.  Thus Gnandev and his siblings were received with great honor to their village.  Radha’s father was displeased at the initiative taken to receive the young saints back to Alandi.  His wicked mind was racing for finding an opportunity to humiliate these young saints.  He invited the illustrious Saint Changdev in Alandi and revealed his distress upon the arrival of young saints.  He  narrated unpleasantly “Gnandev who is a son of Sanyasin discarded from the village has returned,  he has fame and great respect in the villages,  he made a buffalo recite Veda, and brought a dead man alive, in this way he is performing all supernatural activities. Gurudev, you have to teach him a lesson.” Yogi Changdev was extremely happy to hear about the capabilities of the young saint, he expressed his desire to meet Gnandev in person, but his followers discouraged him saying that it would affect his reputation, later he also felt that it is absolutely right, the young saint should come to meet an elderly Saint who has performed several years of Tapasya and achieved greatest heights in spirituality.  Yogiraj Chang Dev sent a messenger with a plain paper as an invitation to Gnandev.  The messenger arrived in the hermitage of Gnandev and handed over the letter, it was astonishing to note that there was no content in it.  The three brothers were surprised watching over the empty paper as an invitation; Mukthabai sarcastically replied: “Yogi Changdev did not attain any knowledge after a thousand and four hundred years of Tapasya.” Nivriththinath discouraged her saying “ Muktha, you are not aware of the spiritual practices of Changdev Maharaj.  He is an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, he is an elderly saint lived in Siddhashrama and conducted penance for several years. He alleviated miseries, sorrows, and illnesses of several people, he is highly scholastic with great knowledge in all the Shashthras, Nyaya, Mimamsa, Veda, Vedanta, Jyothish, Dhanurvidhya, etc.. he has attained Ashtasiddhis.”  Mukthabai asked, “ How did he live for a thousand and four hundred years?” Nivriththinath replied “ Once in every hundred of years, he undertakes Nirvana, in this way he retained the soul in the body, I have learned about this illustrious Yogi from my preceptor Geheninath.”

Yogi Changdev decided to teach a lesson to Gnandev, he scared away all the  devotees of Gnandev by using his Manthrasiddhi, but Gnandev released them from the spell of Changdev with the recitation of sacred names of Lord.  It irritated Yogi Changdev, he realized that Gnandev is not an ordinary soul.  He decided to crush the fame of Gnandev.   It was believed that Gnandev who was born on the Ashtami Thithi is an incarnation of Lord Krishna.