Sant Surdas Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sant Surdas Maharaj!

Chapter – 5

There was an interesting incident took place in the life of Surdas Maharaj.  The sons of Vittaldas Goswami decided to test the devotion of Surdas Maharaj who arrived in Gokuldham.  Surdas Maharaj decided to take Parikrama of Govardhan with Goswami.  The sons of Vittaldas Goswami used to listen to the lectures of  Surdas Maharaj,  he describes the marvelous decoration of the idol of Lord Krishna in the shrine on a daily basis as if he was seen with his eyes.  The sons of Goswami decided to test on Surdas Maharaj, they decorated the idol of Lord Krishna in a unique way to experiment with the devotion of Surdas Maharaj.  Giridharji who was well aware of the devotion of Surdas Maharaj discouraged the children and said: “It is not advisable to test the devotion of saintly people.”  But the children were adamant.  It was the month of Ashada, Giridharji decorated the idol of Lord Krishna brilliantly, it was scorching heat, during these days usually the idol of Lord used to keep free from decoratives and colorful clothes.  Instead, the stone idol was decorated with the rich sandalwood paste and highly fragrant and colorful substances.  Surdas Maharaj who was sitting in the patio of the shrine was smiling to himself, thinking the lovely form of Lord Krishna.  It was during the Harathi Dharshan, Giridhardasji requested Surdas Maharaj to sing praising the decoration of Lord Krishna.  Surdas Maharaj sung every detail about the decoration of Lord Krishna that was taken place on that day and his attractive limbs as if he was seen them with his eyes, everyone was wonder-struck listening to the mesmerizing verses of Surdas Maharaj.

Sant Surdas Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sant Surdas Maharaj!

Chapter – 4

Surdas arrived in Brindavan and started living in an old shrine.  Once he met Sri Vallabhacharya on the river banks of Yamuna, that was the turning point in his life.   He embraced Sanyasa under the guidance of Sri Vallabhacharya who taught him lessons on Hindu philosophy and meditation.  He lived in Parsoli near Chandrasarovar, though he was blind by birth, he could witness all those pastimes of his beloved Lord Krishna and his attractive features with his divine eyes.   He composed those fascinating sights in beautiful verses.   Once in a day, the temple priest offers a meal to Surdas.  Usually, the offering to Lord was given as food with a pot of water to Maharaj.   One day the son of the priest forgot to keep water and kept the meal before Surdas Maharaj and left home.  While eating the hard foodstuffs, it stuck in the throat of Surdas Maharaj and started chocking, he was trying to call out for help but went in vain, and his situation became grim.  Soon a boy arrived with a vessel of water kept in the sanctum and handed before Surdas Maharaj “ Baba, drink this water, you will be alright soon”.  The little boy arrived from nowhere took the vessel near the mouth to Maharaj and fed him with water.  He left the vessel there and disappeared.  Surdas Maharaj thought it was the son of the priest who handed him water.  Suddenly, there arrived the son of the priest and said: “ Babaji, I have forgotten to give water, that is why I came rushing to you.”  He was surprised to see the vessel full of water before Maharaj.   Surdas Maharaj said “Just now I had very bad chocking, the food got stuck in my throat, struggling for breath, you came running with water and fed me.  I was about to die without breath, anyway thanks to you.”  The son of the priest was surprised to hear, he said: “ Babaji, I was not here, I did not give you water.”  It was Lord Krishna who served Surdas Maharaj in trouble.

Sant Surdas Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sant Surdas Maharaj!

Chapter – 3

As Surdas was born blind, his parents were extremely sad at the birth of this child.  Soon the family members had an aversion towards this blind child, it brought a sense of abandonment towards the worldly matters in Surdas Maharaj.  In the early years of childhood he immerses in praise of Lord Krishna, that practice continued in his whole life, he lived in the memories of Lord Krishna.  When Surdas was six years old, one wealthiest merchant gave two gold coins as a charity to his father Ramdas.  He was extremely happy and showed his family members that it was the grace of Lord, it would save the family from the sufferings of poverty for another few months.  He safely kept the gold coins packed in a ragged clothe and kept it on the roof.  That night the rats picked up the ragged clothes and misplaced the gold coins.  In the morning when Ramdas went to pick the gold coins, he found it was missing.  He was heart-broken, the entire family wept bitterly on their bad luck.  Surdas consoled the family saying that sing in praise of Lord during the difficult times it would take away the depth of grief.  His parents shouted at him for his philosophical advice and poured out harsh words “ You are an unfortunate child, we are going through all the miseries in this life after your birth.  The entire family is starving; God showed us mercy and offered two golden coins and that too missing now.”  Surdas said, “ I know the place where the gold coins are gone missing,  I can find it for you if you want after that I will leave home forever, and never try to search for me.” His parents agreed to Surdas, he found the gold coins and handed them to his parents and left the home all alone.  His parents felt guilty seeing their blind son leaving home, they rushed behind him to stop, Surdas said “ If you make an effort to stop me, your gold coins will go missing once again and it will never be back in your hands.  If you feel alright,  stop me otherwise leave me.”  His parents were in dilemma, thus Surdas Maharaj got himself relieved from the family bondage.

Sant Surdas Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sant Surdas Maharaj!

Chapter – 2

 Surdas Maharaj spent his entire life in darkness without eyesight, usually, devotees ask for boons to take pleasure in their lives, but Surdas asked for a boon not to see anything with the eyes that have seen the spectacular form of Bhramam.  The rest of the life Surdas Maharaj sung in praising the glories of Lord Krishna, that was streaming out of his mouth in pure passion.  Surda's love for Lord Krishna was love for his dearest companion/Sakhyabhava.   He was the favorite disciple of Sri Vallabhacharya Goswami.   He sang praising the glories of Lord Krishna, at the instruction of his preceptor Vallabhacharya, sang the entire Bhagavath in beautiful verses and all those hundred and thousand verses are not available for access to the public, even though a few of them are compiled in the holy book Guru Granth Sahib.  He sang beautifully the Dhashamaskandha of Srimad Bhagavath which describes the birth story of Lord Krishna.  The famous saint Tulsidas considered  Surdas Maharaj as the incarnation of Udhdhav.  

Surdas Maharaj lived in Vrindavan and conducted his spiritual services remaining under the guidance of Sri Vallabhacharya Goswami, he has composed several verses praising Lord Krishna, which was written down  in the form of a manuscript by others as he was blind, while no one to assist Surdas it was Lord Krishna writes down his verses, in this way he assisted his favorite companion.  He beautifully composed the mesmerizing love of Radha and Krishna that was written down by Lord Krishna.

Sant Surdas Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sant Surdas Maharaj!

Chapter – 1

Sant Surdas Maharaj was a blind religious poet and an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna lived during the 15^th century.   He has composed hundreds and thousands of verses praising the childhood pastimes of Lord Krishna with Ma Yashomathi and his mesmerizing Rasaleela with the cowherds of Braj and Radharani.   His illustrious composition 'Sursagar' compiles the ocean-sized marvelous verses composed by him; it was believed that Lord Krishna writes down the work of Surdas Maharaj for his favorite companion.  Surdas Maharaj was born blind to a poor Saraswath Bhramin couple lived in a small village Siri located in between Agra and Mathura route, Delhi.   He left home at the age of six with the group of devotees singing and praising the glories of Lord Krishna.  At the divine instruction of Lord Krishna, he arrived in Vrindavan and spent his life in the composition of illustrious 'Sursagar'.

It was believed that his parents and six brothers died in a conflict with the Mughal. After leaving home, he traveled through the dense wood in darkness, while wandering through the dense forest he fell into a deep dried well.  He stayed in the well for six days, singing in praising the glories of Lord Krishna.  On the seventh day, Lord Krishna appeared before his favorite devotee, Alas! Surdas was not able to see anything; he had a deep desire to see the Lord who is the protector of all.  Lord Krishna blessed him with eyesight, thus he could witness his favorite Lord, before leaving Lord Krishna requested Surdas to ask for a boon, Surdas said “ Oh! Prabho, Krishna, I do not want to see anything in this world with these eyes which have witnessed the most marvelous sight in this Universe.  Therefore, kindly take back my eyesight.”  As he wished, Surdas lost his eyesight and Lord Krishna disappeared.

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.