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PATH OF DEVOTION
"Abhanga". He called him and told him not to compose "Abhanga" (songs), because they did not truly convey the message of Vedas. He also asked him to throw away the "Abhangas" that he had composed in the Indrayani river.
Since Rameshvara Bhatt was a scholar and a famous sage, Tukaram followed his instruction but his life turned miserable without his devotional songs to God. He decided to sit in a temple with determination to see God personally or bring an end to his life.
Seated on a firm seat in the temple, he became merged in devotion to God. Thirteen days and night passed without food and sleep. Finally God appeared and he had "darshana" of God in the temple of his heart. This led him to experience supreme peace and delight.
(2) Jagannathapuri is one of the four holy pilgrimages of Hindus. It is situated in Orrisa, about 500 kilometers from Calcutta. Every twelve years a great religious ceremony is performed and millions of devotees gather to celebrate the function. The chief idol is of Lord (Bhagavan) Jagannath, one form of Lord Krishna.
It was the second day of the Hindu month "Ashadha." In the state of Orissa, in the city Jagannathpuri, the procession of Lord Jagannatha was in progress. Faithful devotees thronged in large number. All were anxious to have a view ("darshan") of the idol of Lord Jagannatha seated in the chariot.
A great saint Shree Chaitanya Maha Prabhu arrived to have a darshan of Lord Jagannatha in the procession. His devotees had reserved a standing place from which he could easily see the idol of Lord Jagannath (darshan). However, it became difficult for him to have a clear darshan because in this huge crowd, an old woman climbed on his shoulders for the darshan of Lord Jagannatha.
Some devotees saw this and became angry. They started scolding the old woman. However Shree Chaitanya stopped them and said, "Well brothers, this old lady is a real devotee. She was not aware of the fact that she had climbed upon my shoulders. Her desire for darshan was very intense. We will attain to devotion par excellence only when such an acute desire will overtake us and we will forget the consciousness of the
BHAKTI MARG-NI ARADHANA
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