Life of Sant Gora Kumbhar !! Part VI !!

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

In Pandharpur, Sant and Sadhus like Namdev – ardent devotees of Lord Panduranga realized the absence of Lord in the Temple.  These Sant and Sadhus could envision Lord Panduranga and used to converse with Him.  Now, the panic stricken Sant Namdev along with other Sadhus went in search for Lord Panduranga in all the villages.  Finally, they arrived at the Goroba’s village too.  Goroba was known Sant Namdev previously during their visits to Pandharpur on Ekadashi days.  They met each other once again, they spoke little to each other; they were fully engrossed in singing Bajans of Lord Panduranga.  Sant Namdev could sense the situation very well and realized the truth that Panduranga was with Goroba only.  Sant Namdev asked Goroba ‘Where is Ranga?’ Goroba sincerely replied to him ‘Ranga is at home only’.  Sant Namdev rushed to Goroba’s house; there he could not find Ranga, Tulsi Bai and Shantu Bai called for Ranga many times in loud voice.  There came no response.  They did not see any trace of Ranga and Rukma Bai in their house.  Sant Namdev replied to them that Ranga was none other than Lord Panduranga himself and Rukma Bai was Goddes Rukmini Devi; they were at the service of Goroba and family throughout their difficult days.  Goroba could not bear the pain he was going through, he cried out loudly longing for the presence of Lord once again.  Sant Namdev comforted Goroba who was irrepressible at the separation of His son Ranga - Lord. 

Goroba along with Sant Namdev and group of devotees arrived to Pandharpur to have Dharshan of Lord Panduranga.  Goroba entered into the temple with unsteady steps with lots and lots of emotion flickering through his eyes, the thought of Ranga working on his muddy grounds, earning livelihood by selling pots, Rukma Bai performing all household chores everything made him weak, tears pouring down uncontrollably on his cheek.  They all sat down on the main hall for singing the glories of Lord, the leader of the Bajan group Sant Namdev distributed the musical instrument called –Jalara (used to increase the tempo of music) to all the devotees.  Sant Namdev moved closer to Goroba who was sitting helpless with no hands to clap or rise in the sky to the tunes of Bajan.  Sant Namdev offered a jalara to Goroba too, Alas ! To everyone’s amazement Goroba’s hands started to grow at a length, as teeny tiny plant sprout up from its seeds.  In a sudden moment, Tulsi Bai with a lot of emotions ran inside the Sanctum Sanctorum and fallen at the feet of Lord Panduranga and begged ‘Give me back my son - Hari, Lord’.  She continued to weep ‘You are the saver of your Bhakthas, Why don’t you listen to my cries.  You have saved the life of son of your Acharya at his request.  I am your servant, why don’t you give back my son to me?’. 

At this point of time, the people gathered there could hear the cry of a child.  Everyone’s attention turns to the side from where the sound was echoing.  Tulsi Bai also turned her face to look for it.  It was an incredible sight for everyone gathered, Tulsi Bai ran towards to pick her son Hari.  It was just a remarkable moment of boundless joy. Later, Goroba returned to his village along with family and lived happily ever after.

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

Life of Sant Gora Kumbhar !! Part V !!

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

As a man of family, Goroba was the only bread winner and he became totally inactive after this terrible incident.  They find it difficult to run the family. The need for money to run the family urged Tulsi Bai and Shantu Bai to work.  They together make potteries and take them to market for sale.  In this way they managed to run the family.  Luck did not favor Goroba, his creditors chased him for money to be paid.  Finally, the creditors took possession of his small house and the land.   Goroba became helpless and pauper, he and his family brought into the street.  The debt clearing officers said that the money out of the sale of his properties were just enough to meet his old debt. Tulsi Bai desperately enquired her husband where did they go and find a means to live.  Goroba calmly comforted them saying that they all go to Pandharpur Temple – Vithal will take care of everything.  At this point of time, a young couple appeared from nowhere and introduced themselves to Goroba as Ranga and Rukma Bai.  Ranga compassionately spoke to Goroba that, he knew Goroba from the time he was selling dolls in the market.  Incidentally, he came to know about the depressing state of Goroba and arrived to help him.  Ranga comforted Goroba with the news that he took back the possession of his small house and property from the hands of creditors.  Ranga prostrated before Goroba and requested him to accept the possession of the house and restart their life once again.  Ranga added that he and his wife would be joining with them and requested Goroba to treat them as his son and daughter-in-law.

From that day onwards, Ranga earned money for the entire family.   Rukma Bai was taking care of the needs of Goroba, Tulsi Bai and Shantu Bai at home.  Ranga was also a potter; He makes beautiful pots and sells them in market.  Goroba has nothing do other than chanting the glories of Lord Panduranga.  Rukma Bai engaged herself in doing house chores as a helping hand for old Tulsi Bai and Shantu Bai.  Sometimes, Goroba also join with   Ranga in throbbing clay in his own style, dancing and singing praising the glory of Vittal, Ranga holds both his hands on his hip and beautifully dance to the tunes of Goroba.  Many a times, Goroba exclaimed in enthusiasm asking Ranga ‘Are you Panduranga, My Lord.’  At this, Ranga laughs out loudly and reassure him saying that Goroba never been free to think about anything other than His Lord Panduranga, so it made him to see Panduranga in Everything.  In this way, Ranga and Rukma Bai lived a happy life with the Goroba family for several days. 

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

Life of Sant Gora Kumbhar !! Part IV !!

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

The tragic death of their child – Hari, created dreariness in their life.  They lived like two strangers under one roof.  They had nothing in common to converse each other, did not find any comfort in each other’s company.    Years passed by, Tulsi Bai had the yearning for a child in order to replace the dullness.  Unfortunately, her husband’s inflexible nature forced her to think that her longing for a child is fruitless.  Later, she changed her mind and found a way out for her problem.  She approached her father and requested to arrange her sister –Shantu Bai’s marriage with Goroba.  Her father readily agreed to this.  Finally, the marriage between Goroba and Shantu Bai took place in bride’s residence.  The time arrived for newlyweds to leave the house.  Shantu Bai’s old father came forward to send off the couple.  He earnestly hold the hands of Goroba,  lot of emotions were flashing through his face, He requested his son-in-law as a promise on Lord Vittal,  take care of his two daughters equally in same manner he was used to take care of Tulsi Bai.  Once again the fate played its role very well.  Goroba arrived home with the new bride and Tulsi Bai.  He started to treat Tulsi bai and Shantu Bai equally; He kept both of them away from him.  The life of Goroba and his wives became awful living like total strangers under one roof without anything common to share with each other.

The days pass by, the two sisters felt monotonous of their life.  They together arrived in a decision that they will try all means to attract Goroba in bed in that way they could change his attitude towards them. One day when Goroba was found asleep in his bed, Tulsi Bai and Shantu Bai eagerl moved to their husband.  Goroba abruptly awaken from his deep sleep, he was shocked to see his wives on both the sides.  He painfully enquired Tulsi Bai how she could touch him after having promise on Vittal.  In a rage Goroba hurried to punish himself for the sin he has committed.  He got hold of his axe and chopped both the hands.  Tulsi Bai and Shantu Bai were panic-stricken at the unexpected turn of events.  They painfully watched the firm devotion of Goroba  to Lord Vittal, Tulsi Bai and Shantu Bai felt ashamed of their act and begged for forgiveness. 

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

Life of Sant Gora Kumbhar !! Part III !!

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

                                        

Once the rain has stopped, Tulsi Bai  rushed back from the market approached her husband who gasping for breath through singing the glory of Vittal, she was also equally drenched and breathlessly enquired her husband about their child – Hari.  His answer was too philosophical, ‘Hari is omnipresent & omnipotent.’  His reply did not get in to her head thoroughly; she was screaming and asked for their child – Hari.  He put a sudden halt to his singing and dancing and looked around for the child.  He was also equally worried and answered her that the child was playing somewhere around him only.   In a sudden moment their eyes fell on the throbbed clay on the ground, they could see the flesh, body parts and blood of the child all over it.    It was very clear that the child was dead few minutes ago.

It was frightening sight for Goroba and Tulsi Bai.  Tulsi Bai lost her sense completely and screamed at her husband.  She blamed Goroba was responsible for their child’s death.  She poured her extreme hatred through words towards her husband and Vithoba as well. She firmly believed that her husband’s excessive obsession towards Lord Vithoba brought the heartbreaking incident in her life.  Goroba calmly approached her wife and was trying to pacify her saying that ‘It was Vithoba’s wish to take away the child he has given us.’  At this point, his wife in a fuming rage and was totally uncontrollable, violently ran inside the house declaring that she will break the statue of Vittal/Vithoba/Panduranga  who was the cause for all the tragedies in her life and rushed to fetch the axe.  Goroba hurried behind her and snatched away the Axe from her.  He madly chased her, when she realized the danger screamed at him ‘Promise on Vithoba, Don’t come closer to me’.  It truly echoed in his mind, he put down the axe and promised that he will remain isolated forever from her life.  The couple performed the last rites of their one and only son with heavyhearted.

Jai Sriman Narayana !!



Life of Sant Gora Kumbhar !! Part II !!

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

One day Tulsi Bai was feeding her child, realized that Hari was reluctant to have anything on his mouth in the absence of ghee on it.  Though she tried to feed him with her usual stories and all, it was all ended in vain.  She informed her husband to take care of the child who was engaged in thumping and throbbing clay in front of their house.  She left to market to get some ghee leaving behind Hari with the custody of her husband.   

All of a sudden, the sky darkened with thick clouds, birds started to flee to their nest with vulnerable chirping noises.  The abrupt change in the climate made Hari more excited.  He crawled towards to his father who was still throbbing clay.   The dark clouds and the serenity of the atmosphere dragged Goroba into a different world.  The color of the clouds reminded him Vithoba, the tranquility of the atmosphere taken him back into an entirely different world of Vithoba.  He could feel the presence of Vithoba in everywhere and in everything; He was completely magnetized by the presence of Him.  As soon as he transcend to a state where he could visualize  only his Lord Vithoba all over the place, the little child Hari was crawling through the feet of his father pounding on the clay.  Soon the rain was started to pouring down heavily with thunder and lightning.  Little Hari was frightened and moved beneath his father’s feet for help.  Goroba was thrilled at the presence of His Lord, throbbing on the clay,  jumping enthusiastically raising hands on the sky and singing loudly “Vittal, Vittal, Vittal”, poor Goroba did not realized the fact that he was pounding on his own child along with the raw black clay.  He continued to do so in a state of ecstasy – A true spiritual union with the Lord Vithoba without knowing the fact that he was throbbing on the clay all along with his one and only  lovely child.

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

Life of Sant Gora Kumbhar !! Part I !!

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

Sant Gora Kumbhar alias Goroba was lived in a village called Terdhoki (There where two opinions about the name of the village he lived, some of the writings about Goroba says that he lived in a village called Satyapuri/Ter).  There is not much information available about the birth place and childhood life of Goroba. 

Goroba was a pious man, an ardent devotee of Lord Vithoba (Vittal/ Pandurangan). Many of the time he forgets himself immersed into the thoughts of Vithoba.  His constant thinking and chanting of Lord created a strong bond and affections towards His Lord Vithoba.  His source of income was making and selling potteries, in fact he was not all interested in creating earthen pots, instead he makes beautiful dolls out of the clay – He makes models of Pandurangan and Rukumayee.  He creates colorful dolls of Vithoba, Rukumayee, Krishna, Radha, Rama, Sita by whipping the clay in a peculiar style, raising the hands up chanting the names of Lord and singing loudly.   Once the dolls are ready to take away to market, He carries them in his wicker basket inviting customers to buy ‘Vithalaney Leloji’ (Vithalaney Vangalayo…Kannaney Vangalayo).  He never demanded money from his customers, whatever they gives Goroba accept them wholeheartedly.  Sometimes, customers won’t pay anything at all.  Whatever he earned from the day’s sale, he brings home and gives to his wife – Tulsi Bai.

Goroba and Tulsi Bai had a child named Hari.  Goroba was less interested in family life or materialistic way of living; instead He had chosen to be with the Lord, constantly chanting names of Vithala and singing praising the glory of Vithoba.  On the other hand, his wife found immense joy in the company of their child - Hari with a boundless affection towards him.  Tulsi Bai was well aware of the fact that her husband had less interest in family life and preferred to be a fervent devotee of Vithoba always. 

Jai Sriman Narayana !!