3 - Divine Blessingsd

It so happened one day. Narayan was eleven months old. Narayan was in the cradle. Shakuba was rocking the cradle. Gigabhai was sitting closeby. Shakuba said, ‘Narayan does not know how to cry. Whenever you see him, he is laughing. He does not cry even when he is hungry.’ Gigabhai shook his head, did not speak a single word. Shakuba continued, ‘When he is sleeping, he looks as if he is meditating! I am very fond of him.’ Shakuba noticed that Gigabhai was not attentive to her talk. He was looking worried. Shakuba asked, ‘What are you worrying about? I have never seen you so worried. Even when there is no money at home.’ Gigabhai informed, ‘Tomorrow Anadi Mahamuktaraj Bapashri is going to visit, Dhrangadhra.’ Shakuba was delighted, ‘Then tomorrow is the most auspicious day! All of us will go for his Darshan.’ Gigabhai continued, ‘All the Haribhaktas will invite Bapashri to their houses.’ Shakuba agreed, ‘Yes, of course. That is good news, but why are you anxious?’ Gigabhai said, ‘I have a doubt whether Bapashri would visit our house? We are poor. Our house is also very small. How could we invite Bapashri to visit our house? We do not even have a proper mat.’ Shakuba consoled, ‘Please, do not worry. We genuinely wish to invite him therefore it will be fulfilled. Bapashri has divine qualities. He knows everything. He will certainly fulfill our wish if it is heartfelt. Bapashri cares for devotion; he does not care for comforts.’ Gigabhai was consoled. Early morning he had bath and finished his prayers. He reached the place where Bapashri was staying.

Bapashri used to visit every house in a cart. He used to bless them. Gigabhai was praying in his heart. Bapashri, I am poor, but have mercy on me and visit my place. Bapashri was smiling looking at Gigabhai. Gigabhai could not utter a single word to Bapashri.

Suddenly on the way Bapashri said, ‘I want to use the urinal.’ A volunteer who was accompanying said, ‘Bapa, here on the way where could you go?’ Gigabhai heard this. He grabbed the opportunity. He suggested Bapashri, ‘Bapa, my house is closeby. Please, visit my place. I will arrange for you to use the urinal.’ This was an excuse for Bapashri. Actually he wanted to bless the Mukta -Narayan residing there. He wanted to inform everybody that Narayan was an Anadimukta. Bapashri used the urinal at Gigabhai’s place. He went to Narayan who was lying down in a cradle.

Narayan was smiling happily looking at Bapashri. He was full of joy. Bapashri also smiled looking at him. He carried Narayan in his hands. He caressed his head lovingly. He put on a dot of kumkum on the forehead of Narayan using the kumkum from the dot on his own forehead. Muktaraj Diwaliba who had been accompanying, requested, ‘Please bless that Narayan becomes a great devotee of God.’ Bapashri said, ‘He is blessed eternally. He is Anadimukta of Shreeji Maharaj. He has come here through will of Shreeji Maharaj. He is going to liberate a lot of living beings. He will unite them with the divine form of Maharaj. He will perform omnibeneficial work. Everyone will become aware of these qualities later on.’

Bapashri left with such divine blessings to visit other places. Gigabhai was full of joy. He considered himself fortunate. Shakuba was choked with emotions. Tears were rolling down her eyes. Gigabhai spoke at last, ‘We are blessed. Such a great Anadimukta has appeared as our son. He has chosen us as his parents. Maharaj is very compassionate.’

Shakuba took Narayan in her lap. She was overwhelmed with joy. She hugged her son and kissed him and spoke, ‘Anadimukta has appeared as our son. We are blessed. Anadimukta has appeared as our son! We are most fortunate!’

Difficult words:
Attentive - Who pays attention
Anxious - Worried
Console - To comfort
Utter - To speak
Caress - To stroke lovingly
Eternally - Forever
Compassionate - Kind
Overwhelm - Overpowered by emotions

Points to ponder:
- Muktas of Maharaj do not discriminate between rich and poor, they consider only the devotion.
- Bapashri was aware of the purpose behind appearance of Muktaraj Narayanbhai on the Earth. Therefore he blessed Narayanbhai with such divine blessings. And declared him as an Anadimukta.

Exercise

Answer the following questions:
1. What was Gigabhai worried about?
2. How did Bapashri fulfill Gigabhai’s wish?
3. What blessings did Bapashri grant (shower) on Narayan?

Fill in the blanks:
1. Tomorrow Anadi Mahamuktaraj ___________ is going to visit Dhrangadhra.
2. He is blessed _____________.
3. He is _____________ of Shreeji Maharaj.
4. He will perform _____________ work.