Sant Namdev

In Maharashtra there was a great devotee called Sri  Namdev.  He had pleased Sri  Vitthalnath (Sri Krishna) in his childhood by offering bhog in such a loving manner that Vitthaldev too had fed him with love. These were great pastimes as all we know. At that time many other glorious devotees such as Sri  Gora Kumbhar, Srimati Janabai and others lived in Maharashtra.  People who came in contact with them were most fortunate

One day there was a big gathering of all the above named devotees and many more. They had gathered for satsang. Meanwhile one of the devotees asked Gora Kumbhar how he would know that a clay pot is ready or not. Kumbhars are clay-potters by profession.  He replied “just by knocking the outer surface of the pot and by the sound it makes, i can say it is ready or not.” Another devotee said, ” please check our heads too by knocking, is it ready or not for  pure bhakti ?” Sri  Gora Kumbhar did not want to do this , but as everyone insisted, he finally started. He was knocking everyone’s head like how he would tap a clay pot. During this test no one said anything but when Namdev’s head was knocked he made a face but said nothing. Later on Gora Kumbhar declared that all were ok except Namdev. Namdev was aghast. He  asked, “How can you check like that? It is not right !”

Now, Namdev used to talk with Sri Vitthal daily in the temple.  Therefore he went to the temple and poured out his heart to Vitthoba.  Sri Vitthalnath replied that ‘‘If Gora Kumbhar said that your head is not ready than it is not ready without any doubt, and he is right.” Sri  Vithalnath is the well wisher of his devotees.  He told Namdev to go to Jivaoba, accept him as Guru and take teaching from him. Immediately Namdev left Pandharpur in search of Jivaoba. When he reached the village where Jivaoba was supposed to stay, he asked someone for him.  A villager replied that you can find him in Lord Siva’s temple. When Namdev reached the Shiv-mandir, he was aghast to see that Jivaoba was sleeping by resting his feet on the Sivlinga. Namdev was very upset to see him thus. He thought, “I have come to him to gain knowledge, and this is the deplorable way he is behaving ! How can I take teaching from such a person? I have to set him right !” Namdev rushed to him and moved his feet on the ground. And what do you think happened?  Immediately another Sivlinga appeared at that very spot and Jivaoba rested his foot on it. Namdev did the same thing again, and one more Sivlinga appeared there. The  same thing continued until the room got full with Sivlingas. Now Namdev cooled down and surrendered to Jivaoba. He accepted him as a Guru. JIvaoba taught Namdev “never limit God in one place – He is present everywhere and in all.” Soon Namdev’s vision changed and he started too see Vithalnath in all and everywhere. Then he returned to his favorite place “Pandharpur”.

Courtsey : Vijay dada.