Endharo mahanubhavulu andhiriki vandanamu- Sri Dwaraka Ramadas
Posted 13th October 2009 at 10:35 PM by Pushpavalli Srinivasan
Sri Dwaraka Ramadas
Sri Dwaraka Ramadas was born in a Brahmin family in a beautiful village called Dangare around hundred miles from Dwaraka. Though his parents christened him as Ramadas, he was a staunch devotee of Lord Krishna.
He was leading his life as for tradition. He used to go for unjavirudhi (taking biksha) daily and when he got things for his sustenance he would return home. People used to wait for him to give biksha were disappointed if he did not go to their street for biksha. While going he used to sing soul stirring bajans which captivated the people.
He wished to build a Tulsi madam for his Tulsi plant, but he had no money for it. He brought the hallow part of a dried up tree and planted the Tulsi in it.
Every year in the month of Ashad he used to go to Dwaraka on Ekadasi day. On the day of Dwadasi he used to feed the Lord’s devotees after having darshan of Dwarakanath. He also used to make a garland of Tulsi and adorn the Lord with the tulsi mala. He was doing this continuously for twenty five years. He also used to tell people the story of Lord Krishna and used to advise the people to be kind, compassionate and help and love each other. Hence he was loved by the people also. People used to call him Dwaraka Ramadas.
As years rolled by he became old. He found it difficult to walk such a long distance. He felt that he might not be able to make the trip to Dwaraka the following year.
He stood before the Lord for a long time with tears in his eyes. He said,
“Oh my beloved Krishna! I do not think I will be able to come to Dwaraka to have your darshan. Even if I do not come you should come and give darshan to me.” So saying he fell at the feet of the Lord.
The Lord Krishna appeared before him adorned with sanku Chakra and with His bewitching smile.
He consoled him thus with His soothing words. “Ramadas! Do not worry. How can I let down my true devotee? I know how you love me. I am willing to come with you now itself to your home.”
Ramadas was surprised to hear those words from the Lord.
He said with folded hands, “Hey Kesava! I am happy to hear your words. But how I can take you with me?”
The Lord said, “My golden chariot will come and you can take me in that.”
Ramadas became nervous and said, “ Though I will be happy to take you with me, I am afraid when the archakas come to know this they will bash me. They already heard me crying before you of my inability to come here next year to have your darshan. So they will definitely suspect me only.”
But The Lord did not answer him this time. Ramadas sat down in front of Him and was meditating. It became quite dark and the whole village had gone to sleep. Ramadas was immersed in deep meditation and suddenly he heard the bells chiming and he opened his eyes. His eyes were blinded with the brightness of the golden chariot. The Idol of Dwarakanath was beckoning him to take Him. Ramadas found himself in a state of trance and obeyed the Lord’s command. He lifted the Idol of Dwarakanth and placed Him in the chariot and he also sat in the chariot. The chariot reached the courtyard of Ramadas’ house in Dangare and after Ramadas lifted Dwarakanath it vanished out of sight. Ramadas’ emotion was both a mixture of happiness and fear.
In Thondanadu thiruthalam Sholingur Lord PeraruLaLan of Kanchipuram gave darshan to Dhoddachar on garuda vahanam, when he was unable to go to Kanchi due to ill health and old age. Here Lord Dwrakanath accompanied his devotee to his house. How blessed was Ramadas to receive this kind of unparallel love!
Next morning people of Dwaraka woke up from their slumber. The archakas after completing their morning ablutions opened the temple and entered the Garbagriha. They were stunned to see the Garbagriha empty without the Idol.
They were discussing among themselves who would have dared to steal the Idol. Then one of the archakas said, “Last night I heard Ramadas lamenting before Dwarakanath that he might not be able to come to Dwaraka next year to have his darshan. I have a strong feeling that he might have stolen the Idol. Let us go to his village and search his house.”
The others agreed to his suggestion and they all at once set out for his village. Here Ramadas was trembling with fear thinking that when the archakas found the Idol missing they would definitely come to his house only. He was beseeching the Lord to show him a way out, but the Lord was now keeping quiet.
Suddenly an idea struck to Ramadas. He put the Idol in a box and slowly dropped it into the well at his back yard.
The archakas came to his house and targeted him with abuses. Then without even questioning him they started searching his house. As they could not find the Idol they got down into the well in search of it. They were very happy to find the Idol and were making arrangements to carry it back to Dwaraka in a chariot which they have brought.
Ramadas was heartbroken to see this. Tears rolled down from his eyes and he cried bitterly and said, “Hey Dwarakanath! I already told you that the archakas will come to my house in search of you. You only gave me the idea to take you with me to my house. Now how can you desert me and go back to your abode? Now you have to give me an idea how to retain you here.”
Dwarakanath who is famous for his tricky ways said, “You tell the archakas that you will give them as much gold as my Idol weighs. Then they might agree to give the Idol.”
Ramadas approached the archakas and said, “ Swamin! Please leave my Dwarakanath here. I will give you gold in exchange.”
The archakas looked at each other and said sarcastically, “Ramadas who lives on biksha will give us gold equal to the weight of Dwarakanath. Let us see how much gold he got!”
This news had spread out in the village as forest fire. People knew he was very poor and was living on biksha. Hence they all assembled to see the fun.
A balance was brought and Dwarakanath was kept on one side of the balance. Ramadas was asked to bring the gold. He went inside and brought a golden nathu (an ornament worn on nose) which was the only gold ornament possessed by his wife. He put it on the other side of the balance.
What a surprise! The Lord who wanted to show the simplicity and true love of Rukmani and to put an end to Sathyabama’s pride had already once sat on the scale, now wanted to prove that His true devotee’s love will not be lesser than His Idol. The scale showed both sides equal and the crowd that was watching the scene openmouthed hailed Ramadas.
Even the archakas were spell bound to see the thiruvilaiyadal of Dwarakanth . They were genuinely impressed to see a true devotee! They all prostrated before Dwarakanath and Ramadas. They had now started believing that Dwarakanath Himself wanted to stay with His true devotee. They told Ramadas to keep the Idol of Dwarakanath and that they would make a new Idol and install it at Dwaraka. Ramadas’s happiness knew no bounds and he danced with joy!
Jai Sri Dwarakanath!
Total Comments 10
Comments
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Dear Chitra,
Thank you for your appreciation. You are all my morale booster. I am very greatful to you all for encouraging me . Thanks a lot,
Love,
PSPosted 15th October 2009 at 02:56 AM by Pushpavalli Srinivasan
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Dear PS,
Another gem from you ,we are blessed that you are with us sharing such stories. Also the true bakhti that is shown in the stories are worth following
Thank you PS, Happy Diwali
JayaPosted 15th October 2009 at 08:45 PM by Jpatma - Dear Jaya,
Thank you for your continuous support for my blog and the deepavali greetings.
Love,
PSPosted 15th October 2009 at 09:47 PM by Pushpavalli Srinivasan -
only today i camethrough your blogs . very nice , i would like to read more stories from you .Posted 22nd October 2009 at 02:47 AM by chithradhamo - Dear Chithradhamo,
Sorry for acknowledging your fb so late. Thanks for showing interest in my blogs.
Love,
PSPosted 7th November 2009 at 05:44 AM by Pushpavalli Srinivasan
