Jnanadev asked Namadev,
"Will you go with me on a pilgrimage?" Namadev said,
"But why?" Jnandev answered, "We shall meet saints
and good men." Namadev said, "Then I shall ask the Lord
and come." Namadev went to the temple and stood before the
Lord. Tears flowed from his eyes. His eyes were fixed of the Lord.
At last he asked, "Lord, am I to go?" Jnanadev stood by
his side all the time.
Would you call Namadev a
mad man? There are lots of people who cry because their wives are
away. But the bhakta who goes to the Lord and weeps, even if
it is only because he wants something, is rare. That he does not
demand what he ought to demand, only shows his ignorance; but just
because of this, it would be wrong to regard bhakti as
something unworthy and to be rejected.
10. Women get up
early in the morning and perform a number of rites, they light
lamps, go round the tulasi plant and so on. What for? So that
after death they can get the grace of God. This faith may be simple,
but for its sake they observe prayer and fasting and other vows.
Among people who live such devoted lives, great souls are born.
Ramatirtha was born in the line of Tulasidas. He was a scholar in
the Persian language. Some one asked him, "How is it that you,
born in the line of Tulasidas, don't know Sanskrit?" |