Reward for sincere yearning

Reward for sincere yearning

There was a Sultan once, ruling over the region of Mathurâ, Vrindâvana and other places, on the Yamunâ. During his reign the emperor of Vijayanagara came on pilgrimage and stayed at Vrindâvana for some days, where he paid homage to Krishna in the temple. The sultan argued that he must have come so only to pay respects to someone greater than himself. He was determined to see that One, come what may. So late one night he went and called out before the closed doors of the temple, "Who is inside?" He heard a voice, which gave the reply.

"Govinda Mahârâj and Râdhârânî!" The Sultan was now sure that there were two persons living inside, a Super-Emperor and His Super-Empress. He was filled with an agonizing yearning to see the distinguished occupants of the temple. He waited outside the door, without food or drink for three full days. He was overcome with hunger and thirst; but he did not stir, for he was afraid the Imperial Couple may emerge any moment and he might miss the Darshan ('the seeing' - the presence of the guru; the favor of saints and great sages to their followers to enjoy their presence).

That night, when the town was asleep, just before midnight Govinda Mahârâj and Râdhârânî emerged from the temple. They signed him to follow them. They were magnificently dressed and had elaborately bejeweled headgear, necklaces, wristlets and ornaments for the hands and feet. They moved on until they reached the banks of the Yamunâ, where thousands of Gopas and Gopîs were gathered to welcome them. There was music and dance in the bright moonlight, heavenly joy shone on every face. At 4 A.M. They returned to the temple and before they passed through the closed door, they gave into his hands the Kankanas they wore on the wrists, for safekeeping. Before he could say anything, they had gone.

A party of priests came along at that time, and seeing him, asked him, why he was standing there and what he had in his hands. They had come to open the locks of the outer and inner doors and inaugurate the ceremonials of the day, with Suprabhatam (morningprayer) and Nagara-Sankirtan (Awakening hymn and moving choirs - gathering together in the hours before dawn, and walk slowly along the streets, singing Bhajans glorifying God). The Sultan said, "Govinda Mahârâj and Râdhârânî have just gone in; I was with them at the Yamunâ bank from midnight till a few minutes ago.

They gave me these kankanas for safekeeping. I don't know why." They surmised he was a thief who, caught in the act, was spinning a yarn and so bound and beaten him. But they found the locks unbroken, everything intact. Only the idol of Krishna had no gold kankanas! Now they were convinced that the man outside was a great bhakta, who had the unique vision of the Lord. They honored him and craved pardon for the wrong perpetrated in ignorance. Such is the reward for sincere yearning. Unlimited ananda can be earned through implicit faith in God.

Sai Sai Sai Sai!