This is the continuing serialization of 252 Vaishnavan ki varta, the lives of the saints following Vitthalnath, son of Vallabhacharya. It has been translated from the original Braj Bhasha by Krishnaa Kinkari Devi. This is the Third Varta, Parts 4,5,6. Part 3, Part 2. Part 1. There are no Bhava-prakasha comments in today’s offering.
***PART 4***
One day Sri Gusainji travelled to Gujarat. He arrived in one village and set up camp. He sent one of his accompanying Vrajavasis to go and fetch some supplies. That Vrajavasi brought many supplies from the village. When he came back he told Sri Gusainji that there was not even one Vaishnava in that village. Sri Gusainji remarked, “This means that Harivamsaji has not passed through this place. If he had there would be at least one Vaishnava here.”
Chacha Harivamsaji was indeed such an accomplished Vaishnava that wherever he went he always made some Vaishnavas. Sri Gusainji often praised Harivamsaji in this way.
***PART 5 ***
Another time Harivamsaji and Krishna Bhat were traveling together to Ujjain. On the way there was one village where a Kshatriya disciple of Sri Gusainji lived. That Vaishnava spotted Harivamsaji coming from the roof of his shop. He came down and bowed low to Harivamsaji. The Kshatriya then took Harivamsaji to his shop. Sitting him down he asked if he could get him any water. Harivamsaji gave him his water pot. The Kshatriya left Harivamsaji’s pot and filled his own which he offered to the Harivamsaji who gladly drank from it.
Having drunk, Harivamsaji stood up to leave. The Kshatriya said that his house was not far away and invited him to come there. Harivamsaji replied that he would definitely visit that Kshatriya’s house the next time they came along that way. Saying this Harivamsaji moved on.
As they proceeded on their way Krishna Bhatji spoke to Chachaji, “This Kshatriya does not seem to have any [pushti] manners. Why did you accept to drink water from his pot?”
Harivamsaji replied, “I am not able to comment on that Kshatriya’s behaviour. All I know is that when he took the Name initiation from Sri Gusainji, I was present there at that time. I was remembering that day and so, when I was in his shop, I drank from his water pot.”
This goes to show that sarvātma-bhāva [the ability to see Sri Thakurji everywhere, in all things and at all times, was perfected in Harivamsaji’s natural personality. He had a very pure sentiment for all Vaishnavas. Krishna Bhat remained silent after hearing these words.
Many days later Harivamsaji happened to be passing through Ujjain. He came to that same village. Harivamsaji went to the Kshatriya’s shop and the latter was so happy and most respectfully invited him into his home. He gave him some lovely items for cooking and let Harivamsaji do the preparation. Harivamsaji cooked, made the offerings, and later accepted the prasad.
As night fell the Kshatriya offered him a thousand rupees and all the silver and gold jewelry that he had in his home with the instruction that it all to be taken to Sri Gusainji. “I do not need a lot to survive here,” he said, “Therefore those things that belong to my Lord should be with my Lord.”
Harivamsaji took all these gifts to Sri Gusainji in Sri Gokul. He bowed low to Sri Gusainji on behalf of the Kshatriya and showed him all that he had brought. Sri Gusainji he had them all taken to Sri Nathaji’s storehouse. In this way the Kshatriya also perfected the mood of omnipresent Divinity.
***PART 6***
One night in the hot season Sri Gusainji came into the courtyard because he needed to pass water. He was standing there and began to chat to Harivamsaji. They both lost bodily consciousness as they spoke. Their conversation was so indescribable that they forgot their bodies. At that time Sri Gusainji was holding a large spouted pot. He didn’t even notice how heavy it was. Harivamsaji did also not even think that he should take the pot from Sri Gusainji’s hand. As they spoke they became filled with the nectar of Divine Love, so much so that they forgot where they were.
A little later Sri Gusainji’s personal assistant came to him and told him that it was time to get up. Only then did Sri Gusainji leave that spot. Having performed his routine ablutions he applied oil to his body and then bathed and entered the temple. He was absorbed in thought of the satsang all the while and Harivamsaji did not even remember his body for three whole days afterwards.
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