A long time ago in the village of Keralu lived a lady named Mrs. Josi. She was kind and full of love for Shri Krishna. But her husband was not the same. He did not believe in God, and at night he would go out and steal from others.
One day, Shri Mahaprabhuji came to their town and stayed in a garden. Mrs. Josi went there to fetch water and heard Shri Mahaprabhuji speaking about love and devotion to Shri Krishna. Her heart filled with joy, and she knew she had found her path. She bowed down and asked to become his follower.
She also warned Shri Mahaprabhuji that her husband might steal from him during the night. Shri Mahaprabhuji smiled gently and said, "What can he take from me? Tell him that I am here. After five years, he will pass away, and you will have two sons. Then come to me in Adel and I will guide you."
Soon after, Mrs. Josi gave birth to a baby boy named Narahari. Two years later, she had another son, Jagannath. Exactly five years after Shri Mahaprabhuji’s visit, a traveling sadhu came to Keralu. That night, Mr. Josi went to rob him but met his end in a struggle.
Remembering Shri Mahaprabhuji’s words, Mrs. Josi took her two sons and went to Adel. She bowed down before Shri Mahaprabhuji and said, "Just as you said, I now have two sons and my husband is no more. Please make me your disciple." Shri Mahaprabhuji gently taught her how to lovingly serve Shri Krishna and sent her back home with blessings.
Years passed. When her sons grew older, she said, "Go to Adel, find Shri Mahaprabhuji, and bow at his feet with this gold coin. He is none other than the Lord Himself."
Her sons weren’t sure if her words were true, but they respected her wish and set off. When they reached Adel, they learned Shri Mahaprabhuji had gone to Jagannath Puri. They decided to go there instead of returning empty-handed.
As soon as they found Shri Mahaprabhuji, he asked them, “Is your mother well?” The two brothers were amazed. They had never seen him before, yet he knew about their mother! Their hearts whispered, “He must truly be Shri Krishna.”
Shri Mahaprabhuji asked, “Have you visited the temple yet?” They said no, so he told them to go.
In the temple, they were astonished to see Shri Mahaprabhuji standing beside the form of Lord Jagannath. They rushed back, only to find him still waiting exactly where they had left him.
“Did you see Lord Jagannath?” he asked. “Are your doubts gone?”
The brothers bowed their heads and said, “Yes. We now believe with all our hearts that you are Shri Krishna.” When they returned home, they shared everything with their mother. She lovingly reminded them, “I told you before—he is an incarnation of the Lord.”
Another time, Narahari was traveling to see Shri Mahaprabhuji. On the way, he camped near Patna and cooked some rotis and lentils. As he was about to eat, a sweet young boy came up with open hands, asking for food. Narahari gave him two rotis and some lentils. The boy took the food, climbed a tree, and vanished.
The next day, the same boy returned and asked again. This time, Narahari wasn’t sure what to do. He thought it might be a trick, so he didn’t give the boy anything. The boy disappeared again.
Later, Shri Krishna went to Jagannath and said, “Your brother Narahari gave me food yesterday, but today he didn’t.”
When Narahari returned, Jagannath asked, “Who was that boy?”
Narahari told him what had happened. Jagannath was shocked. “That boy was Shri Krishna Himself! How could you not see that?”
Narahari felt sorry and became even more devoted. His heart opened fully to Shri Krishna’s divine presence.
Through Narahari’s sweet nature, a kind woman named Phulbai from Gujarat also became drawn to devotion. Later, when Shri Gusainji came on a journey and visited Jagannath’s house, Narahari went to Phulbai’s town and told her to welcome Shri Gusainji.
With music and singing, Shri Gusainji came to her home. That day, both Phulbai and her brother became his loving followers.
Once, Narahari was returning from a river bath when he suddenly felt that Phulbai’s town, Aliya, was on fire. He thought, “If her house burns, she may lose faith. She has only just begun her spiritual path.”
So, he placed sacred tulsi leaves on the ground, sprinkled water around them, and prayed. The fire stopped. Later, Phulbai’s family told him, “The fire came close, but our home was saved. Surely it was due to divine grace.”
When Narahari told Jagannath what he had done, Jagannath gently scolded him, “Why interfere in Shri Krishna’s play? He knows what is best.”
Narahari softly replied, “I only wished that her devotion not be disturbed.”
Hearing this, both brothers smiled, realizing everything is Shri Krishna’s will.
One day, after Jagannath offered food to Shri Krishna, he thought, “What if the Lord’s clothes become impure when they touch the plate?”
Suddenly, Shri Krishna kicked the plate away. Jagannath offered the food again, and again it was kicked away. This happened four times. Finally, Jagannath prayed, “What mistake have I made?”
Shri Krishna answered, “If you worry about my clothes becoming dirty, then why offer me food at all?”
Jagannath felt sorry and touched his head to the floor. From then on, he kept his heart pure and free of doubt.
In another sweet incident, Jagannath often offered hot rice pudding to Shri Krishna. Once, when Shri Mahaprabhuji visited, Shri Krishna said, “Jagannath gave me hot pudding and now my tongue and hand are burned.”
Shri Mahaprabhuji asked Jagannath, “Why do you serve it so hot?”
Jagannath replied, “I thought all food should be served hot.”
“Except for rice pudding,” said Shri Mahaprabhuji with a gentle smile.
During another journey to Gokul, Jagannath celebrated the festival of Annakut. There was only barley available, so he cooked and offered it to Shri Krishna.
That night, in a dream, Shri Krishna said, “The barley made my stomach upset.”
Jagannath woke up worried and gave Shri Krishna some herbs. Shri Krishna soon smiled, “Now I feel better.”
From that day on, Jagannath always made sure to stay in towns with proper food supplies.
Even though it may sound unusual to others, Jagannath never doubted. His heart was full of love. Shri Krishna accepted his pure devotion with joy.
Once, two Rajputs visited Jagannath’s temple. An old lady threw a flower garland toward Shri Krishna. Jagannath, following temple rules, threw the garland outside. It landed on one of the Rajputs, which made the other Rajput jealous.
He became so angry that he wanted to hurt Jagannath. One morning, he tried to attack him from behind with a sword. But just as he raised his hand, Shri Krishna appeared and held his hand still.
The Rajput could not move. Jagannath turned around and saw Shri Krishna holding the man’s hand. He said, “Why would you do such a thing?”
Realizing his mistake, the Rajput dropped the sword, bowed, and asked for forgiveness. Jagannath brought him home and taught him to lovingly chant the names of Shri Krishna.
Because Jagannath had thrown the garland in anger, he faced danger. But even in such moments, Shri Krishna protected him. Pure-hearted devotees like Jagannath bring light even to those who once disliked them.
The journey of Mrs. Josi and her sons is a story of deep love, pure faith, and Shri Krishna’s gentle guidance at every step.
Poem: The Light of Love
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