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A long time ago, in a quiet place between the cities of Benares and Prayag, there lived three dear friends. Baba Venu was a gentle Brahmin who worshipped a goddess. His close friend was Krishnadas, and a humble man named Yadavadas worked with them. Though they were different in many ways, the three of them lived happily together like family.
One night, as Baba Venu was sleeping, he had a strange dream. In the dream, a bright and glowing goddess came to him and said, "I am Goddess Kalyani. I live under the water of a nearby lake. Please bring me out, build a temple for me, and worship me every day."
The next morning, Baba Venu told Krishnadas about the dream. The two of them went to search for the goddess in the lake. After a long search, they found the hidden Deity and gently brought Her out. Baba Venu carefully built a temple and lovingly began her worship. Soon, the whole town came to believe in the power of the goddess, and many people started visiting the temple. From the offerings that came in, Baba Venu, Krishnadas, and Yadavadas lived peacefully and happily. This continued for five years, and their temple became famous.
One day, Shri Mahaprabhuji was traveling from Benares to Adel. While passing by the temple, he sat down under a big mango tree near the lake to rest. At that time, Baba Venu and his friends were in town. Suddenly, a voice called out to Shri Mahaprabhuji from inside the temple.
He walked inside and saw the Deity dressed like a goddess. Shri Mahaprabhuji asked softly, “Why are you wearing clothes of a goddess?”
To his surprise, the Deity answered, “I had to take this form to help these three good souls. No one in this town worships Shri Krishna. Everyone believes only in goddesses. So I appeared like this to be accepted.”
Shri Mahaprabhuji then asked, “Who are you truly?”
The Deity replied, “I am actually Shri Krishna. Please dress me again as I truly am.”
So Shri Mahaprabhuji carefully changed the ornaments and clothes of the Deity to look like Shri Krishna. Then he went back and sat under the mango tree.
When Baba Venu, Krishnadas, and Yadavadas came back and entered the temple, they were shocked to see the goddess had changed. Baba Venu asked loudly, “Who changed our beloved goddess?”
At that moment, the Deity spoke to them, “I am Shri Krishna. I came to you in this form so you could begin your journey to Me. Now that you are ready, go to Shri Mahaprabhuji, who is sitting under the mango tree. He will guide you further.”
The three friends went straight to Shri Mahaprabhuji and bowed at his feet. He smiled gently and welcomed them. They became his disciples and learned from him how to truly serve Shri Krishna.
Shri Mahaprabhuji gave them simple and loving instructions. He said, “Worship Shri Kalyanarayaji privately in your home from now on. In the temple, install a goddess Deity for the people, and let a Brahmin do her worship.”
Before leaving, Shri Mahaprabhuji also shared deep and beautiful ways of offering service that would please Shri Krishna’s heart.
Some time later, news came that Shri Nathji had appeared on the top of Govardhan Hill. When the friends heard this, Shri Kalyanarayaji told them, “Now give My worship to Krishnadas’s brother and go to have the darshan of Shri Nathji.”
The three friends were full of joy and left for Mathura. First, they went to see Shri Keshavarayaji. When Krishnadas saw the Lord, he felt he was looking at Shri Nathji Himself. His heart overflowed with love and longing. In his deep devotion, Krishnadas sang a poem.
As he sang with all his heart, Krishnadas felt a wave of divine love. He forgot his body and ego. His soul, full of longing, left his body and went to be with Shri Krishna forever. He had reached the Lord’s eternal home.
Baba Venu and Yadavadas lovingly performed the last rites for their dear friend. Baba Venu said, “Now that Krishnadas has reached Shri Krishna, I will stay in this world only until I see Shri Nathji myself.”
When they finally arrived at Shri Nathji’s temple, Baba Venu stood in front of the Lord. His heart felt full. Shri Nathji’s garland suddenly fell. The temple priest, Ramdasji, handed it to Baba Venu with some betel leaves that had been offered to the Lord.
As soon as Baba Venu received the garland, his heart filled with divine emotion. He felt just like the Gopis, full of sweet love and separation. The betel leaves were a sign of the Lord’s happiness with him. Baba Venu stepped down from the hill and quietly left his body, joining Shri Krishna in His eternal world.
Yadavadas performed the last rites for Baba Venu. Then he went to meet Shri Gusainji, a great saint. Shri Gusainji welcomed him kindly and allowed him to do services for the Lord. But Yadavadas missed his two friends deeply. He felt his time in this world was almost over.
However, he did not want to trouble any other Vaishnava with his last rites, because that would take them away from their service to Shri Krishna. So, every day, Yadavadas went to the forest and collected firewood. After a few days, when he had enough wood, he bowed to Shri Nathji, Shri Gusainji, and all the Vaishnavas, and quietly went to the forest.
There, with a calm mind full of love for his guru, he left his body and returned to the Lord.
Later, a Vaishnava asked Shri Gusainji, “I have not seen Yadavadas for three days. Where has he gone?”
Shri Gusainji gently said, “Yadavadas has gone to Shri Krishna’s eternal home. He did not want to disturb anyone’s service, so he performed his own last rites.”
The Vaishnavas were amazed and touched by his deep devotion. They praised Yadavadas as a great soul who truly belonged to Shri Krishna.
Poem: The Lord in Disguise
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