 |
| Shri Mahaprabhuji & Damodardasji - Pratham Darshan |
Once, in a quiet town, there lived a kind and generous man who helped many people. He longed for a child, so he served a holy devotee with great love. The grateful devotee gave him a blessing and said, “You will have three sons. The first two will be ordinary, but your youngest will be very special, like the Lord Himself.”
Years went by, and the man became the father of three sons. The youngest, Damodardasji, was born in the year 1473. The moment he was born, the whole house was filled with a soft, glowing light. There were special marks on the baby’s forehead and his arms were long. Everyone who saw him felt that something wonderful had happened.
When Damodardasji was still a baby, an astrologer came and looked at his stars. He said, “This child’s blessings will help many souls find happiness and peace.”
Damodardasji grew up with a bright and gentle heart. His face glowed, and his nature was always calm and loving. From the time he was very little, he always thought about Shri Mahaprabhuji, his future guru, and dreamt of seeing him one day.
Damodardasji did not care much about food, clothes, or sleep. He often sat on the balcony, looking at the road, hoping to see Shri Mahaprabhuji walk by. His father worried, wondering how his youngest son would live in the world while always being lost in such loving thoughts.
After his father passed away, Damodardasji’s two older brothers wanted him to take his share of the family wealth, but Damodardasji did not even listen. He was so lost in thoughts of Shri Mahaprabhuji that he did not want anything else. His uncle took care of his share until he might want it.
Damodardasji missed Shri Mahaprabhuji so much that he became very thin and weak. His mother was worried and called many doctors, but nothing helped. One day, the same holy devotee who blessed his father came again. He saw Damodardasji and explained to the family that Damodardasji was not sick, but his longing came from a deep love for God.
The holy devotee started living in a small hut by the lake, not far from Damodardasji’s home.
One day, Shri Mahaprabhuji walked past on the main street. Damodardasji saw him and was so filled with happiness that he quickly jumped from the balcony to touch Shri Mahaprabhuji’s feet. At that moment, he was bursting with love for Shri Krishna.
Later, Shri Mahaprabhuji went to visit the holy devotee by the lake. The devotee saw Shri Mahaprabhuji and ran to bow at his feet, leaving his body to find eternal peace and happiness.
Shri Mahaprabhuji lovingly called Damodardasji by the name Damalaji, which means “pure.” It is said that when someone’s love for Shri Mahaprabhuji becomes even deeper than love for Shri Krishna, that person becomes very pure. Damodardasji was given this name because his love was pure and complete.
Once, Shri Mahaprabhuji was sitting by the river Yamuna, resting under a tree and thinking, “How will people be able to find God in such a difficult age?” Just then, Shri Krishna appeared and said, “Do not worry. Whoever receives your special blessing will be freed from all troubles. They will be close to Me. You should help divine souls by accepting them.”
That night, Shri Mahaprabhuji wrote about this meeting with Shri Krishna. He wrote that anyone who receives the Brahma Sambandh mantra from him will become pure, and everything offered to Shri Krishna will become special.
The next morning, Shri Mahaprabhuji asked Damalaji, “Did you hear anything last night?” Damalaji replied, “I heard Shri Krishna’s voice, but I could not understand it.”
After giving Damalaji the Brahma Sambandh mantra, Shri Mahaprabhuji told him, “This path has appeared for you.” He meant that this special path is for all divine souls like Damalaji.
Once, in Jatipura, while Shri Mahaprabhuji was resting with his head in Damalaji’s lap, Shri Krishna appeared nearby. Damalaji gently stopped Shri Krishna from coming closer, worried that the noise might wake his beloved guru. Shri Krishna obeyed and waited quietly. When Shri Mahaprabhuji woke up, he was surprised to see Shri Krishna standing far away and asked, “Why did you stay there?” Shri Krishna answered, “I wanted to come closer, but your loving disciple Damalaji did not let me.” Shri Mahaprabhuji started to scold Damalaji, but child Shri Krishna quickly said, “Please do not be upset. Damalaji was only caring for you as a true disciple should.” Shri Mahaprabhuji then happily picked up Shri Krishna and gently pinched his cheeks.
When it was time for Shri Mahaprabhuji to leave this world, he asked Shri Krishna three times to allow Damalaji to remain on earth so that he could teach the Path of Grace to his sons, Shri Gopinathji and Shri Gusainji. Because Damalaji’s heart was full of his guru’s teachings, he was the perfect one to teach the children.
After Shri Mahaprabhuji left, one day Shri Gusainji asked his mother about his father’s special path. She told him to ask Damalaji. Shri Gusainji visited Damalaji and was welcomed with great love. Damalaji answered all of his questions, sharing the knowledge of the Path of Grace. Even though Shri Gusainji is known as an incarnation of Shri Krishna, Damalaji still taught him. In the Path of Grace, Shri Krishna and his devotees meet as equals, bringing joy and comfort to each other.
One day, Shri Gusainji asked Damalaji, “What do you think of my father?” Damalaji answered, “Shri Mahaprabhuji is even greater than Shri Krishna.”
Shri Gusainji was surprised and asked why. Damalaji explained, “The giver of the greatest gift is even more special than the gift itself. Your father gives the precious gift of Shri Krishna, so he is even greater.”
Another time, Shri Gusainji was joking with friends. When Damalaji entered, he reminded everyone, “This path is not for jokes. It is for those who feel true love and longing for Shri Mahaprabhuji.” Shri Gusainji agreed and thanked Damalaji for his wise words.
After performing a special ceremony for his father, Damalaji visited Shri Gusainji. Shri Gusainji asked for a gift, as was the custom. Damalaji promised to give him the meaning of one and a half lines from Shri Mahaprabhuji’s writings. He later explained the deep teachings, and after that day, Shri Gusainji did not allow Damalaji to touch his feet.
But soon after, Shri Mahaprabhuji appeared to Damalaji in a dream and said, “Every day, bow and touch Shri Gusainji’s feet.” From then on, Shri Gusainji only let Damalaji touch his feet after hearing this divine command.
Even after Shri Mahaprabhuji left this world, he gave his loving sight to Damalaji every third day, showing him the wonderful play of Shri Krishna. If three days passed without seeing Shri Mahaprabhuji, Damalaji’s heart would ache with longing, so Shri Mahaprabhuji visited him often, to bring him peace.
Shri Gusainji often left half his seat for Damalaji to sit beside him. One day, Shri Mahaprabhuji appeared to Damalaji and asked who he thought Shri Gusainji was. Damalaji replied, “He is your son.” Shri Mahaprabhuji then revealed, “He is my very own form.” From that moment, Damalaji never sat on the seat again and saw no difference between Shri Mahaprabhuji and Shri Gusainji.
To this day, Damodardasji, called Damalaji, remains the perfect example of a true Vaishnav, whose gentle heart was always filled with the love and teachings of Shri Mahaprabhuji.
Poem: The Gentle Love of Damodardasji
Damodardasji’s heart was bright,
Longing for Shri Mahaprabhuji’s light.
He waited each day, looking out with hope,
Trusting his love would help him cope.
He cared not for riches, sleep, or food,
Lost in love, gentle and good.
His longing grew, his body thin,
All he wished was to see his guru again.
When Shri Mahaprabhuji passed his way,
Joy filled Damodardasji that day.
With love so deep, pure, and sweet,
He fell with joy at his guru’s feet.
Damalaji’s heart was always true,
Teaching the path to those who knew.
He shared pure love, gave wise advice,
And saw his guru in every life.
The story reminds both young and old,
True love for God is greater than gold.
When hearts are gentle, kind, and pure,
Grace and joy will always endure.
Tags: Vaishnav stories, 84 Vaishnav Vaartaji, Damodardasji, Damalaji, Shri Mahaprabhuji, Hindu bedtime stories, devotional stories for kids, Pushtimarg, Shri Krishna, Path of Grace, Sanatan Dharma, spiritual values, devotional parenting, Hindu values, Vaishnav teachings, Bhakti stories for children
Comments
Post a Comment