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| Shri Vallabh with Seth Purshottamdas - Kashi |
Long ago in the city of Benaras, there lived a kind and wealthy man named Seth Purushottamdas. One day, while Shri Mahaprabhuji was visiting the holy city, Seth Purushottamdas saw him by the river. He felt a deep love and respect for Shri Mahaprabhuji, so he came near, bowed his head, and asked to become his disciple. Shri Mahaprabhuji kindly accepted him, along with his son, Gopaldas, and his daughter, Rukmini.
Seth Purushottamdas asked Shri Mahaprabhuji what he should do next. Shri Mahaprabhuji told him to begin serving Shri Krishna with devotion. Seth Purushottamdas used the money he had to start building a temple for Shri Krishna, whom he lovingly called Shri Madan Mohanji. While building, they found a beautiful statue of Shri Madan Mohanji and also discovered a hidden treasure. With happiness in his heart, Seth Purushottamdas started offering the best food, clothes, and jewels to Shri Madan Mohanji every day.
Even though Seth Purushottamdas loved Shri Krishna very much, he always thought of his guru, Shri Mahaprabhuji, when doing his worship. To him, Shri Madan Mohanji was just like Shri Mahaprabhuji.
One night, the main deity of Benaras, Shri Vishvanath Mahadevji, spoke to Seth Purushottamdas in a dream. Mahadevji asked, “Bring me some of Shri Krishna’s special food” Seth Purushottamdas happily brought prasada from Shri Madan Mohanji to Mahadevji the next day. After offering the prasada, Seth Purushottamdas greeted Mahadev with respect and a Vaishnava greeting. The temple priests were surprised, but Seth Purushottamdas explained that he shared a special relation with Mahadevji, that of a Vaishnav.
From that time, Shri Vishvanath Mahadevji cared for Seth Purushottamdas in his own special way. Every night, Mahadevji sent his helpers to guard Sethji’s house and keep it safe, especially when Sethji went to visit other Vaishnavas. This showed how Mahadevji protect those who are true devotees. During Shri Krishna’s Janmashtami festival, Mahadevji came to Seth Purushottamdas’s house to bless the celebrations.
Seth Purushottamdas’s son, Gopaldas, once thought, “My father is old, so now I will take care of the temple service.” But when Gopaldas came close to his father, he saw Seth Purushottamdas looking young and strong, like a man of twenty-five! Seth Purushottamdas explained, “Devotees are always young in their hearts, even if they look old.”
Once, while traveling with a friend, Seth Purushottamdas stopped at a mountain that Shri Mahaprabhuji had visited. That night, the Lord disguised as a Brahmin tried to give Sethji a magical jewel that would give him anything he wanted. But Seth Purushottamdas gently refused, saying, “Why would I leave the Lord’s loving shelter for a stone? The Lord always gives me everything I need.” This showed that real happiness does not come from treasures but from serving Shri Krishna with love.
When Shri Mahaprabhuji came to stay at Seth Purushottamdas’s house, he lovingly gave Shri Madan Mohanji, Sethji’s Shri Krishna, a special bath called panchamrita, using milk, ghee, honey, sugar, and curd. This was done to bless both Seth Purushottamdas and his temple.
Seth Purushottamdas never wanted praise or fame. One day, while collecting cow dung in his simple clothes, the king of Benaras came to visit. The king saw how humble Seth Purushottamdas was and admired him, saying, “You are free from the desire for fame.” Seth Purushottamdas said, “Serving the Lord is the same as serving the cows. All work done for the Lord is holy.”
On Shri Krishna’s birthday, Shri Mahaprabhuji celebrated by gently swinging Shri Krishna in a cradle at Seth Purushottamdas’s house. At that moment, Seth Purushottamdas and his children saw the divine world of Shri Krishna with their own eyes. Shri Mahaprabhuji later said that from now on, whenever they celebrate Shri Krishna’s appearance, they would all dress in the same way, so everyone could feel the joy together.
When great scholars came to argue with Shri Mahaprabhuji, he wrote a small book to explain that this world is real and filled with God’s love. By serving the Lord, anyone can find true happiness, right here on earth. Even Shri Vishvanath Mahadev agreed with his words.
One day, Seth Purushottamdas set out to visit a holy place but stopped on the way when he saw a field of ripe eggplants. He brought some home, made a tasty offering for Shri Krishna, and invited other Vaishnavas to join him. He did not care for traveling far; his greatest joy was serving Shri Krishna at home.
Rukmini, Seth Purushottamdas’s daughter, was also a devoted follower of Shri Mahaprabhuji. Once, a great saint asked her when she had last bathed in the holy Ganges river. Rukmini answered that she had not found the time for many years because she was always busy serving Shri Krishna. The saint was pleased and told her that Shri Krishna would always remember her love.
When Rukmini left this world, people said she had gone to meet the Ganges. But the wise ones said, “No, the Ganges has found Rukmini.” This meant that true devotees are so rare and special, even holy rivers are blessed by them.
Gopaldas, Seth Purushottamdas’s son, loved singing for Shri Krishna, sometimes feeling the deep sweetness of missing him. Even when Gopaldas was old, Shri Krishna comforted him by saying, “I am always here with you.” Gopaldas’s family was known as a shining example for all.
The story of Seth Purushottamdas and his family shows us that true happiness comes from serving the Lord, being humble, and living with love in our hearts. Whether we are rich or poor, young or old, the best life is one filled with kindness, faith, and joy in the service of Shri Krishna and our beloved teachers.
Tags: seth purushottamdas, vaishnav stories for kids, krishna devotion, shri mahaprabhuji, hindu family values, devotional parenting, service to krishna, nurturing faith, spiritual bedtime stories, rukmini, gopaldas, madan mohanji, kindness, humility, pushtimarg, sanatan dharma, indian moral stories, simple living, satsang
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