84 Vaishnav Varta 44 - Gorja & Samarai

Now, Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu’s sevaks, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, lived in Singhanand. The mother-in-law’s name was Gorja, and the daughter-in-law’s name was Samarai, both Kshatriyanis. Their story is spoken of here.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): These two, in the divine play (Leela), are the sakhis (companions) of Shri Swaminiji’s sakhi Chandrabhaga. In Leela, the mother-in-law Gorja is the sakhi named “Nanda.” The daughter-in-law Samarai is the sakhi named “Vrinda.” They lived in Singhanand. How Shri Acharyaji made them his sevaks is already mentioned above in the story of Vasudev Chhakda.

Prasang 1 – The Offering to Shri Thakurji

They used to serve Shri Thakurji. Once, Shri Acharyaji arrived in Thaneshwar. Between Thaneshwar and Singhanand flowed the Saraswati river. Shri Acharyaji would never cross over Saraswati.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Because Saraswati is the wife of Brahma. How can one cross over a woman? That is why he would never go to Singhanand.

So, the Vaishnavs of Singhanand would come to Thaneshwar to take darshan of Shri Acharyaji. When Shri Acharyaji reached Thaneshwar, the news was sent to Singhanand that Shri Acharyaji had come. Then the mother-in-law told the daughter-in-law, “I am going to Thaneshwar to take darshan of Shri Acharyaji. You first wake Shri Thakurji, perform Mangala, then do Shringar. Afterwards, prepare Rajbhog and offer it to Shri Thakurji. I will return after darshan, then you can go.”

The daughter-in-law became very happy and said, “Today I will do Shri Thakurji’s Shringar and offer Bhog.” The mother-in-law replied, “You first have darshan, then I will go.”

So the mother-in-law went to Thaneshwar for Shri Acharyaji’s darshan. Meanwhile, the daughter-in-law quickly bathed, performed Mangala for Shri Thakurji, then did the Shringar. Afterwards, she prepared the entire meal, arranged the thalis and bowls, and placed the Bhog before Shri Thakurji. She then sat aside. She washed the vessels and cleaned the kitchen, and by then some time had passed.

When she went to see if the Bhog was accepted, she found all the thalis and bowls still filled with food just as before. She prayed to Shri Thakurji, “Maharaj! My mother-in-law has gone to Thaneshwar for Shri Acharyaji’s darshan. I do not know anything. She instructed me, and I did exactly as told. Yet you did not accept the Bhog. What should I do now?”

Then she thought perhaps she had made some mistake, or the kitchen had become impure. So she washed all the utensils again, purified the kitchen, bathed carefully, and cooked afresh. She again arranged the thalis and offered the Bhog to Shri Thakurji. She stepped out and cleaned the kitchen utensils, only to find again that the food remained untouched. Distressed, she cried, “Maharaj, I do not know anything. Why are you not accepting?” She began to weep and thought, “I must have committed some grave offense, that is why Shri Thakurji has not accepted.”

She tried a third time, with utmost care. She cooked again, placed the food before Shri Thakurji, and sat aside. Once more, she found the food untouched. Seeing this, she was deeply sorrowful. After offering three times, Shri Thakurji had not accepted. She became both distressed and exhausted, fainted, and fell to the ground. Her throat had gone dry due to fatigue.

At that time, Shri Thakurji rose from His throne and gave her water to drink from His own pot. She regained consciousness and opened her eyes. Shri Thakurji could not bear her suffering.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): She was pure and without deceit, knowing nothing of trickery. Therefore, Shri Thakurji was pleased and said to her, “Why are you distressed? You cooked three times, and I accepted all three times. Why do you doubt?”

The daughter-in-law replied, “How can I believe that? I saw all the food still there as it was.” Shri Thakurji said, “Whatever I touch never decreases. If you still do not believe, tomorrow morning I will eat before your eyes. Now, take Mahaprasad. I ate three times, but you took nothing, that is why you feel weak.”

Then the daughter-in-law distributed some prasada to the cows but did not take any herself. Shri Thakurji Himself had given her water to drink, so she sustained herself only on that.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): She thought, “Shri Thakurji always speaks truth. Would He console me without cause? Tomorrow, when I see Him eating before my eyes, I will take Mahaprasad.”

That night she prepared everything in advance and went to sleep. In the morning, after bathing and doing her duties, she performed Mangala and Shringar, then quickly cooked the food, arranged the thalis, and offered them to Shri Thakurji. As she prepared to step aside, Shri Thakurji said, “Why are you stepping aside today? You would not believe earlier. That is why today I will eat in front of you.”

So she sat nearby, and Shri Thakurji ate all the food well before her eyes. Then He joked and laughed with her, letting her taste all the rasas. Afterwards, Shri Damodarji told Shri Acharyaji everything, saying, “Samarai gives me great joy.” Shri Acharyaji kept this in his mind, thinking, “When Samarai comes for darshan, I will ask her.”

Later, Shri Thakurji ate in the exact way Samarai had described, leaving the food appearing untouched. Then the daughter-in-law believed that Shri Damodarji had indeed eaten all three times before. She accepted Mahaprasad without doubt. In this way, for five days she offered Bhog directly before Shri Thakurji, and He ate in her presence.

Afterwards, the mother-in-law went to take leave from Shri Acharyaji. Shri Acharyaji said, “Quickly send the daughter-in-law for darshan.” So the mother-in-law returned and told her, “Now you go for Shri Acharyaji’s darshan.”

The daughter-in-law came, bowed down, and at that time Shri Acharyaji was cooking. He said to her, “Come here, roll the rotis.” Samarai bathed, came, and began rolling the rotis. Shri Acharyaji then said, “Whatever you told Shri Thakurji, Shri Damodarji has told me everything. Shri Thakurji gave you the experience of all rasas. You are greatly fortunate.”

Samarai humbly replied, “If even such matters are held within Shri Thakurji’s stomach, then what can I say? After all, He is still a child.” Hearing this, Shri Acharyaji was greatly pleased and said, “It would be proper to go to such a Vaishnav’s home to give darshan, but how can I? I cannot cross Saraswati.”

For two more days Samarai stayed and shared everything with Shri Acharyaji about her experiences with Shri Thakurji. On the third day she asked permission to leave. Shri Acharyaji said, “Why give permission to such a Vaishnav? One should always listen to her stories. But since Shri Thakurji is pleased with you and cannot remain without you, I give you leave.”

Then Samarai bowed and said, “Maharaj! All this is only by your grace. Otherwise, where is Shri Thakurji and where are we worldly beings? Only by your mercy has Shri Thakurji showered grace upon us.” Saying this, she left.

Hearing the humility of the daughter-in-law, Shri Acharyaji was very pleased and said, “Such Vaishnavs are rare. Those with whom Shri Thakurji Himself speaks, they alone have such humility.” When she returned home, she told her mother-in-law everything that Shri Acharyaji had said and that such great grace had fallen upon her.

Afterwards, one day the daughter-in-law lay down, tired, and fell asleep. At that time, the mother-in-law offered Bhog and was washing vessels. The daughter-in-law woke suddenly and thought, “How could Shri Thakurji have eaten?” She quickly bathed and went to the temple, offered Bhog to Shri Thakurji before her own eyes, and then Shri Thakurji told the mother-in-law, “From now on, you do the kitchen work, but Shringar and Bhog will be done by the daughter-in-law. I eat well from her hands.”

So the mother-in-law said to the daughter-in-law, “Shri Thakurji is very pleased with you. From now on, you do the Shringar and place all the Bhog. I will cook and do the outside work.” From then on, the daughter-in-law daily did new and beautiful Shringar, prepared the offerings, and offered Bhog directly to Shri Damodarji. Shri Thakurji was always pleased. Thus, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were recipients of Shri Acharyaji’s grace. Their story is told up to this point.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): This story shows that pure, guileless love is what pleases Shri Thakurji the most.

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