Now, the story of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu’s sevak, Achyutdas Sanodhya Brahmin from Mathura, the meaning of his story is told here.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment) In the divine play (Leela), this Achyutdas is the companion (sakhi) of Lalitaji. In the Leela, her name is “Madhura.” She speaks in such a sweet manner that it feels as if nectar is flowing from her words. Everyone loves her.
Achyutdas was born in the home of a Sanodhya Brahmin in Mathura. When he was about nine years old, he came with his parents during the Diwali festival to perform the circumambulation (parikrama) of Shri Govardhan. When Achyutdas saw the beauty of Shri Giriraj, his heart became deeply attached. He then said to his parents, “I wish to live here at Shri Govardhan.”
His father asked, “My son, do you desire to become a renunciant (vairagi)?” Achyutdas replied, “I am already a renunciant. My marriage has not taken place at all. But I have some relatives in Anyor village; I will stay there for a few days. After performing ten or twenty circumambulations of Shri Govardhan, when my heart feels satisfied, I will return.” Then his parents entrusted him to the care of their relatives and returned to Mathura.
Prasang 1 – Achyutdas’ Devotion at Govardhan
Achyutdas stayed in Anyor. Sometimes he stayed at Parasoli, sometimes at Shri Kund, and sometimes at Shri Govardhan, thus he lived in various places around the hill. Later, Shri Acharyaji came to the area around Shri Govardhan. At Anyor, he established seva at the house of Sadhu Pandey and revealed the form of Shri Govardhandhar (Krishna who lifted the Govardhan hill) outside the mountain.
Then, through divine inspiration, Achyutdas’ soul was moved, and he offered his name and devotion. He was told, “You should perform the seva of Shri Govardhandhar.” Achyutdas bowed to Shri Acharyaji and humbly requested, “Maharaj! Please bestow such grace upon me that my mind may become absorbed in solitary mental (manasi) seva.”
Then Shri Acharyaji gave him his charanamrit (the sanctified water that has washed his feet). Achyutdas drank it, touched it to his hands and eyes, placed it on his forehead, and applied it upon his heart. At that moment, Achyutdas’ eyes became divine. He began to have darshan of the Leelas (divine pastimes). He placed the charanamrit upon his head.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment) Just as in the path of devotion by maryada (rules and discipline), Lord Mahadev became the foremost among devotees by holding the Ganga upon his head, in the same way Achyutdas held the charanamrit of Shri Acharyaji upon his head and ever remained in its grace. By applying it to his heart, all the principles of the divine Leelas and the truths of the path became firmly established within him. Then Shri Acharyaji taught him Siddhant Muktavali. Achyutdas became deeply absorbed in his mental seva.
He always lived in a cave near Govindakund. His eyes were filled with the nectar of divine love. Shri Gusainji would visit daily to give him darshan, outwardly to maintain the decorum of the maryada (path of discipline), but in truth, he would come for darshan of Achyutdas. For in Achyutdas’ eyes, Shri Mahaprabhuji’s form would manifest. Because of this, when Shri Gusainji discussed the sentiments of the Govardhandhar Leelas with him, he felt immense joy.
Achyutdas was a realized soul (paramarthi). When Shri Gusainji once removed Bhagwandas from seva, he later, upon Achyutdas’ humble request, accepted Bhagwandas back into the seva. Whatever offerings Shri Gusainji would prepare for Shri Govardhandhar, Achyutdas, sitting at Govindakund, would experience everything inwardly. He would tell Shri Gusainji, “Today, this offering is especially beautiful.”
Thus, Achyutdas was accepted as a true devotee. Shri Gusainji would daily bring the Rajbhog offering to him and visit him regularly. However, the story of Achyutdas is not widely known, because his devotion was of the highest divine intimacy (viprayog). Stories related to such deep rasa (divine sentiments) are not revealed publicly. Therefore, his story is not elaborately described. Achyutdas was such a blessed devotee of the Lord, his story can only be told up to this point.
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