Now, the story of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu’s sevak, Achyutdas Gaur Brahmin, resident of Mahavan, is being narrated.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In the divine play (Leela), this Achyutdas is one of the close companions of Shri Vishakhaji, belonging to the inner circle of sakhis. His divine attainment happened there. In the Leela, his name is “Mohini.” When he beholds Shri Thakurji, he becomes completely enchanted and forgets all awareness of his body.
He was born in the home of a Gaur Brahmin in Mahavan. When Shri Acharyaji once visited the house of Narayandas Brahmachari, he gave the name “Achyutdas” to this child. At that time, Achyutdas was around seven or eight years old. He often visited and spent time with Narayandas Brahmachari.
When Achyutdas turned twenty years old, he asked Narayandas, “You once told me that Shri Acharyaji gave me a name and accepted me as his sevak. Where is he now? What is his name?” He continued, “At that time, I was just a child and did not understand anything. Now, I wish to see him and offer myself to him.” Narayandas replied, “Shri Acharyaji’s name is Shri Vallabhacharya, and he is currently residing in the village of Adel near the sacred Tirthraj Prayag.”
Then Achyutdas said, “I will go to Adel after performing the parikrama (circumambulation) of Giriraj Govardhan.” Achyutdas had immense love for Girirajji’s parikrama. Every month he performed two or four parikramas. So he set out for Adel after completing one parikrama, and after a few days, he reached there.
He bowed down to Shri Acharyaji and stood before him. Shri Acharyaji asked, “Achyutdas, from where have you come?” Achyutdas replied, “Maharaj, I have come from Braj.” Shri Acharyaji then asked, “What do you do in Braj?” Achyutdas said, “Every month I perform two or four parikramas of Giriraj. I also associate with your Vaishnav, Narayandas Brahmachari of Mahavan. When I was a child, he told me that you had given me my name. At that time, I did not know you. Narayandas has now told me everything in detail. Please grant me initiation and accept my complete surrender.”
Shri Acharyaji said, “Go and take a bath in Shri Yamunaji and then come back.” Achyutdas bathed in Shri Yamunaji and returned to Shri Acharyaji. Then Shri Acharyaji initiated him, giving him his name and performing the Brahmasambandh ceremony. Afterwards, Shri Acharyaji said to him, “You have done many parikramas of Giriraj, but have you ever seen any divine miracle?”
Achyutdas replied, “Maharaj, I have not seen any miracle.” Then Shri Acharyaji said, “When you perform three continuous parikramas of Giriraj without stopping, you will see something.” Achyutdas bowed to Shri Acharyaji, took his leave, and departed. He eagerly awaited the day when he could go to Shri Govardhan and perform three consecutive parikramas as instructed. After a few days, he went to Narayandas and told him everything in detail: “Shri Acharyaji graciously gave me Brahmasambandh and ordered me to perform three continuous parikramas of Shri Govardhan. So I am going there now.”
He reached Shri Govardhan and rested for the night. In the last quarter of the night, he awoke, performed his bodily duties, bathed mentally in the Manasi Ganga, and began the parikrama. He completed the first parikrama by the middle of the next day. Then he began the second one, which he finished after about six hours on the following day. Starting the third parikrama, when he reached near Apsarakund, he became completely exhausted hungry and weak. It was around midnight.
At that time, a cowherd boy approached him and said, “O Vairagi (renunciate), where are you going? There is a lion sitting ahead. Go back.” Achyutdas replied, “How can I go back? Shri Acharyaji has commanded me to complete three continuous parikramas. I will not turn back.” Then the cowherd boy disappeared. Achyutdas continued walking forward and saw a lion standing in the middle of the path. He thought to himself, “I cannot leave the parikrama incomplete. If the lion eats me, let him eat me.”
Gathering courage, he walked toward the lion. But as he neared, he saw instead a beautiful cow standing there. He circumambulated the cow, placed its tail on his head in reverence, and continued his journey.
After completing the third parikrama by the next night, he returned to Mahavan and told Narayandas everything: “I saw a cowherd boy, then a lion, and finally a cow. What could be the meaning of all this?” Narayandas replied, “Only Shri Acharyaji knows the true meaning of this.” So Achyutdas went again to Adel after a few days to see Shri Acharyaji.
Shri Acharyaji asked him, “Did you perform the three continuous parikramas of Giriraj? Did you see anything?” Achyutdas replied, “Yes, Maharaj. I saw a cowherd boy, then a lion, and finally the vision of a cow. But I do not understand their significance.”
Then Shri Acharyaji said, “The cowherd boy was Shri Thakurji himself. He first came to test your patience and courage. The lion was Girirajji himself. When you approached with steadfastness, Girirajji appeared to you in the form of a cow. You are indeed very fortunate. However, your spiritual state is still immature, and true love (prem) has not yet awakened in you. That is why you did not experience the complete Leela vision.”
After hearing this, Achyutdas bowed to Shri Acharyaji and humbly prayed, “Maharaj, please grant me the gift of divine love by your grace. Teach me the way by which I can experience the divine Leela.” Shri Acharyaji replied, “When you engage in sincere Bhagavad-seva, divine love will awaken within you.” Achyutdas said, “Maharaj, please give me the Thakurji for seva, and tell me how to serve. I will do exactly as you instruct.”
Shri Acharyaji said, “We are now going to Braj. Come with us. There, all your desires will be fulfilled.” So Achyutdas accompanied Shri Acharyaji. After traveling five stages from Adel, they arrived at a small village. Near the village was a beautiful pond surrounded by a dense garden. Seeing the lovely place, Shri Acharyaji said, “Today we will prepare the bhog (meal offerings) here.”
He told Achyutdas, “Go, bathe and bring water.” Achyutdas went to the pond, bathed, and as he came out, he saw a small peepal tree near the bank. Under the tree, on the green grass, was a beautiful form of Shri Thakurji seated. Achyutdas quickly ran to Shri Acharyaji and said, “Maharaj! At the edge of the pond, beneath a small peepal tree, on the green grass, I saw the divine form of Shri Thakurji.”
Shri Acharyaji came there, cleaned the dust from the place with his own upper cloth, and handed that cloth to Achyutdas. He said, “Prepare the food and offer bhog to this Thakurji. Then, when we reach Braj, we will install Him at your house.” Seeing the beautiful form of Thakurji, Achyutdas became filled with joy. The form had already been sanctified by Shri Acharyaji’s own touch. Achyutdas cooked the food and offered bhog to Thakurji.
From then on, Achyutdas continued to serve Thakurji daily in this way. When they reached Mahavan, Achyutdas welcomed Shri Acharyaji into his home. Shri Acharyaji gave Thakurji a Panchamrit bath and seated Him on a sacred platform, giving Him the name “Shri Madan Mohanji.” He installed Him on Achyutdas’s head as his deity for worship. Shri Acharyaji stayed at Achyutdas’s home for three days, teaching him all the customs and practices of the Pushtimarg. Afterwards, he spent one night at the house of Narayandas Brahmachari, and from there, he went to Dwarka via Giriraj.
Prasang 1 – The Divine Vision and Service of Achyutdas
Achyutdas continued serving Shri Madan Mohanji with great devotion and care. After some time, Shri Madan Mohanji began to express His affection toward Achyutdas, allowing him to experience the sweetness of divine Leela. They conversed together, and whatever Achyutdas desired, Thakurji granted.
Later, when Achyutdas visited Shri Gusainji, Shri Gusainji would not allow him to bow down. He said, “In your heart resides Shri Acharyaji himself.” Such was Achyutdas, truly Bhagavadiya (belonging wholly to God). For many years, he lovingly performed the seva of Shri Madan Mohanji with deep concentration.
Afterwards, when Shri Acharyaji enacted his Asur Vyamoha Leela (divine withdrawal from the world), Achyutdas installed Shri Madan Mohanji in his home temple. Overcome with unbearable separation, he went to Badrikashram, gave up food and water, and left his body.
There he attained entry into the inner circle of Leela and merged into the divine mouth of Shri Thakurji himself. Later, Shri Madan Mohanji was placed in the care of Shri Gopinathji. Thus was Achyutdas, a most beloved and grace-filled sevak of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu, who could not bear separation from his Guru. Hence, the story of Achyutdas concludes here.
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