Now, the story of Shri Acharyaji Mahaprabhu’s sevak, Gadu Swami, a Sanaudhiya Brahmin who lived in Shri Vrindavan, is told.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): In the Divine Play (Leela), he was a maidservant in the house of Shri Nandarayaji. Her name was Bandi. When Yashodaji began to tie Shri Thakurji during the Damodar Leela, this Bandi gave Yashodaji a rope. Hearing this, Rohiniji cursed her, saying, “You are a maidservant; why did you give your own rope to Yashodaji to bind Shri Thakurji?” Because of this curse, she fell to the earth and was born in Mathura in the house of a Sanaudhiya Brahmin.
When she (he, now in human birth) was eight years old, he already showed signs of detachment. He left Mathura and came alone to live in Vrindavan. From Mathura, he would bring some food and necessities for ten or fifteen days, and sit at Keshi Ghat in Vrindavan, reflecting, “When will grace come upon me?” When Brajvasis or others would come and ask him to serve them, he would do so. To them, he would always say, “Keep the name of Shri Thakurji constantly on your lips.”
Prasang 1 – The Vision and Refuge of Gadu Swami
One night, Gadu Swami felt deep separation and anguish. He thought, “My entire life has passed away, and this human body has gone in vain; therefore, my life is wasted.” Saying this, tears flowed from his eyes. Then, sleep came upon Gadu Swami. In his dream, Shri Thakurji said, “Tomorrow morning, Shri Vallabhacharyaji will come to Keshi Ghat to bathe. Go and take refuge in him. Then grace will come upon you.”
When Gadu Swami awoke, he said to himself, “When will morning come, that I may go to Shri Acharyaji’s refuge?” Soon morning arrived. That very night, Shri Acharyaji had departed from Giriraj and, at dawn, reached Keshi Ghat, where he bathed in Shri Yamunaji and was performing Sandhyavandan. Then Gadu Swami asked, “Who is he?” Krishnadas Megha replied, “This is Shri Vallabhacharyaji, who has come from Giriraj.”
Then Gadu Swami bowed down and said to Shri Acharyaji, “Maharaj! Please have mercy upon me and make me your sevak.” Then Shri Acharyaji said, “You are called a Swami, and yet you serve others. Why do you say you want to become a sevak?” Then Gadu Swami said, “Maharaj, I have received the divine command: ‘Become the sevak of Shri Acharyaji, and then grace will come upon you.’ Therefore, please accept me as your sevak.”
Then Shri Acharyaji said to Gadu Swami, “Go and bathe.” Gadu Swami bathed and returned to Shri Acharyaji. Then Shri Acharyaji gave him the initiation by teaching him the divine Name. After that, Gadu Swami presented to Shri Acharyaji the names of all those whom he himself had previously made his sevaks.
Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): Later, Gadu Swami humbly prayed to Shri Acharyaji, saying, “Maharaj! My parents are turned away from devotion and live in Mathura. Therefore, I have left them and come here. I am unmarried and have lived in a state of renunciation since childhood. Now please bless me so that my mind never strays away from the Leelas of Shri Thakurji.”
Then Shri Acharyaji gave him his own Charanamrit (water sanctified by his feet) and composed for him a ‘Trividha Naamavali’ (threefold name formula) and instructed him to recite it. After that, Gadu Swami began to experience the Leelas of Shri Thakurji and became deeply absorbed in mental (manasi) seva.
Thus, Gadu Swami was such a blessed devotee and recipient of Shri Acharyaji’s grace that his story is indescribable. The manner of his manasi devotion cannot be expressed in words. Therefore, the story of Gadu Swami is not told in further detail.