|
Affectionate
Towards Devotees:
When
Swami was at Junagadh, devotees from distant lands used to come
there for his darshan. Brahmin Mulji Shrotriya also came among
them from Aakha. Swami enquired about his well-being with affection.
He asked about the marriage of his son, Valji. Swami asked him
to wait for one year. Mulji was also of the same opinion. But
under the pressure of the parents of the bride, Vaji had to
marry. Mulji again came to Junagadh and informed Swami about
this. Swami was displeased but advised him not to allow his
son to go near the crusher in the sugar-cane field. Mulji went
home and took all the precautions and did not allow Valji to
go in the sugar-cane field. But he happened to go there with
his friends just on the day preceding that on which the crusher
machine was to be stopped. At this moment his father Mulji had
gone out for some work, so Valji went near the crusher and passed
sugar-cane into it. All of a sudden his hand was caught in the
crusher and he became unconscious on the spot. He was immediately
taken home but he did not survive. In this way, everyone saw
the result of ignoring Swamishri's orders.
Swami once arrived at the village Thanagalol. He stopped at
the village limits and called Jasa Bhagat from the village.
He prostrated before Swami, expressed his regrets and said,
"Gopalanand Swami had instructed me not to leave this village
because it is a village on the highway and therefore, service
can be rendered to the travelling saints. But, these days, my
business has fallen on evil days." On hearing this Swami
said, "You don't come to the samaiyas and do not give anything
in charity, and as a result of that this misery has befallen
you." Swami, thereafter, asked him to bring from his home
some ration and a piece of coarse cloth.
According to the orders of Swami, Jasa Bhagat brought some ration
and a piece of coarse cloth. The saints utilised the cloth as
a filter and cooked loaves and daal. Swami took his meals under
a banyan tree. Thereafter, Swami graced the farm of Jasa Bhagat
by his visit and said, "This land will abound in crops.
But leave apart five percent for Thakorji. Follow the orders
of Maharaj and continue to pay visits on samaiyas." Having
said this, Swami proceeded further. In this way, Swami used
to look after the business of the devotees and inspire them
to follow the rules of the religion. Although the devotees lapsed
in their duties during trying circumstances, Swami took care
of them very kindly.
|