Satsang POWER OF GURU

POWER OF GURU
(From the glorious life of Saint Damaji of Mangalveda
as narrated by Mr. Venkatesan)
That the Lord is servant of the devotee and His wages
are mere devotion and steadfast meditation on Him
alone as the sole Refuge, is well exemplified in the
story of the illustrious saint of Mangalveda, is in
Maharashtra and Damaji even from his younger days
had developed a spirit of surrender to the Lord. His
intelligence and popularity attracted the notice of
the ruler of the province who appointed him as the
Revenue Collector of Mangalveda.

Once a great famine raged over the entire locality.
Rains failed and there was a great dearth of food
grains. Starvation and disease exacted a heavy toll
among the population and people flocked to Damaji
for help. Damaji wanted to relieve them of their
distress and ordered the entire royal-granaries to
be opened and the grains distributed among people.

But envious minds began to chafe at Damaji's added
glory. They sent petitions to the ruler that he had laid
bare the entire granaries belonging to the state. Damaji
was summoned to the Durbar for an answer. Nothing
daunted Damaji and he followed the emissaries.
Pandarapur was on the way and Damaji felt that he
should have a bath in the sacred Chandrabagha and
offer his worship to Lord Vittal. "Oh Lord, it was you
who made Damaji distribute the grain among your
starving children, and again it is You that is taking
me for an explanation at the Durbar.
Your ways are indeed mysterious. What need for fear
have I, as I know it is You in everyone who is playing
this Drama? I have little care for this body for it is Thy
and at Thy service."

In the meantime at the palace of the ruler, there
appeared a Talayari and presented his credentials to
the ruler as the servant of Damaji, and told him that
his master had submitted the value of the grain that
he was accused to having misused. The Talayari's
appearance overwhelmed the ruler and he was thrilled.
The amount of four lakhs of rupees which was the
value of the grain so utilized by Damaji was promptly
paid and a regular receipt taken. Immediately orders
were passed withdrawing all proceedings against
Damaji and he was honorably acquitted.

Here at Pandarapur, Damaji after worship began to
read 'Bhagavadgita' as usual. On opening the sacred
book he found in it a receipt for four lakhs and an
order withdrawing the proceedings and a direction
that he would be received in the palace with all honor.
Damaji could not believe his eyes. The Lord's ways
are certainly inexplicable.

The Ruler fell at Damaji's feet and begged for
forgiveness for the great hardship he had caused him.
Damaji discovered that it was the Lord who had thus
saved His devotee and decided to spend the reminder
of his life devoted to the Lord at Pandarpur.