Satsang POWER OF GURU by Mr.Venkatesan

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
Chanrabagha 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.

(Source Shri Saipadananda April 1993 Issue) this
can be read at www.saileelas.org