42 - Feast Of Ashadhi Amas

Day by day, Bapashri was growing old. Sometimes he used to fall sick, so that Haribhaktas could serve him. After accepting their service, he would be all right on his own.

But this time, the play of sickness prolonged. Saints and Haribhaktas were concerned. They feared that Bapashri might leave his body.

Therefore, Swami Ishwarcharandasji, Muni Swami etc. prayed to Bapashri. Muktaraj Dhanba also pleaded, ‘Bapa, we are not at all happy, as you are sick.’

Muni Swami said sadly, ‘Bapa, Nobody eats properly.’ Dhanba informed, ‘Because you are not well, everyone is feeling sick.’

After listening to everyone’s prayer, Bapashri promised, ‘Maharaj has heard your prayer. Now, I will not go to his abode. I will be all right soon.’

They were very happy. Bapashri instructed, ‘Now cook the food and offer it to God.’ Slowly Bapashri recovered. Bapashri told Swami, ‘Swami, Maharaj allowed me to stay back.’

Swami was grateful, ‘Bapa, You are so merciful.’ Bapashri asked for his opinion, ‘I have an idea, let us organize a series of lectures (Parayan) at ‘Chhatedi’. Swami welcomed the idea, ‘Bapa, it is a marvellous idea.’ The Parayan went on very well.

On the day of completion, Bapa complained to Swami, ‘Swami, from the day I fell sick, children have not been able to come and see me.’ Swami explained, ‘Their parents did not allow them to come and see you, because you were sick. So how could they come and see you. Poor kids.’

Bapashri suggested, ‘On the final day of lectures, let us offer food to all the children of the village. They would be happy.’

Swami agreed, ‘All right, Bapa. The kids will have an opportunity of your Darshan.’

The Parayan was over on Amavasya of the month of Ashadh. All the children from the village gathered at ‘Chhatedi’. They bowed down to Bapashri. Bhimji, inquired, ‘Bapa, what happened to you?’

Bapashri explained, ‘Son, I was not feeling well.’ Bhimji complained, ‘My father did not allow me to come closer to you.’ Bapashri consoled, ‘Now he will not object.’

Kesran came running and hugged Bapashri and spoke, ‘Bapa, why did you fall sick? Nobody was talking to us. In orchard, nobody gave us food.’ Bapashri promised, ‘Come tomorrow. I will give you whatever you want.’

Ruda informed, ‘Bapa, nobody loves us like you. They used to scold us if we came close to you.’ Bapashri announced, ‘Children! I sent off the sickness looking at your affection. Now, come to me everyday. Nobody would stop you.’

Teja asked, ‘Bapa, would you tell us the stories of God?’ Bapashri assured, ‘I will tell you the stories of God and I will give you Prasad also.’

Children were delighted. Bapashri instructed, ‘Come on, now. Sit down in a queue.’ They sat down in a queue. Haribhaktas served the food. Bapashri told, ‘Now recite the name of God and have food.’

Bapashri was very happy looking at the children. He came to serve sweets (Ladu). He gave as many sweets as they asked.

The kids were screaming, ‘Bapa, please give me. Bapa, please give me two... Bapa, I want four. Bapashri served all of them. He blessed them, ‘Children! Please enjoy!’

He asked one child, ‘What is your name?’ The child replied, ‘Bapa, I am Ruda.’ Bapashri gave him sweets (Ladus) and asked, ‘Ruda, what is this?’ Ruda replied, ‘Bapa, this is sweet (Ladu).’

Bapashri denied, ‘No Son! You are enjoying the bliss of Maharaj. Please, remember it.’ Ruda promised, ‘Yes, Bapa. I will always remember.’

He went to Teja and asked lovingly, ‘Teja! Son! How are the sweets (Ladu).’ Teja said, ‘It is tasty.’ Bapashri explained, ‘The bliss of Maharaj is also very tasty.’ Teja bowed down to Bapashri. Bapashri assured, ‘God will certainly grant you the bliss.’ Karsan called Bapa, ‘Bapa, please bless me. I am left out.’

Bapashri promised, ‘Nobody would be left out. Tell me, did you like the sweets (Ladu)?’ Karsan replied, ‘Yes Bapa.’ Bapashri asked again, ‘Did you like it very much?’ Karsan confirmed, ‘Bapa, I liked the sweets (Ladu) very very much.’ Bapashri put a whole piece of sweet (Ladu) in his mouth.

Karsan was not able to speak. He spoke with some effort, ‘Bapa.... I.....’ Bapashri made fun, ‘What? What are you saying?’ All the children were laughing. Kesran spoke, ‘Bless me....’

He could manage to speak only this much. Bapashri said affectionately, ‘You will also attain the bliss of Maharaj as sweet as Ladu.’ Karsan bowed down to Bapshree. The feast was over.

Children went to Bapashri and sat down.Bapashri asked, ‘All of you! Did you enjoy the food?’ Children spoke together, ‘Yes, we enjoyed very much.’

Bapashri taught, ‘The way you had food, attentively, similarly remember God with full attention?’ They promised.

Karsan asked, ‘Bapa, next time when would you feed us like this?’ Bapashri thought about it. Ruda, Teja etc. also joined, ‘Yes Bapa, we enjoyed very much. Next time when would you feed us?’

Bapashri promised, ‘Every year, on the day of Ashadi Amavasya. I wil feed you here at this place. Kids clapped happily and rejoiced, ‘Ye... Every year we are going to enjoy here!’

Bapashri was also delighted looking at the happiness of the children.

Difficult words:
Feast - Formal dinner
Marvellous - Wonderful

Points to ponder:
- An Anadimukta does not fall sick. He acquires sickness so that other people could have an opportunity to serve him.
- Anadimukta acquires sickness according to his will. Therefore, sickness is under their control.
- A Mukta can cure his sickness as per his will. Bapashri organised the feast on Ashadhi Amavasya. Afterwards every year he used to organize feast there. The custom is being followed till today. Even today children of the village have food at the monument (Chhatedi) on the day of Ashadhi Amavasya and attain the blessings of Bapashri.

Exercise

Answer the following questions:
1. Why did Bapashri released the illness?
2. After releasing the illness, what did Bapashri do?
3. At the end of the Parayan whom did Bapashri offer food?
4. What did Bapashri mention while serving the kids in a queue?

Fill in the blanks:
1. Now, Bapashri was growing ___________.
2. Bapa, Nobody _____________ properly.
3. I have an idea, let us organize a ___________ at the Chhatedi.
4. Children please ____________.
5. You are _________ the bliss of __________.
6. The bliss of Maharaj is also very __________.
7. Every year, on the day of ___________ I will feed you here.

Arrange in proper sequence:
1. Tasty very is also bliss of Maharaj the.