Karmaiti Bai was the daughter of Shri Parshuram Ji, the royal priest of the Shekhawat king. Her residence was in Khandela, Rajasthan. Shri Parshuram Ji was deeply engrossed in discussions about God and the chanting of His holy name. The profound influence of these spiritual activities left a significant mark on Karmaiti. From a young age, Karmaiti Bai listened to spiritual discourses regularly.
Born into a great devotee’s household and exposed to frequent discussions about God, her deep love for Lord Krishna blossomed. From childhood, she firmly believed that Krishna was her eternal life partner and that everything else was an illusion.
Karmaiti Bai’s Marriage
In earlier times, to preserve the purity of children, marriages were conducted before they reached adolescence, and daughters would remain with their parents until they came of age. Afterwards, through a ceremony known as Gauna, the couple would begin living together. The same tradition was followed for Karmaiti Bai. She was married, and preparations for her gauna were finalized as she approached adolescence. Her in-laws excitedly came to take her to her marital home. Shri Parshuram Ji arranged beautiful clothes and ornaments for his daughter’s gauna.
However, when Karmaiti Bai learned she was to leave for her marital home, a wave of deep concern swept her. She feared that there would be no discussions about God or devotion in her in-laws’ household. She worried that the holy names of Ram, Krishna, and Hari might not even be uttered there.
This thought caused her great anguish. The spiritual discussions and devotion that had been the lifeline of her existence since childhood seemed impossible in her new environment. She resolved that a life devoid of devotion and worship was meaningless. A profound realization struck her—that no worldly pleasure is eternal. The beauty of a spouse, youth, and wealth all fade with time.
Karmaiti Bai’s Courageous Decision
Karmaiti Bai resolved to dedicate her life entirely to Lord Krishna. She realized that the cycles of birth and death, happiness and sorrow, prosperity and adversity are all illusions of the material world. With this understanding, she surrendered her mind and intellect to the Lord.
Karmaiti Bai decided that her body, made of flesh and bone, held value only as long as it was devoted to the contemplation and service of the Lord. Her lifelong exposure to spiritual discussions had elevated her to a higher state of consciousness. She concluded that her actual life was with Shri Krishna and that her ultimate destination was His sacred abode, Vrindavan.
Karmaiti Bai Leaves Home For Vrindavan
One night, when everyone was fast asleep, Karmaiti Bai silently bowed in reverence to her parents in her heart, remembered Lord Krishna, and left her home with tears streaming down her face. This was true bravery. She renounced worldly pleasures and resolutely set out to seek refuge in the Lord.
It was when she was expected to unite with her husband and embrace the joys of a newly married life. Despite the allure of worldly happiness, she made an unwavering decision: “From now on, I belong to no one but the Lord.” Immersed in the remembrance and love of the Lord, she began her journey to Vrindavan. She had no idea how to reach Vrindavan, yet her unshakable faith in Lord Krishna guided her steps forward.
The Lord’s Grace on Karmaiti Bai
When someone renounces all worldly ties and takes refuge in the Lord, He embraces them unconditionally. Such a state is not achieved through effort or practice but through complete faith in the Lord. As Karmaiti Bai took this courageous step, Lord Krishna filled her heart and mind.
The Lord can’t ignore anyone who takes a step toward Him. As she advanced, Krishna captivated her mind with His divine beauty. His splendour was unparalleled—a magnificent form adorned with a peacock feather crown, cascading curly locks, a sandalwood tilak gracing His forehead, and lotus-like eyes radiating divine grace. It felt as if He was saying, “I have been waiting for you. Come closer; I am ready to welcome you to My abode.”
Her heart was filled with waves of anticipation and joy. She thought, “I will go to Vrindavan and meet the Lord. When I meet Him, I will run to embrace Him. I will fall at His feet in complete surrender as He holds me close.”
Search For Karmaiti Bai Begins
Every morning, it was Karmaiti Bai’s habit to begin her day by chanting the holy names of the Lord. But today was different—there was no sound coming from her room. For her family, this silence was unusual. Her mother, whose day would typically start with the sound of Karmaiti Bai’s naam kirtan, noticed the quiet and thought, “Perhaps she slept late because of the visiting relatives.”
When the mother went to her room, she found it empty—Karmaiti Bai was gone. This discovery caused an uproar in the household. A frantic search began, but there was no trace of her anywhere. Her parents were heartbroken. Their greatest worry was how to explain this to her in-laws. People might say that their daughter had run away, which was considered a grave dishonour in society. The family sent messengers throughout the town, and as Parshuram Ji was a royal priest, the news even reached the king. Royal soldiers were deployed to assist in the search for Karmaiti Bai.
Karmaiti Bai Hides in the Skeleton of a Camel
Karmaiti Bai saw that royal soldiers were approaching on horseback. She realized that her father had started searching for her. There was no chance to escape now. Just then, she noticed a camel’s skeleton. Vultures and jackals had devoured it. It was decayed and emitted a foul odour. Karmaiti Bai hid inside the skeleton. Her only thought was the desire to unite with Lord Krishna. Even the foul smell seemed pleasant because her heart was focused solely on the Lord. In such a situation, a true devotee feels no distress; even hell becomes a source of joy.
The royal soldiers searched everywhere, but no one thought to look inside the skeleton. Karmaiti Bai remained hidden in that foul-smelling skeleton for three days and nights. There was no pain, disgust, doubt, or complaint against the Lord. This is the nature of true love: the lover never blames their beloved. The devotee thinks, “We set out for you. Even if I must stay here, it is part of Your divine plan.”
On the fourth day, she came out from the camel’s skeleton. At that moment, a group of pilgrims, chanting the Lord’s name, passed by. She followed them. They were heading towards the Ganges for a ritual bath. Seeing the beauty of the Ganges, Karmaiti Bai joined them and bathed in the river.
Karmaiti Bai’s Penance and Renunciation
After bathing in the Ganges, she reflected, “Gold necklaces, rings, and bangles—these do not befit a traveller on the path of devotion.” She gave away her precious jewellery to Brahmins and priests. Now, she began thinking about her journey to Vrindavan. After her Ganges bath, she asked around and set off for Vrindavan. There, she even discarded her clothes. In Vrindavan, she covered her body with leaves from the banyan tree and applied wet clay all over herself. This was an extraordinary display of renunciation. She immersed herself in devotion and chanting day and night. At that time, living in Vrindavan was extremely challenging. The forests were filled with lions, wolves, leopards, snakes, and scorpions. There were no modern conveniences, and only true devotees of God could endure the hardships of living in Vrindavan.
Karmaiti Bai’s Father Sets Out to Find Her
Karmaiti Bai’s father, Parshuram Ji, thought that perhaps the discussion of Lord Krishna’s enchanting form had stirred his daughter’s heart, and she might have gone to Vrindavan. He decided to go to Vrindavan in search of her. Upon arriving there, he learned that a young woman, living a life of extreme renunciation, was immersed in penance. He suspected that it could be his daughter. He climbed a banyan tree and saw someone deep in meditation near Brahmakund. Her eyes were closed, tears flowing from them, soaking the ground beneath. Upon witnessing this, Parshuram Ji’s heart filled with emotion. He couldn’t hold back and cried out loud. He descended from the tree and sat for a while, hoping her eyes might open. When he saw that Karmaiti Bai’s eyes remained closed, he embraced her feet in devotion.
Karmaiti Bai’s Father’s Attachment
Karmaiti Bai’s father, Parshuram Ji, was a great scholar and a devotee. Despite his immense wisdom, he was deeply affected by worldly concerns. He was so overwhelmed by the fear of public shame that, falling at Karmaiti Bai’s feet, he said, “You have brought disgrace to us. We are the royal priests, and those who once bowed before us now mock us. Come back with me so that we can put an end to this public ridicule. If you don’t want to go to your in-laws’ house, don’t. Stay at home and serve Lord Krishna. This is a forest; here, lions and tigers could destroy your body. I am worried about your safety.”
Karmaiti Bai’s Advice to Her Father
Karmaiti Bai replied, “Father, what you say is true. A person not connected to the Lord has already lost his honour. He is alive but as good as dead. A life without devotion to the Lord is meaningless. I have risen above worldly customs. Any other colour cannot touch the one who Krishna’s grace has touched. You, too, should praise the Lord, chant His holy name, and let go of this worldly shame.”
Karmaiti Bai continued, “Think about it: you have spent fifty years indulging in worldly pleasures. Have you ever lost interest in them? Have you not developed renunciation towards that house, that honour, and prestige? Is the desire to indulge again and again in the same pleasures a sign of wisdom? I have seen all the worldly pleasures, but I have not indulged in them. Now, I have no desire to even look at them. I have only resolved to see Lord Krishna. You should leave all worldly actions behind and take refuge in the Lord. Dedicate your body, mind, and wealth to the service of Lord Krishna.”
The Transformation of Karmaiti Bai’s Father
Upon hearing Karmaiti Bai’s words, the ignorance born of attachment was dispelled from her father’s heart. His confusion ended. One day, while bathing in the Yamuna, Karmaiti Bai had discovered an idol of Lord Krishna. She gave the idol to her father and instructed him to take it back home and install it there. She said, “This is the very form of Lord Krishna. Engage in His service with full devotion. Become detached, dedicate your body and mind to the Lord’s lotus feet, and spend all your time in His contemplation.”
By the grace of Karmaiti Bai, her father’s heart turned away from the material world and became focused on the Lord’s feet. He stopped attending the royal court and engaging in worldly discussions. When the king tried to summon him, he replied, “I have found a court where everything is directed from, and I no longer need to go to any other court.” The king came to meet him, and upon seeing him absorbed in the service of the Lord, he bowed down to him in complete reverence. The king said, “You will never need to come to the court again. All the wealth and necessities will be sent to your home.”
Karmaiti Bai, absorbed in the contemplation of Lord Krishna, left her physical body in Vrindavan and joined His eternal service. Such a devotee, who loves only the Lord, lives only for the Lord, and trusts only in the Lord, is the supreme among all yogis, ascetics, and ritualists. The significance of the term “Ananyata” (exclusivity) lies here—one should trust only the Lord, not anyone else.
Lessons from the Life of Karmaiti Bai
We have wasted many lifetimes on our whims and desires. Now, with the remaining time, let us dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly to the Lord. Until today, we have played many games in search of happiness: sometimes getting attached to family, chasing wealth, indulging in intoxicants, or engaging in vile behaviour. Many of our lives have passed in this manner. Now, try playing this game of devotion in this lifetime. Whatever time remains, surrender it only to the Lord, becoming solely His devoted servant, and you will be blessed.
However, you will be considered devoted to the Lord only when your life revolves around His constant contemplation, chanting of His name, meditating on His form, singing His divine pastimes, and seeking His holy abode. This is the supreme purpose of life.
Narrated By: Pujya Shri Hit Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj
