Janabai was born in a village called Gangakhed on the banks of Godavari in Maharashtra. Her mother died when Janabai was still young. Her father brought her to Pandharpur to see Lord Vitthal, but he, too, passed away there. At eight, Janabai got an inspiration from within that if she served a devotee, with his mercy, she could attain God. Hence, she accepted service at Saint Namdev Ji Maharaj’s house.
Namdev Ji used to chant the name of God constantly. Serving a saint like Namdev Ji is even greater than serving the Lord Himself. Janabai had only one thing in her heart: I should somehow please Namdev Ji. She started serving Namdev Ji’s entire family diligently. She did all the household work, like washing clothes, grinding flour, preparing food, washing utensils, sweeping, etc., all by herself.
Janabai’s Ecstatic State: Result of Serving Saints
Janabai started to get great joy in the service. Due to the company of Namdev Ji, she started remembering the lord and chanting His name constantly. Sometimes, while reciting the lord’s name while mopping, her hands suddenly stopped, and tears would start flowing from her eyes. She started to feel a longing for the Lord. She developed a strong attachment for Lord Vitthal in her heart. Whenever free from her service, she would visit the temple and keep looking at the lord Vitthal. Whenever she felt extreme longing, she would start crying, and when her joy would increase, she would start dancing. Janabai reached such a high spiritual state only due to serving Namdev Ji.
While doing all the work, Janabai Ji was careful not to make any mistakes in the service and not to forget the lord’s name. In this way, Janabai started remaining engrossed in the service of Shri Namdev ji. She would be careful not to get so immersed in the Lord that she misses her service because service was for the devotee’s happiness, and Lord Vitthal gets pleased with His devotee’s happiness. This belief in her heart and the constant recitation of the name of God had such an impact that now her tears would not stop. Tears kept flowing while she would do all the work. Janabai achieved such a high state that even great sages aspire for, only by a devotee’s service.
Janabai Remained Engrossed In Ekadashi Kirtan
On every Ekadashi, a group of devotees gathered at Namdev Ji’s place at night and performed kirtan (singing glories and the holy name of the lord). Someone played drums and cymbals. Someone chanted the Lord’s name while dancing and singing the glories of the Lord. While others sat in solitude, listening to the glories and the kirtan. Some had tears flowing while seeing all this.
Janabai would stand alone in a corner after completing all the services. When she saw the emotional state of Namdev Ji and other great devotees, her longing for the Lord increased even more. She would remain immersed in the ocean of bliss in the kirtan the whole night. She would not even realize when the night had passed. This is the great nature of love. All the devotees would leave for their daily routine as soon as the morning came. Janabai would remain intoxicated in her love for the Lord, and to please the Lord, she would again become engrossed in the service of Shri Namdev Ji.
A Mysterious Old Woman Helped Janabai In Her Service
One day on Ekadashi, she was so immersed in bliss that the night ended, and she was late for all her services. She thought about how she could complete all the services for Namdev Ji. Feeling nervous, she quickly thought she should wash and dry the clothes first. She quickly took the clothes and ran to wash them. When she reached the Chandrabhaga River, worries took over her mind: the utensils had to be washed, and water had to be filled for the service of the lord’s deity.
She was thinking all this when suddenly an old lady came. She told Janabai, Why are you worrying? Listen, you go and do the other household work, and I will wash all your clothes. Janabai said, why would you do it? The old lady said, Only I know how to do true cleaning and washing. The clothes I wash never get dirty again. Janabai could not understand what the old lady was saying. The old lady told her not to worry. Janabai said I would immediately run to Namdev Ji’s house because the utensils had not been washed yet. She left the clothes there on the bank of the river and went away.
When she returned after cleaning the utensils and filling pots with water, she saw that the old lady had washed all the clothes and spread them out to dry. Janabai saw that all the clothes were absolutely clean. Janabai folded her hands and said, I have never seen someone as generous as you. I have no acquaintance with you, and you have washed many clothes. I feel my Lord Vitthal has sent you by His grace. But she could not think Lord Vitthal Himself had come in this form. Janabai said that I am very grateful to you. The old lady said I am yours only. Do we show gratitude towards our loved ones? Saying this, the old lady walked away smilingly and said whenever you need me, remember me; whenever you remember, I will be present to serve you.
The old lady’s smile increased the joy in Janabai’s heart. Janabai thought I hadn’t even asked where she lived or her name. When she looked around, she couldn’t see the old woman. Now, there was longing in her heart that the old lady was not young enough to run away like the wind. She was old; where did she go, and who could she be?
Trickster Lord Vitthal Was The Old Woman
Janabai reached home with all the clothes, but her heart was restless. After all, who was that old lady, and what kind of magic did she do with her smile? Janabai went near Namdev Ji and narrated the whole incident. Namdev Ji immediately said to Janabai that she was no one else but lord Vitthal Himself. He was surprised that Vitthal loved Janabai so much that he washed all the clothes. Namdev Ji said, Janabai, you are very blessed that the lord has showered His grace on you. Anger increased in Janabai’s heart, thinking that He came but chose to be in a deceitful form. She started crying because she could not even recognize Him. And secondly, the lord endured so much trouble for her and washed so many clothes for her.
God Picked Up Garbage And Grinded Grains For Janabai
The Lord always roams around with His devotees. If anyone can bind the supremely independent God, it is the devotees. Once, Janabai was brooming, and she made a heap of garbage. When she came to fill the garbage, she saw the Lord with a basket filling the garbage. Now, he does not come in the form of an old lady; he comes in the form of Vitthal.
While grinding flour in the mill, sometimes Janabai would get emotional while singing the verses, and then the mill would stop. Lord Vitthal would come near her and grind the mill to ensure her service was not interrupted. Thakur Ji kept listening to Janabai sing while she remained engrossed in chanting His name. While Janabai was brooming the house, Lord Vitthal would collect the garbage. He would follow Janabai with the basket on his head; Thakur Ji would fill it wherever she collected garbage.
What an amazing glory of devotion! How the Lord becomes submissive through the devotion of a devotee! Vitthal Ji used to say again and again, Janabai, I am indebted to you. Tell me how I can repay you. You serve my devotee, Namdev ji. If Janabai is pounding paddy in a mortar, God stands before her, smiling. All this happened due to the devotee’s worship and by the grace of Namdev ji. She says that when I became Namdev Ji’s maid and served him, I found no one else in the world; only my Vitthal was everywhere. He is always in my support and close to me in my service. I came to know this from serving Namdev Ji.
Janabai Was Sentenced To Crucifixion
One day, very expensive diamond-studded jewellery from the neck of Lord Vitthal was stolen. Janabai used to go to the temple for service, so everyone suspected that Janabai had stolen the jewellery. The word started spreading. People started stigmatizing Janabai by saying she behaved like a devotee but stole Thakur Ji’s jewellery. When Janabai was asked whether she had stolen that necklace, Janabai said that my life and wealth is Lord Vitthal; why would I steal his necklace when he himself is mine? Only a devotee can understand the feelings of a devotee.
Janabai took an oath and said that she had not stolen the necklace. No one believed Janabai. The king sentenced Janabai to be crucified. Janabai was taken to the banks of the river Chandrabhaga to be crucified. When Janabai saw that she was about to be crucified, she thought it was very good, as this was Vitthal’s wish. She just started chanting, “Vitthal, Vitthal.” As she chanted, Vitthal, the crucifix started melting. She kept on reciting Vitthal; the crucifix melted and disappeared. Everyone was surprised. The royal soldiers apologized for their mistake.
This incident was performed by the lord to show two things. Firstly, Janabai Ji had no fear because the punishment was given by her beloved Vitthal. The second thing was to show the glory of devotion to the world. The Lord showed that no attack can disturb or destroy His devotees.
When Dung Cakes started saying, Vitthal Vitthal
Kabir Das Ji was going to see Maharaj Shri Namdev Ji. He saw that there was some quarrel nearby and asked what was happening. He was told that Janabai Ji was fighting with some woman. Kabir Das asked who Janabai was; they told them she served Namdev ji. When he went closer, he discovered the fight was taking place over dung cakes. A devotee fighting over dung cakes is strange, he thought. He started listening to the conversation with great joy.
The other woman said the dung cakes are mine; Janabai said no, they are mine. Janabai was asked to prove her ownership. Janabai said, put the dung cakes closer to your ear, and you will hear Vitthal Vitthal. The other woman did that and agreed to what Janabai was saying. Kabir Das Ji also wanted to verify it. Kabir Das Ji also put the dung cake close to his ear and heard Vitthal Vitthal. He bowed at the feet of Janabai ji and thought that the maid serving the great devotee had such a glorious aura that even her touch was making an inanimate object chant Vitthal Vitthal.
Janabai ji became so attached to Namdev ji that when Namdev ji took samadhi, on the same day, while doing kirtan, Janabai merged into Lord Vitthal.
Conclusion
Those who take shelter at the lord’s feet, the lord cleans their heart and rewards them with His love. From this incident, we can learn how the lord is easily pleased if you serve His devotees and how easy it is to attain god by keeping faith in them.
Additional Reading: Story of Janabai’s Guru Namdev Ji
Narrated By: Shri Hit Premanand Ji Maharaj
