Ramdas ji lived in a town called Kanakavati on the banks of Godavari. He was extremely poor and did not even have proper clothes to wear. His daily earnings fed his family. He loved Satsang very much and was dependent only on God; he had no other property. He used to repair the old torn shoes of others.
In Satsang, he would sit at the back and listen to whatever he understood, and when the name of God was sung, he started dancing. In solitude, sometimes he used to call out from his heart, “O Lord, I am yours”. Apart from this, he did not know anything else. He was a very innocent devotee. He liked this line, “O Lord, I am yours”, so much that he used to hum this line continuously. With this, he connected with God; his mind became pure. Sometimes, he would shed tears and hum this line.
Ramdas Ji Got Shaligram
One day, a group of thieves stole from a rich man’s house. They found Lord Shaligram sitting on a golden throne. They sold the throne and thought what use this black stone would be for them. Ramdas Ji was sharpening his tools on a stone. The thieves came to him and said if you give us new shoes, we will give you this smooth stone, which will be useful for sharpening your tools. Ramdas Ji took Shaligram Ji from the thieves.
When he rubbed his tools on the smooth stone, they became very sharp. He thought he had at least a good stone in exchange for his shoes. Now, he kept rubbing his tools on that stone, and sometimes he would shed tears and say, “O Lord, I am yours”. His tears would fall on the Shaligram. When he had to rub hard, he would hold the Shaligram between his feet and then rub it. He would get great pleasure by holding the Shaligram between his feet. God is very playful, it does not matter to Him what you do with Him.
Ramdas Ji Gave The Shaligram To A Brahmin
One day, a Brahmin came to have his footwear repaired. When his eyes fell on Ramdas ji’s black stone, he saw that it was covered with auspicious signs, and a chakra symbol was made on it, he understood that this is Shaligram ji himself. The Brahmin said you have lost your mind; what are you doing? Ramdas ji said I am sharpening my tool with my stone. The Brahmin understood that he is a fool, what can he talk to him. He said I will give you as much money as you want; give me this stone. He thought, now, what should he explain to him? This is God himself; how will he understand when his condition is such that he keeps Shaligram God in his feet?
Ramdas ji said that this stone has been very useful to me, but you can take it if you wish. I have not paid for it, nor will I take any money from you. You take it. The Brahmin was delighted to hear this and took Lord Shaligram to his home.
Lord Shaligram Became Dissatisfied With Brahmin’s Service
The Brahmin came home, anointed Shaligram ji with water and milk, seated him on a beautiful throne, and worshipped him with mantras. He thought that God would be pleased with his efforts because he was lying at the feet of a cobbler, and here I am comforting him. Thakur ji became unhappy with the service and worship of the Brahmin.
Brahmin knew the entire worship method but had no attachment towards God in his heart. Ramdas Ji did not have any knowledge, but in his heart, he always knew that he belonged to God, and God belonged to him. He would sometimes shed tears, and those tears that fell on Lord Shaligram were greater than Pandit ji’s Panchamrit. And when he would sigh and call out, “O Lord, I am yours”, Thakur ji liked it more than the Vedic mantras recited by the Brahmin.
Thakur Ji Came In Brahmin’s Dream
In the Brahmin’s dream, Thakur Ji took the form of a devotee and told the Brahmin to take Him back to Ramdas Ji. I don’t like your anointment and making me sit on the throne. I have been bought by his dry bread and heart-touching sighs. Take me there. When God Himself gave such an order in the dream, the Brahmin was stunned.
The Brahmin thought that the one whom I considered illiterate and uneducated, God loves him so much. He took Shaligram God on a beautiful cloth in his hand and told God that you know he rubs the tool on you. Forget about applying sandalwood tilak, forget about making you sit on the throne, he rubs the tool by keeping his feet on you, and you like that? God said when he says my name while shedding tears, I get so much happiness, which I don’t get even from your Vedic mantras. And when he puts his feet on me, I feel he is surrendering to me. On hearing this, the Brahmin became very sad that it was his misfortune that he had not received what Ramdas Ji had received because Thakur Ji wanted to go to him. Thinking of this, he decided to take Shaligram Ji to Ramdas Ji’s house.
He felt sorry for himself, thinking I am a Brahmin but a show-off; I do not have the qualities that humble devotee Ramdas possesses. Thinking all this, he repeatedly cried in distress, embracing Shaligram to his heart. This is the effect of getting in the association of a devotee in any way. This was the effect of seeing Ramdas Ji. He was praying to the Lord, If you do not like my worship, please give me such feelings, by which I can do devotion like Ramdas Ji. As soon as one gets in the company of a devotee, the pride of caste, family, and education starts getting destroyed.
Brahmin Took Shaligram Ji Back To Ramdas Ji
Brahmin came to Ramdas ji’s house after keeping Shaligram in a cloth and saw that Ramdas ji’s eyes were filled with tears, he was shocked. He repeatedly said, “O Lord, I am yours”. His clothes were torn and old, and his body was very thin and weak because he did not have proper food. He just liked sitting alone and calling God repeatedly. He did not even know that this was devotion.
When the Brahmin saw all this, he said, you are blessed, your parents are blessed. Ramdas, you are a great saint; I could not understand your love for God. God Himself is in your control. Now, slowly, Ramdas ji’s eyes opened, and he came out of his thoughts.
Brahmin told him that the stone you used to rub your tools is the real Shaligram God; He is the master of the whole world and is present in every heart. He is the shelter of everyone; by surrendering to Him, the living being gets free from bondage. He is pleased with your simplicity and love. When I took Him, I anointed Him with Panchamrit, praised Him with Vedic hymns, served Him, and offered Him food. He did not like all this, but He liked you. As a devotee, he came into my dream and ordered me to send Him back to you.
Ramdas Ji Desires To See The Lord
Hearing Brahmin’s words, Ramdas Ji started crying, saying I am a great sinner. I could not understand that this was God, and I kept behaving with him like this. I am a big criminal. How cruel, how lowly I am. See what I have done. He started crying. The Brahmin told him that the feeling that has come in you comes with a lot of grace. Hearing the words of the Brahmin, Ramdas Ji felt a little better. He bowed down at the feet of the Brahmin, and the Brahmin left from there.
As soon as the Brahmin left, Ramdas Ji took the Shaligram, put it to his heart and started crying. He started saying, Lord, I could not understand that it was you. He took Shaligram Ji to the house, spread whatever old torn cloth he could find, and kept Shaligram on a holy seat. Whatever dry food he had in his house, he offered it to Thakur Ji and started crying for the lord.
After many days of such service, the thought came to his mind that I did not know that you were Shaligram God. The Brahmin had said so before leaving. If you are God, then please appear before me. If you love me, then stop playing hide-and-seek and show me what God is like! I do not know. If I do not get to see you, then I will give up my life. I cannot live without you!
Devotion Forces God To Meet The Devotee
Hearing Ramdas ji’s loving call, Lord could not remain calm. He reached Ramdas ji’s house in the guise of a devotee. Ramdas ji was shedding tears; he was dancing in the love of the Lord. God stood there, observing the state of his loving devotee, and smilingly said to him, “Hey brother, why are you dancing and jumping? Have you found something?” Ramdas Ji heard the voice and opened his eyes to see that it was a devotee, and he prostrated himself before him. He told the devotee that ever since he found the Shaligram, something has been happening in his heart; he is feeling restless and unable to live.
The devotee asked him whether he worships the Shaligram, considering him to be God. Ramdas ji said, yes, I want to see God in person. But I have not seen him till now. I do not know any worship method, mantra, etc. I serve him as per my mind. Will the kind and compassionate God be pleased with me? Saying this, Ramdas ji started crying loudly.
Ramdas Ji Met God
The devotee said that this is not right. God does not even appear before great yogis and sages, even after their penance. How will God appear before a common man like you? Listen to me; leave this talk of seeing God, do your job, and engage in devotion only for some time every day. It was as if Ramdas ji’s heart burst after hearing the devotee’s words. His eyes remained wide open. He said, what you are saying is true; I am not worthy of seeing God, but what can I do? I am unable to live now without Him. My Lord is a great ocean of mercy; I know He will come to see me. Ramdas Ji started dancing and then also started calling out in distress. The Lord was standing there watching all this.
God said from the devotee disguise, Ramdas, your life is blessed. I wanted to see how much you are in love with me; look at me. Hearing this, he opened his eyes and saw that he was not a devotee; he was Lord Krishna Himself. He was holding a flute on his lips and looking at Ramdas. Seeing the beautiful form of the Lord, he drowned in the ocean of joy and understood that till now, God was talking to him.
Conclusion
God meets his devotees every day, and you should recognize Him. He comes in some form or the other and teases His devotees. Test Him every day, catch Him; whether my Lord has come in this form or not, I should not miss Him. One day, He will be caught. He is the ocean of compassion. He cannot help Himself but come to meet you. He is near you. He caresses you every day.
The day such a longing for Him comes, He will remove the veil, and you will also have the same happiness as Ramdas Ji. Narad ji says that to attain God, you don’t need to be born into a high family, be an expert in the Vedas, be an ascetic or a great donor. God meets you only by seeing your devotion. If you love and yearn for God in your heart, you will definitely find Him.
Narrated by: Shri Hit Premanand Ji Maharaj
