It is tough to devote your life to the service of the Guru. Rasik Murari Ji asked his Gurudev, “How to please God?” His Gurudev, Shri Shyamanand Ji, replied, “By serving the saints!”. If saints are served with discipline, humility, and devotion, then God Himself eats prasad (sanctified food) from the tongue of the saints. If the saints’ feet are washed, they are worshipped, and they are offered prasad, then God is pleased very quickly. Rasik Murari Ji expanded saints’ service by obeying his Guru’s command. Now, he would invite saints daily, offer them prasad and serve them. However, the vow of serving saints is very difficult because saints have different natures.
Rasik Murari Ji’s Mood Towards Charanamrit Of Saints
Serving saints is difficult; sometimes, even God Himself can come to test you. He can come in front of you in such a form that you ignore him, and your feelings towards him get spoiled. Rasik Murari Ji had a special feeling for the Charanamrit (the water in which the feet of the lord or his devotees have been washed) of the saints. He would keep the Charanamrit left after washing saints’ feet in a pot, place it on a high seat and drink it every day after doing its Parikrama (circumambulation) and Sashtang Dandavat (prostration). This was his real wealth.
Whenever saints were invited to Rasik Murari Ji’s place, the Charanamrit of every saint was taken off, and it was first taken to Rasik Murari Ji. Once, a festival was going on at Rasik Murari Ji’s place. Before distributing the prasad, the Charanamrit of all the saints was taken and brought directly to Rasik Murari Ji. But that day Rasik Murari Ji said, “Today I did not get that joy and taste in the Charanamrit.” He said that surely an offence has been committed against some saint, which is why it is not tasting good today. When the people who took the Charanamrit were asked, it was found out that the Charanamrit of a saint who had leprosy was not taken off. Rasik Murari Ji said that this offence has weakened the effect of the Charanamrit of all the saints. He himself went and searched for that saint and took his Charanamrit and drank it. After drinking Charanamrit, shedding tears, he said, “Aha! Now the taste has come.”
If you also want to serve a saint, know it is very difficult. You may be taking the charanamrit of a saint, and he might kick you. Even then, you must stand humbly with folded hands; do not answer retaliate. God Himself will come to test you in the form of saints.
Rasik Murari Ji’s Humility In Saint Service
Once, Rasik Murari Ji was discussing the importance of saint service; meanwhile, there was a commotion at the assembly of saints outside who were being served. A saint was asking for two plates of food, on which there was a dispute. When Rasik Murari Ji went out to see, that saint threw the prasad’s plate on Rasik Murari Ji’s face. But Rasik Murari Ji did not get angry and said, “O Lord, you have immense mercy on us, and today, you have already given us remnants of your food (food left by saints, consuming which leads to spiritual progress).”
That saint also started saying harsh words to Rasik Murari Ji, yet he did not say anything to him. He stopped all his people and said to that saint, “You are very compassionate.” He placed two plates of food for him and told his servants that they did not know how to serve saints, and they were expelled from this service.
One who has an intense devotion to the service of saints never sees faults in them. It is difficult not to see faults in saints because their behaviour differs from that of the world.
Test Of Rasik Murari Ji’s Devotion To Serving Saints
One day, Rasik Murari Ji heard that a group of saints had come nearby, so he went to meet them. Saints should be met very carefully, and one should not see their faults. Only meeting saints and hearing them without any offence can destroy sins. When he went to see them, one of the saints smoked hookah. The saint hid his hookah as soon as he saw him. Rasik Murari Ji thought that this saint might feel shy.
Thinking so, he sat there holding his stomach. The saint asked what had happened. Rasik Murari ji said, “I am having pain in my stomach. If I get a hookah to smoke, it will be fine.” That saint immediately took out his hookah, and Rasik Murari ji pretended to put it to his mouth and smoke it. In this way, he made sure that the saint felt comfortable.
Conclusion
Rasik Murari ji increased people’s devotion to serving saints. He also taught that one should not see faults in saints or criticize them. We should be careful while serving saints so that our path of devotion is not hindered.
Guidance By: Pujya Shri Hit Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj
