The Previous Life of Bilvamangala Thakur
In his previous life, Bilvamangala Thakur was a great sanyasi and a devoted follower of Lord Krishna. He had reached the level of bhava, which signifies intense love for Krishna. Bilvamangala was known for organizing Bhagavatam festivals, during which he distributed prasadam (food) to the attendees.
A Need for Wealth
Once, while organizing a festival, he spent all his money and needed more to feed the devotees. He went searching for wealth and eventually came across a cremation ceremony of a young princess who had died at the age of 18. Her grieving father, mother, and citizens were present. After the father lit the funeral pyre, everyone left, leaving the princess’s body adorned with valuable diamonds and golden ornaments.
A Temptation and a Divine Message
Bilvamangala thought it would be better to use the valuable jewelry for Krishna’s service rather than letting it burn with the body. As he approached the body to take the ornaments, he heard a voice saying, “Stop it! Don’t take this!” It was the voice of the deceased princess.
The princess’s voice instructed, “If you need wealth, go to my father, the king. Tell him that I have sent you. Under my bed, there is a box with great treasure. Ask my father for that wealth and use it to serve devotees and Krishna.”
The King’s Donation
Following the princess’s instructions, Bilvamangala went to the king and recounted what had happened. The king found the treasure under the princess’s bed and happily donated it to Bilvamangala. He used the wealth to organize a grand Bhagavatam festival, but again faced a shortage of wealth at the end.
A Mistake and a Curse
Bilvamangala returned to the cremation site and took a diamond necklace from the princess’s body. As he was leaving, he heard the voice of the princess again, “You have done a great mistake by taking this necklace. I curse you that although you are so advanced in your love for Krishna, you will take birth one more time and live an immoral life.”
Rebirth and Redemption
In his next life, Bilvamangala was born as a woman hunter. The princess also took birth again as his prostitute, Chintamani. Acting as his instructing guru, Chintamani told him, “If you have such desire for Krishna as you have for me, you would immediately become a self-realized soul!”
Moral of the Story:
Our wealth in life should be properly earned. Even when we want to serve Krishna and His devotees, it should be through righteous means, otherwise, we have to suffer the consequences of bad karma.
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
PS: I humbly request all the devotees to please forward and share this moral/instructive story so that everyone can be benefitted by hearing about Krishna and His dear devotees.
