Jagannath Das Babaji’s Pastimes in Vrindavan
Jagannath Das Babaji, a revered saint in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, spent many years in the sacred land of Vrindavan, engaging in deep devotion and service to his beloved deities. One of the places he lived was Suryakunda, a holy site where Srimati Radharani would worship the Sun God, seeking blessings to be with Lord Krishna.
The Incident with the Thieves
Jagannath Das Babaji worshipped deities of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, which were made of bell metal and, when polished, shone like gold. One night, while he was sleeping, a group of thieves broke into his residence and stole the deities, believing them to be made of gold. As they ran away, carrying the deities, something miraculous occurred.
A short distance away, both thieves suddenly became blind and developed extremely high fevers. In their panic and fear, they dropped the deities and crawled back to their homes, unable to see and suffering from intense heat. An acharya later commented that this divine intervention occurred because the Lord could not bear separation from His devoted servant, Jagannath Das Babaji.
Jagannath Das Babaji’s Love for His Deities
After this incident, fearing for the safety of his deities, Jagannath Das Babaji entrusted them to a temple in the Vrindavan village, relinquishing their worship to ensure they were protected. However, after only a few weeks, he felt a deep longing for the presence of deities in his life. He confessed to his servant that he could not live without deities and asked him to find others for him to worship.
This episode beautifully illustrates the deep bond between Jagannath Das Babaji and his deities. Not only did the deities demonstrate their love and protection for him by punishing the thieves, but Jagannath Das Babaji also showed his unwavering devotion by seeking to serve and worship deities continually.
Lesson to Be Learned
The story of Jagannath Das Babaji teaches us about the profound connection between a devotee and the Lord in His deity form. This connection goes beyond mere ritual; it is a deep, personal relationship characterized by love, care, and mutual protection. It reminds us of the importance of deity worship as a way to cultivate and maintain a living relationship with the Divine.
Quote from Shastra
The Bhagavad Gita (9.22) states:
“Ananyāś cintayanto māṁ ye janāḥ paryupāsate, teṣāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ yoga-kṣemaṁ vahāmy aham”
“But those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form—to them I carry what they lack, and I preserve what they have.”
This verse highlights the Lord’s promise to personally take care of His devotees, which is vividly seen in the pastimes of Jagannath Das Babaji.
Prayer
Oh Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, just as You protected and remained close to Your dear devotee Jagannath Das Babaji, please bless us with unwavering devotion to Your lotus feet. May our love for You grow stronger each day, and may we always feel Your presence in our hearts and lives. Protect us from the distractions of the world, and guide us in our service to You with the same dedication and love as Jagannath Das Babaji. Jai Sri Gauranitai!
