Introduction: Sanātana Gosvāmī in Vṛndāvana
Sanātana Gosvāmī, one of the principal disciples of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, resided in Vṛndāvana, dedicating his life to bhakti (devotion) and scholarship. Living a simple life in a small grass hut, Sanātana would spend his days in parikramā (circumambulation) and begging for mādhukarī (alms). Despite his austere lifestyle, his heart was filled with deep devotion for the Supreme Lord.
The Appearance of Madana-Gopāla
One day, as Sanātana was walking through Vṛndāvana, a young boy named Madana-Gopāla ran up to him, holding his hand and expressing a strong desire to live with him. The boy insisted that he would be content with the simple diet of dry chapatis and chickpeas that Sanātana ate. However, Sanātana gently refused, advising the boy to stay with his parents, as such a lifestyle would not be suitable for him.
Little did Sanātana know that this was not an ordinary boy but the Deity of Madana-Mohan, who was residing in the home of a brāhmaṇa named Dāmodara Choubey. Madana-Mohan was worshipped with great love and a sense of familial intimacy by Dāmodara, his wife Vallabhi, and their son. Their worship was unconventional, filled with a deep sense of friendship and parental affection, treating the Deity as a member of their family.
Madana-Mohan’s Desire to Live with Sanātana
Sanātana Gosvāmī, observing the unique way the Choubey family worshipped Madana-Mohan, once tried to instruct them on the proper rules and regulations of Deity worship. However, after seeing the loving relationship between the Deity and the family, he retracted his instructions, realizing that their pure love was more important than strict adherence to ritual.
One night, both Sanātana and Vallabhi had the same dream in which Madana-Gopāla expressed His desire to go and live with Sanātana. The next morning, when Sanātana awoke, he found Madana-Mohan standing in his courtyard, radiating divine effulgence. Overwhelmed with emotion, Sanātana offered his obeisances and realized that the boy who had approached him earlier was none other than the Deity of Madana-Mohan.
The Divine Exchange: A Conversation with the Deity
Sanātana built a small hut for Madana-Mohan and began offering Him simple meals of dry chapatis. However, one day, the Deity refused to eat. Sanātana inquired why, and Madana-Mohan complained, “You give me nothing but dry chapatis every day, without even any salt. How am I supposed to eat this?” Sanātana replied, “If I give you salt today, tomorrow you will want ghee, and the day after, sabzi. I am a renunciate with little time and resources. My primary duty is to write books as instructed by Mahāprabhu.”
The Arrival of Kṛṣṇadas Kapur: The Lord’s Providence
A few days later, a wealthy merchant named Kṛṣṇadas Kapur, who was traveling to Mathurā for business, found his boat stuck on a sandbar. He approached Sanātana for help, but Sanātana directed him to Madana-Mohan, saying, “I am just a simple renunciate. If you want something, pray to Madana-Mohan. He can help you.”
Kṛṣṇadas prayed fervently to the Deity, promising to donate the profits from his business to Madana-Mohan’s service if his boat was freed. That very afternoon, a miraculous rainstorm raised the water level, freeing his boat. Kṛṣṇadas fulfilled his promise, returning with great profits and offering them to Sanātana Gosvāmī. This allowed Sanātana to better serve Madana-Mohan, and Kṛṣṇadas became his disciple.
Lessons to be Learned:
- Divine Love Transcends Rituals: The love and devotion of Dāmodara Choubey’s family towards Madana-Mohan teach us that pure love and devotion are more important than strict adherence to rituals. The Lord values the sincerity of the heart above all else.
- Dependence on Divine Providence: Sanātana’s complete dependence on Kṛṣṇa for his needs, even in the face of the Deity’s requests, shows the importance of trust in divine providence. Kṛṣṇa provides for His devotees in ways beyond their imagination.
- The Power of Sincere Prayer: Kṛṣṇadas Kapur’s sincere prayer to Madana-Mohan not only resolved his immediate problem but also transformed his life, leading him to become a devotee. This illustrates the transformative power of sincere prayer and devotion.
Quote from Śāstra:
“ananyāś cintayanto māṁ ye janāḥ paryupāsate
teṣāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ yoga-kṣemaṁ vahāmy aham”
— Bhagavad-Gītā 9.22
“For those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form—I carry what they lack, and I preserve what they have.”
Prayer:
O Madana-Mohan, the attractor of even Cupid himself, we offer our humble obeisances at Your lotus feet. Please grant us the strength and devotion to serve You with sincerity and love, free from the distractions of the material world. May we, like Sanātana Gosvāmī, find contentment in simple service and complete dependence on Your divine will. Help us to always remember that You provide for all our needs, and that true happiness lies in serving You with a pure heart. Jai Śrī Madana-Mohan! Jai Śrī Kṛṣṇa!
