The Slap of Devotion
Around two hundred years ago, there lived a devoted pujari (priest) named Gopal Das Mukherjee, who served the deity of Sri Madan Mohan in Vrindavan. One morning, while performing the daily shringar (dressing and adorning) of Madan Mohan, the pujari faced an unusual difficulty. No matter how many times he tried, he could not manage to put the turban on the deity’s head. After several failed attempts, the pujari, out of frustration and annoyance, slapped the deity with his left hand and abandoned the effort to place the turban.
That night, Sri Madan Mohan appeared in a dream to the temple’s Mahant, Shri Chandra Das Goswami, and complained about the incident. The deity explained, “When my mother Yashoda used to dress me before I went to graze the cows, she would give me kheer (sweet rice pudding) or butter to eat. As the pujari was trying to put the turban on me, I was lost in the memory of my mother’s love and shook my head, which made it difficult for him to place the turban.”
The following day, Shri Chandra Das Goswami went to the temple to see if the turban had been put on the deity. To his surprise, the turban was missing. When questioned, the pujari explained that the bhandari (storehouse manager) had not procured a suitable turban from the market, and the one available was too small. Upon further questioning, the pujari shamefully admitted to having slapped Madan Mohan out of frustration.
Angered by this disrespect, the Mahant immediately dismissed the pujari from his duties, despite paying him off for his service. The pujari, heartbroken and unable to live without serving Madan Mohan, went to the Pushpanandan Ghat and began a hunger strike, vowing to die without food. As the days passed, his condition worsened.
Seeing his devotee in such distress, Sri Madan Mohan could not bear it. He appeared once again in a dream to the Mahant and pleaded for the pujari’s reinstatement, forgiving him for the slap. The deity explained that the pujari was in a hurry that day to perform his father’s shraddh (ritual for deceased ancestors) and thus was frustrated.
When confronted with this, the pujari admitted that he had indeed been late for the shraddh ceremony and was in a rush, which led to his frustration. Understanding the circumstances, the Mahant reinstated the pujari to his duties. As a result of this incident, the tradition of offering kulia (a type of food offering) after shringar was established in the temple.
The samadhi (memorial) of Pujari Shri Gopal Mukherjee still stands within the temple grounds, a testament to his deep devotion.
Lessons to be Learned:
- Devotion Transcends Mistakes: The story teaches that sincere devotion can transcend human errors. Despite his mistake, the pujari’s deep love and dedication to Madan Mohan were recognized and ultimately forgiven by the deity.
- Compassion and Forgiveness: Sri Madan Mohan’s willingness to forgive the pujari highlights the importance of compassion and forgiveness in our spiritual practice.
- Humility in Service: The incident reminds us to approach our service with humility, acknowledging our imperfections and striving to serve with love and devotion.
- God’s Understanding Nature: The story illustrates how the divine is understanding of the challenges faced by devotees and is merciful even when mistakes are made.
Prayer:
“O Sri Madan Mohan, who is ever merciful to His devotees, please grant us the humility to serve you with pure devotion. Forgive us for our mistakes, as you forgave the pujari, and allow us to always remember your loving pastimes. May we always be immersed in your divine service and may our hearts be filled with the same deep love and devotion as Shri Gopal Mukherjee. Protect us from pride and frustration, and guide us on the path of sincere worship. Jai Sri Madan Mohan!”
