Florida Shirdi Sai Temple

Shri Guru Charitra
Chapter L

The Muslim King Comes to See Shri Guru

We have seen a reference of a Rajak in the 9th chapter. By the blessing of Shripad Shri Vallabha, he was born in a Muslim Royal family and he became king of Bidar. Due to devotion of previous birth he was kind and pious. He treated all religions and sects equally. There were several temples for which he had due sympathy. He also had respect for Brahmins. Muslim priests despised Brahmins and Vedic religion. But king said to them, "God is one. Only the names are different. All are created from 5 great elements (Panch --- Mahabhoot). The earth is the mother of all. Cows are different colors, but their milk is white. Ornaments may be many, but the gold is the same. Similarly Paramatma (God) is everywhere. So make no difference between the religions and castes."

Thus the king was ruling impartially. Once he had a tumor on his thigh, Vaidyas and Hakims treated him but to no effect. The king had great pain due to it. He called some Brahmins and requested them to suggest a remedy.

The Brahmins said, "Sins of the previous birth harass one in the form of some disease. For this, visit holy places and give something in charity. Live in the company of saints. You go to the Papvinashi Tirth and bathe there. The tumor will subside."

The king went to the Papvinashi Thirth. He met a Sanyasi there. He bowed to him and showed him his tumor The Sanyasi said, - "When you see a saint, you will be relieved of the disease. I shall tell you a tale in this connection."

"A Brahmin lived in Awanti i.e., Uijjain. He gave up bath and the Brahmin's rites i.e., sandhya, puja etc. and lived with a prostitute named Pingla. Once Rishabha Muni came to them. They treated him well. They worshiped him and took the tirth of his feet. When the Muni was asleep, both served him keeping awake the whole night. Next morning the Muni went away. Later on in their old age, both the Brahmin and Pingla died.

The Brahmin became the son of king Vajrabahu in the next birth. When he was in Sumati's (eldest) womb, the younger queen became jealous and she gave poison to the eldest queen, who got eruptions all over the body. She delivered a male child, who was also affected by eruptions all over the body. The king got them treated by physicians but they could be cured. The king suspected that the infection would spread in the whole family and he therefore asked a fisherman to take the queen and her son to the forest and leave them there. People were sorry to know about this evil act of the king. Sumathi was roaming in the forest with her son in despair. Due to exertion, she was thirsty and was searching for water. She came to a mandir and met some females, who told her, "Padmakar is the king of this country. He is kind and pious. He will protect you." In the mean time some maid servants of the king came there. Sumati narrated to them her sad account. They took Sumati to the palace and reported to the king about her. The king was very kind and he arranged for her stay.

Here too the eruptions on the body of the mother and son harassed them. One day due to unbearable pain, the child expired. Sumati began to weep bitterly. The ladies of the neighborhood tried to console her, but she continued mourning.

In the meanwhile Rishabha Muni came there. King Padmakar received him warmly. As he heard a mourning sound he inquired. Padmakar narrated to him the sad account of Sumati. Rishabha Muni came to her and began to console her, saying, "It is futile to mourn for the bygone. All lives are like bubbles in water, This body is made of five elements and when these elements separate, nothing remains behind. So do not mourn for the perishable body. One has to suffer as per one's previous actions. For self-emancipation adore Shri Shankar".

Sumati said, "I had to come here leaving the kingdom and here too I met this fate. Now I do not wish to live any longer." Saying so she fell on the feet of the Muni.

The Muni was moved to see her state. He remembered the service that her son had given him in his last birth. He applied a little bhasma to his forehead and put a little in his mouth. Suddenly the child got life and began to move. The eruptions on his body and on his mother's body also vanished by the powerful sight of the Muni. Both looked as bright as gold. Sumati and the child bowed to the Muni devotedly. The Muni blessed them and went away. The greatness of the blessing of a saint is like this. "If you serve a saint you will be relieved from the tumor."

The Muslim king asked with folded hands, "Kindly tell me where there is a saint, I shall go there". The Sanyasi said "Shri Guru lives at Ganagaput on the bank of Bhima. You go to him."

The king immediately went to Ganagapur and inquired about Shri Guru. The people were afraid when the saw that the Muslim king had come to Ganagapur. They did not speak due to fear. When the king asked again he was told that Shri Guru had gone to the Sangam and he would return soon. Hearing this, the Muslim king started to go to the Sangam. On the way he saw Shri Guru coming. He came down Palanquin and bowed to Shri Guru respectively.

Shri Guru said, " O, Rajak, where have you been so far? I am seeing you after a long period".

Hearing this, the Muslim king recollected his life of last birth. He lay prostrate before Shri Guru and began to shed tears of love and joy. With choked voice he asked "Gurudeo, why did you keep me away so long? Being entangled in the royal pleasures, I forgot you. Now I have come to your shelter. Liberate me. I am much harassed due to this tumor on my thigh."

Shri Guru smiled and said, "Show me, where is the tumor?". The king began to look his thigh. But no! The tumor had vanished! He said, "By your blessings, I could enjoy the royal pleasures and glory. All my desires are fulfilled. I now wish that your holyself should come to my palace and bless my family members."

Shri Guru said, "We are Sanyasis. We should not live in cities. You being Muslim, cows are slaughtered daily in your city. This is a great sin. Prohibit killing of cows in your kingdom."

The King said, "I am not a king now. I am your devotee, a Rajak. Give me a place at your feet."

Shri Guru began thinking. Now in this Kaliyug, cruelty will be increasing. It would be better if I disappear from here. He therefore thought of going to Gautami (Godavary). While returning to the math, the king seated Shri Guru in his palakhi and he took his padukas (sandals) in his hands and walked on foot behind the palakhi.

Shri Guru said, "You should ride on a horse as you are a king. Your persons will blame you for serving a Brahmin and a Sanyasi."

The king said, "I may be a king for the people, but for you I am your devotee, a Rajak. My body of iron is transformed into gold by your sight. All my desires are now fulfilled".

By this time all the elephants, horses and soldiers of the King had reached the place. Shri Guru said, "Listen to me, ride a horse ".

The King first seated all the disciples of Shri Guru on the horses and then he rode a horse and the procession started ceremoniously.

Shri Guru then said to the king, "If we come with you, we cannot observe our rituals punctually. Therefore I will go ahead. You come to Papvinashi to see me".

Saying this, Shri Guru disappeared instantly with all his disciples and reached Bidar. Nagnath the son of Sayamdeo met Shri Guru there. He worshiped Shri Guru and did a samaradhana. Then Shri Guru went to the Papvinnashi tirth.

The Muslim king was very sorry to see the disappearance of Shri Guru from the procession suddenly. But he remembered that he was asked by Shri Guru to see him at Papvinashi. He rode a swift horse and started for Papvinashi. He covered the distance of 88 miles in a day. He saw Shri Guru and again requested him to grace his city by holy presence.

The kind decorated his city with flags, buntings and arches. He seated Shri Guru in a Palakhi. Nine kinds of gems were waved on him. The citizens waved aarati at various places. The Muslims censured the king for serving for the Brahmins; but the Hindu citizens and Brahmins praised him for liberal, learned and pious.

The procession was going with musical instruments. Coins and clothes were being distributed to the poor. When the procession reached the main gate of palace, Shri Guru walked on the costly carpet spread on the path. Shri Guru was seated on the decorated throne and all the queens and children of the king bowed to Him respectfully. Shri Guru blessed the king and his family members and asked, "Are all your desires fulfilled by now?"

The king said, "I have fully enjoyed the royal glory I now wish to serve at your feet".

Shri Guru asked him to come to Shri Shailya and went to Gautami at Nasik. He bathed there and returned to Ganagapur. All the citizens were pleased to see that Shri Guru had come back safe.

Shri Guru called all the disciples and said, "Now I wish live secretly. Therefore I intend to go to Shri Shailya. Still I shall be staying at Ganagapur. If I live fear openly, the Muslims will come here daily and trouble me for fulfillment of their desires as the King himself had been here."