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| Bhakt Karma Bai ji -the greatest Devotees of Lord Krishna |
Bhakt Shiromani Karma Bai
Karmabai (1615 – 1634) was a jat known as Bhakt Shiromani Karmabai. She was born on 20 August 1615 in the family of Jiwanji Dudi in the village Kalwa situated in the Nagaur district. She was a devotee of Krishna.
Bhakt Karma Bai ji is one of the greatest Devotees of Lord Krishna, Lord Krishna Chandra himself used to visit her home and used to eat Khichdi prepared by her. Karma Bai's father Jeevan Ramji was a Devotee of Shri Krishna. He used to only eat after offering his food to God. One day Jeevan Ramji was about to go on a pilgrimage and he handed over the responsibility of offering food to Krishna to his daughter Karma, He said to Karma Bai to only eat after offering Bhog to the Lord.
Young little Karma took the instructions Literally. The next day when Karma woke up the words of her father shook her mind, she thought that if she went for a bath it would be late and Krishna would be hungry so she went to cook Khichadi without bathing/ brushing.
She kept the Khichadi on the fire(चूल्हा), and was waiting for the Khichdi to get cooked, she thought to clean her teeth while the Khichdi was being cooked. She took a neem stem and started to clean her teeth. While she was cleaning her teeth, Khichadi started to boil, Karma looked here and there for a spoon but found none, so she started to stir the Khichdi with the neem stem which she used for cleaning her teeth.
The Khichdi was prepared, she dressed the Khichdi with ghee and jaggery, and kept it in front of Bal Krishna, and asked him to eat the food offered. Karma after offering the bhog went to do some household works. After some time Karma went to see whether Krishna has eaten or not, she found the Khichdi as it was when she offered, she added some more ghee and jaggery but the Lord is not eating. Now she said to Krishna “ Eat what happened, I am also hungry, why aren't you eating. If you don't eat even I won't eat?” suddenly there was a voice from the Shri Vigraha, it said “close the curtains so I can eat.” Karma bai covered the Temple with her Dupatta, and when she opened the curtain she saw empty plate with no khichadi left over.
Daily she used to offer Khichdi, and when she opened the curtains she used to see the empt y plate. After some days Jeevan Ramji returned back home and saw the pots which were filled with ghee and jaggery were empty. He asked Karma “Where's the ghee and jaggery Karma?” Karma replies “ Baba don't worry I've fed your Krishna only.” Jeevan Ram says “how can that happen? I've served the Lord for ages but he never ate my food!.” Karma replies “Ok then see by yourself tomorrow.”
The next day Karma made Khichadi, and offered it to Lord and said “ Everyday you ate my khichadi, but now I'm in a test, now if you didn't eat my father will think I'm lying, please Lord accept this offering of mine.” Then Lord Krishna himself emerged form the Vigraha and said to Jeevan Ramji that “the power which the Love of your daughter has cannot be even found in the rules and rituals. The Love of your daughter lured me to this house, I had to come and eat the Khichdi which was offered by your daughter.”
One day a wise sage arrived at the house of Karma and saw Karma serving the Lord without bathing and without any rules, he said “ Karma your offering bhog to the Lord without bathing, this is a sin. You should always bath and worship him with rituals mentioned in Vedas.” Karma was a obedient child and obeyed the sage.
Next day when Krishna visited her house, he found no Khichdi, he asked Karma “ Mother where's the Khichdi” Karma said wait I have bath, and then prepare Khichdi and worship you with rituals mentioned in Vedas, you have to wait. That day Krishna came to the dreams of that sage and said “ you did not give good Gyan to my devotee, you have tied her to rules and regulations which is unwanted in my worship. You've not done a good deed.”
Next day the sage ran to the house of Karma and apologised her, he told her to follow the routine which she was following before. The sage got to know that God only needs Love from his Devotees.
One day Karma went to Puri Jagganatha temple with the Khichdi bhog made by her. She was mocked by the Pandit of the Temple they said “ We offer 56 bhog daily will you think the Lord will eat this boring Khichadi.” Karma left the place with tears in her eyes. A voice was heard from the Shri Vigraha of Lord Jagganath that “ I will not accept any offering until the Khichdi of Karma is not offered to me.” Till now before 56 bhog Khichadi from Rajasthan is offered to Lord Jagganatha.
Local Poem dedicated to Karma bai:
Thali bhar lyayi khichado upar ghee ki batki !
Jeemo mhara shyam dhani jeemavai beti Jat ki !!
Bhakt aur Bhagwan ki Jai!
Maa Karma Bai ki Jai!
Mor mukut Banshi wale ki Jai!
Gauri Mahadeva ki Jai!
Jai Jai Shri Gouri Shiva!
Message: Karma bai ji teaches us a very good lesson , when she followed rules and regulations krishna ji not appear but when she offered pure love krishna ji appeared, it gives a message that love can surpass even vedas , isliye to kehte hai , bhakt ke peeche bhagwan.
