Sant Tukkaram

The prostitute did as bid. The crowd was shocked to hear what she had to say. Some said, "Well! Everything has come to light. Wearing the garb of a Sadhu he is fooling people." Some said, "We know not the truth." Yet others said, "Poor Sadhu. He is probably being blamed wrongly." But, the Sadhu himself remained totally unperturbed. He turned his head and looked at her very compassionately. The Sadhu then said, "Well! All are my children. Everything around is verily mine. So are you and this child! Sit here. I will give a share of the food I get everyday!" The 'Kataksha' (benign look) of the Sadhu and his loving words touched the heart of the prostitute and she at once fell at his feet. With tears in her eyes and remorse in her heart she said, "I am sorry for the bluff that I uttered. I had been paid to utter this by their (she pointed to the Marwari and his friend seated there) wives so that they would return to their old ways." The very look of a
Sadhu had changed even a prostitute. Such is the glory of the association of a Sadhu. Immediately everyone fell at the Sadhu's feet and spoke gloriously about him. Many more began to throng his presence.

What would have been the reaction of anyone under such circumstance? They would have cried, "Oh! Lord! How merciful you are! You have saved me!" But, here the Sadhu cried to Bhagavan, "Oh! Lord! Why did you do this? You could have let the words of the 'deva dasi' sound true so that people would have stopped following me. I would have happily left for the forest and remained all alone singing your praises. Why did you prove her words to be wrong?" Sadhus wish to run away from people but Bhagavan pushes them back. Thus, any abuse thrown on a Sadhu only spreads their fame, for, Bhagavan blesses them with more 'keerti' (fame). One should shun praises like poison and welcome abuses like 'amrit' (nectar). Sadhus are like this. I do know how to enlighten on the glory of Sadhus!

A home is for Sadhus to step in! When someone visits our home and some mishap occurs soon after, we blame it on the 'drishti' of the visitor. If the visitor envies our way of living, his/her thought waves spread in our home and affect our life. But, when a Sadhu visits our home he wishes well for us. His thought waves fill the atmosphere and does good. A handful of food offered to a Sadhu liberates not just you but seven generations, before and after you, in your family!

Sadhus move from village to village and do not take 'bhiksha' (beg for food) in the same village. The reason for this is that the Sadhu gets familiar with the homes that offer food. His mind would say, 'avoid this house as the man here abuses' or 'go to this house where they offer food lovingly' or 'in this house the food is not tasty' and so on. One should not get attached in this manner. Therefore, Sadhus do not stay in the same village. It is said that if you do not get food drink Yamuna 'jal' (water) and live in Vrindavan!

We find many people begging on the streets and chase them away. But, do you think that it is so easy to beg? It is, indeed, very difficult to beg! Try it! We hesitate to ask for help even of a friend because our ego steps in. We feel our reputation is at stake. We fear the insults that will be thrown at us.