Submerged in Devotion

This Indian mythological story of a devotee sheds some light into what devotion is. Shri Santhopa Pawar was an ardent ‘Bhaktha’ of Shri Vitthal at Pandharpur. Thousands of people admired Shri Pawar and accepted him as their Spiritual Master. Gradually their devotion became reinforced and they fell in the eternal love with the Great Lord of Universe, Shri Panduranga.

Once, all the disciples started walking towards Pandharpur, which is ‘Booloka Vaikuntam’. Alas! When they were nearing Pandharpur, heavy rain started and it was seldom possible for all, even to walk against the down pouring. But Shri Pawar geared them up and so they reached the banks of Chandrabagha. On those days, there was no bridge to cross the river and only small boats were used for this purpose. But due to the extra ordinary flood in Chandrabagha, no ‘boat wala’ was willing to cross the roaring flood.

All the disciples became so upset but Pawar did not give up his faith He sang ‘Abhangs’ with great devotion and his eyes too started pouring another rain, out of love and faith. Suddenly a very big bridge emerged from the center the river and it was covering both the sides of the holy river. At that time, a divine voice (Asareeri) told Shri Pawar to walk on the bridge along with all the devotees. Shri Pawar alone heard the divine voice. He advised all the ‘Bhakthas’ to walk on that bridge to reach the other side of the river. They happily walked on the Bridge, chanting Vitthal … Vitthal …. Vitthal. Shri Pawar too crossed the river; he eagerly turned back and saw the bridge.  His devotion was such that he started crying again like a small kid. Yes…. it was really not a bridge and it was Shri Vitthal who took a big size Koorma (Tortoise) avathar and helped Pawar and his disciples to cross the bridge. Upon realizing this fact, Shri Pawar could not control himself and he fell on the ground. He got submerged in the abundant mercy of Lord Vitthal. Finally they entered the Shrine and had the wonderful darshan of Lord Vitthal. Shri Pawar was again carried away in faith and devotion. He cried and cried and cried while Lord Vitthal would have only smiled.