Spiritual gifts-Surdas
>> Sunday, August 15, 2010
Surdas was a blind poet of our ancient times. He was a staunch devotee of Lord Krishna and wrote many poems and verses (padas) in Krishna’s praise. He was also a good singer and used to sing songs devoted to Krishna.
On one occasion, Surdas was returning to his Ashram (abode) after attending a gathering of Krishna devotees. It was much after midnight, so one of his disciples offered to guide him to his place. Surdas declined the offer politely saying that his Lord would guide him to his safety. So saying, he set out for his Ashram. The path he took went through dense forest and it was pitch dark, not that that mattered to Surdas. There was a well in the path Surdas had taken and unaware, he was moving right in the direction of the well, all through repeating Krishna’s name. Up above, Krishna became aware of Surdas’s danger and thought that he should save Surdas otherwise Surdas’s faith in him would waver. When Surdas was only two steps away from the well, Krishna took form of a small child and offered one end of a stick to Surdas to hold and guided him to safety. Surdas didn’t even know that he was but a few steps away from disaster and saved.
Surdas asked: “Who are you?”
Krishna: “I am a small boy. I saw you and thought I would guide you to your place.”
Surdas: “Why are you out at this unearthly hour? What is your name?”
Krishna: “I have no name. You can call me by any name you prefer.”
Immediately the nickel dropped and Surdas knew that Krishna in person had come to save him. His prayers of lifetime were answered. That Krishna was here whose bhajans (devotional songs) he sang to survive. But he didn’t let it out. That moment all he wanted was to touch Krishna once, only once. He knew he would not get another opportunity. So he kept his pretence, kept talking to the child and at an opportune moment, tried to grab Krishna. Krishna, knowing his intentions, moved away at the right time, so Surdas could not touch him. Frustrated, he started weeping, threw away his Ektara (musical instrument), his stick and said: “Oh Lord, I know you are Krishna and you have come to help me. I am blind and unable to see you. Please grant me your darshan (vision). Krishna smiled.
On that occasion Surdas said a verse that was to become immortal:
“baanh chhudake jaat ho, nirbal jani mohi,
Hriday chhudake jaye, to marad bakhanu tohi.”
You are leaving me ignoring my hand. If you can leave my heart, I shall call you brave.
Immediately after that, Surdas was able to see vaman swaroop (child like vision) of Krishna in his mind’s eyes.
On one occasion, Surdas was returning to his Ashram (abode) after attending a gathering of Krishna devotees. It was much after midnight, so one of his disciples offered to guide him to his place. Surdas declined the offer politely saying that his Lord would guide him to his safety. So saying, he set out for his Ashram. The path he took went through dense forest and it was pitch dark, not that that mattered to Surdas. There was a well in the path Surdas had taken and unaware, he was moving right in the direction of the well, all through repeating Krishna’s name. Up above, Krishna became aware of Surdas’s danger and thought that he should save Surdas otherwise Surdas’s faith in him would waver. When Surdas was only two steps away from the well, Krishna took form of a small child and offered one end of a stick to Surdas to hold and guided him to safety. Surdas didn’t even know that he was but a few steps away from disaster and saved.
Surdas asked: “Who are you?”
Krishna: “I am a small boy. I saw you and thought I would guide you to your place.”
Surdas: “Why are you out at this unearthly hour? What is your name?”
Krishna: “I have no name. You can call me by any name you prefer.”
Immediately the nickel dropped and Surdas knew that Krishna in person had come to save him. His prayers of lifetime were answered. That Krishna was here whose bhajans (devotional songs) he sang to survive. But he didn’t let it out. That moment all he wanted was to touch Krishna once, only once. He knew he would not get another opportunity. So he kept his pretence, kept talking to the child and at an opportune moment, tried to grab Krishna. Krishna, knowing his intentions, moved away at the right time, so Surdas could not touch him. Frustrated, he started weeping, threw away his Ektara (musical instrument), his stick and said: “Oh Lord, I know you are Krishna and you have come to help me. I am blind and unable to see you. Please grant me your darshan (vision). Krishna smiled.
On that occasion Surdas said a verse that was to become immortal:
“baanh chhudake jaat ho, nirbal jani mohi,
Hriday chhudake jaye, to marad bakhanu tohi.”
You are leaving me ignoring my hand. If you can leave my heart, I shall call you brave.
Immediately after that, Surdas was able to see vaman swaroop (child like vision) of Krishna in his mind’s eyes.
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