Sri Sadguru Mahime

Author: Charana Dasa

Translator: Shri.Ganesh Prasad

Chapter 73 : Soiled Dhoti

We all are accustomed to judging people by their external appearances and the clothes they wear. A Guru however recognizes and respects each person according to his/her inner purity. This incident happened long before this Charanadasa came to Gurunatha’s residence. Recently, I was narrated this incident by a person who had witnessed it firsthand.

Once there was a marriage in a devotee’s family in Chickmaglur. Being very close to Gurunatha he had invited Gurunatha to the marriage. A relative who had come to attend the marriage was talking to a person sitting next to him as both of them looked at Gurunatha who was at the gate of the marriage hall and made a comment. He said, “Who will call him a Guru? Just look at his dhoti, it is all soiled and so dirty.” The person hearing this objected saying “We should not talk like that, he will get to know.” A bit annoyed by the interruption the first relative continued, “Am I holding any microphone that he can listen to what I am saying from here?” Just before entering the marriage hall, Gurunatha sent one of his devotees inside and asked him to get a dhoti which was kept for him. The marriage party had brought a set of dhoti for Gurunatha to be given on the occasion. Once he got it, Gurunatha wore the new dhoti on top of his earlier one and entered the marriage hall. The duo who had spoken lightly about Gurunatha earlier silently offered their apologies and respects through their thoughts.

After he blessed the couple and others who had gathered just before leaving the place Gurunatha returned the new dhoti and left the place.

Gurunatha’s silence that day had answered many questions among the people who had gathered there.

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