The Unwavering Devotion of Manidas: A Tale of Love for Lord Jagannath

Lord Jagannath, the embodiment of compassion, is renowned for His boundless love for His devotees. Among the countless tales of devotion, the story of Manidas stands out as a testament to the Lord’s unwavering commitment to his followers. Let’s delve into this heartwarming narrative and witness the depths of divine grace.

 

“The Protector of the Devoted Bears No Affliction”

 

As the saying goes, “The protector of the devoted bears no affliction.” Lord Jagannath is known as the Bhaktavatsala, a protector and lover of his devotees. He does not need hands or legs to take care of His children. He is all-knowing and all-pervading. He takes a coconut from Dasia Bauri, and offers ambrosia in a golden plate to Bandhu Mohanty. Though without eyes or ears, he saves the elephant and deer. His glory is beyond description.

 

The Steadfast Devotion of Manidas

 

Long ago, in the holy land of Puri, there lived a devotee named Manidas. From childhood, he harbored an unwavering devotion for Lord Jagannath. He was a person of high spiritual understanding. He saw the Lord’s hand even in adversity. When his family and community perished during a severe famine, Manidas did not blame the Lord. Instead, he felt that the Lord had freed him from the worldly ties, allowing him to focus solely on his devotion.

 

He embraced the life of a Vaishnava, adorning himself with a Tulasi mala (rosary) and a tilak. He was eager to express his love for his beloved Lord through songs and hymns from his heart. His voice was filled with love but he needed an instrument. He used two coconut shells as musical instruments, wore anklets, and reached the Jagamohana, where he expressed his devotion to the Lord.

 

A Heartfelt Offering Rejected

 

While Manidas sang with genuine devotion, his dance and the simple coconut shell instruments did not sit well with the temple priests who were busy with scriptures and debates. They pushed him out of the temple, causing Manidas great pain and anguish. He cried, cast away his coconut shells, and went to his hut.

 

But how could the Lord, the embodiment of love, bear the injustice to his devotee? The Lord, who is not hungry for food, but craves only the true devotion of his devotees, could not tolerate the suffering of his devotee.

 

Lord Jagannath’s Divine Intervention

 

That evening, after all the rituals and the temple doors were closed, Lord Jagannath was restless. He had not taken any food because his devotee was suffering. Lord Jagannath appeared in the dream of King Gajapati. With deep pain and disappointment, He told the King:

 

“O Gajapati! Are you even aware of what is going on in my temple? The temple priests insulted my simple devotee, Manidas. They did not understand the sweetness and devotion in his dance and songs. His simple music was as sweet to me as your young son’s sweet mumblings to you. I am upset and cannot take any offerings until he is brought back to the temple and justice is served.”

 

The Lord further ordered:

 

“I will listen to my devotees when they sing and dance with love. They can celebrate with songs, music, and clapping, and I will be there to listen and bless them. From now on, the temple priests will not engage in any debates or lectures before me.”

 

Justice Served

 

With a heavy heart, the King rushed to Manidas, begging for forgiveness. He brought Manidas back to the temple with honor. From that day forward, the practice of scripture reading in the Jagamohana was discontinued, leaving that space for the devotees to express their love for the Lord.

 

The story of Manidas teaches us that Lord Jagannath values sincere devotion over everything else. He is a Bhavagrahi, He is the one who values the inner intention, and love, over anything else. It is not about the perfection of the ritual or the artistry of the performance, but the purity of heart that moves Him. The simple devotion of Manidas and Surdas is more valuable than any other performance by the Gandharvas and Apsaras in heaven.

 

Bring the Spirit of Devotion into Your Life

 

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