Witness Lord Sakshigopal: A Tale of Divine Love & Promise

The Lord spoke in a voice as deep as the clouds, “O villagers! The words of the younger Brahmin are not untrue. Keeping me as a witness, the elder Brahmin had promised to give his daughter in marriage to him. You should all proceed with the wedding ceremony with joy and without a shred of doubt. The bride and groom will certainly be blessed.”

Upon hearing the Lord’s nectar-like voice from the sky, the elder Brahmin’s joy knew no bounds. The family members were frightened by such a strange event. They thought, if the Lord Himself could come from so far away to bear witness, He could also inflict a terrible punishment upon them as a consequence if they sided with falsehood. They agreed. From this fear, devotion for Lord Gopal was also born in their hearts.

Many villagers, impressed by the noble qualities of the younger Brahmin, came forward to offer their own daughters in marriage to him. However, the final decision was that the proposal which the Lord had accepted would be the one to be honored. With great joy and enthusiasm, the wedding ceremony was completed with a feast at an auspicious time, all in the divine presence of Shree Gopal Jiu.

Like the fragrance of a flower, the entire city of Vidyanagar was filled with the sweet aroma of the younger Brahmin’s devotion. The news of the Lord’s arrival reached the ears of the local king. He built a beautiful temple for Shree Gopal Jiu with many grand provisions and made all the proper arrangements for the food offerings (bhoga-raga) and worship rituals (seva-puja), thus making his own life feel fulfilled.

Because the Lord (Gopal), bound by the thread of devotion, had traveled to act as a witness (“sakshi”), His name became “Sakshigopal.” He is now worshipped in the Satyabadi block of the Puri district.

The Lord who traveled as a witness for His true devotee.