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Posting of Story of Sakshi-Gopal
Ajay,
I noticed this morning that my article of the Story of Sakshi-Gopal appears in
the alt.hindu. However, as I suspected, it is truncated at 25 lines. I am
reproducing the article in its entirety below. Hope you can post again.
Thanks.
-Eswar Josyula
The Story of Sakshi-Gopal
The deity of Sakshi Gopal is in a temple in Orissa. The story surrounding the
coming of the deity is interesting, so here goes....
----------------------------Beginning of story of Sakshi-Gopal----------
Long ago in a small village, there lived a couple named Raghav and
Radhabai. They had a daughter, Vasanti who was sweet with whom other children
of the village loved to play. Mahindra, an orphan boy was of the same age as
Vasanti and they both were good friends.
Vasanti soon grew up to be a beautiful young woman. The people of the
village suggested to the mother Radhabai that Vasanti and Mahindra would make a
handsome couple. But Vasanti's father Raghav had different plans for Vasanti.
He wanted her to marry Sukhvir who was a rich widower. Meanwhile, Mahindra met
Vasanti one evening and told her that he was leaving for the Gopalji-temple town
to make a living. Vasanti got sad and speechless and Mahindra separated from
Vasanti. A few days later, Raghav joined Sukhvir and his party of pilgrims to
go on pilgrimage. Their tours led to the Gopalji-temple town. During their
stay, Raghav caught the small-pox disease and Sukhvir immediately isolated him.
So there he was in a strange place with no one to look after him suffering from
the disease. From one of the members of Sukhvir's party, Mahindra came to know
that Raghav was in town and he had the small-pox. He went right-away to
Raghav's hut and tended to him. From that day on, Mahindra took very good care
of Raghav till he got better. On getting better, Raghav expressed his desire to
visit the Gopalji-temple. Mahindra gladly agreed to accompany him to the
temple. Mahindra carefully guided Raghav through the huge crowds and to the
feet of Lord Gopala. Both of them prostrated at the feet of the deity. Raghav
was satisfied at seeing the Lord. Feeling extreme gratitude for Mahindra, he
expressed his feelings in a promise that he would make Mahindra his son-in-law.
He took leave of a happy Mahindra and went to back to his village. Sukhvir
noticed how beautiful Vasanti was and was even more determined than before to
marry her. He sent expensive gifts to Raghav and pleased him by his generosity.
Over a short period of time Raghav changed his mind and decided that he would
give away Vasanti to the rich Sukhvir. Before long Mahindra heard about this
decision and felt miserable. Radhabai felt sad for Mahindra and she advised him
to approach the village Panchayat (the village court). A Panchayat session was
held and Mahindra told the village elders the story of how Raghav had promised
to give Vasanti in marriage to him. Raghav, however, denied of ever making
such a promise. Soon the debate got heated up and the head of the Panchayat
calmed everybody down and asked Raghav if he had any witness. He asked Raghav
if anybody had heard Raghav make the promise to him. Suddenly Mahindra
remembered that Lord Gopala too must have heard of Raghav's promise. He told
the Panchayat, "Lord Gopala was witness to the incident." With amusement, the
village elders told Mahindra, "then bring Lord Gopala and have him testify."
Mahindra left the village and went to the Gopalji temple and exhausted fell
on its steps. The Lord appeared as he does to his sincere devotees when they
are in trouble needing His help. Mahindra's face brightened on seeing the Lord
and he requested the Lord to come in front of the temple and testify on his
behalf. To his delight the Lord agreed. However, there was one condition. The
Lord would follow Mahindra to the village and at no time should Mahindra look
back. A test for his faith, indeed. Mahindra asked the Lord how he would know
if he was following him. The Lord told him that his anklets will be tinkling as
he walked, so he will know. The Lord gave some Prasadam to Mahindra to regain
some strength. Once he was invigorated, both of them left for the village,
Mahindra was walking in front and Lord Gopala was walking behind him. Both of
them walked through difficult terrain for several days and almost reached the
village. Just as they were entering the village, Mahindra could not hear the
tinkling and he looked back thinking if the Lord deserted him. Lo and Behold,
the Lord was there but he now got rooted to the spot. He examined the anklets
and found that sand had gotten into them to prevent tinkling. He regretted that
he doubted the Lord. Then in an ecstatic mood he ran to the village and told
everybody what happened. "Come and see for yourself, the Lord has come," cried
Mahindra. "The Lord has indeed come to bear witness (Sakshi) and vindicate his
devotee", said the villagers. Raghav learnt his lesson. He apologized to
Mahindra for telling lies.
Soon Mahindra and Vasanti got married. A temple was built around the deity
of Lord Gopala and Mahindra became the first priest of the temple.
--------------------------End of story of Sakshi-Gopal----------------
-Eswar Josyula
76142.1306@compuserve.com
