The Rishis have come on the earth in the guise of Gopis. The Gopis are actually great Rishis. The Shrutis have been unable to play with Shree Krishna despite singing for centuries the praises of God. Those sixteen thousand shrutis have descended to the earth in the form of the Gopis to have such pleasure with Balkrishna. The released soul Shukdevji has often admired the selfless love of the Gopis.
(Balkrishna plays his flute in the forest to test the love of the Gopis.)
Once, Balkrishna came to Vrindavan. The full moon had risen in the sky. Lord Balkrishna played sweet tunes upon his flute to attract the Gopis at the banks of the river Yamuna. His soulful music disturbs even the Rishis from their meditational concentration.
The Gopis rushed out from their homes and left their work unattended. The entire cosmos merged itself in the celestial tunes of the divine music. Lord Sheshnaag swayed his majestic hood on tune to Balkrishna. Animals, birds and other living beings were drawn to the divine melody of Shree Krishna. Sadguru Brahmanand Swami sings:
(Lord Balkrishna played melodious tunes on his flute. His tunes have penetrated my body and soul. I am eager to meet my Lord. Lord Shree Krishna has tempted us with his sweet songs. I am drawn to him. I will not leave him. The Lord of Brahmanand has favoured me by holding my hand in assuring support.)
The Gopis ran to the hillside to do darshan of Shree Krishna. Their relatives and welwishers tried to stop them, but the Gopis did not stop even for a moment. One such Gopi’s husband tried to stop his wife and locked her in a room, but her lamentation and commotion forced her husband to unlock her. They ran swiftly panting, dashing and falling on the ground. They finally reached Shree Krishna to have soulful darshan. One from them was trailing behind in exhaustion and the frustration of not being able to run faster. Depressed extremely, she left her elemental body with chants of “O Krishna! O Krishna!” and her devout soul fled away swiftly to do darshan of Shree Krishna.
Devout soul Navalbai was also obstructed by her husband from her devotional ways. Navalbai was a virtuous lady and true Satsangi of Lord Swaminarayan. She was a resident of Prantij - Sabarkantha. She did devotion like a Gopi and lived a virtuous life. Navalbai was a true Satsangi but her husband was not like her. He always opposed Satsang. Though living at a different wavelength, Navalbai did her best to have a peaceful householder life - a vehicle cannot move smoothly if both wheels are not equal in their shape and size!
Prantij is a prasadi town of Lord Shree Hari and in those days, Lord Shree Hari was gracing Prantij. Navalbai wished to do darshan of Shreeji Maharaj, but her husband was not ready to permit her. What should she do? She requested him repeatedly, but he refused to permit her darshan of Shreeji Maharaj.
He locked his wife in a room, stopped supply of meals and water and compelled her to stay indoors. But God-fearing Navalbai merged herself in Dhoon and devotion of Lord Shree Hari. She withdrew from concentration, wept profusely for her helplessness and spent fifteen days without food and water.
Once she peeped through a small window and found a lady on the street corner. Navalbai asked her softly, “Sister! Where is Swaminarayan Bhagwan? Is he here these days at Prantij or has he left for the elsewhere?”
The lady said, “Maharaj is here at Prantij. He dwells these days at the house of Kashibhai. He will leave tomorrow in the early morning.”
Navalbai was very sad because of her helplessness. Lord Swaminarayan has been in her town for the last fifteen days and he is still here at the house of Kashibhai to favour devotees with his darshan. But unfortunate as she was, she was deprived of his darshan. He was to leave the next morning. If she didn’t put in any effort to do darshan of Maharaj, she may not be able to have darshan. She lamented on her misfortune and banged on the window to appease her inner pain. It was midnight. The town was covered under a blanket of deep sleep. As she hit at the window, the shutters and the frame came off from the wall! She jumped from the gap of the window and ran to the house of Kashibhai.
The Parshads were guarding the chamber of Shreeji Maharaj. They refused her entry, as Maharaj was in deep sleep. She requested, “Brothers! I am longing for darshan. Since the last fifteen days and after a fortnight of such anxiety and continuous effort, I have finally got a chance today at such odd hours to escape imprisonment. I would be obliged, if I were given the chance to do darshan of Shree Hari. Please permit me.” As soon as she concluded the request, she cried and lamented profusely to give way to her pains of separation – her ardent longing for darshan.
Lord Shreeji Maharaj woke up suddenly because of her lamentation and came out from his chamber to inquire about the commotion. Navalbai ran to Maharaj when she saw Shreeji Maharaj standing before them. She paid a humble salute. Her heart and soul were at peace through darshan of Shree Hari. Shreeji Maharaj blessed her by placing his hand on her head. Shreeji Maharaj said, “Navalbai! How are you?”
Navalbai said, “Maharaj! You are the all knower and omnipresent God. The soul in separation has come to you after such a long time. I surrender in your benign refuge. My husband does not allow me to practice Satsang and devotion - please guide me. Please help me to do devotion and Satsang.” She cried profusely at the end of her prayer.
Shreeji Maharaj said, “Navalbai! Don’t worry. Go back to your home. All will be fine in days to come. Do devotion and meditate upon my image. Sing devotional songs when you cook meals for your family. The family members will become virtuous by having such holy meals. There will be nothing to worry about.” Navalbhai saluted the lotus-like feet of Shree Hari and went back to her house.
She followed the orders of Shree Hari and cooked the meals with devotion. Her husband and other family members had sacred meals. Demonic thoughts vanished with such sacred morsels of food. Once, enlightened husband desired to his wife, “Swaminarayan Bhagwan has organised a samaiya at Karjisan. We should all go for darshan of Bhagwan.” Navalbai was very happy with such positive change in attitude of her husband.
She looked inwardly at the image of Shree Hari dwelling in her heart and said, “O God! Please favour my husband and bless him with virtuous wisdom so that he engages himself in devotion along with me and my family.” In this way, a virtuous daughter from a satsangi family helps her in-laws on the path of devotion and satsang. She helps them to live a wholesome and virtuous life.
Both came to Karjisan to participate in Samaiyas. They did darshan of Shreeji Maharaj. Shreeji Maharaj initiated mantra deeksha with Vartaman Niyam and tied Kanthi to the husband of Navalbai. The family of Navalbai lived a wholesome life as faithful satsangis.
It is easy to bring change in attires and external appearance, but it is most difficult to bring changes in thinking. Spiritual wisdom is a precondition to grasp the teachings of Sneh Geeta. We like love. We like delightful conversation. We like people smiling at us. We like people when they respect us. If you like such things, it is better to repay such tendency back in a similar manner. Be kind to them and be friendly in all your dealings.