Translation and Photographs from Seva Reeti Preeti Vraj Jan Ki
HAPPENING ON THE DAY OF SHRAVAN SUD BAARAS AND BRAHMASAMBANDH OF DAMODARDASJI
In the wee hours of the morning of Shravan Sud Baraas, Shri Vallabh gives Gadya Mantra Daan to Damodardasji. AFTER WHICH HE ADORNED Shri Vallabh
with Pavitra and offered him mishri. So, from that day onwards it has become a practice for all the Vaishnavs to adorn their Diksha Gurus (Vallabh Kul
Balaks) with Pavitra and offer them mishri.
WHAT IS BRAHMASAMBANDH ?
For one who could not comprehend the words spoken by the very Lord himself, once he was given Brahmasambandh he at once understood the same
words.
So, what is Brahmasambandh? To this question Mahaprabhuji has explained the answer in one of his Shodash Granth, the 'Siddhant Rahasym'. Its
summary is as follows-
At midnight of Shriji - Gokulchandramaji appeared before Shri Vallabh and explained why a Jeev should be given Brahmasambandh.
1) By Atma Nivedan/ Brahmasambandh, the jeev is absolved of sins related to his body as well as his atma.
2) The sins described by the scriptures are of 5 types:
- SAHAJ DOSH - This type of dosh/sin comes from the very fact of his coming into existence in this world.
- DESH DOSH - The place he has come into existence.
- KAAL DOSH - The duties when, which had to be performed during a particular time is performed in some other time.
- SANYOG DOSH - The sin of being in the company of one whom the scriptures says a strict no.
- SPARSH DOSH - When the scriptures prevent the touching of water sources by a particular sect etc.
Thus by giving Brahmasambandh to a jeev atma this jeev atma is absolved in the above mentioned sins. Thus after Brahmasambandh, he is physically
purified and becomes capable of perfprming the seva.
3) By Brahmasambandh alone all his sins are not absolved. He has further to refrain from making use of anything that has not been offered to the Lord. In
other words, he has to sacrifice that which has not been graced by Shreeji. (Asamarpita vastu no tyaag) and bring into use only that which has been
offered to the Lord (ie: Bhagvad prasadi, Anna, Vastra etc.)
The jeev has to keep aside his ego, possessiveness and has to firmly believe that whatever worldly possessions he has with him they all belong to the
Lord and he has ownership over them and he just is a servant of the Lord and thus surrender himself to the Lord.
A VAARTA PRASANG (Incidence in the life of Damodardasji)
Once on the plains near Girirajji, Shari Vallabh was sleeping peacefully with his head rested on the lap of Damodardasji. He was in deep sleep. This was
the time when Shriji decided to test Damodardasji. He appeared before him. With a gesture of his hand (said"Thade Raho"), Damodardasji stopped Shriji
from descending from the Girirajji fearing that the tinkling from the bells of Shriji's anklets would wake up Shri Vallabh. Shriji respecting Damodardasji's
wish stood still on the top of the mountain. All of a sudden Shri Vallabh awakened and he saw Shriji standing in front of him.
He immediately went and prostrated himself before him and asked the reason as to why he was standing so far and did not come near. To this Shriji told
Vallabh that he was stopped by Damodardasji. Vallabh turned to Damodardasji and chided(scolded) him from doing so, but Shriji stopped him from
chiding him and said that he was mercy testing Damodardasji and praised him that even though Damodardasji was confused as to what to do when faced
in such a asituation, he never let go his Seva Dharma. So, Shriji was mighty pleased that he proved to be a true sevak who always put the happiness of his
master first. Thus Shriji himself praised Damodardasji. Thus by this incidence the message of SWAMI-SEVAK relationship is highlighted. Damodardasji
could behave in such a manner because he knew that Shriji standing in front of him and Vallabh who was sleeping with his head on his lap were the
same. Had he differentiated between the two of them it would have been catastrophic.
SHRINGAR ON THIS DAY
White zari Chakdar Vaghaa with border. On the Shri mastak, Kirit Mukut , Thada Vastra megh shyaam. Four Karna- phool and vanmala shringar and Jadau
Mojaji on Charanarvind.
In the wee hours of the morning of Shravan Sud Baraas, Shri Vallabh gives Gadya Mantra Daan to Damodardasji. AFTER WHICH HE ADORNED Shri Vallabh
with Pavitra and offered him mishri. So, from that day onwards it has become a practice for all the Vaishnavs to adorn their Diksha Gurus (Vallabh Kul
Balaks) with Pavitra and offer them mishri.
WHAT IS BRAHMASAMBANDH ?
For one who could not comprehend the words spoken by the very Lord himself, once he was given Brahmasambandh he at once understood the same
words.
So, what is Brahmasambandh? To this question Mahaprabhuji has explained the answer in one of his Shodash Granth, the 'Siddhant Rahasym'. Its
summary is as follows-
At midnight of Shriji - Gokulchandramaji appeared before Shri Vallabh and explained why a Jeev should be given Brahmasambandh.
1) By Atma Nivedan/ Brahmasambandh, the jeev is absolved of sins related to his body as well as his atma.
2) The sins described by the scriptures are of 5 types:
- SAHAJ DOSH - This type of dosh/sin comes from the very fact of his coming into existence in this world.
- DESH DOSH - The place he has come into existence.
- KAAL DOSH - The duties when, which had to be performed during a particular time is performed in some other time.
- SANYOG DOSH - The sin of being in the company of one whom the scriptures says a strict no.
- SPARSH DOSH - When the scriptures prevent the touching of water sources by a particular sect etc.
Thus by giving Brahmasambandh to a jeev atma this jeev atma is absolved in the above mentioned sins. Thus after Brahmasambandh, he is physically
purified and becomes capable of perfprming the seva.
3) By Brahmasambandh alone all his sins are not absolved. He has further to refrain from making use of anything that has not been offered to the Lord. In
other words, he has to sacrifice that which has not been graced by Shreeji. (Asamarpita vastu no tyaag) and bring into use only that which has been
offered to the Lord (ie: Bhagvad prasadi, Anna, Vastra etc.)
The jeev has to keep aside his ego, possessiveness and has to firmly believe that whatever worldly possessions he has with him they all belong to the
Lord and he has ownership over them and he just is a servant of the Lord and thus surrender himself to the Lord.
A VAARTA PRASANG (Incidence in the life of Damodardasji)
Once on the plains near Girirajji, Shari Vallabh was sleeping peacefully with his head rested on the lap of Damodardasji. He was in deep sleep. This was
the time when Shriji decided to test Damodardasji. He appeared before him. With a gesture of his hand (said"Thade Raho"), Damodardasji stopped Shriji
from descending from the Girirajji fearing that the tinkling from the bells of Shriji's anklets would wake up Shri Vallabh. Shriji respecting Damodardasji's
wish stood still on the top of the mountain. All of a sudden Shri Vallabh awakened and he saw Shriji standing in front of him.
He immediately went and prostrated himself before him and asked the reason as to why he was standing so far and did not come near. To this Shriji told
Vallabh that he was stopped by Damodardasji. Vallabh turned to Damodardasji and chided(scolded) him from doing so, but Shriji stopped him from
chiding him and said that he was mercy testing Damodardasji and praised him that even though Damodardasji was confused as to what to do when faced
in such a asituation, he never let go his Seva Dharma. So, Shriji was mighty pleased that he proved to be a true sevak who always put the happiness of his
master first. Thus Shriji himself praised Damodardasji. Thus by this incidence the message of SWAMI-SEVAK relationship is highlighted. Damodardasji
could behave in such a manner because he knew that Shriji standing in front of him and Vallabh who was sleeping with his head on his lap were the
same. Had he differentiated between the two of them it would have been catastrophic.
SHRINGAR ON THIS DAY
White zari Chakdar Vaghaa with border. On the Shri mastak, Kirit Mukut , Thada Vastra megh shyaam. Four Karna- phool and vanmala shringar and Jadau
Mojaji on Charanarvind.
Shri Damoardasji asking Shriji to Stop
Maha Sud 4 - Shri Damodardasji's Utsav
