Divinity has manifested itself many times over time in order to teach mankind about right living, higher thinking, principles, values, bhakti and path to moksha. Many saints have been born in India and the world as messengers of God. Their life has been a message to all those around them and even to us today. They lived a normal life like us -- eating, sleeping and working but were always connected to the Divine Light and Divine Consciousness. Simple living, higher thinking, bhakti and surrender were their way of life. Among the shining lights in the galaxy of saints of India are Nivritti, Jnana, Sopan and Muktabai. It is said that they were minor avatars of Lord Shankar, Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma and Mother Saraswati. Muktabai manifested the wisdom and knowledge of Mother Saraswati and held together her little family.
The little family was orphaned as their parents had taken Jal Samadhi or walked into the river and given up their lives. They were also cast out from the village as their father had taken sanyas and then at order of the Guru come back to his wife and had children with her. The children lived in poverty and lacked the basic amenities of life. Muktabai needed a pan to make rotis – the staple Indian bread. Jnana went to borrow a pan. When he went around asking, he was repeatedly refused and insulted: O son of sanyasi, you want to eat rotis? How can you continue to live even after your parents gave up their lives? Jnana was only 12 years old and felt very angry and affronted. He ran back home and shut himself up inside a room.
Muktabai noticed that her elder brother was upset. She repeatedly asked him to open the door but he did not. Muktabai who was the Shakti or Power of Wisdom sang a song about the true nature of a Yogi: The yogi’s mind has attained purity. How can his mind be angry with others? There is so much of hate and anger burning in this world, and it is duty of a saint to act like water. We may not like what others say about us, but can you look at their perspective too? Connect this world by weaving the fabrics of Essence. What is this Essence? It is peace, love, understanding and letting go. Open the door, dear brother!
Her song continued: The Yogi is always in a state of joy. Does it matter others look down upon you? You are the maker of your destiny. The way you look upon yourself, the nature of conversation that you have in your mind will determine who you are. This is just a game, a play and it will go on. It is all empty and meaningless – chidakasha. It is all Maya and we give it various meanings such as love, insult, hate, joy, sorrow etc. The Essence is one and it is unchangeable and yet it assumes various forms. You are a yogi and you should know all this. Know this, the space of chidakasha is empty and be in a state of awareness. Do not bother about the rich, successful and powerful for they rise and fall like waves in a sea. It does not matter. Knowing this, be at peace.
There is a practice taught in Yoga for self purification. It is to take the abuse given by others without protest. By doing so, he passes on his impurities to them and receives their merit born out of good deeds. So the yogi gains doubly – he is purged of his negatives and he acquires the merit of others who abuse him. Jnana received abuses and insults at the village. Muktabai counselled him to see this as divine grace and use it as means to his salvation.
Hearing the advice of his younger sister, Jnana realised his Parabrahma Swarop or Divine Form. Jnana became Jnaneshwar. He came out of the room and asked his sister to prepare the dough. He knelt down and invoked the yoga shakti in his body to manifest. His back became very hot and Muktabai baked the rotis on his back! In this way Muktabai awakened the latent Divinity in her brother and helped him manifest it in full form and Jnana became a realised being or Sant Jnaneshwar.
Muktabai was a great Siddha and her abhangas or bhajans had great meaning. She speaks of the secrets of Maha Yoga and how to live successfully in this world and rise above it to reach out to God. Let us meditate on SitaRam and also unravel the mysteries of the Universe and receive Grace.
