When we earn name, fame, wealth and honour in life, we give credit to ourselves. We tell everyone how hard we have worked and all that we have received belongs only to us. When things do not go as per our expectations, when our efforts are not rewarded and we face failure, we blame God. We proclaim to one and all that God has done injustice to us and there is no dharma in the world. Let us see the life of the amazing Sakkubai whose behaviour was not the norm. She achieved the supreme love of Lord Vitthala (Lord Krishna) by her extreme bhakti under the most distressing and painful conditions of life:
Sakkubai was born to a poor couple in a village near Pandharpur. Her parents were staunch devotees of Lord Panduranga Vitthala. Despite their poverty, they lived a very content life. Sakkubai was born in answer to their fervent prayers to Lord Vitthala for a child. She imbibed the love and deep sense of devotion for God from her parents. At a young age, she was given the mantra of name of Lord Vitthala by the Lord Himself in the form of an old man. At the age of twelve, Sakku was married to the son of a Pundit in a nearby town. The Pundit was wealthy but also selfish, mean and miserly. His wife and son were like him. This truth was unknown to Sakkubai’s parents.
Sakkubai was taken to her in-law’s home immediately after her marriage. Her cruel family made her work day and night. She had to pound paddy, churn the grains, clean the vessels, bring water from the river and store, cook, clean the home, wash the vessels, take care of the cows etc. She used to sing the name of Vitthala and do her work. Her chanting the name of Vitthala displeased her mother- in- law who felt she was wasting her time. Sakkubai was not given proper food, she was overworked, abused and never had rest. Yet she worked cheerfully, singing the name of the Lord. Her parents came to visit her after some months. They were shocked to see the pitiable condition of their daughter. They went back in great sorrow. A married Hindu girl is not taken back by her parents. Sakkubai understood this terrible truth and realized that she had no one in this world but her Vitthala. Her bhakti and surrender to the Lord intensified after that.
One evening, Sakkubai went with her neighbour to fetch water from the river. She came across a group of pilgrims going to Pandharpur. She watched them sing and dance in ecstasy and wanted to join them on their journey. She stayed back singing the name of Vitthala. Her mother- in- law and husband came to know of this incident from the neighbour and they rushed there and dragged her back home. She was tied to a pole and left to repent for her sin of wanting to run away from home to Pandharpur.
Sakkubai’s bhakti was indomitable. Though tied to the pole, in her mind, she stood before her beloved Lord and singing His praises. Seeing her bhakti, the Lord Himself appeared in front of her, in the form of Sakkubai and untied her. He told her to join the pilgrims and that he would take care of her family. He asked her to tie Him up to the pole and go. She did so and joined the pilgrims. She went with them to Pandharpur singing in divine bliss. When she finally stood in the temple in front of the Lord, she wanted nothing more in life. The soul left and merged with the Lord and her body dropped down dead. The neighbours and sadhus who came with her cremated her body.
Back in her home, the Divine Sakkubai was untied by her mother-in-law and there was a sudden transformation in all the members of her home. Every one behaved with love and decency towards each other. When the Divine Sakkubai slogged through all the household chores, the mother in law and husband shared the work.
In the meantime, Mother Goddess Rukumini, the consort of Lord Vitthala appeared in a dream of one of the sadhus and asked Sakkubai’s ashes to be brought to Her. He did so and the Mother Goddess resurrected Sakkubai and sent her home as she had to free Her Husband – Lord Vittahala from the form of Sakkubai and have him return to Pandharpur.
One of the pilgrims from Pandharpur visited Sakkubai’s home and narrated about the death of Sakkubai and the final rites near the temple. None believed as Sakkubhai was at home serving all of them. Just then Sakkubai entered her home from the doorway. She told her mother- in- law the happenings – of how the Lord took her place and sent her for the pilgrimage and her death and resurrection. She told them all: this body is mortal. Husband, wife, father, mother, house, property – these are all temporary. We devote our entire lives to these. Instead, if we diverted even one-tenth of our time and energy on God, we will attain moksha. Instead, we fall prey to our sense organs and desires and create karma and suffer. We are given this sacred human body to attain God. Let us seek the Sadguru and be enlightened by him. Let us attain the highest goal of human life – being one with God.
Sakkubai attained moksha. Her life is a benchmark for us. She teaches us how to live through her songs which are sung even today. Let us follow her advice. Let us do the SitaRam mantra japa, meditation and follow the teachings of the Guru and attain moksha.
