Rama Nama Mahima – Swami Bodhendrar - Part 2
Purushotham who became Swami Bodhendrar – the pontiff of Kanchi, stayed at Kashi with his Guru and gained brahmavidya. After that, his Guru sent him to South India to spread the holy name of Sri Rama all over the land of South India. On his way to South India, his Guru asked Bodhendrar to halt at Puri to collect a holy text from a great saint.
There was a great saint called Lakshmidharar in Puri. He had written a book called ‘Bagavannama Kowmudhi’ which was a nama siddhantha grantham. It contained teachings on the power of the Holy Name of God. Swami Vishwadikendrar instructed Bodhendrar to collect this book on his way back and master it too. Bodhendrar came to Puri and had darshan of Lord Jagannath at the magnificent temple of Jagannatha Puri. From there he went searching for the house of the great saint. He was informed that Lakshmidharar had passed away and his son Jagannatha Pandit lived in his house. It was evening and the house was locked from inside. Bodhendrar did not want to disturb them. So he sat down outside the house and started meditating.
A few days earlier, an unusual incident had happened there. It involved the kidnapping, raping and conversion of a Hindu woman. A couple from South India were travelling to Kasi and had halted at that area. One night, when they were sleeping, the woman was gagged and kidnapped. Her husband who was sleeping next to her knew nothing. In the morning, when he was searching for his wife, he was told by some villagers that it could be the work of some Muslims who live nearby. These men would pick up women, rape them and force them to be their mistress. The man was shattered on hearing this and spent a few more days in that place searching for his wife. Finally, he left for his pilgrimage to Kashi.
The man completed his pilgrimage and came back to the same village. He was performing his Sandhya Vandana rituals in the river, when a Muslim lady came to fill water. On seeing him, the lady rushed to him and fell at his feet. She was his lost wife. When he asked her what happened, she begged him to run away from that place quickly. Both of them ran through the village and the forest to a safe place. Then the wife recounted to him the dreadful tale of being gagged and kidnapped at night by the Muslims and then then raped and being forced to live with them. She begged her husband to save her and take her with him. She was no longer fit to be his wife but would serve him as a servant maid. The husband replied that it was not her fault and if the Shastras allowed it, he would take her back as his wife. So they decided to visit Jaganatha Pandit and seek his opinion on the ruling of Dharma Shastras.
The couple reached the house of Jaganatha Pandit where Swami Bodhendrar was meditating outside. They knocked on the door and woke up the Pandit. They recounted to him the whole story and fell at his feet seeking a solution. The Pandit said to the lady: Say Rama, Rama, Rama thrice and you will be purified. Then you can live with your husband. His old mother who heard the conversation from inside called out: My son, you have degraded the power of Rama Nama. You asked the women to chant it thrice – Rama, Rama, Rama! If your father were consulted on this case, he would have asked her to say the Holy Name only once! Even the greatest sins are wiped out immediately by saying the Holy Name just once.
Swami Bodhendrar, who heard this conversation from outside, stood up and asked Jaganatha Pandit if there was any proof for what he was saying. Jaganatha Pandit offered conclusive proof in the writings of his father. Bodhendrar asked for the book and a small lamp. He sat and read through the book in the same night. The next day he called the couple and Jaganatha Pandit . He said that the sastras were true and that his father had mentioned very clearly what the son had declared the previous night. But the outside world wouldn’t believe this and seek proof. So he asked the woman to go to the river to take a dip. He said to her: With the greatest faith and surrender, take the name of Rama once and dip in the river. You will be transformed and come back pure. The proof would be the change in your clothes and jewels.
The entire town gathered to watch this event. The woman came and prostrated before Bodhendrar and said: I do not know about the Rama Nama. I have faith and trust in you and what you say. I do obey you sincerely. She took the name of Rama once and dipped in the river. When she rose, she was wearing the same clothes she wore on the day of her kidnapping and the same jewels. Her face was luminous with light, her jewels shone and her forehead was decorated with a large kumkum dot. Auspicious turmeric was smeared on her face and hands. Her hair was decorated with fresh fragrant jasmine flowers. These were the marks of a married Hindu woman. On seeing this, everyone started chanting the Rama Nama with great enthusiasm and fervor. The couple fell at the feet of Swami Bodhendrar and sought his blessings and went away happily. Swami Bodhendrar had a practical demonstration of the greatness of Rama Nama and continued his journey to South India. He was now ready to fulfill the task given by his Guru with utter conviction and faith in the Rama Nama.
