Childhood Devotion
Day by day, little Nāma grew in beauty and sweetness, his eyes full of innocence and love. From his earliest years, his thoughts were absorbed only in the Lord of Paṇḍharpur. One morning, his father Damāji went to the marketplace, and his mother Gonāī said to the boy, “Take this plate of food to the temple. Offer it to the Lord and come back.”
The child, eager to serve, carried the offering with great joy. He entered the temple, bowed before the dark and smiling form of Paṇḍuraṅga, and began his worship with all the simplicity of a pure heart.
He bathed the image, clothed it in a yellow robe, anointed it with sandalwood paste, adorned it with flowers, and waved the incense and lamps. Then, placing the plate of food before the deity, he folded his little hands and said, “O Lord, please eat.”
The Innocence of Faith
In his childish mind there was no doubt at all that the Lord personally eats every offering. He had heard it from his mother, and to him, truth and faith were one. When the deity did not appear to eat, Nāma grew anxious. Tears filled his eyes.
“O my Lord,” he said, “perhaps You are angry because I came late. But my father went early to the market and sent me to bring this offering. If You do not eat, my mother will be angry with me. What wrong have I done, O Lord of the world? Why do You not eat?”
His tears of sincerity moved the Lord of Heaven. The Supreme Being, bound by the love of His devotee, descended from His pedestal. He lifted the little boy into His arms, embraced him tenderly, and ate the offering from the plate.
“Beloved child,” the Lord said softly, “speak of this to no one.”
Nāma bowed to the Lord again and again, filled with joy beyond words.
The Father’s Astonishment
When he returned home, his mother asked, “To whom did you give the offering?” The boy replied with simple truth, “The Lord ate it.”
Later that day, Damāji returned from the market. Hearing what his wife said, he was astonished. “How could the deity eat? Come, my son—show me.”
Together they went to the temple carrying new offerings. They performed the sixteenfold worship with devotion and reverence. When the plate of food was placed before the deity, Nāma said, “O Lord, please eat as You did before.”
The Lord spoke from the image, “Your father has come. I shall not appear before him.”
Nāma said, “O Lord, You are a deceiver! Why do You hide from my father? Are You not the friend of all?”
Hearing this loving complaint, the Lord of the Worlds laughed. Then, out of compassion for the boy’s pure heart, He revealed Himself even to Damāji and ate the food.
The father fell to the ground, overcome with awe and joy. “O my child,” he cried, “you are no ordinary son—you are the beloved of the Lord Himself.”
Recognition of a Saint
When they returned home, Damāji said to Gonāī, “This child is not ours; he belongs to God. By His mercy, the Lord of Paṇḍharpur has taken birth in our home.”
Gonāī, deeply moved, replied, “The same God who gave us this son has now shown His favor to you as well.”
From that day, the whole family treated Nāma not as a child of the world, but as one already touched by the divine.
Reflection – The Power of Childlike Faith
- Innocent Faith Conquers God: The Lord who is beyond the reach of austerity and knowledge is easily moved by a single tear of sincere love.
- The Simplicity of Bhakti: Nāma’s faith was pure, free from philosophy or doubt. In that purity, God Himself became his playmate.
- Love Reveals the Lord: The Lord hides from scholars but reveals Himself to those whose hearts are simple and loving.
- God Responds to Sincerity, Not Ritual: While others offer mechanically, Nāma’s offering was filled with affection. Therefore, it reached the divine heart.
- The Child as Teacher: Even a child, through pure devotion, can teach saints and scholars that the true offering is not food but love.
Let us, too, offer whatever we have with the same simple faith—without expectation, without fear, and with love. Then the Lord will not only accept our offering; He will sit beside us and share it.
Source: Bhaktavijaya, Chapter IV, verses 38–62.
