The Lord’s Hidden Messenger
One day in Pandharpur, Saint Namdev walked to the temple carrying a beautiful offering—freshly cooked rice mixed with ghee, fragrant with cardamom and saffron. It was his daily service to offer food to Lord Vitthal before taking any himself.
As he placed the plate before the deity and folded his hands, a stray dog suddenly ran into the temple, snatched the food, and bolted down the street.
Everyone gasped. But Namdev didn’t chase the dog. Instead, he ran behind it—not to strike it, but to follow it lovingly, calling out, “Wait, wait, Vitthala! The ghee might spill!”
The Devotee’s Vision
People in the market stared as Namdev ran after the dog, carrying a pot of ghee. They thought, “Has this saint gone mad?”
The dog ran toward the riverbank. Just before it reached the water, it stopped, turned, and vanished in a burst of golden radiance. In its place stood Lord Vitthal, smiling tenderly.
Vitthal said, “O Nama, I was hungry and wished to test your devotion. You did not see a dog—you saw Me. Such vision is the perfection of bhakti.”
Namdev’s Tears of Love
Namdev fell flat upon the ground in tears. “O Lord of Paṇḍharī,” he said, “You are beyond my understanding. Even in a dog, You appear to teach me love. How can I ever repay You?”
Vitthal lifted him up and said, “My dear Nama, I accept the offering that is given with love, whether by king or beggar, man or beast. When you see Me in all, that is true worship.”
Then the Lord disappeared, leaving the scent of tulasī and camphor lingering in the air.
Reflection – Seeing God Everywhere
- Divine Vision Transforms: Namdev’s humility reveals that devotion opens the eyes of the heart to see God even in unexpected forms.
- The Lord Accepts Love, Not Ritual: Vitthal accepts the simplest offering if it is made with bhakti, not pride.
- Every Creature Is Sacred: The dog that carried the offering teaches that all beings are channels of divine will.
- True Worship Is Service: Running behind the dog with ghee shows that devotion means serving without judgment or hesitation.
Lesson for the Modern Heart
In our daily lives, when someone “steals” our peace, we can remember Namdev’s lesson: perhaps God has come disguised as inconvenience, testing our love. How we respond reveals how deeply we have seen Him.
Source: Mahīpati, Bhaktavijaya, Chapter XXIV, verses 1–70.
