Based on The Faith Book by Kadamba Kanana Swami
The Offerings of Love
In the courtyard of a simple Vaiṣṇava temple nestled in a forested village, devotees gathered each evening to cook for their beloved Lord. The best preparations were made—puris puffed with golden crisp, sabjīs fragrant with ghee and spice, and sweet rice so creamy it melted like moonlight on the tongue.
Each night, the pūjārī would place the offerings before the Deity with care, chanting the holy names with love and reverence. And each morning, he would open the altar to find the dishes untouched externally, yet deeply sanctified—the Lord had accepted them invisibly.
The Mischievous Intruder
One evening, the pūjārī heard a soft rustle behind the curtain. Tiptoeing forward, he peeked inside—and gasped! A monkey, wild-eyed and mischievous, had crept into the altar room. Its paw was deep in the pot of sweet rice, licking and grinning as if it had found paradise.
The pūjārī shouted, clapped, and chased it away, horrified that the Lord’s offering had been desecrated. “What offense! What impurity!” he cried. “I must purify everything!”
The Deity’s Gentle Smile
That night, the pūjārī had a dream. The Deity of the Lord appeared, radiant and smiling. “Why are you so disturbed?” the Lord asked.
“O Lord,” the pūjārī said, bowing, “a monkey stole from Your plate! I failed to protect Your offering.”
But the Lord replied, “That monkey is My devotee. Do you not see how joyfully he honored My prasādam? I accepted his offering too—his heart, his eagerness, his delight.”
Pure Devotion Comes in Many Forms
The pūjārī awoke with tears in his eyes. He realized that devotion is not always orderly or refined. Sometimes, it comes crashing in through the window, wild-haired and hungry—but if it carries love, the Lord accepts it.
The monkey had no mantra, no etiquette, no learning—but he had innocence and affection. That was enough to win the Lord’s heart.
A Lesson in Seeing Bhakti Beyond Appearances
This story teaches us not to judge the offerings of others by external standards. True bhakti can appear in forms that seem unclean or improper to our eyes, but the Lord sees the sincerity within. Kṛṣṇa is not limited to the altar—He accepts devotion wherever it rises, even from a monkey’s sticky hands.
A Verse to Remember
nāhaṁ tiṣṭhāmi vaikuṇṭhe
na yogināṁ hṛdayeṣu vā
yatra mad-bhaktaḥ gāyanti
tatra tiṣṭhāmi nārada“I do not dwell in Vaikuṇṭha, nor in the hearts of yogīs. O Nārada, wherever My devotees sing My glories, I am present there.”
— Padma Purāṇa
