Bhaktavijaya: Stories of Indian Saints
by Justin E. Abbott | 1933 | 306,590 words
This is the English translation of Bhaktavijaya which is a Marathi poem written by Mahipati in 40,000 lines. The text documents the legends of Indian saints from various backgrounds and extensively covers figures like Ekanath, Tukaram, and Ramadasa, highlighting their contributions to scholarship, philosophy, poetry, and social reform. The Bhaktavi...
43.14: Bhanudas offers to go and bring Vithoba back
147. In this group of saints was Bhanudas the Vaishnava bhakta. He gave them a solemn assurance saying ‘I will go and bring back the Husband of Rukmini, or give up my life in the attempt.’
148. And with these words he started at once. Arriving at Vidyanagar at night time he began to question the people.
149. ‘The king has brought here from Pandhari the image of Pandurang. Tell me quickly where he has installed it.’
150. From fear of the king no one was willing to tell him the facts and they replied, ‘We do not know.’
151. Bhanudas then asked someone privately and was told by a Vaishnava bhakta that the king had installed the Husband of Rukmini in the palace temple and that he worshipped Him in private;
152. that after the king had worshipped Him no one was allowed to see Him; that the king had put padlocks on the doors of the temple; and had stationed a guard for His protection.
153. When Bhanudas heard this he became full of joy. Midnight arrived and all the guards were asleep.
154. When Bhanudas approached the door of the temple at that moment the padlock dropped. He entered within and prostrated himself before the god.
155. He gazed for a moment on the god's form and then lovingly embraced him. With a voice choked with emotion he thus pleaded with him:—