From Manjarika village, Sriguru60 went ahead to another village named ‘Vasar Brahmeshwar’ also located on the banks of river Godavari. He was accompanied with his disciples. Early one morning when Sriguru was bathing in the river, he heard some noises in the riverbank. A Brahmin was moving restlessly, just like a fish out of water and screaming loudly. It seemed like he was experiencing severe pain. In spite of the pain, he had tied a big stone on his back and was about to drown himself in the river. Sriguru asked his disciples to bring the Brahmin to him.
The middle-aged Brahmin started conversing with the disciples. He said, “Why are you stopping me? I am unable to bear this acute stomach pain. Only death can relieve me from such a pain. I have tried all remedies. If I eat rice, it turns out like poison in my stomach. I don’t know what sins I have committed in my past life to undergo such deadly pain”. Ignoring everything he said, the disciples caught hold of him and brought him to Sriguru. The Brahmin then told Sriguru, “For the last ten years, I have been suffering from acute stomach pain. So, please permit me to commit suicide”. Sriguru spoke “Do you feel that committing suicide would change your destiny and wipe out your sufferings? On the contrary, committing suicide would add to your sins and increase the sufferings in your next life. Take for granted that you have already endured for the sins of your past life and you will get my blessings. Be assured that you will be cured of your acute stomach pain with immediate effect. Today I will feed you with very delicious food”.
At the same time an officer of that village was going in the river to take bath. As soon as he saw Sriguru, he offered his obeisance and expressed his desire to offer some devotional service. The officer was a Brahmin of Koudinya Gotra[1] from Apastambh branch. His name was Sayamdeo. He said, “I am working for a Yavan[2] Subhedar[3]”. I am very fortunate to get your blessings and hence I pray for your kind grace to allow me to offer my devotional service to you”.
Sriguru pointed at the sick Brahmin and spoke to Sayamdeo “Take this Brahmin suffering from acute stomach pain to your house and feed him delicious food until he is satisfied”. Then Sayamdeo prayed to Sriguru, “Kindly bless my house with your Divine presence along with your disciples and accept my alms”.
Sriguru gracefully accepted Sayamdeo’s request. That same afternoon Sriguru graced Sayamdeo’s house with his visit. Sayamdeo and his wife welcomed Sriguru with great devotion and worshipped him in shodashopachar sup>[4] way by seating him on a silver bench. Everyone present was satisfied. The sick Brahmin was also satisfied as he could enjoy the delicious food after a period of nearly ten years.
[1] Gotra: Lineage. ‘Gotra’ may be defined as a concept of patrilineal classification and identification of various families of a caste.
[2] Yavan: Muslim
[3] Subedar: Officer
[4] Shodashopachar: Very Elaborate way of worshipping a deity. It incorporates 16 different constituents in worshipping a deity, they are:- Awahana, Asana, Padya, Arghya, Achamana, Snana, Vastra, Yadnayopaweet, Gandha, Pushpa, Dhoop, Deepa, Naivedya, Dakshina, Pradakshina, Mantra, Pushpa.