The One-Pointed Filial Devotion of Pundalik
Pundalik or Pundarika was a great devotee of Lord Panduranga. He always held the view that service to the parents was of paramount importance. (SSS Vol.38, pp. 124-125)
(Vithoba waiting on the brick as Pundalik (centre) serves his parents.)
Pundalik was an ideal son who spent all his time in the service of his venerable parents. When the parents had fever or other discomfort, Pundalik used to serve them, attend on them, touch their feet and do all sorts of service for them. Today when the mother is laid up with high fever, the son, not caring for the condition of the mother, runs to film show. Mother is the goddess who has given us this blood, this body and this individuality and, there-fore, she deserves all consideration and worship. By disregarding the mother, we shall never be able to prosper in life, and we shall never be able to become good in life.
When Pundalik was serving his mother, Panduranga came there. Pundalik was pressing the feet of his mother and he did not care to look at Panduranga. In the meantime Tukaram, his Guru, also came there. Tukaram asked, ‘My dear Pundalik, do you know who has come? It is God Panduranga! You are not caring for Him. How is it?’ when Pundalik replied, ‘The worship of two Gods is not important for me but the worship of Ek Hara or one God is important for me.’ Tukaram said, ‘He is God.’ Pundalik replied, ‘Yes, He is God; this is also God. The real God for me is my parent and not Panduranga. From the moment of my birth I have been seeing this form of my mother, who was responsible for the birth, growth, the nourishment and sustenance of my body. Therefore, I worship her.
The Goddess who has been right in front of me for the last eighteen years is more important than the God who appears for a few moments and vanishes. If Panduranga cares to grant me darshan, let Him wait until I complete the service of my mother.’ So saying, he threw a brick as a sort of Asana or seat for Panduranga to sit and wait. Even God Panduranga waited until Pundalik completed the service to his mother and then granted darshan to him. Even God would wait for you. You must discharge your duty to the best of your ability and to your utmost satisfaction. That must be your pledge. (SSB 1972, p. 160)
Pundalik used to visit the temple of Lord Panduranga every day. One day, he was engrossed in serving his parents and hence could not visit the temple. So, Lord Panduranga Himself came to Pundalik. At that time Pundalik was pressing the feet of his parents. Since Pundalik was busy serving his parents, he requested Lord Panduranga to take His seat and wait. So saying, he passed a brick to the Lord, because there were no chairs and sofas in those days. After attending to his parents, Pundalik offered his due respects to Lord Panduranga. The Lord was immensely pleased with his devotion to his parents and blessed him profusely, saying ‘God comes to you on His own when your behaviour is good. There is no service greater than service to parents. Consider service to parents as service to the Lord.’ (SSS Vol.31, p. 403)
Everyone should treasure in his heart love for his mother, who has borne him, reared him with love and fostered him with care. The person who forfeits his mother’s love will not earn any one’s love. Pundalik was the one who was devoted to the service of his aged parents. In doing so he was adhering to a self-imposed rule. He would not take any food until the parents had gone to sleep. (SSS Vol.20), 6-5-1987.
One day, he was serving his parents by massaging their feet. In order to test his love towards his parents, Lord Panduranga appeared before him. But, Pundalik did not want to be distracted from his duty and continued to serve his parents. (SSS Vol.38, pp. 124-125)
The new-comer asked Pundalik to look at him. Pundalik said, that he was seeing the visitor. The latter asked him: ‘In what form are you seeing me?’ Pundalik said’’ I am seeing you as my mother.’ (SSS Vol.20), 6-5-1987.
Then Lord Panduranga enquired of him, ‘My dear son! I appeared before you to give you My darshan; but you are not looking at Me. Whom are you serving with such single-minded devotion?’ Pundalik replied that he was serving his parents. Then, Lord Panduranga queried, ‘Is not God greater than the parents? Won’t you have My darshan at least for one second?’ But, Pundalik was not disturbed. He replied, ‘My parents are living divinities for me. I cannot have your darshan, unless I put my parents to sleep. If you wish to give me your darshan, you stand there on this brick till then.’
So saying, he pushed a brick towards Lord Panduranga. The Lord then commended his love and devotion towards his parents and declared ‘The world will always remain safe and prosperous if all people cultivate such love and devotion towards their parents. May such noble sons like you proliferate in this world.’ From then on, great and noble ideas of sacrifice and detachment began to develop in Pundalik. He spent his time happily serving his parents and winning their love. (SSS Vol.38, pp. 124-125)