Naamdev at the Temple

Once a king in India went to Guru Nanak Dev Ji and asked, “ O Guru! As you told us that God Himself supports His true worshiper, but God has so many apostles, why does He support Himself? Why does not He send His apostles to help the worshiper?” As he said this, his own son who was playing at the bank of a river nearby slipped in the river. The king did not waited for a second and jumped in the river as well to save his child. After saving his child he returned to the Guru. The Guru asked, “My dear friend, you were sitting here with me a minute ago and why did u jump in the river?” King explained that his son had slipped in the river and he went to save him. Then the Guru asked, “Dear friend, you have so many servants then why did you jumped in the river by yourself? Why did not you send you servants to save him?” The King said, “By the time I would have asked my servants, he would have drowned. I love my child very much and does not want to lose him at any cost.” Then Guru said, “My dear friend, God loves His worshipers the same way as you love your son. That is why he Himself to saves His true worshiper.”

Such a worshipper was Naamdev. For all of his life, Naamdev had worshipped God and had faith in Him for each and every moment. He did not worship anyone else but the one immortal God. He says, ‘The performance of countless millions of other devotions is not even equal to one devotion to the Name of God’ (Guru Granth Sahib, 1163). The materialistic things would not deter Naamdev’s spiritual path to meet God. He considered iron and gold alike. Once while sewing he wrote, “My needle is of gold and my thread is very expensive but my mind is attached with God” (Guru Granth Sahib, 485). He cared neither for gold nor silver, he was in love with God. Even though as a result of his true worship he had became a highly spiritual person, he was still completely devoid of pride. Naamdev knew that God does care for the person who recites His name and remembers Him all the time.

Once Naamdev went to Avandanagnath Temple situated in Maharashtra, India. The Hindu priests of that temple believed in the caste system. After reaching the temple Naamdev sat and started worshipping God but the Hindu priests grabbed his arm and drove him out of the temple. The priests said that Naamdev couldn’t visit the temple because he is of a low class. Naamdev was deeply hurt so he went to the back of the temple and started worshipping God. In his prayer he said, ‘Joyfully, I came to Your Temple, O Lord. While Naamdev was worshipping, he was driven out. I am of a low social class, O Lord; why was I born into a family of fabric dyers? I picked up my blanket and went back, to sit behind the temple’ (Guru Granth Sahib, 1164). Naamdev also said, ‘O Lord, please do not forget me because if You forget me then where should I go. There is nowhere else to go and no one else to believe in except You’. He further prayed, ‘Please do not forget me, do not forget me, please do not forget me, O Lord. The temple priests have doubts about this, and everyone is furious with me. Calling me low-caste and untouchable, they beat me and drove me out; what should I do now O Beloved Father Lord? If You give me salvation after I am dead, no one will know that I attained salvation. These Priests, these religious scholars, call me low born; when they say this, they tarnish Your honor as well. You are called kind and compassionate; the power of Your Arm is absolutely unrivalled’ (1292). ‘As Naamdev uttered the Glorious Praises of the Lord, The temple turned around to face the Lord's humble devotee’ (1164). ‘The Lord turned the temple around to face Naamdev and its back to the Priests’ (1292). That temple is still rotated. This is the symbol of the true love of God towards His true worshiper.