New saree.
Kamala Bai had worn it just once. She wanted to wear it that evening to go to the temple. A little costly saree. Let people who come to temple know that Tukaram’s wife also has costlier sarees. Even thought not much dirty, soaking it in water she washed it. She could not help smiling at herself when she thought how gently she is washing as if the stone will get hurt. Because the saree is new, have the hands fallen in love with it or what? It was given by one of the fans of Tukaram’s Kirthanas. Otherwise, is it possible to buy such a costly saree in Tukaram’s earnings?
Earnings! The very thought of it produced an ironic smile on her lips. Employment is said to be the stamp of a man. Tukaram is not going for any work and earning any money. Will simply singing Kirtans get one food? One has to fill the Stomach too! She only got him a job of guarding a corn field through a person known to her recently. One has to responsibly do the work to not lose the job! If you sing Bhajan songs climbing on to the loft, are the birds going to listen in joy beating tala? They ate all the grains and went away! The owner of the field removed him from the job and sent him home.
Always singing devotional songs on Krishna! She is also a devotee of Krishna and likes Kirtans, still not like this!! When will the God open his eyes? When will her poverty go? There is another issue with Tukaram. He sings Bhajans to one and all making them sit equally together not distinguishing between people of low and high caste. Who among high caste will accept this?
With a great sigh, Kamala Bai squeezed the saree and hung it on the line in the back yard of the house to dry. It will get dried in half an hour due to wind. Looking for him, she came out to the front of the house. As usual, Tukaram was singing sitting on the platform at the entrance. Many were listening to that heavenly music. Pleasantness of his voice and depth of devotion did melt her also.
Even his not earning is okay …. But he doesn’t follow caste and customs! Many in the gathering are people from lower castes only. If asked, “What is this, you are doing like this” he will laugh and say all are one caste only – human caste. One good looking girl was listening to the songs standing a little away. With great difficulty her torn saree kept her dignity in check. Tukaram said kindly, “Why are you standing at the distance? Why don’t you come and sit here?” Irritated, Kamala Bai saying to herself ‘shower hospitality on that girl from lower caste wearing torn saree’, went quickly inside the house, snapping her neck as if to show that she has no part in such things.
The platform concert continued. “Aha! What music!!” Everybody’s heart melted. That girl also was moved. Tukaram advised them saying “There is no distinction of caste for Krishna. All of you worship Krishna with devotion and try to reach Vaikunta” and wound up that day’s Bhajan. One by one people took leave, but the girl was sitting calmly, alone.
“Are you not leaving?” he asked her. She replied, “Let everyone leave. I will go in the end. If I leave now people coming behind me will walk criticising my torn saree”. “Don’t you have another saree?”
“I had lot of sarees. But one woman in a difficult situation asked for a saree to save her dignity. My husband, a philanthropist, gave off all my sarees. Only this torn saree has remained for me. It seems my husband used to play in his childhood stealing sarees. Stealing sarees while women bathe, he will give them back, it seems, only if they beg. He had thus caused pains in the minds of women, isn’t? That is why his wife, it looks, is fated to have only torn sarees.” Tukaram listened to her stories.
Saying “wait a minute’, he went to the backyard of his house, took out the saree that Kamala Bai has hung to dry and came out. “Amma, now wear this saree. This is not torn. Women should not wear torn sarees.” and gave it to her. Looking gratefully at him she asked, “Will not your wife be angry at your giving the saree to me?”
“How long will her anger last? She will soon calm down. She has one more saree that is not torn. You only need this now”. Smiling at his words, she left.
Evening. Wanting to wear the saree that she washed and hung for drying to go to temple with her husband, Kamala Bai went to the back yard. The saree was not there. She came to Tukaram angrily. “Where is the saree?”. “A girl had come with torn saree to my concert. I gave that saree to her, Kamala. You have got another good saree, isn’t?” She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at his childlike talk.
“There is struggle here for food itself. But he is a philanthropist! Could not even do the job of guarding a corn field.” Wiping the tears that appeared in her eyes, she locked the house and went with her husband. “Don’t cry, Kamala! Krishna will give what is needed for us.”
Without any further talk, she walked with him with a big sigh. They went near Garbagruha. She stood with her eyes closed, tears running and a question in her mind, “Why did you create my husband like this”. With their hands on their hips, Panduranga and Rukmani were standing smiling. Kamla Bai opened her eyes and saw Rukmani’s statue. She got stunned. The saree adorning the statue of Rukmani was the same one she had left it on the clothesline for drying. Rubbing her eyes, she looked again and again. There is no doubt. It is her saree only!
“Then is that my mother Rukmani who had come as that woman of lower caste? Devi pardon me. I have talked all those things not knowing the greatness of my husband. Amma! Poverty has made me talk like that. Now I realise the truth of my husband saying that all women including people from lower caste are your form only.” After doing Namskara to Krishna and Rukmani, she with tears of devotion running, said to her husband, “Lets go home” and went.
There was a bullock cart standing in front of the house. Person who was sitting in that cart got down and did Namaskara to them and said, “Have you forgetten, Amma? I only gave him the job of guarding the corn field. I removed him from the job saying he didn’t perform the work properly. But what a surprise! My field has yielded ten times more than normal. He is not an ordinary man, Amma! Therefore, I have come with some rice, pulses, other grains and a little gold coin as a debt.” Kamala Bai was amazed. When Tukaram said “Kamala! Did you see the things husband of Rukmani has sent as the price for her wearing the saree given by us?” and laughed, Kamala Bai’s blissful laugh also joined his.
(From a WA post that was in Tamil)
