Sant Bahinabai and her husband Gangadhar Rao had come with their dear cow Kapila to Dehu for the darshan of Tukarmji Maharaj. On the way, Gangadhar Rao met a Brahmin named Mambaji who was jealous of Tukaramjui. No sooner did Rao arrive than Mambaji started slandering Tukoba. Gangadhar Rao was unable to tolerate it and he said, “Sir, You may say anything abusive to me, but why are you incurring sin by slandering Tukoba, who is a devotee of God?”
On hearing this, Mambaji vented his fury upon Gangadhar Rai and decided to take revenge upon him. On day, both Bahinabai and Gangadhar Rao were engrossed in Sant Tukoba’s Bhajan. Seeing an opportunity, Mambaji stealthily took away Kapila. He thrashed her severely and hid her inside a basement. Bahinabai was greatly distressed due to separation of Kapila. Tukoba too was greatly distressed at the loss of Bahinabai’s cow. He was agitated at heart. Two days later, Kapila appeared in Tukoba’s dream. Bitterly crying, she repeatedly prayed to him to release her. Tukoba woke up on hearing the cow’s plea. Though the cow was heavily thrashed, blisters and bruises appeared on Tukoba’s back and he suffered from severe body ache. Tukoba ignored his pain and prayed for the cow to his adored God, his only refuge. The Lord heard Tukaram’s prayer. All of a sudden, due to wrath of fire-God, Mambaji’s house was engulfed in fire. The fire was consuming all that he had. As the people rushed to extinguish the fire, they heard the cow’s bellowing. Everyone was astonished. Where is the cow? all started searching for the cow. finally, the basement was opened and the cow was rescued. Its back was swollen due to beating. No sooner did Sant Tukaram come to know about this than he came running and prostrated before Kapila. He then caressed her face and started crying. Seeing the saint’s love for a cow, Bahinabai was overcome with ashta sattvic bhava (spontaneous organic manifestations of emotions which spring form sattva only), and she was thrilled. While on the one hand, people were overwhelmed with love seeing Tukaram’s compassion for all living beings, on the other hand, the slanderer Mambaji was condemned for slandering a saint and thrashing an innocent cow. Mambaj got the fruits of his evil deeds. His towering mansion with all its goods was now reduced to ashes.
On hearing this, Mambaji vented his fury upon Gangadhar Rai and decided to take revenge upon him. On day, both Bahinabai and Gangadhar Rao were engrossed in Sant Tukoba’s Bhajan. Seeing an opportunity, Mambaji stealthily took away Kapila. He thrashed her severely and hid her inside a basement. Bahinabai was greatly distressed due to separation of Kapila. Tukoba too was greatly distressed at the loss of Bahinabai’s cow. He was agitated at heart. Two days later, Kapila appeared in Tukoba’s dream. Bitterly crying, she repeatedly prayed to him to release her. Tukoba woke up on hearing the cow’s plea. Though the cow was heavily thrashed, blisters and bruises appeared on Tukoba’s back and he suffered from severe body ache. Tukoba ignored his pain and prayed for the cow to his adored God, his only refuge. The Lord heard Tukaram’s prayer. All of a sudden, due to wrath of fire-God, Mambaji’s house was engulfed in fire. The fire was consuming all that he had. As the people rushed to extinguish the fire, they heard the cow’s bellowing. Everyone was astonished. Where is the cow? all started searching for the cow. finally, the basement was opened and the cow was rescued. Its back was swollen due to beating. No sooner did Sant Tukaram come to know about this than he came running and prostrated before Kapila. He then caressed her face and started crying. Seeing the saint’s love for a cow, Bahinabai was overcome with ashta sattvic bhava (spontaneous organic manifestations of emotions which spring form sattva only), and she was thrilled. While on the one hand, people were overwhelmed with love seeing Tukaram’s compassion for all living beings, on the other hand, the slanderer Mambaji was condemned for slandering a saint and thrashing an innocent cow. Mambaj got the fruits of his evil deeds. His towering mansion with all its goods was now reduced to ashes.
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