This happened years ago, when my daughter Vidhi was small. We were on our pilgrimage to Vrindavan with Radhanath Swami and thousands of devotees from Mumbai.
One day, as we circumambulated the Radha-Damodar temple in the seva-kunj area of Vrindavan, my daughter spotted a monkey who sat at the rear of the temple munching on his lunch; he looked cute and harmless until, Vidhi caressed his back. Suddenly, the monkey sprang on her. He dug his pointed teeth into her hands, ripped off a mouthful of flesh, and darted away—leaving behind a bloody trail. I rushed Vidhi to a doctor. After a stitch and a bandage, we decided to fly back to Mumbai the next day, for Vidhi needed to recuperate.
“If this is what happens on coming to a holy place, I will never come back again,” Vidhi said to me that evening, as she grimaced. Her tender faith was throttled. I fell short of words for a reply.
Next morning, before we left for Vrindavan, we encountered Radhanath Swami on the roadside. He already knew what had transpired. He looked towards Vidhi, who was visibly distraught. “Do you know why it happened? Because you are very sweet and your heart is as soft as butter. Even the monkeys cannot resist eating you.” A smile blossomed on Vidhi’s face, and she looked down shyly to hide it.
It was several weeks before that crevice in Vidhi’s hand filled-up, but it left behind a scar. I thought of going for a cosmetic surgery. Radhanath Swami, though, had a different opinion. He told Vidhi, “Don’t do it. This scar represents the mercy of the holy place which you can carry for the rest of your life.” Vidhi happily agreed and still is ornamented with those scars.
Yes, anything we undergo in a holy place, though apparently inauspicious, is the special grace of the Lord. This the scriptures say, and the holy men ascertain to be true. But Radhanath Swami had revealed it to Vidhi only when the time was ripe. In Vrindavan, when her hands burned in pain, that truth would have acted like salt and pepper on her sore. She needed something ‘sweet’, and Radhanath Swami had administered just that.
An expert guru is not just one who knows the truth, but one who knows how to administer it according to time place and circumstances.
– Mrs Kamal Arora
172 replies on “Something Sweet for the Burning Wound”
wonderful experience, thanks for sharing with all of us, regards, bhakti
a must read experience and so pious as explained by HHRM, in fact we are shortly planning a visit for the first time to VRINDAVAN shortly with our daughters, look forward to see the wonderful heaven abode, haribol, rajesh karia
thank you for sharing,jai gurudev
Thank you for sharing the beautiful experience
A truely inspiring experience. Thanks for sharing.
We all like to travel, and one may go to holy places with different motives or ideas. Radhanath Swami gives us understanding that being at the holy dham is not just a family excursion but it is time to introspect and be enthusiastic to hear about the glories of the lord through his unlimited pastimes.
Fantastic. Thans for sharing with us.
Sriman Vallavha Das
Radhanath Swami really is a true Guru who knows his diesciples in and out.
Maharaj always chooses right words according to circumstances and our ability to accapet. Wonderful!
Radhanath Swami so wonderfully takes care of each one’s faith in spirituality.
Thank You for sharing this nectarean expereince.Really sweet.All Glories to His holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaj.
Radhanath Swami Maharaj takes care of his disciples & followers very nicely. He applies the perfect spiritual balm through his expert choice of words which dispels the spiritual anxieties beyond the superficial material wounds.
Radhanath Swami time and again demonstrates his expertise in handling sensitive situations without hurting the sentiments and without shaking the faith in spirituality of the person(s) involved.
The right medicine at the right time from the expert healer of the heart: Radhanath Swami.
Thanks Radhanath Swami Maharaj for teaching the importance of timing in any transaction
Thank you very much prabhu for sharing this sweet incident which shows the greatness of Radhanath Swami
Radhanath Maharaj knows the importance of Dham’s and its habitants, his dealing with small girl was merciful step to nourish her spiritual life and remove out all negativeity what she sotred in her heart.
Such sesitivity !
I would firstly like to take darshan of Vidhi. Radhanath Swami can turin around a situation with his love and expert spiritual vision – this is a perfect example.
It shows the greatness of Radhanath Swami
Radhanath Swami gave the right medicine at both times.
Thanks for sharing
Right words are more effective than heaps of philosophy.
Right place, right words, right understanding, right everything!! Radhanath Swami gets it Right all the time!
Maharaj is perfect in his dealings.
Just keep on sharing these heart touching experiences with Maharaj
Really a marvellous example of how an expert guru knows how to present the truth as per time,place and circumstance. All glories to Radhananth Swami Maharaj!!
A good surgeon knows the importance of making the right incision, at the right place, and at the right time.
Radhanath Swami is a spiritual surgeon.
Radhanath swami always know how to give the message at the same time make the person feel better
All Glories TO H.H.Radhanath Swami Maharaj
Thanks Prabhuji, for this wonderful experience you shared with us. How deep is this realisation of Maharaj when he said that let that scar remain on the girls hand, as it is an manifestation of the lords mercy in a holy place. It just us speechless. An pray that we get more such realisations through the vision of our Guru Mahraj.
Hare Krishna
Thank you very much for sharing this. H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj can tur around a situation with His love and expert spiritual vision.
Radhanath Swami is so sensitive towards others feelings and expert like a doctor at administering the correct medicine and the right dosage. With such sincerity of purpose and compassion he wins over everyone’s hearts.
Mercy of the holy place can be recognized & revealed only by a pure person
Thank u for sharing this sweet and pure passtime
Radhanath Swami really knows how to heal a persons heart
Radhanath Swami ki Jai
This incident dipicts Radhanath Swami’s mercy on the child and attitude towards Monkey who lives in Vrindavan as well. We also could not resist our deep appreciation for Vidhi who had such faith in the words of Radhanath Swami.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful experience. Maharajah know the Holy Dham, so with his spiritual vision he can only turn around a situation like this.
Jai Maharajah
Radhanath Swami always stresses on the importance of maintaining good Vaishnava relationships. However it is not all idle talk. Radhanath Swami himself follows this as can be seen from this incident. Radhanath Swami ki Jai!
In every interaction here we see the love of Radhanath Maharaja pouring out; always seeing how to heal anothers heart with love and care and bring it closer to God!
Beautifully concluded above – “An expert guru is not just one who knows the truth, but one who knows how to administer it according to time place and circumstances”
this episode teaches us how to tolerate inconveniences at a dham without cribbing, if little vidhi can tolerate so much, why can’t we?
To feel the transcendence of a holy place is one thing, but to be sensitive to those who can’t feel that, and yet help them develop the same feeling is a step higher
People normally say “Truth is bitter” because they don’t have a caring doctor like Radhanath Swami to administer the truth with his sweet and tender care.
Radhanath Swami teaches his followers how to accept every situation as Krishnas mercy
Radhanath Swami so humbly & expertly deals with each & every situation which melts everone’s heart.
Thank you for sharing!
this reminds me of my major accident which i met during 2004 kartik yatra in vrindavan. i almost lost my leg but due to guru maharajs mercy, things re fine. i feel indebted to all devotees who were there at that point of time and for the special mercy of dham
Radhanath Swami is very perfect in dealing with people, specially devotees…….as said by Mrs Arora, he saya truth so sweetly that it does not emotionally affect the person………..
Radhanath Swami Maharaj is so sensitive to others feelings and his love and compassion can give solace in the most difficult times.
Very righly said … Radhanath Swami is an expert and knew how to present the truth.