The Brahmanas Offering to Child Nimai

Dadi: "Guddu beta, today I'll tell you about a very mischievous child who was actually God himself in disguise."

Guddu: "God as a child? Like baby Krishna?"

Dadi: "Very close, beta! This story is about Nimai - who grew up to become Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, one of the greatest saints of Bengal. But when he was little, he was quite a handful!"

Guddu: "What did he do, Dadi?"

Dadi: "Well, a wandering brahmana - a holy pilgrim - came to Nimai's house one day. He carried a small deity called Bala Gopala, which represents baby Krishna. This brahmana was very strict about his worship. He would never eat anything unless he first offered it to his deity with proper prayers and mantras."

Guddu: "So he had to cook for his deity first?"

Dadi: "Exactly! Nimai's father, Jagannatha Mishra, gave him all the ingredients he needed. The brahmana cooked the food and sat down to offer it to Bala Gopala with deep meditation and sacred chants."

Guddu: "What happened next?"

Dadi: "While the brahmana had his eyes closed in meditation, little Nimai toddled in and started eating the food!"

Guddu: "*giggles* He ate the offering?"

Dadi: "Right from the plate! When the brahmana opened his eyes, he was shocked. The food meant for God had been eaten by a child! It was now "spoiled" and couldn't be offered. Nimai's father came running and was so angry he wanted to punish his son."

Guddu: "Poor Nimai!"

Dadi: "But wait, beta. The kind brahmana felt bad for the child. He said, "Please don't beat him. It was just an innocent mistake. I'll cook again.""

Guddu: "Oh, that was nice of him."

Dadi: "So the brahmana cooked a second meal. This time, Jagannatha Mishra made sure Nimai was kept away. But guess what?"

Guddu: "He did it again?!"

Dadi: "*laughs* Somehow, little Nimai appeared again and ate the second offering too! This time, the ladies of the house scolded him. "Why, Nimai? Why did you eat the brahmana's offering?""

Guddu: "What did he say?"

Dadi: "The little boy smiled - a smile as beautiful as the moon - and said something very clever: "What fault of mine is there? The brahmana himself called me to eat!""

Guddu: "But the brahmana didn't call him!"

Dadi: "That's what everyone thought. But then Nimai said something strange: "I belong to the caste of cowherds, and I have always eaten food prepared by brahmanas. How can a cowherd lose his caste by eating a brahmana's food?""

Guddu: "Cowherds? Like... Krishna?"

Dadi: "Exactly, beta! Krishna was raised among cowherds in Vrindavan! But the adults didn't understand. They just saw a naughty little boy making excuses."

Guddu: "Did the brahmana get angry?"

Dadi: "He was confused and discouraged. But Nimai's older brother, Vishvarupa, begged him to try one more time. "Please, respected brahmana, cook once more. This time we'll make absolutely sure Nimai is asleep.""

Guddu: "Third time lucky?"

Dadi: "The brahmana agreed. This time it was late at night. Everyone made sure Nimai was fast asleep in his room. The brahmana cooked, sat down, and began his meditation..."

Guddu: "And then?"

Dadi: "*leans in* And then something miraculous happened. In his meditation, the brahmana saw a vision. The child Nimai appeared before him, but not as an ordinary boy. He had eight arms!"

Guddu: "Eight arms?!"

Dadi: "Four hands held the conch, discus, mace, and lotus flower of Lord Narayana. In another hand, he held a lump of butter from which he was taking bites with another hand - just like baby Krishna! And two hands were playing the flute!"

Guddu: "He saw both Krishna and Narayana in Nimai!"

Dadi: "When the brahmana saw this vision of the Supreme Lord, he fainted from ecstasy! When he woke up, Nimai told him gently, "Please don't tell anyone what you saw.""

Guddu: "Why not?"

Dadi: "Because it wasn't time yet, beta. Nimai was playing the role of a normal child. Only pure devotees, like this brahmana, were allowed to see his true divine nature. Others would discover it later, in their own time."

Guddu: "What did the brahmana do after that?"

Dadi: "He was so moved by this experience that he stopped his travels completely. He settled in Navadvipa forever, just to be near his Lord. Every evening, he would visit Nimai's house just to see his beloved deity in human form."

Guddu: "That's so beautiful, Dadi! But why did Nimai keep eating his offerings?"

Dadi: "*smiles* Because, beta, when a pure devotee offers food to God with such love and devotion, God cannot resist! The brahmana's love was so sincere that Krishna - in the form of Nimai - literally came to eat what was offered to him."

Guddu: "So the food WAS reaching God after all!"

Dadi: "In the most direct way possible! The brahmana thought his offerings were being spoiled, but actually they were being accepted in the most wonderful way."

Guddu: "What does this story teach us, Dadi?"

Dadi: "Many things, beta. First, that God sometimes hides in the most unexpected places - even in a mischievous child! Second, that sincere devotion is never wasted. The brahmana's love attracted the Lord himself."

Guddu: "And third?"

Dadi: "Third, that God has a playful side. The divine doesn't always act in serious, formal ways. Sometimes God teases us, tests us, surprises us - all out of love."

Guddu: "I like that God can be playful!"

Dadi: "So do I, beta. It means that joy and laughter are also sacred. Now come, let me get you some prasad - and I promise not to eat it before you!"

Guddu: "*laughs* Unless you're secretly God, Dadi!"

Dadi: "*winks* You never know, beta. You never know!"