Sant Eknath Feeds the Untouchables at Ancestors Ceremony

Dadi: "Guddu, do you know what Shraddha is?"

Guddu: "Is it something to do with ancestors?"

Dadi: "Yes! It's the ceremony where we feed Brahmins and offer food to honor our departed ancestors. It's considered very sacred. But today I'll tell you about a saint who did something shocking at his father's Shraddha."

Guddu: "What did he do?"

Dadi: "His name was Sant Eknath, and he lived in Maharashtra about five hundred years ago. He was known for seeing God in every creature, making no distinction based on caste."

Guddu: "What happened on the day of Shraddha?"

Dadi: "Eknath's household was busy preparing delicious food - fragrant rice, vegetable dishes, sweets. The aromas filled the air. Some Mahars - people considered "untouchables" in those days - were passing by and stopped, attracted by the smell."

Guddu: "What happened when Eknath saw them?"

Dadi: "His heart was moved with compassion. Without hesitation, he invited them inside his home and fed them the food prepared for the ceremony!"

Guddu: "He fed the "untouchables" before the Brahmins?"

Dadi: "Yes! He served them with great respect, seeing Lord Krishna present in each of them. He had a saying: "Service to people is service to God.""

Guddu: "What did the Brahmins think?"

Dadi: "When the Brahmins arrived for the ceremony and learned what Eknath had done, they were furious! They refused to eat. "You have polluted the sacred ceremony by feeding Mahars first! We will not take food in this house!""

Guddu: "Oh no! Without the Brahmins eating, the Shraddha would be incomplete!"

Dadi: "That's what tradition said. Without Brahmin blessings, the ancestors' souls wouldn't receive the offerings. Eknath was in a difficult position."

Guddu: "What did he do?"

Dadi: "Here's where the miracle happened. Through his pure devotion and spiritual power, Eknath didn't need the Brahmins at all. He invoked his ancestors directly - and they appeared in person!"

Guddu: "His ancestors came?!"

Dadi: "Yes! His forefathers manifested before everyone and ate the food offerings themselves! No intermediary needed. The ceremony was completed more beautifully than ever."

Guddu: "That must have shocked everyone!"

Dadi: "It vindicated Eknath completely. God showed that true devotion matters more than rigid rules about who is pure or impure."

Guddu: "Dadi, why did Eknath risk the ceremony for the Mahars?"

Dadi: "Because he truly believed that all people are equal in God's eyes. He couldn't see hungry people outside his door and turn them away, not even for the most sacred ritual."

Guddu: "But wasn't he worried about the ceremony?"

Dadi: "He trusted that doing the right thing would work out. And it did - in a way more miraculous than anyone imagined."

Guddu: "What's the lesson here?"

Dadi: "Several lessons, beta. First, that compassion should never be delayed for ceremony. Those hungry Mahars needed food now, not after the ritual was complete."

Guddu: "And treating everyone equally is more important than traditions?"

Dadi: "When traditions are used to exclude and hurt people, yes. Eknath showed that the spirit of devotion - which is love and service - matters more than its form."

Guddu: "He didn't wait for permission to be kind."

Dadi: "He didn't. And God rewarded his boldness. The ancestors themselves appeared to bless the man who honored them by honoring all of humanity."

Guddu: "I want to be like Sant Eknath."

Dadi: "Then when you see someone in need, don't calculate whether helping them fits your plans. Don't ask whether they "deserve" help. Just help. That's the lesson of Eknath feeding the Mahars - that love expressed is never wasted, and sometimes it brings miracles."