The Secret of Shree Nathji and what worship can do for you!

By this stage I’m sure you’re wonder just who Shree Nathji really is and I’ll get to that in a minute. Right now though, I’d like to share with you the reason Shree Nathji worship is so valuable.

Imagine having your spiritual and physical needs taken care of every minute of every day by God himself. What would that mean to you? Would you finally be able to let go of all those little niggles and pains and worries that stop you from living life to the full all the time? I’m pretty sure that if you really got down to it and kept a mental inventory of what it is you fill your head and your heart with on a daily basis, you’d be surprised at how much negativity you hold onto.

Let’s take a closer look at it. Say for example, somebody in traffic cuts you off in the morning. You get angry and spend the next hour or two slowly reliving the event before you calm down. That’s two hours wasted for your morning alone. Then maybe your boss makes some silly comment that really isn’t worth bothering with – and another hour disappears. By the time you get home, you’ve wasted three hours or more when you could be sharing your best with your family. That means even more time harbouring negative attitudes and emotions.

Now picture this – with a simple prayer, at certain times of the day, you can not only affirm your devotion to the spiritual side of life, but you can also be free of all these unpleasant thoughts and emotions that are stopping you from having a proper 24 hour day!

What could you do with all that freedom? Enjoy family and friends more? How about more quality in your job at work? I’m pretty sure family and friends, and even your boss would notice that change in you.

How would you enjoy people taking notice of you as you start living a happier life? I’m quite sure it wouldn’t take too long for people to come and ask you how you do it. It’s so simple really, and it just takes a few minutes a day. Imagine trading all those hours of bad mental and spiritual habits for something that not only brings you closer to a personal relationship with God, but also makes more of your day a truly happy and spiritual one.

Sure you might think its hard, but its really not. I’m here to help you and so is God. But don’t just take my word for it, its written in the holy texts.

Shri Nathji is recorded as promising this simple oath:“Once you have devoted yourself to me, I will take care of all your requirements, including protecting you from your own self if need be.”

Now that’s quite a promise when you really get down to it. Sound like something you could do with?

Who exactly is Shree Nathji?

Shree Nathji is an incarnation of Krishna, when he lifted the Govardhan mountain up to protect his devotees. He not only lifted it over their heads, but actually carried on holding it up for 7 full days!

Now this is something really impressive because it definitely proves loyalty and devotion like nothing else I can think of. But that’s not the end of the story, because once the leela was over, the devotees were summoned to build a mandir (temple) so they could begin sewa in His service. And so it was that a small mandir was erected at the site and Vallabhacharya performed the Sthapana of Shree Nathji.

With this simple act, Krishna appeared in the form of Shree Nathji and promised Shree Vallabhacharya that He would accept the sewa of all the devotees and also game to him the mantra: “Shree Krishna sharanam mamaa.” Which means: “To beloved Lord Krishna, I pray you take me under your protection and shelter.”

In later years Shree Nathji’s idol was brought to Rajasthan from Govardhana near Vrindavan to protect it from the Moghul invaders of Emperor Aurangzeb in 1665, who was obsessed with destroying Hindu temples and sacred sites.

Fortunately for us, Lord Shree Nathji was finally placed in a wonderful new temple built in the village of Sihad, now called Nathdwara, on the banks of the river Banas. And that’s the short version of the story.

The many aspects of Shree Nathji

Now Shree Nathji is depicted often-times as a great God who holds a mountain in his left hand, while his right hand rests on his hip, showing that he can take a greater weight in his one hand than you can on both your shoulders. Not only that, but with his free hand he can relax, and so can you because He is taking care of you now.

Shree Nathji is also shown as a Gopa (a young cattle herder) and in this aspect he shows great concern and care for his charges – that’s you and me. Sometimes we become afraid or confused in life, the same as when cows wander into the woods at night. But there is nothing to fear, because in this aspect, Shree Nathji calls to us all as a loving herder boy with this simple promise:

“Come.” He calls, “You have wandered far and wide. You now have your fill and it is time to go home now. Come back home with me.”

Isn’t that a wonderful promise? Would you like to enjoy that sort of concern from such a Great Being? To be unafraid, to be found and cared for even if you don’t always feel that loved and cared for? I know I do, and that’s when I turn to devotion. It truly is a light in these sometimes dark parts of our lives.

But you know what’s even better? Knowing that even when resting, Shree Nathji is still taking care of us. And not just in this life, but the next one too. Always guiding – always protecting and saving us.

The Maha Rasa and the promises of Shree Nathji

There are said to be two aspects to the Lord’s dance during the Maha Rasa, and these are well worth taking into consideration in daily life.

In the first, our Lord’s uplifted arm means an expression of spontaneous joy and promises that even when you are taking a rest He is there with you, sharing this sacred and joyous dance of life. Not only now, but in your life after life too.

But such is His generosity that he also promises salvation to his devotees who practice the sacred ways:

“All my devotees are great souls, but those who keep Me close in heart and mind I will keep in Mine. And by being engaged in My great work, they will attain oneness with Me.”

The sacred texts are all very clear on these points, so there can be no doubt of their truthfulness. After all, it is written in the Srimad-Bhagavatam that:

“The devotees are always in My heart, and I am always in the heard of the devotees. The devotee does not know anything beyond Me, and I also cannot forget the devotee. There is a very intimate relationship between Me and my pure devotees. Pure devotees in full knowledge are never out of spiritual touch, and therefore they are very dear to Me.”

Would you like that kind of care and concern from such a Great Being? I know I do, and that’s why I’d like you to share in this wonderful life with me. Take a moment to reaffirm your path on the spiritual way of life. Your prayer will be answered when you are sincere and apply yourself.

Shree Nathji bless you and your family and forever dance through life with you.

Pandit Sachin Singh