Namdev

One day, Damaji went to the market while sending Nama to the temple. Gonai gave Nama an offering to take with him. She instructed him, "Show this offering to the god and come back." Carrying all the necessary items for worship, Nama entered the temple. He prostrated before the deity and worshipped with the materials he had brought. He bathed the image, adorned it with a yellow robe, offered sandalwood paste and flowers, and presented incense and lamps. Nama then placed the plate of food as an offering before the image. Joining his palms together, he fervently said, "Please be pleased to eat now."

Nama always held the belief that God actually consumed these offerings. He had no doubt in his mind; it was his unwavering conviction. He said, "Victory, victory to you, Merciful One. Lord of Pundalik, you must be angry due to my delay in bringing the offering. But Damaji, your devotee, went early to the market and sent me here to present this food offering. If you do not eat this offering, my mother will be angry with me. What wrong have I done, O Lord of the world, that you do not eat this food offering?" Nama had no question about how a stone image could eat. Overwhelmed with emotion, he began to sob aloud and implored, "O God, eat this offering."

Witnessing Nama's pure intentions, the Supreme God became pleased. He lovingly caressed Nama and embraced him. God displayed His affection by consuming the offering Nama had brought. Hari said to Nama, "By no means tell anyone about this event." After paying respects to God, Nama returned home. His mother asked him, "To whom did you give that offering?" Nama replied, "O mother, the God ate the offering." The next day, Damaji returned from the market and inquired from his wife about what had transpired. He heard the entire story regarding the offering, which left him greatly perplexed. Damaji said to Nama, "How is it possible for the god to eat? Let us both go to the temple and show me what happened."

They gathered the necessary worship materials and approached the grand entrance of the temple. There, they bowed before the Savior of the world and immediately began their worship. They worshipped the deity with the sixteen forms of worship, and appropriately offered incense and lit lamps. Nama said to the deity with an eagle-banner, "Please be pleased to eat." The deity responded to Nama, "Damaji has come with you; I will never reveal myself to his sight. I will only appear to you." Nama said to God, "You are a deceiver. You claim that you will not reveal yourself to my father. It seems to me, O God, that you employ deception."

Upon hearing Nama's remark, the Life of the world burst into laughter. He granted Damaji a glimpse of Himself and consumed the offering. The father said to Nama, "You have been born into my lineage; therefore, out of His love, God has bestowed upon me this vision." Thus, dispelling his doubts, the father prostrated himself before the deity. He took Nama by the hand and returned home, where he recounted the entire story to his wife.