Sakhubai’s Devotion

Sakhubai was born in the sacred town of Pandharpur, a place resonating with the love and devotion for Lord Panduranga Vittala. From a young age, her heart was filled with a deep devotion for Vittala, and she spent hours praying, singing, and losing herself in the thought of her beloved deity. Her faith was her lifeline, her solace, and her joy.

But fate, it seemed, had other plans. Sakhubai was married into a family that neither understood nor respected her devotion. Her husband and in-laws were harsh and unforgiving. They treated her as nothing more than a servant, demanding obedience and labor, mocking her prayers, and cruelly punishing her whenever she attempted to worship. Each day brought new suffering; they beat her, starved her, and took away everything she held dear, trying to crush her spirit.

Yet, Sakhubai’s love for Vittala remained undiminished. In the darkest hours, she whispered prayers, calling out to her Lord. Her tears became her offerings, her pain transformed into prayers, and her faith became her strength. She longed to visit Pandharpur’s temple, to stand before her beloved Lord and feel his divine presence, if only once.

One night, her heartbroken cries reached the heavens. Vittala, hearing her plea, decided to relieve her of her suffering. Appearing in her dreams, he promised, “You will be free, my child. Your devotion has reached me. I will make sure you come to my temple.” Sakhubai woke with a renewed sense of hope, her heart flooded with a love that overpowered her sorrow.

The next day, Vittala, disguised as Sakhubai, miraculously took her place in her home. While her family saw her working tirelessly, Sakhubai, freed from her chains, felt an invisible hand guiding her steps towards Pandharpur. She walked with a heart brimming with joy, her spirit soaring as she drew closer to her beloved Lord’s abode.

When she finally reached the temple, Sakhubai was overwhelmed. She poured out her heart, her sorrows, her joys, and her endless love before Vittala. In that moment, she felt complete, as if all her life’s pain had melted away in the warmth of his divine presence. She knew she was home.

Meanwhile, her family noticed something strange. The “Sakhubai” in their home was tirelessly devoted to them, showing no resistance or sorrow. Slowly, they began to feel the weight of their cruelty, realizing how harshly they had treated her. Regret seeped into their hearts.

When the real Sakhubai returned, her face radiant with peace and contentment, her family was moved. They could sense the change in her, a divine grace surrounding her, as if Vittala’s blessings shone through her. Ashamed of their past actions, they fell at her feet, begging for forgiveness.

Sakhubai, ever gentle and kind, forgave them, for her heart held no grudges—only love and devotion for her Lord. From that day on, her life transformed, and she was free to worship Vittala as her heart desired, her unwavering devotion inspiring all who met her.

**Moral:** True devotion transcends all suffering, for a heart filled with love for the divine can overcome even the harshest trials. Faith and love have the power to transform both the devotee and those around them.