The Innocence of the Bhakta

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by

The Sabad Project
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One of the famous saints from the bhakti tradition was Bhagat Dhanna ji from Dhuan Kala village, near Tonk district in Rajasthan.  He was a simple man born in a farming family. One day, while heading to his fields, he observed a priest performing his daily rituals with what appeared to him as ordinary stones. Curious, he approached the priest and asked, “What are you doing with these stones?”

The priest, slightly irritated by the farmer’s naïveté, corrected him. “These are not stones,” he explained. “This is Thakur (a term used to address Lord Krishna), and I am offering prayers to Him.” Dhanna Ji watched as the priest ceremonially washed the idol and placed a plate of food before it.

“What are you doing now?” Dhanna Ji inquired.

“I am offering food to Thakur. I will eat only after He has eaten,” replied the priest.

“Why do you offer food to Thakur?”

The priest explained, “When we please Thakur by offering food, He takes care of all our tasks.”

A spark of realization lit up Dhanna Ji’s mind. “So, He can do all kinds of work?”

“Everything,” said the priest confidently.

Faith in Action

The priest’s words stayed with Dhanna Ji, who saw in them a solution to his struggles. The next morning, he returned to the priest and said, “I am having difficulty managing my farm. Please give me a Thakur too. He can help me with my work.”

The priest, now exasperated, tried to brush him off, but Dhanna Ji persisted. To rid himself of the farmer’s insistence, the priest picked up a random stone, wrapped it in a cloth, and handed it to Dhanna Ji, saying, “Here, this is your Thakur.”

Overjoyed, Dhanna Ji took the stone home. He bathed it, prepared a delicious meal, and earnestly placed the food before it. “Thakur, please eat,” he urged. However, the stone remained still.

Determined, Dhanna Ji continued his efforts. “I won’t eat until you do,” he pleaded. He tried every possible way to coax the Thakur—requesting, goading, shouting, and even crying—but there was no response.

For two days, Dhanna Ji fasted, his energy waning. Moved by the sheer sincerity and innocence of his devotion, God finally manifested as a young man.

When Dhanna Ji saw Him, his joy knew no bounds. “Thakur! You’ve come!” he exclaimed, offering the plate of food, which God ate heartily. From that day on, Dhanna Ji and Thakur worked side by side on the farm, sharing meals and songs.

True Devotion

A few days later, the priest happened to pass by Dhanna Ji’s house. Seeing the priest, Dhanna Ji ran up to him, brimming with gratitude. “Your Thakur is amazing! He’s been helping me so much. Come, taste the food He made!”

The priest was startled. “Your Thakur makes food?”

“Oh yes,” Dhanna Ji replied enthusiastically. “And He sings too! You must listen to Him sing. He has completely transformed my life. Look at how much He works on the farm!”

The priest, skeptical, followed Dhanna Ji to his fields. There, he saw cows plowing the land, but while Dhanna Ji could clearly see Thakur guiding the plow, the priest saw nothing.

“Why can’t I see Him?” the priest asked.

“You see Me because your faith is pure and unwavering. The priest, though he worships Me outwardly, is consumed by attachment to material desires.”

That evening, Dhanna Ji asked Thakur about the priest’s inability to see Him. God replied, “You see Me because your faith is pure and unwavering. The priest, though he worships Me outwardly, is consumed by attachment to material desires.”

Humbled by this response, Dhanna Ji became apologetic. “I have treated You like my friend and farm help. Please forgive me for not showing the reverence You deserve.”

God smiled and reassured him, “It is your devotion and sincerity that have allowed you to see Me in this form. There is no need for apology. Remember, you can see Me anytime and anywhere—you only need to start looking within.”

Lessons from Bhagat Dhanna Ji

This story of Bhagat Dhanna Ji illustrates that true devotion doesn’t depend on scholarly knowledge, ritualistic correctness, or social status. Instead, it is the innocence and sincerity of the seeker that bridges the gap between the soul and the Divine.

The priest, in frustration, handed Dhanna Ji an ordinary stone to avoid his questions. But Dhanna Ji’s unwavering faith transformed that stone into a living presence of God. His belief allowed him to experience what even the learned priest could not.

There are many paths to worship, but the goal is the same: to see the Divine not just in the object of our devotion, but in all of Creation.

Sources

  • Discourse by Giani Pinderpal Singh Ji
  • Vaaran, Bhai Gurdas
  • SikhNet, The Story of Bhagat Dhanna Ji

(Image credit: Wikipedia, gilded panel crafted by the artisans of Kucha Fakirkhana depicting the life of Bhagat Dhanna)

Reflection Question

Have you ever prayed for a material need that was answered? How did that experience deepen your faith, not just in fulfilling that specific need, but in connecting to something greater?

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Comments

3 responses to “The Innocence of the Bhakta”

  1. Uthra5 Avatar
    Uthra5

    For many of us, our first introduction to the divine as children came through the elders in our families. God was presented as someone who supports us in times of need. This initial understanding often marked the beginning of a lifelong association with God, rooted in simple communication—prayer—where we asked for our needs to be met, typically material ones or those tied to our mind-body identity. When our prayers were answered, even in small ways, God became a reliable friend in our eyes. In gratitude, we offered what we could, with all the love and innocence we were capable of. These prayers, though material in nature, were pure and heartfelt, making the connection with the divine truly beautiful.

    As adults, however, we often lose that innocence. With life experiences and the development of intellect, our approach to God needs to evolve. I’ve found the message conveyed in the blog to resonate deeply with my own experiences: attachment to desires makes it difficult to connect with the divine. The more attached we are, the noisier the mind becomes, and the harder it is to look inward. While desires can provide energy and motivation to move forward, attachment to them can be a real obstacle. A teacher once told me that reducing the number of desires we entertain can significantly amplify the power to manifest the ones we truly hold dear.

    There’s another lesson I’ve learned in my spiritual journey, which I came across through my spiritual circle, that I’d like to share. When we pray for something, it is most powerful when done with integrity. One important reason is that when there is integrity, the mind is free of conflict. Here’s a real life incident to illustrate this:

    A top surgeon, renowned in his field, was performing a complicated surgery on a VIP patient. Midway through, the patient’s condition turned critical. The surgeon did everything in his ability but saw no improvement. In desperation, he prayed, “God, please save this VIP—the nation needs him.” Nothing happened. Then he prayed, “God, please save this person—his family needs him.” Still, no change. He tried again: “God, save this VIP—the hospital’s reputation is at stake.” Yet, nothing improved. Finally, he prayed from a place of raw honesty: “God, if this VIP dies here, under my leadership, my reputation will suffer greatly. Please save him.” At that moment, the patient’s vitals stabilized, and he survived the surgery.

    It’s obvious and natural that we feel a deep connection and love for someone who accepts us unconditionally, flaws and all, and guides us gently from our current place. This understanding has led me to appreciate the importance of inner integrity in our relationship with God. When we pray from a place of inner integrity—acknowledging our true feelings and motives without resistance or self-judgment—our connection with God becomes more authentic, and our prayers more effective. This concept of inner integrity is beautifully illustrated in the surgeon’s story, where it highlights the importance of his authenticity with God, without needing to reveal his true feelings to others.

    One thing I’ve come to understand is that God doesn’t depend on us, judge us, or have specific expectations of us. Regardless of our level of consciousness, emotional state, or even the nobility of our intent, the omnipotent and omniscient divine knows how to use us in the grand scheme of things. But when we consciously align our desires and actions in service to the divine, we experience deep & lasting peace and from this state, heartfelt and enduring connection with all of creation will be a natural next step.

    My prayer from a place of integrity and surrender to align with the divine plan is this: God, I do have desires that I wish to see fulfilled, but I am willing to let them be overridden if that’s what’s needed. Whatever the case, please lead my being and guide my actions towards that which will truly fill my heart with joy and fulfillment. And grant me the grace to lovingly serve you and your creation in your divine plan. If my desires align with this, all the better.

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  2. Gurpreet Sethy Avatar
    Gurpreet Sethy

    Thank you for sharing your experiences Uthra. There are so many beautiful questions that emerge from this reflection. For instance,

    Do prayers work?

    Should I ask for something or learn to accept what life offers?

    What should we do if prayers if our prayer is not answered?

    There are many wonderful insights in your comment that will help readers, many of us have faced similar challenges and have grappled with.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Uthra5 Avatar
      Uthra5

      These questions are truly beautiful that deserve in-depth discussion. They go beyond the scope of individual reflection, and their complexity is compounded by the unique experiences, mental makeup and circumstances of each person. A one-size-fits-all solution is unlikely. I’m eager to explore these questions in a collaborative discussion, learning from diverse perspectives and sharing my own insights, experiences and experiments on these topics.

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