Visoba Khechar

 

Many people have heard about some of the miracles related to Sant Dnyaaneshwar, popularly known as Mauli in the warkari community ( sampradaya). One such miracle was about lending his back to cook a particular delicacy called maande( मांडे). 

Those were the days when the kids( Dnyaaneshwar and his 3 siblings)had started to get recognition for their virtues but not everyone was convinced of their spiritual excellence. There were elements in society who continued to treat them poorly. One such man was Visoba Chati who was a jeweler by profession. 

One day, the normally self controlled yogi, Nivrittinath, the eldest of the pious siblings, expressed a desire to eat some maande. Young Muktabai went out to collect the materials needed for the maande. When she stopped at the potter who provided the earthenware and coal for the stove Visoba was eavesdropping. What do you need these things for? he demanded to know. Innocent girl shared with him that her brother had wished to have maande. Visoba’s evil mind couldn’t stand the thought of the kids enjoying. You kids are good for nothing, just go around begging for everything and have such unreasonable demands and desires. Your brother does not deserve maande. Let me see how he gets them. Thus saying such hurtful words to the poor child Visoba ordered the potter to not give the coal to Muktabai. She returned home empty handed and heartbroken. 

Seeing her sobbing, Dnyaaneshwar asked her what made her cry and she narrated the incident. Not to worry, said Dnyaaneshwar, consoling her. Roast the maande on my back, he told her. Muktabai wiped her tears and did as she was told. Visoba had followed her to watch the misery of the siblings. Instead of dejection over no maande, he saw Muktabai happily cooking the item on her brother’s back. Dnyaaneshwar’s yogic powers created the heat that was required for the process. Visoba’s eyes couldn’t believe what he was seeing. 

That was a turning point in his life. He realized his own folly and recognized the divine power of the siblings. He surrendered at the feet of Dnyaaneshwar and Muktabai and sought forgiveness for his deeds. At that time Dnyaaneshwar and Muktabai brought him to his senses. Muktabai,who was known to call a spade a spade, gave him the nickname Khechar which means a mule. The name remained with him ever since. 

Visoba Khechar became one of the earliest disciples of Dnyaaneshwar Mauli and is credited with writings of his own. His treatise is called Shatsthala. Later when Sant Namdev went looking for a Guru, his search stopped at Visoba Khechar. The reference to Visoba Khechar being Namdev’s guru is found in Guru Granth Sahib. 

One may ask what is the connection of the story to the last post on parmarth ? Also how could refined spiritual individuals like Dnyaaneshwar and Muktabai call anyone a donkey( mule)? 

The reference to the mule is symbolic for a life without parmarth. Mules pull heavy loads on their backs without using their brains. They are mere laboring slaves. How Visoba was living prior to his awakening was a life comparable to a mule. He had no trace of humanity in him. He couldn’t recognize the dignity of life in people other than himself. His entire existence until that point was deplorable.

Visoba is a prototype of those who go about the journey from birth to death carrying the burden of worldly problems as well as ignorance on their backs. They are akin to human bodies with donkey brains. However the turn Visoba’s life took after meeting saintly people and what he eventually became is a beacon of hope for humanity. 

I hope next time you hear the story of the miracle of maande you will be reminded of Visoba Khechar and what his name signifies. The onus is on us to transform from a life of a Khechar to one true to our pure