Bhagat Naamdev at the Temple

Once a king in India went to Guru Nanak Dev Ji and asked: "O Guru! As you told us , God Himself
supports His true worshiper, but God has so many apostles, why does He support Himself? Why does
He not send His apostles to help the worshiper?" As he said this, his own son who was playing on
the bank of a river nearby slipped in the river. The king did not wait for a second and jumped in the
river as well to save his child. After saving his child he returned to the Guru. The Guru asked : " My
dear friend, you were sitting here with me a minute ago and why did you jump in the river? The
king explained that his son had slipped into the river and he went to save him. Then the Guru asked
: "Dear friend, you have so many servants , why did you jump in the river yourself? Why did not
you send your servants to save him?" The king said : "By the time I would have asked my

servants, he would have drowned. I love my child very much and do not want to lose him at any
cost. " Then Guru said: "My dear friend, God loves His worshipers the same way as you love your
son. That is why He Himself saves His true worshiper. "
Such a worshipper was Naamdev. For all of his life, Naamdev had worshipped God and had faith
in Him for each and every moment. He did not worship anyone else but the one immortal God. He
says :

"O my tongue, other occupations are false. The stateof Nirvaanaa comes only through the
Lord's Name. ||2|| The performance of countless millions of other devotions is not even
equal to one devotion to the Name of God" (Guru Granth Sahib, 1163).
 

The materialistic things would not deter Naamdev jis spiritual path to meet God. Once while sewing ,
he wrote:
"My needle is of gold and my thread is very expensive but my mind is attached to God
(Guru Granth Sahib, 485).
He cared neither for gold nor silver; he was in love with God. Even though as a result of his true
worship he had become a highly spiritual person, he was still completely devoid of pride (or ego).
Naamdev knew that God does care for the person who recites His name and remembers Him all the
time.
Once Naamdev went to Avandanagnath Temple situated in the state of Maharashtra , India. The
Hindu priests of that temple believed in the caste system. After reaching the temple, Naamdev sat
and started worshipping God but the Hindu priests grabbed his arm and drove him out of the temple.
The priests said that Naamdev could not visit the temple because he was of a low class.
Naamdev was deeply hurt so he went to the back of the temple and started worshipping God. In his
prayer he said:
"Joyfully, I came to Your Temple, O Lord. While Naamdev was worshipping, he was driven
out. I am of a low social class, O Lord; why was I born into a family of fabric dyers? I
picked up my blanket and went back, to sit behind the temple" (Guru Granth Sahib, 1164).
Naamdev also said:
 

"O Lord, please do not forget me because if You forget me then where should I go. There is nowhere
else to go and no one else to believe in except You'.
He further prayed:
"Please do not forget me, do not forget me, please do not forget me, O Lord. The temple
priests have doubts about this, and everyone is furious with me. Calling me low-caste and
untouchable, they beat me and drove me out; what should I do now, O Beloved Father Lord? If You
The stories of one's ancestors make the children good children. They accept what is pleasing to the Will of
the True Guru, and act accordingly. ( Guru Granth Sahib Ji - 951)

give me salvation after I am dead, no one will know that I attained salvation. These Priests, these
religious scholars, call me low-born; when they say this, they tarnish Your honour as well. You are
called kind and compassionate; the power of Your Arm is absolutely unrivalled" (Guru Granth Sahib,
1292)

.
"As Naamdev uttered the Glorious Praises of the Lord, the temple turned around to face the
Lord's humble devotee " (Guru Granth Sahib, 1164).
"The Lord turned the temple around to face Naamdev and its back to the Priests" (Guru
Granth Sahib, 1292).

That temple is still rotated. This is the symbol of the true love of God towards His true worshiper.