DEVARA DASIMAYYA

A SHORT STORY FOR A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP 😴😊

In mid 11th century, there was a poor weaver in MUDNUR in Karnataka, whose name was DASIMAYYA, who was an ardent devotee of Bhagawan Shiva. He was a poet and a singer, who would sing praises of Shiva all day while weaving. So engrossed was he in Shiva Bhakti, that he would see SHIVA in everybody and everything.

One day, With whatever little he had, he purchased some material for weaving, and wove an exquisite silk cloth with beautiful colour combinations, and intricate work. After working for months on it, he took the cloth to the market to sell. So beautiful was his work, that people named it Priceless and worth of a King.

So he thought he would take it to the king the next day to sell it. On his way, he saw a beggar who was shivering with fever, and he asked DASIMAYYA for that cloth, so that he can cover himself. DASIMAYYA gave him the cloth, and the beggar tore it into pieces, and wore one on the head, one on his stomach and others on his hands and legs. DASIMAYYA stood there watching the beggar, who asked him if something's bothering him because he tore the cloth.

DASIMAYYA replied that it was his cloth, and he could do anything he wanted with it. The beggar asked for some food, and DASIMAYYA took him home for a meal. DUGGALE the wife of DASIMAYYA, was worried as to how they would feed a guest, as there was just a fistful of rice. She made some porridge out of the rice, and DASIMAYYA fed the beggar as if he was the personification of Shiva.

As soon as the beggar finished the meal, he revealed himself, and he was none other than Bhagawan SHIVA himself. DASIMAYYA shed tears of ecstasy, and fell to the feet of SHIVA, and sang praises on him in the most mellifluous voice. Bahagwan Shiva blessed them and added a fistful of rice to his Rice Barrel, and that became AKSHAYA PATRA.

DASIMAYYA till his last day, where he and his wife merged into Shiva, in the local RAMANATHA TEMPLE, the Akshaya Patra, was used by him to feed thousands of people. People revered him and called him DEVARA DASIMAYYA 🙏

In 2022, a street in Bangalore was named after DEVARA DASIMAYYA, amidst stringent opposition from the Congress party.

🕉️ SHUBHA RATRI 🕉️