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Jagannath Joshi’s father was a terrible, faithless man who gave everyone trouble and stole from unsuspecting people at night. One day, Shri Mahaprabhuji stopped at a garden in his town, Keralu. At that time Mrs. Joshi entered that garden in order to fetch some water. Overhearing Shri Mahaprabhuji discourse on the Shrimad Bhagavatam, she became spiritually enchanted and prayed, “Please initiate me into Your Way.” When she realized that if her husband knew that he was staying there, he would steal from them during the night, she warned Shri Mahaprabhuji not to stay there.
Shri Mahaprabhuji told her, “What can he steal? You go and tell your husband that Shri Vallabhacharya has stopped here.” Shri Mahaprabhuji then continued, “Although you are a divine soul, how can I initiate you while your unrighteous husband is still alive. After five years he will die leaving you with two sons. Then you can come to Adel and become My disciple.” She then bowed to Shri Mahaprabhuji and proceeded home. Although her husband knew that Shri Mahaprabhuji had arrived there, he did not steal anything from them. Three days later, Shri Mahaprabhuji headed onwards towards Shri Dwarka.
Within one year from that day, she bore her first son, Narahari Joshi, and, two years later, she gave birth to Jagannath Joshi. Five years after Shri Mahaprabhuji had visited there, one Sanyasi arrived in Keralu and held some religious discussions with the local Brahmans. That night, Jagannath Joshi’s father went out to loot the Sanyasi but the latter killed him with a sicle. The petrified Sanyasi immediately left town and on the following morning Jagannath Joshi’s father last rites were performed.
Mrs. Joshi, remembering Shri Mahaprabhuji’s prediction decided to become his disciple. Taking some money with her and leaving the rest with her sons, she set out for Adel telling everyone that she was going to bathe at Prayaga. Arriving at Prayaga, she bathed and after performing the customary worship went to Adel. There, she bowed reverently before Shri Mahaprabhuji and prayed, “What You said five years before has all happened. My husband has died and I am the mother of two sons. Now I have no worldly obstacles, therefore Bhagwan, please accept me; my entire life up until now has been completely wasted.” Shri Mahaprabhuji told her to bathe in the Shri Yamunaji River and later gave brahma sambandha and told her to perform Shri krishna’s seva.
When she requested to have a Krishna Deity, Shri Mahaprabhuji told her to acquire her desired Deity from Prayaga which she later did. After Shri Mahaprabhuji performed the Deities Panchamrita bath, she stayed there for some days. After becoming familiar with the modes of divine service, she returned home and elaborately performed Shri Krishna’s seva. After some days she began to have the evident realization Shri Krishna.
When her two sons became young men, she told them, “Go to Adel and become Shri Mahaprabhuji’s disciples. Then you can also perform Bhagwat seva (services). Offer this golden coin when you bow at His lotus feet and know Shri Mahaprabhuji to be Purna prusotam Himself.”
When they arrived in Adel, they inquired of Shri Mahaprabhuji’s whereabouts, but the people there told that He had gone to Jagannath Puri. The two brothers, deciding it unwise and displeasing to their mother if they returned home without having taken initiation, started out for Jagannath Puri. Upon reaching there, they again inquired where Shri Mahaprabhuji was residing. One Vaishnava took them to Shri Mahaprabhuji who immediately asked them, “Is your mother well?” Both boys surprised, thought, “He has never seen us and he knows about our mother. Our mother was correct when she told us that Shri Mahaprabhuji is Bhagwan Shri Krishna Himself.” The boy then replied, “By Your grace she is well.” Then Shri Mahaprabhuji asked them if they had viewed Shri Jagannathji’s temple. When they replied that they had come directly to Him without even going to the temple, Shri Mahaprabhuji told them to visit the Bhagwan’s temple. When they entered the temple, they were astonished to see Shri Mahaprabhuji standing next to Bhagwan Shri Jagannathji. They reasoned, “Perhaps he came by another route.”
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