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Many days later, when Narahari went to Phulbai's house they told him that some days earlier the town had suffered a great fire, but through Shri Gosainji's grace, their house escaped free from the great tragedy. They added that if they had not become Vais¬navas their fate might have been quite different. Narahari then consoled them, "Shri Gosainji is very merciful and protects his devotees so that they remain always liberated."
When Narahari returned home he mentioned to Jagannath that one day while he was coming back from bathing in the lake he came to know that Phulbai's town had caught on fire and that in order to save their house, he had made a prayer and that because of that, their house had been saved. Jagannath Joshi then said, "Why did you cause Shri Krishna so much trouble by being so obstinate. Who are you to save anyone? Bhagwan is all powerful and performs all lilas as to His own wishes. Such prayers are not within the scope of Shri Mahaprabhuji's Way." Narahari explained, "I was not obstinate. I only thought that if their house burned down they would think, "Just after beeoming Vaishnavas such a tragedy has happened to us ?" and by thinking in such a way their love and devotion for Shri Mahaprabhuji's Way would be weakened, thereby prolonging their divine reunion with Shri Krishna. Now they feel that their house was saved due to Shri Gosainji's grace. I only had the intention of making them staunch Vaishnavas when I made that prayer." Both brothers then laughed together saying. "Shri Krishna’s Iilas are amazing. Everything in this world happens as to His divine whim."Another time, Jagannath after adorning his Thakurji with a vaga offered the bhog and came out of the temple. At that time he thought, "Shri Thakurji's vaga will become impure when it touches the plate in which He takes His meals in." Shri Thakurji knowing his thought immediately kicked the plate over onto the floor. Jagannath then prepared the Thakurji's offering a second time, but Thakurji again kicked the plate off of the table on to the floor.
In this fashion Jagannath Joshi prepared his Thakurji's meals four times and four times Thakurji knocked the offerings onto the floor. Dis¬couraged, Jagannath humbly thought to himself, "What sin have I committed which makes my Thakurji not accept my offerings." Shri Krishna then told him, "If you are afraid that my vaga will touch the plate then why do you put it in front of Me?" Jagannath touching his nose to the floor in reverence prayed, Please forgive my ignorant blunder."
Within this event, we discover the inner teaching that our sentiments towards Shri Krishna should always be pure. We should never consider that Shri Krishana was of a lower caste, that He took His meals before bathing, or that He alone ate tons of rice and other foodstuffs during the annakut festival. Shri Krishna is beyond the scope of any such arguments and therefore His lilas are unquestionable. Shri Krishna being all powerful can do, not do, and do otherwise. For this reason to consider, "How did Shri Krishna romp with all those gopis and other such doubts are contradictory to any pure devotional sentiment and detrimental to the growth of devotion. But because Jagannath Joshi was simple and pure the Shri Thakurji forgave him.
Jagannath used to always offer to his Thakurji steaming khir. Once, when Shri Mahaprabhuji arrived there, He noticed that Jagan¬nath's Takurji's tongue and hands were red and He asked Shri Thakurji what had happencd to Him. Shri Thakurji replied that Jagannath had offered Him hot khir'. When Shri Mahaprabhuji asked Jagannath why he offered His Thakurji steaming khir, the latter replied that he thought that Shri Thakurji's bhog should be offered hot. Shri Mahaprabhuji then advised him to only offer lukewarm khir.
The reason why Thakurji did not tell Jagannath directly about the khir was because, since he had worried about the plate and Thakurji's vaga, Thakurji did not frequently reveal Himself to Jagan¬nath. Shri Thakurji partook of the steaming khir simply out of His affection for Jagannath.
Once, Jagannath in order to have the sight of Shri Mahaprbhuji, set out for Shri Gokul. While traveling, Jagannath told one other Vaishnava, Mathura, to go into the nearest town and acquire ghee, rice and other foodstuffs which would be essential for the annakut festival. Mathura, upon returning informed Jagannath that only barley was available. Jagannath taking it as Thakurji’s wish, told the Vaishnava to bring and clean the barley. After putting it into water he told Mathura to take the lighter portion of the barley and to make a dough. When Jagannath Joshi put that dough above the boiling barley, in order to steam-cook it, the dough accidently fell into the boiling barley. Jagannath upset, ultimately reasoned that it was Thakurji’s desire to have it so, offered the barley preparation to His Thakurji, and, later, after taking his prasada, retired for the evening.
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