1. The Eggplant Girl
1. The Eggplant Girl
One day in Puri, a malli (gardener's daughter) was singing slokas from Gita Govinda while picking eggplant. Hearing the melodious voice of the girl, Jagannatha Swami became attracted and left the temple. Jagannatha was so enchanted that He followed her deep into the woods. Completely oblivious to everything, Jagannatha Swami was unaware that His clothes were getting cut to shreds by the brambles and thorn trees. Later when the pandas attended the Lord, they noticed His ruined garments and complained to the King. In a dream, Lord Jagannatha related the whole story to the King. The next day, the King sent a palanquin to carry the gardener's daughter to the temple in a royal procession. The King appointed her as an official temple songstress to sing Gita Govinda every night before Jagannatha Swami slips falls asleep. In addition, the King donated a home and some income property for her maintenance. To this day her descendents still perform this service for the pleasure of Sri Jagannatha Deva.
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