Jagannath ji’s Khichdi offering – Karmabai’s story

“Karma Bai” was a great devotee of Shri Krishna. She used to worship the child form of Shri Krishna since childhood. She would talk to Thakur ji’s childish form every day as if Thakur ji was her son and lived in her house.

One day Karma Bai wanted to feed Thakur ji something prepared with her own hands instead of fruits and dry fruits. He told his wish to Jagannath Prabhu. God is completely present for the devotees.
Prabhu ji said – Mother! Whatever you have prepared, please feed me, I am very hungry.

Karma Bai had prepared Khichdi. Gave Khichdi to Thakur ji to eat. Prabhu started eating Khichdi with great gusto and Karma Bai started fanning the Lord thinking that my Thakur ji’s face might get burnt by the hot Khichdi. Karma Bai is fanning the God who embraces the world like a mother and the devotee of God is overwhelmed with emotions.

Devotee Vatsal God said – Mother! I liked Khichdi very much. You cook Khichdi for me every day. I will come here and eat.

Now Karma Bai ji used to wake up every morning and prepare khichdi first thing, and do everything else later. Even God would come running early in the morning. As soon as he came he said – Mother! Quickly bring my dear Khichdi. This became the daily routine. God would come early in the morning, offer food and then go away.

Once a Mahatma came to Karma Bai. When the Mahatma saw her making Khichdi early in the morning, he got angry and said – Mother, what are you doing? First of all, you should take bath and do puja, but you start worrying about your stomach.

Karma Bai said – What should I do? Maharaj ji! The same God whom the world worships comes hungry early in the morning. It is for them that I leave all my work and first prepare khichdi.

Mahatma thought that perhaps Karma Bai had lost her mind. She is speaking as if God is sitting hungry for the Khichdi prepared by her.

Mahatma started explaining to Karma Bai – Mother, you are defiling God. After taking bath in the morning, first clean the kitchen. Then make offerings to God.

Next day Karma Bai did the same. As soon as morning came, God came and said – Mother! I have come, bring Khichdi.

Karma Bai said – Lord! I am taking a bath right now, wait a while. After some time God called again. Hurry up, mom! The doors of my temple will open, I have to go.

She again said – Right now I am cleaning the kitchen, Lord!

God started wondering what has happened to mother today? This has never happened before. Then when Karma Bai served Khichdi, God quickly ate Khichdi. But today God did not like the taste of everyday food even in Khichdi.
Then the Lord quickly ran into the temple without drinking water.

When God saw the Mahatma outside, he understood – Okay, so this is it. He taught this strip to my mother.

Now, as soon as the priest of Thakur ji’s temple opened the doors of the temple, he saw that the Lord’s face was smeared with Khichdi. The priest said – Lord! How did this Khichdi get on your face?

God said – Priest, I come to my Karma Bai’s house every day to eat khichdi. You go to Mother Karma Bai Ji’s house and explain to the Mahatma who is staying at her place. What kind of wrong has he taught my mother?

The priest went to Mahatma ji and told him everything that God is hungry for feelings. Hearing this, Mahatma ji got scared and immediately went to Karma Bai and said – Mother! Sorry, these rules and religion are for us saints. You make Khichdi in the same way as before. Thakur ji will keep eating khichdi only due to your sentiments.

Then a day came, when Karma Bai lost her life. That day, when the priest opened the doors of the temple, he saw that God had tears in his eyes and the Lord was crying.

When the priest asked the reason for crying, God said – Priest, today my mother Karma Bai has left this world and has departed for my own world. Now who will make Khichdi and feed me?

The priest said – Lord! Will not let you miss your mother. After today, the first thing you will enjoy is Khichdi. In this way, even today Khichdi is offered to Lord Jagannath.