Now the sentiment of the account of Rupa Poriya, a sevak of Shri Gusainji who remained at the Singhdwar of Shrinathji, is being described.

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): This devotee is a rajasic bhakta. In the divine play his name is “Raso Gop.” He guards the house of Shri Nandarayji. He manifested from Rasatmika; therefore this is his devotional form.

He was born in Gopalpur in the house of a Sanadhya Brahmin. When he became twenty years old, his parents died, and no one remained in the house. Then he came before Shri Gusainji and submitted: “Maharaj! Please make me your sevak and mercifully assign me some service.” Then Shri Gusainji bestowed the Name upon Rupa and made him a sevak. Afterward he entrusted him with the seva of the Singhdwar of Shrinathji and instructed him: “Rupa! You should guard the Singhdwar of Shrinathji, and take mahaprasad from the prasadi kitchen of Shrinathji.”

Prasang 1 – Shrinathji Awakens Rupa Poriya That Rupa Poriya performed the seva of gatekeeper at the temple of Shrinathji Temple. Once, in the afternoon, Shrinathji kicked Rupa Poriya awake and spoke from His divine mouth: “I am hungry.” Rupa Poriya immediately arose and came near the bed of Shri Gusainji. He pressed Shri Gusainji’s lotus feet and awakened him. When Shri Gusainji awoke, he saw that the gatekeeper of Shri Govardhannathji stood there. Then Shri Gusainji asked Rupa Poriya: “Why have you come at this time?” Rupa submitted before Shri Gusainji: “Maharaj! I have come because Shri Govardhannathji Himself is hungry.”

Then Shri Gusainji immediately arose and entered the temple of Shri Govardhannathji. He again offered rajbhog to Shri Govardhannathji. After the bhog was completed and all the seva concluded, Shri Gusainji returned to his bethak and rested. Then Rupa Poriya continued performing his gatekeeper seva. Shrinathji revealed such affectionate divine experiences to Rupa Poriya. Whatever He desired, He would tell directly to Rupa Poriya. During the hot season he would have Rupa Poriya fan Him. In this way Shrinathji bestowed grace upon Rupa Poriya. There are many such accounts of Rupa Poriya.

After some time, Rupa Poriya left his body. Then the Vaishnavas gathered together and performed his cremation rites. Afterward Shri Gusainji heard the news and said from his divine mouth: “Whatever is the will of Bhagavan alone comes to pass. The will of Shri Govardhannathji is supreme.” Thus Rupa Poriya was such a greatly blessed Bhagavadiya and recipient of Shri Gusainji’s grace.

Prasang 2 – Rupa Poriya Reborn as a Dog

Once Shri Gusainji was going for darshan of Shri Govardhannathji. He arrived at Shrinathji Dwar. After bathing at Govind Kund, Shri Gusainji proceeded toward the temple of Shri Govardhannathji. At that very moment a dog saw Shri Gusainji and came directly before him, desiring to touch his feet. Then all the Vaishnavas began beating the dog with sticks. They beat it so severely that blood came out from the dog’s body, yet the dog did not move away. Then Shri Gusainji said: “Do not beat him. Stay away.” Afterward Shri Gusainji reflected inwardly through his divine vision and recognized who it was.

Then Shri Gusainji personally allowed the dog to touch his feet and placed his lotus feet upon the dog’s head. Shri Gusainji became greatly pleased with that dog. Then Shri Gusainji instructed all the Vaishnavas: “Stay away from him.” Within moments the dog left its body. From its mouth emerged a mass of divine light which merged into the lotus feet of Shri Thakurji. Then Shri Gusainji instructed the Vaishnavas: “You may perform his funeral rites. There will be no fault for you. This is my command.” Then the Vaishnavas performed the cremation rites for the dog. Afterward Shri Gusainji again bathed and entered the temple of Shri Govardhannathji. Completing all the seva, Shri Gusainji returned to his bethak and sat upon cushions and bolsters.

Then the Vaishnavas submitted: “Maharaj! Who was this dog in his previous birth, and by what offense did he obtain birth as a dog? Please mercifully tell us.” Then Shri Gusainji spoke to the Vaishnavas: “In his previous birth he was the Singhdwar gatekeeper of Shri Govardhannathji — Rupa Poriya. “He used to prepare the wicks for the rajbhog arati of Shri Govardhannathji. Once the wicks had become hard and dry, so he went into the storeroom, took some ghee, heated it, and soaked the wicks in it with his hands. “Afterward Rupa Poriya washed his hands with clay, but unknowingly some ghee remained beneath his fingernails.

“Then he sat to take mahaprasad. The cook served him hot karhi. The ghee from beneath his nails entered the karhi, and thus unoffered ghee belonging to Shrinathji entered his stomach. “Because of this offense he became a dog. Such indeed is the sacred property of Shri Thakurji.”

Bhav Prakash (Revealing the Sentiment): This account teaches that a Vaishnava must always remain extremely careful regarding any unoffered ingredients, materials, or sacred property belonging to Thakurji.

Even unknowingly, if such a thing enters the stomach in some manner, this can become the consequence. Through the example of Rupa Poriya, Shri Gusainji instructed all Vaishnavas in this matter. Otherwise such a fate would never ordinarily happen to one like Rupa Poriya. Rather, this was a divine play performed by Prabhu for the instruction of His own devotees. After some time the death of Rupa Poriya came. Leaving his human body, he entered the womb of a dog and took birth there. Yet because he had performed extensive Bhagavad-seva, he retained knowledge of his previous birth.

Therefore, abandoning attachment to his species, bodily relations, parents, and all others, he left their company and came beneath the mountain. There, facing the flag of Shrinathji, this dog remained seated. Thus he made such intense effort for the touch of Shri Gusainji’s feet and endured such severe beating. Hearing of such a great offense, the Vaishnavas accepted this as instruction and said among themselves: “Brother! We beat such a Vaishnava in this manner? Even if it happened unknowingly, it was very wrong. We had only thought that this dog would touch Shri Gusainji.”

Then Shri Gusainji understood the thoughts in the minds of those Vaishnavas and said to them: “Do not keep anxiety or distress in your minds. Whatever happened occurred by divine will. “The beating he received was the punishment for his offense. “In his previous birth, when some Vaishnavas asked directions for the darshan of Shrinathji, he would answer them harshly out of tamasic nature. Because of that offense he received such beating. “But now no obstacle remains for him. He has now merged into the lotus feet of Shri Govardhannathji.

“Therefore a Vaishnava should speak thoughtfully. Just as a stain immediately appears upon pure white cloth but not upon dirty cloth, similarly it is with Vaishnavas.” Thus Shri Gusainji instructed the Vaishnavas. That Rupa Poriya was such a supremely blessed Bhagavadiya and recipient of Shri Gusainji’s grace that the limit of his story cannot be reached; so how much can possibly be told?