Who is your ideal Kanhopatra or Cleopatra ??

All of us must have heard about Cleopatra VII often called as Cleopatra ,she was last queen of Egypt, she ruled an empire that included Egypt, Cyprus ,Libya and middle east .she was dethroned by her brother who wanted the sole rights to rule kingdom she went to exile ,it was Caesar who helped her to kill both of her  brothers ,then she developed intimacy with Caesar and married to him who was 30 years old to her and gave birth to a child , eventually she also killed her own sister to have whole right to rule kingdom .now in Egypt she was enjoying the position of goddess ,after the murder of Caesar she united with Antony to protect her kingdom and eventually married with Antony who was 40 years older to her and gave birth to 3 childrens . even after enjoying so much power she was totally unsatisfied and killed herself by inducing an Egyptian cobra to bite her ...thus ends her story of passion to acquire power by any means  but that only resulted in so much pain and agony and ultimately  suicide .

Now let's see who was Kanhopatra ,most of you must be hearing her name 1 st time .she was pure devotee of Lord Vitthal.she was daughter of prostitute named Shama ,who didn't know who was the father of kanhopatra ,such a pitiable condition ,kanhopatra was beautiful like apsara ,she learned dancing and singing soon became expert but she was unwilling to continue the profession of her mother she wanted to marry with person who is immortal and who is beautiful that millions of cupids and he is lord Vitthal ,she left her mother and followed the Varkaris soon reached Pandharpur, she took darshan  and offer her body ,mind,heart to Vitthal .she married with Lord Vitthal and started serving in temple  ,soon her glories of beauty, dancing and singing reached till Bidar Sultan and sultan wanted to have her .he sent his soldiers to capture her forcefully. Soldiers came to Vitthal Rukmini mandir they ordered Kanhopatra if you refuse to come with us we shall destroy temple. She agreed  on the basis of allowing once to meet with lord Vitthal, soldiers allowed her ,she came in front of Lord and started offering her intense prayers

नको देवराया अंत आता पाहू प्राण हा सवर्था जाऊ पाहे
हरिणीचे पाडस व्याघ्रे धरियेले मजलागी जाहले तैसे देवा
तुजविण ठाव न दिसे त्रिभुवनी धावे हो जननी विठाबाई
मोकलूनी आस, जाहले उदास घेई कान्होपात्रेस हृदयात

She was praying -protect me I don't want to enjoy with anyone I am yours,help me protect my chastity .
And then surprise to everyone's eyes she entered into the feet of Lord Vitthal ,some say she died at the Feet of Lord and then lord told the pujaris to burry her inside the temple premises . she is the only one saint whose samadhi is inside temple ,when she was buried  immediately one Tarati tree grown up at that place.
Till date today we find this tree inside the temple and its ritual while going for darshan of Lord Vitthal one need to seek the blessings of Kanhopatra.

Now choice is ours whom to follow ,the lady who did everything to enjoy power and position  and committed suicide or the lady Who offered Everything to Vitthal without wanting to enjoy anything .
let us pray to kanhopatra's feet so that we can also attain similar devotion unto Lord Vitthal.

Kanhopatra ki jai.....

Article by Rupesh Gauranga Dasa