कर्मठीबाई

karmathibaee
poora nam	karmathibaee
janm bhoomi	bagar gram (rajash‍than)
abhibhavak	pita- shripurushottam ji
karm bhoomi	bharat
karm-kshetr	mathura
bhasha	brajabhasha
prasiddhi	sadhvi
nagarikata	bharatiy
vishesh	karmathibaee ke vastavik nam ki janakari nahian hai, unake kathor tap ke karan hi unaka nam 'karmathi' p d gaya tha.
any janakari	karmathibaee ke samh‍poorn jivan mean dekha gaya ki unamean apane vrat ki dridhata, sadhuseva aur guruseva ki nishh‍tha ke sath prabhu-anurag, kshama, daya, komalata, saralata, udarata, ni:sh‍prihata aur pavitrata koot-kootakar bhari thi.

karmathibaee ka yatharth nam kh‍ya tha, kuchh pata nahian; unake ghor tap ne hi unaka nam karmathi rakh diya tha. karmathi bagar gram (rajash‍than) ke kaanthadya brahman shripurushottam ji ki ikalauti dulari thian. durbhagh‍yavash ye vivahoparanh‍t hi vidhava ho gayian, isase sanatan-dharm ke rith‍yanusar jap, tap, vrat aur sanyamoan ka palan karate hue karmathi ji ne apana vaidhavh‍y-jivan tapomay bana diya. karmathi ji ka yah tapash‍ya-kram lagatar barah varshoan tak ek-sa chalata raha tha.

parichay

karmathibaee ke bare pray: bahut log aisa manate haian ki karmathi aur karamaiti ek hi baee ke do nam haian; kiantu bat aisi nahian hai. shrinabha ji ne jin karamaiti baee ka charitr likha hai, ve kaanthadya kul mean uth‍panh‍n pan. parashuram rajapurohit ki ikalauti kanh‍ya thian. pan. parashuram sekhavati ke raja sekhavat ke raj-pandit aur khandela gram ke nivasi the. bhaktimati karamaitibaee ka vivah ho gaya tha aur ve dviragaman ke samay adhi rat ko ghar se shrivan bhag ayi thian. kiantu karmathaji ka parichay dete hue ananh‍yamal ke rachayita shribhagavatamudit ji ne likha hai-

ab suni ek karmathi baee. taki katha param sukhadaee..
bipr ek purushottam nam. kaanthariya bagar bishram..
kanh‍ya ek tasu ke bhee. bh‍yahat hi bidhava ho gee..
tap brat suchi sanjam mean rahai. tatean nam karmathi kahai..

visham paristhitiyaan

kripamay shrikrishh‍n ki kripa kab kis par kaise hogi, koee kah nahian sakata. kripa ke roop ko n jan-samajhakar bhale hi koee ab us vidhan ko amangalamay kahane lage, kiantu isase kh‍ya. us prabhu-vidhan ka jo parinam hota hai, usaka anubhav karake prabhu-premi bhakt ka hriday ananh‍d se nach uthata hai. karmathi ke prarambhik jivan mean bhi ek aisi ghatana ghati. kal ka bhayanak chakr chala aur unaka pitri-kul evan pati-kul poornaroop se samaph‍t ho gaya. donoan pakshoan mean koee bhi karmathi ka apana kaha jane vala n rah gaya. jagat ki drishti se ve ekadam asahay ho gayian. ek to param sunh‍dari yuvati aur doosare vidhava.

shrikrishh‍n-paricharya

karmathi ne ek vayovriddh sant shriharidas ka charanashray liya, phir kuchh dinoan pichhe ve sab or se virakt hokar shrivan a gayian. shrivan ane par karmathi ne mahaprabhu shrihit harivanshachanh‍dr ji se vaishh‍navi-diksha li tatha unake anugat hokar bhajan-dhh‍yan, nam-jap evan seva-pooja karane lagian. unaka sara samay shrikrishh‍n-paricharya aur nam-kirtan mean hi vh‍yatit hota. sath‍sang aur santoan se inh‍hean ath‍yadhik ph‍yar tha. kabhi asad alap n karatian aur samay ko vh‍yarth n jane detian. karmathi ji ko apane ishh‍tadev shriradhavalh‍labhalal ji ke uth‍savoan mean b da ananh‍d milata, at: bhiksha maangakar aur soot katakar bhi paise kamatian aur us dravh‍y ko shrithakur ji ke uth‍savoan mean kharch karake apar sukh ka anubhav karati thian. bhakti aur prem ke in acharanoan se, premi santoan ke sang se aur shrivan ke nivas se karmathi ji ki ghor karm-nishh‍tha shanh‍t ho gayi. unake chitt ki vasanaean kshin ho gayian aur ve kartrith‍vabhiman se rahit hokar bhakti ke kisi gamh‍bhir samudr mean doob gayian-sidhe shabh‍doan mean guru-kripa se ve ek siddh sant ho gayian.

mahattvapoorn ghatana

karmathi ji ke jivan mean ek ghatana b de vishamaroop se upasthit huee, jisane karmathi ji ke jivan ko prakash mean la diya aur usake sahare anekoan sadhakoan ne divh‍y upadesh paye. yah sab janate haian ki sh‍tri-jati abala hai aur usake ‘priy shatru’ haian- roop-lavanh‍y evan narith‍v. yadi abala asahay, ekaki ho aur roop-lavanh‍y usake sath ho to lolup kamiyoan ka samuday use sachh‍charitr dekhane mean du:kh pata hai; vah usake dharm, roop, yauvan aur phir sarvash‍v ka haran karana chahata hai, keval apani nichatapoorn kshudr vasanaoan ki poorti ke liye. karmathi roop-lavanh‍yamayi abala yuvati thi; kiantu bhagavadbal ne unh‍hean kaisi sabala kar dikhaya, yah niche likhi ghatana se prakat hoga-

jab samrat akabar ke bhanaje ajijabeg ko mathura zile ki hakimi mili, tab usane apane bhaee hasanabeg ko mathura ka shasan-prabanh‍dh karane ke liye bheja. mathura mean kuchh din rahane ke bad hasanabeg ko shrivan dekhane ki soojhi aur vah yahaan ki alaukik chhata dekhane ke liye shrivan aya bhi. jis samay vah shrivan ka nirikshan karata hua yamuna ka tat par vicharan kar raha tha, us samay usane karmathi ko sh‍nan karate hue dekha. bhiange vash‍troan se lipati anupam roop-lavanh‍yamayi nav-yuvati ko dekhakar hasanabeg ka chitt apane vash mean n rah saka. usane pata lagaya ki yah roop-sauannh‍dary ki devi kaun hai. poorn parichay praph‍t karake vah khush ho gaya; kh‍yoanki vah achh‍chhi tarah janata tha ki ek asahay abala ko apane maya-jal mean phansa lena kuchh kathin nahian hai. mathura akar hasanabeg ne ek jal rachana chaha. usane kulataoan se milakar salah ki. unamean se do kulata dootiyaan is nich kary ke liye taiyar hueean. un dushh‍taoan ne kaha- ‘karmathi ko aur kisi dhang se to phansaya ja nahian sakata, vah hamari batoan par vishh‍vas hi kh‍yoan karegi. haan, yadi ham bhaktoan ka-sa vesh bana lean aur usake pas jayan to vah hamara vishh‍vas aur adar karegi, hamari bat manegi bhi’.

yah salah hasanabeg ko bhi janchi. doosare din prat:kal ve donoan bhaktavesh mean sajakar vrindavan gayian aur yamuna ke ghat par hi karmathi se milian. unaki bhaktipoorn batoan ko sunakar karmathi yah samajh nahi sakian ki ye vish ke laddoo keval oopar se hi boore se lapete gaye haian. karmathi ne unaka adar kiya aur unh‍hean sath-sath apani kutiya tak liva layian. bahut der tak bhagavachh‍charcha hoti rahi. ab to ve pratidin isi prakar prat:kal atian aur karmathi ji ki kutiya mean baithakar ghantoan sath‍sang hota. dhire-dhire karmathi ji ka unase sh‍neh-sa ho gaya. is prakar kitane hi din bite. ek din kuchh vilamh‍b se ayian. unake ane par karmathi ji ne sahaj hi poochh liya- "bahano ! aj itana vilamh‍b kaise ho gaya?" unh‍hoanne banavati prasanh‍nata aur ulh‍las mishrit sankoch ke sath kaha- "mataji! kh‍ya kahean, hamane chaha to bahut ki apaki seva mean shighr a jayan; kiantu n as sakian. kh‍yoanki hamare ghar ek bahut b de sant padhare haian, unh‍hian ki seva mean vilamh‍b ho gaya."

bahut b de sant padhare haian, sunakar karmathi ji, jinake jivanadhar sant hi the, prasanh‍nata se bhar gayian aur bolian- "bahano ! kh‍ya mujhe bhi un mahapurush ke darshan ho sakeange?" un veshadhari bhaktaoan ne kaha- "avashh‍y-avashh‍y; jab kal ap yamuna-sh‍nan karake lautean, tab hamari kutiya jo amuk sh‍than par hai, vahian se hoti huee ayean ya ham hi apako yamuna par milean." kulataoan ne samajha hamari dal gal gayi. ve shighr mathura ayian aur sari batean suna-samajhakar hasanabeg ko chupake se vrinh‍davan le ayian. unh‍hoanne ek kutiya mean use la baithaya aur unamean se ek dooti doosare din prat:kal yamuna par karmathi ji se ja mili tatha unh‍hean sath lekar apani kutiya par sant-darshan ke liye liva layi. karmathi ko kamare ke bhitar pahuanchakar boli- ‘are ! maloom hota hai vah sant kahian bahar chale gaye haian. achh‍chha, maian unh‍hean shighr bulaye lati hooan; tum yahian thaharo.' kahakar vah kamare ke bahar chali gayi. chalate-chalate vah chhipe hue hasanabeg ko karmathi ke ane ka sanket kar gayi. kamare ke bahar nikalakar usane jalh‍di se kiva d lagakar saankal chadha di.

karmathi abhi tak kuchh samajh n payi thian; kiantu jab unh‍hoanne hasanabeg ko apani or ate dekha, tab un dushh‍taoan ki sari chal samajh gayian. ve ghabarakar man-hi-man prabhu se apani laj bachane ki prarthana karane lagian. tab tak hasanabeg karmathi ke samip akar bola- ‘sunh‍dari ! tum jis sadhu ka darshan karane ayi ho, vah sadhu maian hi hooan.' yoan kahakar vah karmathi ko apane aliangan mean baandhane ke liye lapaka. karmathi dar ke mare chilh‍la uthian aur bhagakar kamare ke ek kone mean ja chipatian tatha vh‍yakul netroan se idhar-udhar dekhane lagian. unaki ghabarahat dekhakar hasanabeg apani vijayapar ek bar thahaka marakar hansa aur kahane laga- ‘yah roop, yah yauvan, yah javani kh‍ya isaliye hai ki ise yamuna ke thanh‍de pani mean galaya jay, tapash‍ya ki ag mean tapaya jay? pari! maian tumase ph‍yar karata hooan. ao, meri god mean ao aur sada ke liye is rajh‍y ki aur mere hriday ki rani ban jao.' hasanabeg ke ye shabh‍d karmathi ko ban-se lage. ve usaka tirash‍kar karati huee roshapoorvak kahane lagian- ‘nich ! naradham ! papi ! kisi abala ki laj aur usaka dharm lootate tujhe lajh‍ja nahian ati? maian to tujhe isaka achh‍chha maja chakha sakati hooan, kiantu....'

isake age ve aur kuchh n kah sakian. unh‍hean apane sarv-samarth gurudev ke dvara kahe gaye ‘sab sauan hit’ vakh‍y ka sh‍maran ho aya. ve rone lagian. idhar tivr kam-vasana se vikal, madanh‍dh hasanabeg karmathi ki or badhata chala aya. usane karmathi ka sh‍parsh karana chaha; kiantu dekhata kh‍ya hai ki yah sunh‍dari nahian, bhayanak sianh hai aur mujhe khana chahata hai. b di-b di lal-lal krodhit aankhoan se meri or ghoor raha hai aur gush‍se se bhara gurra raha hai. sianh ko dekhate hi usaki kam-vasana raphoochakh‍kar ho gayi, usake pran kaanp gaye, vah bhagakar apane pran bachane ki koshish karane laga. par jata kahaan? bahar se to saankal band thi. vah ghabarakar bar-bar kiva doan se apane hath patakata aur chilh‍la-chilh‍lakar kiva d kholane ki pukar karata. usaka sara sharir mare bhay ke kaanp raha tha. usane lautakar dekha to sianh usi ki or badha a raha tha. krodhit sianh ko apani or ate dekhakar bhay ke mare mirja hasanabeg ka pajama big d gaya aur vah moorchchhit hokar daravaje ke pas gir p da. jane kitani der tak vah behosh p da raha, pichhe usaki sadhika dootiyoan ne kiva d khole aur use sachet kiya, tab vahaan n to karmathi thian aur n sianh hi.

is ghatana se hasanabeg ko b da ashh‍chary hua. karmathi se sianh ho jane aur phir lop ho jane ki bat tinoan ko ashh‍chary mean dal rahi thi. at: rahash‍y ka pata lagane ke liye hasanabeg ne un donoan kulataoan ko phir karmathi ke pas bheja. unh‍hoanne jakar dekha ki karmathi ji apane thakur ji ki seva-pooja kar rahi haian. unh‍hoanne karmathi ji ko pranam kiya, par karmathi ji ne ghatana ke vishay mean aur n kisi anh‍y vishay par unase bat ki. unh‍hoanne dekha karmathi ji prasanh‍n haian. unake mukh par krodh ka koee chihn hi nahian hai. lautakar unh‍hoanne sab samachar hasanabeg ko suna diya. hasanabeg par isaka b da prabhav p da aur vah bahut-sa dravh‍y lekar karmathi ji ke pas gaya; kiantu karmathi ji ne usamean se kuchh bhi sh‍vikar n karake sab dhan ko sadhu-santoan ki seva mean laga dene ki ajna di. hasanabeg ne aisa hi kiya.

prabhu anurag tatha kshamashil

is prakar shrikarmathibaee ke samh‍poorn jivan mean dekha gaya ki unamean apane vrat ki dridhata, sadhuseva aur guruseva ki nishh‍tha ke sath prabhu-anurag, kshama, daya, komalata, saralata, udarata, ni:sh‍prihata aur pavitrata koot-kootakar bhari thi. shrikarmathi ji ke punit charanoan ka sh‍maran karate hue chacha shrihit vrinh‍davanadas ji ne likha hai-

dhanh‍y pita dhani mat dhanh‍y mati abala jan ki.
taji bishai sansar bihar niharan man ki..
hasanabeg ik jaman dekhi dushh‍tata bichari.
kari nahar kau roop tras dai nath ubari..
shriharibans prasad tean ban phirati bhari anurag ki.
hari bhajan parayan karmathi phabi nikaee bhag ki..

tika tippani aur sandarbh

• [lekhak - shrichashh‍ma vale baba]