In the province of Bihar there was a cowherd boy named Malidas. He was quite illiterate, but innocent and pure. He used to graze his cows in a jungle throughout the day and return home in the evening.

One day a Brahmin came in the jungle, took a bath in the river flowing there and sat on its bank. First he did pranayamas (breathing exercises), then he worshipped God. The boy keenly watched the Brahmin. When the latter had finished his worship and was going to depart, the boy caught hold of his arm and requested him to tell him what he had been doing. The Brahmin said that he had been doing puja (worship) of God. Then the boy insisted the Brahmin to explain what the Puja was.

Brahmin – Puja is worship of God by repeating a Mantra.

Malidas – What is worship and what is Mantra?

Brahmin – You cannot understand all these things. Let me go.

Malidas – Tell me one thing before you go. Why had you closed your nostrils with your fingers?

Brahmin – This is called Pranayama. By closing the nostrils, the breath is stopped and the mind gets concentrated. Then it is possible to see God.

Malidas – Now I understand. You may go.

The Brahmin went away. The boy Malidas accepted him as his Guru. He did exactly what the Brahmin had done. He took bath in the river, sat on its bank and closed his nostrils. After a few seconds, he began to think: ‘God has not yet come. Perhaps He will come late. So let me continue it.’ He was firm in his faith and yearned strongly : ‘I must see God.’

He closed his nostrils again. Soon he become restless due to suffocation but he did not open his nostrils.

God was moved  by his firm faith, innocent nature and purity of heart. He thought if He failed to appear before him, he would suffocate. So He appeared before him. The boy saw Him and asked him who he was.

God – I am God.

The boy – How can I believe that you are God?

God – I am telling you the truth.

 The boy – I shall call my Guru. If he says you are God, I shall be satisfied.

God – Very well, go and call him.

The boy – But you may go away by that time.

God – No, I will not go.

The boy – But how can I believe you?

God – Then do as you like.

The boy – I will tie you to this tree with a rope.

God – Very well, please yourself.

The boy took a rope from a cow’s neck and tied God to a tree and ran to fetch his Brahmin Guru. He found him and said to him “Please come quickly with me and see whether he is God or not.”

The Brahmin thought that the boy was a fool. But the boy would not allow him to proceed further. At last the Brahmin went to the spot but he did not see anything. The boy pointed at God who was tied with a rope to the tree. The Brahmin did not have firm faith in God so he could not see Him. He was very much annoyed and had no patience. So, to get rid of the boy, he said, “Yes, this is God.”

The boy let the Brahmin go and untied God. God was very pleased with him for his faith in the words of his Guru and said, “Ask any boon.”

The boy replied, “I want nothing. I have sufficient food to maintain my body.”

God again and again urged him to ask any boon.

Finally the boy said, “ Give me this boon if you are pleased with me – as soon as I close my nostrils, you should come at once to me. You should not delay.”

God was greatly pleased with his simplicity and said, “Your wish shall be fulfilled.”

Now the boy found a playmate everyday. He would let the cow graze in the jungle and then close his nostrils. God would come and play with him throughout the day.

After many years the same Brahmin happened to come that way. The boy fell at his feet and said, “You have told me a very good method of seeing God.”

The Brahmin could not understand him. Then the boy narrated the whole story from the beginning. The Brahmin asked the boy to show him God. The boy closed his nostrils and God appeared. The boy asked the Brahmin to see God but he could not see Him.

The boy then requested God to let his Guru see Him. God said, “Let him have firm faith in me. Then only can he see me.”

Hearing this, the Brahmin wept bitterly and fell at the feet of the boy. Then God blessed the Brahmin also with His vision. Thus, through firm faith the boy saw God and showed Him to His Guru.

Moral: Have firm faith in God. Faith can do anything.