Karmabai

Karmabai (20 January 1615 – 1634) was a Jat known as- Bhakt Shiromani Karmabai. She was born on 20 January 1615 in the family of Jiwanji Dudi in the village Kalwa situated in Nagaur district. She was a devotee of Krishna. The story goes like this- karmabai's father was a devotee of Krishna. Once upon a time he had some work outstation, so he instructed her to offer the food(bhog) to the lord and then only she should eat. Karma was very young and she took this instruction literally. Next morning she woke up early and made khichdi for offering the Lord. But when she saw that lord is not eating, sincere towards her father's instructions innocent Karmabai did not eat anything at all and waited for lord to come and eat first.

Lord Krishna was very impressed by her determination and showed mercy on her. He himself appeared before her and ate her khichdi.

He followed the same routine till her father didn't returned. When her father returned she told him everything, her father was shocked in disbelief and thus karma pleaded before lord to appear once again to prove her true. And very merciful lord Krishna did appeared once again to keep his devotee's respect.

It is a common belief that she had offered 'khichadi' to Krishna in his presence. As this news spread and gone to saints of Puri, they asked Karmabai to come there and give Bhog of khichadi to Lord. Krishna appeared their too. Then after Karmabai started living in Puri.

A folk song tells like this -

Thali bhar'r lyayi khichado upar ghee ki batki !

Jeemo mhara syam dhani jeemavai beti Jat ki !!

Karmabai took a living samādhi on 25 July 1634 in Puri.

Now during Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra, the chariot of Lord Jagannath stops near her samadhi for some while. It is believed that, without her sight the chariot didn't move a single inch and it is God's own choice for Karmabai.