Just a brief note in the beginning only (in case u leave reading in the middle and don’t reach the end).
If u are a visitor to the temple, kindly don’t mention this to the person for simple reasons not to disturb his work in any way.
Amar is a sweeper in our temple. He gets up early in the morning and cleans the temple every day for the past many years. Externally being a sweeper, he always appears very unclean. He looks pretty casual in his approach and doesn’t have a proper sense of talking. He can even catch whatever insects and small animals you can think of …live…in his hands. For all the dirty and unthinkable jobs(like cleaning a place where a rat has died, or a cat has passed her stool, etc., he is called to the task).
That’s from a distance. I don’t know anything about his earlier life or his native place, etc.
However, some qualities that I observed in him have stuck with me very deeply and left a strong impression on my heart. Most of the time, I have observed that he is chanting Hare Krishna Mahamantra while cleaning the temple. Not only that, he is cleaning happily and chanting the Lord’s name in a jolly mood. Sometimes, he seems to me the happiest person in the temple!!! Just by cleaning every day, sometimes for 8-10 hours.
What struck me most is this: I observed him once dozing off while sitting on a chair, half asleep, head falling on a side. And in that condition, Hare Krishna Mahamantra was flowing so smoothly from his tongue… in a sleeping state… I was amazed. I know devotees have a hard time chanting while they are awake, and here is the sweeper of the temple chanting in sleeping conditions!!!!
Being the direct witness of this incident boosted my faith in Hare Krishna Mahamantra and the power of cleaning the temple of the Lord accompanied by the chanting of holy names.
Perhaps one of the biggest everyday tensions of most householders is the maid!!! And how many maids or helpers one can find happily cleaning?
And what to speak of when that place is a temple.
He has no clue about being mentioned here in this context. And if you visit the temple, I humbly request you not to mention anything to him. You do not need to behave any differently with him. It might interfere with basic management and his own innocent chanting while cleaning the temple.
But his example laid some deep impression about three things:
First, cleaning the temple of the Lord is a very exalted and special service. Second, if one performs this service happily while chanting the holy names of the Lord, one can make tremendous spiritual advancement. Third, externals may not tell anything about one’s spiritual position. It is better to deal with everyone with a respectful attitude(irrespective of external dealings based on social position).
Cleaning the Lord’s temple is no small service. In Vaikuntha, Mother Laxmi herself does the service. Cleaning the temple and chanting holy names purifies the heart. Sometimes, as an administrative adjustment, employees are hired to clean the temple. But actually, it’s meant for the Lord’s devotees.