Kushal Kunvarba had a fascinating history of reincarnation. This devotee was special to Shree Hari.
Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan along with other saints had reached the outskirts of Ahmedabad. Here they rested near the famous step-well of Adalaj.Nishkulanand Swami had gone to fetch water from the step-well and read a stone-inscription there that said:“I am queen Rudi, the daughter of a Kshatriya King. My father got me married to a Muslim King. I don’t quote the amount in figures for construction but one hundred thousand rupees were spent only on digging. I have got this step-well constructed not to reflect my greatness or for fame but for my bliss. I haven’t met such a great person but later on if a great man manifests, I request him to drink this water and bless me.”
According to another legend Rudi was the queen of the ruler of Adalaj. When the emperor of Delhi saw her he expressed his desire to marry her but she went on giving promises and delaying the marriage and in the meantime she got constructed this world famous step-well. When there was no alternative to the marriage with the Muslim emperor, she got inscribed these words in the inscription: “I commit suicide here and I will be redeemed when God will bathe in this step-well.”
In her next birth queen Rudi was born in Dharmaj as the daughter of the ruler Kesarisinh. This princess was named as Kushal – Kunvarba. She was married to prince Somdeva who later on became the ruler of Dharmapur.They had a son named Rupdeva and a grandson named Vijaydev.
Both Somdev and Rupdev had premature death. Vijaydev was made the King and Kushal – Kunvarba served as a regent for the young king. She appointed most efficient and trustworthy officers and spent most of her time in religious practices.
During her administration Dharampur prospered exponentially.
She spent a lot of her time in listening to religious scriptures. Once while listening to the episode of abduction of Rukmini from Smd. Bhagavad-Gita, she asked the priest: “When will God manifest and redeem me by holding my hand?”
To this the priest said: “Well, there is time for everything. Nothing is impossible for a holy woman like you.”
She sought blessings from the saints by serving them food and providing them with the best hospitality.
On one occasion Sadguru Swami Chaitanyanand visited Dharampur. Kushal – Kunvarba tried to touch his holy feet but he said: “Please don’t touch my feet as I am the saint of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.”
She had never heard this name till then. So she asked: “Who is this Bhagwan Swaminarayan?” Param Chaitanyanand Swami said: “He is God – our Lord Shree Purushottam Narayan.”
She then invited Sadguru Param Chaitanyanandji to stay at the royal palace. Here he was provided with separate quarters and good meals. With Vijaykumar, the young king she sent him on an elephant to pay respects to Hanumanji at a temple.
A month passed. He declined to return to Gadhada despite Shree Hari calling him back. So to bring him back Shree Hari sent Swami Muktanand along with other twenty-five saints. They took a voyage from Bhavnagar port to Valsad port and then reached Dharampur. On their way to Dharampur they met Swami Param Chaitanyanandji riding an elephant and going to the Hanuman temple. He got down and bowed down to Swami Mukanand.
When news was sent to Kushal – Kunvarba she made arrangement for all of them to stay at the bungalow near the palace.
Muktanand Swami stayed here for a month enlightening the Queen-Mother all about Swaminarayan way of life.
She prepared a small packet of husked whole rice, also a symbolic form of invitation, and said to Muktanand Swami: “Send this to Shree Hari so that He may visit Dharampur.” Muktanand Swami sent this message through Param Chaitanyanand. Swami Shree Hari understood the symbolic message of husked whole rice and said: “Remove impurity and be pure and dedicate your pure soul to God.”
Shree Hari started His journey along with a group of saints, Kathi devotees and Jivuba and reached Dharampur. On knowing this Kushal Kunvarba rushed from Vansda where she had gone to see her sick niece, Jitabai.
She was formally initiated as a devotee. She was overjoyed and offered to hand over her state to Shree Hari and asked him to rule. To this Shree Hari said: “I am already the ruler of the whole creation. Your state is within this already. It is already mine.”
Shree Hari celebrated here the festival of spring on a grand scale. Shree Hari blessed all Bhils – an aboriginal community by sprinkling colorful water on them.
King Vijaykumar arranged a contest between state musicians and the saints who too were trained musicians. The state musicians failed to play musical instruments in tune with the classical music. However, Shree Hari honored state musicians by presenting them valuable sash.
King Raysimhji of nearby Vansda State also received Shree Hari. King Vijaykumar delighted Shree Hari by his feats of horse riding.
Once after dinner when Shree Hari declined to wipe dry his hands by a very costly piece of cloth offered by Mother-Queen. She at once stretched the corner of her sari and Shree Hari wiped his hands. Then Mother-Queen said: “You have caught the corner of my sari. So you should never turn your face away from me.”
Shree Hari promised to that effect.
Shree Hari stayed there for more than one and a half month.
While leaving Dharampur Shree Hari gave his footprints to her and a boon that she would have His Darshan whenever she meditated.
Shree Hari was given a grand royal farewell.
Kushal Kunvarba could meditate for hours. Shree Hari praised her technique of meditation in one of his sermons (Vachanamrita.S-2) which is‘fix your gaze on the chosen deity, try to see Him in the heart but don’t be unsteady like the tail of a squirrel.’
She has been mentioned in great detail in Bhakta Chintamani by Nishkulanand Swami and by Shatanand Muni in Satsangi-Jivan – Canto – 2. CH –52.
She left for Akshardham in the month of Bhadrapad in Samvat 1920.