Krishna's devotees: Kumbhandas

Kumbhandas was born in a poor family in a small village called Jamnunavata near Mathura. He was a very simple man and was instructed by his Guru in the worship of SriNathji of Goverdhan. He was a follower of the Pushtimaarga of Sri Vallabhacharya. He was told by his Guru to always first offer prasad to SriNathji and then only consume food. He was doing this diligently and would compose poems celebrating the feeling of longingness for SriNathji. His divine compositions were also heard by Emperor Akbar, who was highly impressed by them. Akbar sent his soldiers along with a palanquin to invite Kumbhandas to the capital Fatehpur Sikri. Kumbhandas was not at all interested to go as he couldn't tolerate separation from SriNathji, but as he couldn't refuse the emperor, he walked all the way to Sikri. The emperor asked him to write a composition. Kumbhandas was so upset that he said the following

भक्तन को कहा सीकरी सों काम। (what is there for devotees in the capital Sikri)

आवत जात पनहिया टूटी बिसरि गयो हरि नाम। (my slippers are broken and I lost the name of lord)

जाको मुख देखे दु:ख लागे ताको करन करी परनाम। (looking at your face I'm getting grief)

कुम्भनदास लाला गिरिधर बिन यह सब झूठो धाम। (without my lord Krishna, this world is false)

Hearing this, Akbar realised this is a great saint and let him go. Kumbhandas rushed to reach Goverdhan to be again with SriNathji and requested SriNathji to never again be separated with him. 

Kumbhandas's devotion had a strong element of longingness and separation. He believed that devotion which is without longingess is not complete. He had seven sons but he would say, I've only 1.5 sons as my 5 elder sons are without devotion and the 6th son is devoted to SriNathji but doesn't have longingness. Only the youngest son is my true son.

Once his 6th son was taking care of Srinathji's cows when a tiger attacked the cows. He told the tiger, leave the cow as they are SriNathji's property, eat me instead. The tiger killed the son. When Kumbhandas got to know about his son's death, he was crying immsensely and lost consciousness. People started saying, even a great saint like Kumbhandas is very much attached to his son. The priest from SriNathji's temple came there and said this can't be the case and told Kumbhandas is not crying for his son, he is crying as now he can't visit the temple for  next few days due to death of his son. The priest whispered to Kumbhandas, for you we will make exception, you can visit the temple even now. Hearing this, Kumbhandas got up and became happy. 

Once Raja Mansingh came to Goverdhan to meet Kumbhandas. That time Kumbhandas was conversing with SriNathji in a state of deep meditation. As soon as Raja Mansingh came, SriNathji moved away and Kumbhandas came out of meditation. He got very upset as his meditation was disturbed. Mansingh wanted to donate him a gold tumbler, some money and even the whole village as Kumbhandas was very poor. However, Kumbhandas refused to have anything. Finally, Mansingh asked him please tell me what you want. Kumbhandas said, please go away and don't show me your face again. Mansingh understood Kumbhandas is a real saint, who wants nothing and went away. 

This story is taken from Chaurasi Vaishnavo ki vaarta(Stories from lives of 84 Vaishnavas). These stories are important part of Sri Vallabhacharya's lineage.