Sant Namdeva was a great devotee of Lord Vitthala since his childhood. It is said that, when he used to offer naivedyam, Lord vitthala had to come to eat it, otherwise Namdeva would not take his lunch.
Sant Namdeva has written many abhangas in devotion to the Lord Vitthala. He was the favourite devotee of Lord Vitthala.
As he grew up, the ego/ ahankar of being more close to Lord Vitthala; also developed in him, which was very much visible through his speech and gestures.
On one occasion; Muktabai (sister of Sant Jnaneshvar) noticed that all the respected elder people were doing namaskara to Namdeva but he was not reciprocating the respect. Looking at the egoistic Namdeva, she said to her brothers that Namdeva has no true knowledge and he is a raw pot.
Hearing her statment; her brothers ( Jnaneshvar, Nivruttinath and Sopan) got surprised. Sant Namdev also became angry and frustrated by her statement. So he started word vaada with Muktabai; there only.
At that time, Sant Gora kumhar was the eldest among all the saintly people. To avoid further discussions and arguments, Namdev and Muktabai’s brothers took a decision to consult Sant Gora kumhar in this matter and promised each others to accept his opinion as final and right.

So they went to Sant Gora Kumhar and told him the topic of their dispute. Sant Gora Kumhar asked all of them to sit in the courtyard; in a row. Then he took one small and light stick in his hand and with this stick; started tapping over their heads one by one; very gently.  (In those days, kumhars/potters used to test the rawness of the earthen pots by tapping the stick over the pots. While getting tapped, pots make a particular sound and with this sound, they used to confirm whether the pots were raw or refined and ready to use.)
While Sant Gora kumhar was tapping the stick over their heads, everyone remained silent but as soon as he tapped over Namdev’s head, Namdeva suddenly shouted and got angry. He questioned the way of testing his maturity. Sant Gora kumhar listened his words silently and then spoke to all; ” Yes,  Muktabai was right. Namdev is raw pot;  not refined or matured enough yet.”
Hearing these words; Namdeva became very sad and straightway went to the Lord Vitthala. He cried and asked;  ” Hey Vitthala ! Look, how these people are insulting me. They are saying that I am not mature enough and I don’t have true knowledge. Please guide me.”
Lord Vitthala said, “Those people are right. Tapping over your head with a stick was just the way or trick to provoke you. And I know it was too gentle. Why did you make a sound/ noise?  You reacted with anger. Wise ones don’t react in this way. Gora kumhar is very skilled potter and he knows how to test the pots. You need true knowledge because at present, you know me and you worship me only in this one form. You really need a Guru. Go to Jnaneshvara, he will guide you.”

So, Namdev went to Jnaneshvara and told him his coversation with Lord Vitthala. Jnaneshvara listened him carefully and then asked him to meet Visoba khechar and accept him as a guru.

Namdeva went to the village where Visoba khechar used to live. He asked the villagers his address. Villagers told him that Visoba was in Shiva/ Mahadev temple.
When Namdeva reached the temple, he saw a very weird scene there.
A very old man was sleeping in the temple, keeping his both feet on the Mahadeva pind/ Shivlinga. He was wearing dirty cloths and looking very ugly.
Namdeva got very angry. He thought;  how can such a man be my guru,  who is insulting Lord Shiva by keeping his feet on Shivalinga.
But as Jnaneshvar already told him that Visoba only would be his guru, he found no other way but to wake up the old man-Visoba khechar.
Visoba woke up, with his feet still on the Shivlinga.  Namdev asked him ; ” Why do you keep your feet on the Shivlinga? Isn’t it insulting Lord Shiva? Please remove and keep your feet elsewhere.”
Visoba said; ” Dear, I have become very old now. I don’t have enough strength to move and also I can’t see clearly with my eyes. Can you please move and keep my feet at the place where; you don’t see Lord Shiva?
Namdeva held Visoba’s feet and tried to move in other direction. When he was about to keep Visoba’s feet on the ground; in another direction, suddenly a new shivlinga appeared below the feet.
Namdeva was surprised. But he kept on moving his feet here and there but everytime, new Shivlinga appeared below the feet. Namdeva could’nt find even an inch of the place; where Shivlinga didn’t appear.
At last, Namdeva understood the meaning of all, that was happening.
He realised that Visoba is trying to give him knowledge of all pervasiveness of the Lord by his gestures. He remembered Lord vitthala’s words that he was knowing Lord Vitthala; only in one form and not His all pervasive nature. That idol is only the symbolic representation of the Lord; who in reality, is the infinite; and present everywhere and in everything.
Namdeva bowed down to Visoba khechar. Visoba came in his original form and attire. He blessed Namdeva very compassionately and accepted him as his shishya.
Namdev got the necessary knowledge from his guru, Visoba khechar and thus raw pot is transformed into refined/ matured pot. Thus he became the great saint- Sant Namdeva Maharaj, who influenced many people; especially Sant Tukaram Maharaj.

Points to ponder over this simple story-

1. For those; who consider God; only in the idol form-
Many people pray to the God idol sincerely in their puja ghar but once they leave it, they start thinking evil, doing evil, lying and cheating. Those who believe in the all pervasive nature of the God, will not dare to do any evil deed; anywhere.

3. Signs of the Spiritual progress/ maturity are- # Not getting easily provoked by little things , # No interest in arguments and conflicts. # Not reacting but responding #  Reduced  intensity of anger, hate, envy, jealousy, likes and dislikes # Less expressions of doership # No competition with others# More kind and compassionate towards others.

3. Spiritual maturity is independent of age, socio-economic status or gender. Muktabai was the smallest among all the spiritual seekers at that time. But she was very much spiritually evolved.
5. Visoba was the greatest criticizer of Jnaneshvar, and his family before he was blessed with the knowledge. When he saw Muktabai; roasting rotis on the back of Jnaneshvar ( who raised his body temperature), then only, he believed in his greatness.
5. Even though, Jnaneshvara was knowing this fact about Visoba, he sent Namdeva to Visoba to get adviced. Thus,  spiritually evolved ones don’t get engaged in envious or  revengeful thoughts.
6. Namdeva proved to be the true seeker. When he understood that his knowledge is limited, he prayed and very eagerly asked for help. He followed each and every instructions of even his criticizer and accepted Visoba khechar ( disliked at first sight) as his guru with surrender and faith.
6. In bhakti path, initially; the devotees consider their beloved Lord different and apart from themselves.They worship  Saguna Saakar form of Lord with full faith and surrender.
From advaitic point of view, the one who sees the difference, is the ignorant of the True nature of the Self. But Lord is Sarvagya and Sarvavida( All knower). So although Lord is infinite and all pervasive, for the sake of His devotees, he reciprocates their love by remaining as embodiment. But His every effort is to elevate the spiritual level of His devotees. Lord Vitthala loves Namdeva but He wants him not to get stagnent at one level. He wants Namdeva to know Him in his true nature. He wants Namdeva to realise His all pervasiveness nature and not just  worship Him in limited form. Thus, with His grace, saguna sakar lord help His devotees to evolve spiritually.
There is a beautiful marathi song …

मागे उभा मंगेश
पुढे उभा मंगेश
माझ्याकडे देव माझा, पाहतो आहे.

He is behind and before…He is looking at me….from everywhere.
Saguna roop is adorable…no doubt…. but we should not get attached to His one form only. Because He too wants us to know Him fully. He gives necessary blessings and grace to know Him. That all compassionate Infinite power has to reduce Itself in limited form just for the sake of His devotees. He has to remain in this finite form, till his devotees get knowledge. So if we really love the God, our aim must be to go beyond these limitations to merge with Him.
I have read somewhere that one spiritually evolved but not yet realised person used to say while worshiping God, ” I am so sorry…for invoking you in this finite form just for my satisfaction and material purpose. It is due to my ignorance, you have to come in this finite form. Please bless me..to  become eligible for the self knowledge.”

I think this as a true prayer ; God pleases with.

   Hari Om !