Wednesday 29 May 2013

A friend in need

We have all heard stories about friendship and what it takes to be a good friend. Here is a story that we have often heard, but have never been sure how it ends.
Ramu and Shyamu lived in a village called Karimpur. They were very good friends and were always seen roaming together. Their parents were worried about them as they would disappear into the forest for long periods. Since they were both always together they were not afraid of the forest and seemed to know their way in and out of the forest well.

They picked pebbles all the way to the forest and upon reaching the banks of the river threw the pebbles into the river. They competed with each other in throwing the stones far into the river.

One day as they were walking, they saw a wild bear and both of them froze to the spot. Never have they seen a bear in the forest and both of them were unsure of what they had to do. Shyamu ran to the nearest tree and climbed the tree to protect himself from the bear. Ramu was stranded and did not know what to do. Finally as the bear approached him closely he fell to the ground and acted as though he were dead.

The bear sniffed him all over, yet Ramu remained still and held his breath. After examining him for a couple of minutes the bear lost his interest in him and went away. After ensuring that the bear was nowhere in sight, Shyamu climbed down the tree. He went near Ramu, who by then had sat up. Shyamu apologised to Ramu for running away and asked him what the bear did to him.

Ramu patted Shyamu and told him to calm down. He then put an arm around his shoulder and started walking homeward. Ramu told Shyamu that the bear told him to forgive Shyamu and continue to be his friend. The bear told him at times of danger how a person behaves is not under his control. So that should not be the basis of friendship. Ramu told Shyamu that the bear asked him to remember the good times that we have had together and forget this one incident as a bad dream.

Shyamu hugged his friend, tears rolling down his cheeks. All that Shyamu could manage to tell was, “How lucky I am to have a friend like you!”

Vibhishanan vs. Kumbakarnan Part II

 
 In reply to the invitation extended by Lord Rama, Kumbakarnan tells Vibhishanan that life itself is like a little design on water. It will dry up soon. 

Kumbakarnan says, “Vibhishana, do you think that the love for life will make me take up a position against the one whose home has been my shelter all these years?” Kumbakarnan tells Vibhishanan that he will lay down his life for the sake of the man who has fed him all these years. He tells Vibhishanan to join Rama without hesitation as he, the more learned has to be on the side of truth. He calls Vibhishanan the embodiment of truth and the leader of the world. But, he says, if fighting for the truth befits Vibhishanan, fighting for the sake of the brother who has brought him up, befits him.

If the King commits a crime, it is well if we can change him. If not the only other thing to do is to take up arms, fight for him and die before the one that gave you food and shelter all your life.

Ravana’s actions might have brought dishonour and disrepute, nevertheless a man like him who has ruled the entire universe and has been living a glorious life otherwise, cannot be seen dying alone in the battlefield, without his brothers.
Such greatness belonged to Ravana that he could shake even the mountain of Lord Shiva through his prayers. A valiant man like Ravana cannot die like a lone man on the battle field.

Kumbakarnan tells Vibhishanan that the lust for a kingdom will not make him bow down in front of the enemy of his brother. Kumbakarnan tells Vibhishanan that he has fought the Lord of death and won over him too! So during the war the entire enemy troop will have to bow in front of him. He says he is more powerful than Hanuman, Vaalli’s son Angada, Neelan, Samban and the rest of Rama’s troop, all put together.  

He says that he is like the sun that will wipe away the fog called Rama’s army. He roars that the monkey army will run on seeing him, akin to devas who ran away on seeing the poison while churning for nectar. The rivers will run. The fire and all the elements of the earth will run away in front of his valour. “Then in victory I will float like the kite around the world” thunders Kumbakarnan. If anyone that does not fear the battlefield appears in front of me, then barring Rama and Lakshmana, I will destroy everyone else, challenges Kumbakarnan.

He then calms down and tells Vibhishanan not to wait any more and leave the place. He asks Vibhishanan to resign to the fact that no more pleading will make him change his mind. He hugs his brother one last time and looks at him with love brimming in his heart for his brother. Finally he manages to tell his brother that their relationship ends and he has to move on.

Vibhishanan, being the wise man that he was knew that any further argument is futile and left the camp without uttering one more word.
After Vibhishanan leaves Kumbakarnan stands a broken man. The tears that roll down his cheeks were the blood from his body, as he watches his brother leave one last time.


Tuesday 28 May 2013

Time is elastic!

 
 One day a man went to a Guruji and told him he was always short of time and that he did not find time for anything that he wanted to do. The Guruji told him that time is what it is for everyone. Then he began telling a story.

One day the Narada was chatting with Lord Vishnu and as usual, in a teasing tone asked Lord Vishnu what was needed to be a great Bhakta or devotee.

Lord Vishnu told him that the thinking about God amidst the daily chores makes a great Bhakta. “Then”, said Narada laughingly, “I am your greatest Bhakta!”

It was now the turn of Lord Vishnu to laugh. Narada asked Lord why he was laughing. Lord Vishnu then pointed towards Bhooloka or the earth and told Narada to keep following the actions of a farmer who had just woken up. Narada was now very curious. The farmer woke up very early in the morning, had his bath, did his pujas for about 5 minutes and went to the field. He tilled his field all through the morning and then ate the lunch that he had brought. He slept peacefully under a tree and then woke up around 3 p.m. He watered the plants and removed the weeds from around the field. 

He then sprayed pesticide, manured the field and washed himself up. Then, he got ready to go home. After one look to check if he had missed something, he set off on foot homewards.

As he passed through the temple he got flowers for his wife and for the puja the next day. He went home, played with his children ate his food and went off to sleep.

Now, Lord Vishnu handed over a completely filled cup of oil to Narada. He asked Narada to take 3 circles around the Lord himself. Lord Vishnu was now in a very mischievous mood. As Narada started walking, the lord told him that not a drop of oil should spill and he must complete the three circles within a minute. Narada took careful steps one after the other and went around the Lord. He completed one tensed round and prepared for the next. Lord Vishnu cautioned Narada that one small oil drop on the floor and Narada would not pass his test. Narada became doubly careful. This time he took smaller steps and ensured that the oil in the cup was intact.

Before the Lord could say something the third time, Narada intervened and said, “I know, Lord, not a drop of oil on the floor and I must complete three rounds in a minute, right?” Vishnu gave a charming smile laden with mischief and kindness at the same time. He felt sorry for Narada.

Once Narada finished his third round he put the cup down and sighed with relief. “Now tell me lord, am I not the greatest Bhakta?” he asked triumphantly.
“No” said Lord Vishnu. “You took three rounds around me and how many times did you think of me?” asked the Lord.

Narada objected at once. If a person has been given a tough task and asked to complete within a minute, where is the time to think about God?
Lord Vishnu told Narada, that the farmer had to reach the field early and finish his tasks and return home before sunset. To complete every single task in the field he only had measured time and yet with all the constraints that Narada complained about, the farmer took time to pray to God and to buy flowers for offering Him the next day. 

Lord Vishnu concluded by saying, in life you never get free time, you have to free time to do what you have to do. "Time", said Lord Vishnu, "is elastic".

When the Guruji completed the story, the man was only waiting to thank the Guruji as he knew what he had to do.

Vibhishanan vs. Kumbakarnan Part I


In the Ramayana, the face-off between the two brothers Vibhishanan and Kumbakarnan, is the most poignant scene and speaks volumes for the great character shown by both these great men. 

Lord Rama sends Vibhishanan to bring Kumbakarnan over to his side. Knowing the integrity of Kumbakarnan, Lord Rama does not want him to pay a price for Ravana’s folly. Vibhishanan goes up to Kumbakarnan and tells him that everything that Lord Rama gives him, he is willing to surrender it under Kumbakarnan’s feet. He also promises Kumbakarnan that he will serve him until his last breath. I will follow in your footsteps if you choose to guide me, says Vibhishanan to his older brother.

Vibhishanan further argues that when a person has done a crime he needs to be punished in order to uphold justice. Showing a differential treatment because he is close to you is injustice, says Vibhishanan. He also adds that Kumbakarnan should at once join Lord Rama as these arguments are not unknown to him. “Why am I telling you something that you already know too well?  Can anyone blame you for siding with truth?” asks Vibhishanan.

The thought of losing his innocent brother in the war disturbs Vibhishanan to a great extent and he tries reasoning out with him. If there is a possibility of saving ‘your’ older brother, there is sense in fighting for him. Neither is that possible, nor can you change dharma to justify what your brother has done, says Vibhishanan to Kumbakarnan. “All that will happen is that you will die in the battle field and hell will be your next destination”, he warns.

But if Kumbakarnan fights for justice and joins Lord Rama in the war, he will get the blessings of the great saints. He can conquer all his enemies with ease. His glory will remain undying. At this stage in his life he should fight for justice. Taking up arms for an erring brother is like plucking the flowers when it starts becoming a fruit.

“The Lord of Vedas has beckoned you to his side. His love for you will be unconditional” says Vibhishanan. Vibhishanan bows in front of his brother and begs him to save himself and the future generations of Lanka by making the right choice.
In reply Kumbakarnan justifies his position to Vibhishanan. In his speech Kumbakarnan not only exhibits mental and physical tenacity, but he also shows his deep rooted loyalty and gratitude towards his older brother, Ravana.


Sunday 26 May 2013

Twice as much




In the kingdom of Hanumanthanagara, there lived a dhobi along with his wife and children.

The King Veervardhan was an able ruler and a compassionate human being. But he always desired for more. Very often he would say that he wished he had two kingdoms. His only son, Prince Harivamsa, was sent to the Gurukul to learn the various skills that would make a good King in the future. The King also desired he had two children. This greed sometimes got the better of him and put his subjects in trouble.              
                                
The subjects living in the kingdom did not have enough as the King wanted to save twice as much as he needed. The dhobi and his family who lived in Hanumanthanagara, made enough to satisfy their own needs. Each day the dhobi would take his clothes to the banks of the river and wash and dry them.  Just before eating the lunch that his wife dutifully packed for him each day, he would fetch the dried clothes and place them under the tree. He would then eat his lunch, rest for a while and carry on with his duty by segregating the clothes and binding them in different bundles to be handed over to the respective owners. Then he would go from house to house to return the clothes to the owners, make his collection and go back home before the sun set.

One day, as was his usual routine, he went to the banks before lunch to collect the dried clothes. He had to segregate them and bind them in different bundles to hand them over to their owners. With these thoughts he picked up the clothes and placed them on his shoulders when he heard a sob coming from under the tree. He promptly dropped the clothes and went in the direction from where the sobs came.
He saw a young boy sitting under the tree and sobbing. The dhobi gently went next to him and asked him why he was crying. The boy, on seeing the dhobi wiped his tears and took control over himself before replying that he was tired and hungry and wanted to get back home.

Without another word, the dhobi gently led the boy to the shade of the tree where he had kept his lunch. He opened the pack, neatly divided the food into two parts and fed the lad before eating his part of the food. Then he asked the boy who he was and where he lived. 

The young boy did not reply and simply said, “I know the way to my house and if you can accompany me I will show the way.” The dhobi went with the boy until they reached the palace of Raja Veervardhan.  

As they entered the palace, the king came running towards the boy and hugged him. The young boy was none other than Prince Harivamsa. Harivamsa then told the King that he had wanted to tour the kingdom on his own, but lost his way and only after a long tiring walk came to the banks of the river. He told the King that the dhobi had shared his food with him and accompanied him to the palace without asking him who he was.

The King was pleased with the dhobi and asked him how he could share his already meagre food with a stranger. 

The dhobi, though overwhelmed by the happenings, calmly replied that one person’s food can be safely shared and eaten by two people, but when one person tries eating the food of two people it is recipe for disaster!

The King understood his folly and thanked the dhobi for his timely advice. 


                         

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