Monday, April 13, 2009

FROM PUTTAPARTHI...SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT - 30: WHEN DEATH COMES CALLING !!!

SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT – 30
 

WHEN DEATH COMES CALLING !!!

 

Lord Vishnu was telling his consort Lakshmi, "Even if the humans are not able to conceive the idea of a Lord or a God, they must be able to know what Love is by experience, is it not? They have experienced the love of parents, of a friend, or of a brother or sister, or towards their own children. That love is itself a spark of God. God could respond if one cries longingly even for a physical mother or father if not God's name."

 

One dark night when Vishnu and Lakshmi were journeying through the sky, they saw a man perched on the branch of a tree, about to fall on the ground through sheer exhaustion of limbs. Lakshmi pleaded on his behalf and wanted that Vishnu should save him; and Vishnu preferred that she should save him, instead since she has equal or even more powers than him!!!

 

Meanwhile, the fall became imminent and so Vishnu & Lakshmi decided that if the man shouted "Amma (mother)," while falling down, Lakshmi should hasten to arrest his fall and if he shouted, "Appa (father)," Vishnu should help and see that no bones are broken & that he doesn't get injured!

 

The man fell, but he shouted neither 'Amma nor Appa', but screamed 'Ayyo' (a sigh of misery)! And so he had to be left severely alone in agony with some broken bones!!! After some time he passed away!"

 

In the sixth skanda of Srimad Bhagavatam, Parikshit asks Shukacharya how to avoid hell and its' horrid experiences. Shuka says the practice of spiritual discipline is the remedy. He said, "If a man, with a feeling of passionate attachment, unites his mind with Krishna's feet even once, he will not see Yama or his emissaries with noose in hand, even in a dream!"

 

Shukacharya then narrated the story of Ajamila. Ajamila was once a very noble brahmin, performing his duties and prescribed rituals most sincerely and was also a good husband, good son and good father. Once when he was in the forest to gather the fuel-wood for his rituals, he fell for a woman, heart and soul. Actually the woman was one of very low morals.

 

From that time onwards he lived with her, abandoned his family and his own parents. He got ten children by her, made a living and supported this large family by blackmailing rich people, by cheating, fraud and gambling. He was particularly fond of the youngest child, Narayana, by name. The attachment to the child was so pronounced that whether he was eating, drinking, relaxing or working, he would always want Narayana to be by his side and partake of his food or participate in his enjoyment.

 

 

When finally the call from Yama, the God of Death, came, it came suddenly and in his agony he cried: O Narayana. Narayana!!! He called aloud with great fear.

 

The messengers of Yama who almost got him in their noose suddenly found from within his heart four well-clad beautiful angel-like figures, each with four hands, preventing the messengers of Yama from discharging their duty. They said, "The one name of God absolves and purifies sins of all kinds, small or large. Even when he has uttered the name without really intending to call the Supreme Lord, it purifies him!!!" Thus they prevented Yama from taking away his soul!
 

That's why we have the habit of giving our children names of Gods & Goddesses! It is a question of practice. When we are thirsty, we don't want all the water from the well. One glass will suffice. Here is a match box with some 60 matches; if we want to light a fire we need to strike one match, not the entire box of matches.

Some more responses…

  1. Dear Sir,

Many thanks for your kind message. You have given a new meaning for patience which always tests one's ability to achieve supremacy in life! Hope after reading this mail (SQ – 29) people's perception will be changed and you have given new approach to achieve our objectives in life. Clear thoughts with clear examples. 

Regards

KALYANARAMAN R S

  1. Dear Sir,

 I never cease to be awed by the way SQ manages to drive home the point with the help of your spiritual quotes, examples and short stories.

 

We youngsters always have these misconceived notions that spirituality is something which is to be pursued only in old age after we have enjoyed our life in our youth, but SQ has been an eye opener for us.

 

I happened to receive a mail with statistics a couple of months back. But I never imagined that these statistics could be reproduced in the form of a spiritual story,

(SQ- 29) giving us a wonderful message that we need to be thankful for mental peace and material comfort bestowed by God on us, than to hanker after things which can just give us momentary feeling of happiness.

 

This write up of SQ is much more intense and thought provoking than the mail which only had statistics in it.  I think the effort taken for compiling these articles for SQ is really commendable and hope that you continue to nourish us daily with your spiritual anecdotes.

Regards

REVATHI

  1. Dear Mr.Murali

 'Green with envy' (SQ – 28) was a wonderful response to my query...Thank you.

 

In fact, your SQ has become quite a repository of spiritual knowledge that besides your quotients, the debates and the exchange of ideas and thoughts have also become equally popular. I have become quite an avid reader of all these and where possible, I have also started partaking in these discussions.

 

Thank you once again for this wonderful opportunity to 'learn' and to 'debate'.

 

May your column grow from strength to strength?

Regards

JAWAHAR.N.R


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