GOD'S ABODE

Lord Sri Krishna once came to his hut; He pacified Chokkayya and his wife; he promised them that He would visit them often and be with them. They were very happy and prayed the lord with ecstatic devotion. Chokkayya resumed his normal life of sweeping the village roads crossing the river in the morning; and returned to his hut in the evening crossing then river; he made a small crude boat with wood in the forest for crossing the river. Once Lord Sri Krishna told Chokkayya that He would visit his hut on Vaikutha Ekadasi, pious festival noon, and would have dieenr in his house. That day, Chokkayya finished his road-cleaning duties early and returned to his hut by boat in the noon. Some villagers saw this; they felt curiosity and followed him secretly; they crossed the river in a regular ferry-boat; they hid behind the trees in the forest and listened the talk in the hut. They over-heard Chokkayya and his wife talking and praising Sri Krishna as if conversing with Sri Krishna and serving him many delicious food items. They felt Chokkayya is a cheat. They thought they could get him greater punishment, if they complained against him to the king. Two person hastened to the king and reported many bad things to him to prove Chokkayya was cheating people; he talked as if was conversing with the Lord Sri Krishna directly; also today he is playing a drama of offering noon dinner to Lord himself. The king was annoyed; he sent some armed soldiers to arrest Chokkayya and bring him to royal court. When the soldiers and villagers arrived, they should Chokkayya to come out of the hut; then he was serving curd to Lord. When he heard loud shouts he was perplexed and his hand shivered and some curd spilled over the yellow silk garment of Lord. Both wife and husband came out to see what those shouts were. Immediately the soldiers tied Chokkayya’s hands with ropes and led him to the royal court; his wife ran after him; they left Lord Sri Krishna behind in the hut. They had no time to take leave of Him or to clean the garment Sri Krishna wore.

The king then ordered Chokkayya to be tied to a bullock cart and drag him on stony hills till he bleeded to death. Satyavathi explained what happened in the hut; nobody believed her. When all was ready and the bullocks were provoked to run; they did not run; the card also did not move. All were Surprised; nobody know what happened. Only Satyavathi saw a surprise; Lord Sri Krishna sat on the cart and held the ropes tight so that the bullocks do not move. She praised the Lord with folded hands. Then an old Brahmin in the gathering told the king to go to the temple of Sri Krishna and find out the truth. The king and his followers and the soldiers with Chikkayya tied by hands with ropes and his wife all went to the temple.

Chokkayya and his wife and the soldiers stayed out while the king and his followers went in. The priests welcome the king with temple-honours; the kind had the darshan of the main idol of Sri Krishna; then words came from the idol; “Oh! King! Chokkayya is a true devotee; what all he and his wife told was true; when he was beaten and chased out of the temple for trying to enter and have darshan, I left the temple and stayed with him in his hut. It was true, I had my noon-dinner I his home. You see the spilled curd still on my garment. I love my devotees; his caste, birth and such others do not count at all. I always stay in the heart of my true devotee.” The king and all others there saw the curd-stain on the garment tied to the idol of Deity. All were surprised and awed at these words of Lord, coming from the idol. Chokkayya was set free; the king honoured him and his wife.

Then Chokkayya and his wife lived happily for many years, totally dedicating their lives in the service Lord Sri Krishna. At the end they merged into Lord Sri Krishna & attained Kaivalyam (union with God). The caste system was originally started in India with a social purpose, based on the professions. The aim was to ensure smooth running of social life in the country. All professions were then treated equally with equal respect; the professions were passed on in the families, generation to generation. But slowly evil practices percolated into the caste system; some were treated well; some were ill-treated; untouchability is the worst of the evils. Even now this cruel practice is not totally eradicated. A person is to be deemed respectable by his nature, behaviour & character but not by his / her birth or caste or social status. Then only the society progresses and human welfare is achieved.

God's Abode

GOD’S ABODE.

There was a small village Pandurangapuram on the banks of the river Chandravathi. Once there lived a sweeper by name Chokkanatham; his wife Satyavathi was a pious lady. Chokkayya belonged to a low caste by birth. But he was a noble person and a great devotee of Lord Sri Krishna.

He got his yearly salary from the king for sweeping the temple premises and roads around the temple. Chokkayya, popularly called by the villagers, was docile and lived a devotee’s life; he woke up before sunrise, took bath in the river; prayed Sun-god at dawn. Then he came home, had his pooja (worship) to Lord Sri Krihna, take his breakfast and go to the temple premises to do his duties.

In spite of his great devotion to God, the priests never permitted Chokkayya to enter the inner temple and to have darshan (sight) of the main idol Lord Sri Krishna, because they believed allowing a low-caste person into the sanctum-sanctorum was a sin and the temple’s piety would be ruined. But Chokkayya had a great desire ti see the Lord’s main idol in the temple & prayed Sri Krishna to grant that boon; once Lord asked Chokkayya to follow the band of pilgrims from Chandrapuram and enter the temple an have darshan of the Lord’s idol. He followed Lord’s advice; but one of the priests recognized Chikkayya as the sweeper and shouted at him to go away; in the mean time, other priests also came running there; they drove Chokkayya out of the temple beating him wth lathis (thick sticks). He was wounded and bleeding all over his body; a complaint was lodged against him in the village-court (grama-pancnayat) against Chokkayya for his attempt to enter the inner temple.

He was sentenced to leave that village and shift to the other bank of the river and stay near the forest. Chokkayya built a hut there on the river bank at the boarder of the forest. There was no village there. (to be continued).

BHARAVI- A REPENTENT YET WORTHY SON

PART--2

Luckily Srikantha Sarma entered the house from the back door of the house and entered the kitchen; his wife was there waiting for his son and husband to come. She did not know of Bharavi’s arrival and his evil design and his preparation. Srikanth Sarma shivered with joy and shouted aloud with happiness;

“Oh! Dear Managla Gouri ! I am very very happy today. Our son has been crowned as Maha-Kavi-Chakravarthi(Emperoro of great poets & writers) today. He deserves that honour; I am proud of him. The fruits of our good deeds (Punyam) over the past 9 births was born to us as this son. May he live for a thousand years! I feared his longevity would decrease when all the elders and the king praised our boy profusely. So I told them modestly that it was their kindness and affection that made him great; he was young and immature. I do not mean it. But I talked only to ensure their / our praise should not affect his longevity. He is an invaluable jewel of our family. He is the son far far greater than his parents; I am very proud of him. Let us celebrate this great honour to our great son tomorrow on the Vijaya Dasami day with pomp and gaity. By the by, I have not seen the boy; he left well before I left the king’s court hall. You give him Harathi and welcome into the home; I shall recite manthras (sanskrit-verses) of blessings and bring him into our home. Make preparations soon. I shall stand at the main door and wait for him and invite him into the house.”

Bhaarvi heard what all his father told his mother. He realized his great mistake and misunderstanding. He repented his behviour and preparations to kill him. He threw the iron rod out on to the road; he rushed to his father and fell on his feet weeping. His parents were bewildered not knowing what happened and why their son was weeping. His father recovered first, lifted his son up embraced him and kissed him on the brow profusely. Both the parents expressed their joy and offered Harathi and verses of blessings. All the time Bhaaravi was weeping. Finally the asked him why he was weeping; actually he must be happy of the honour he received in the king’s court an hour earlier.

Bhaaravi told them of his misunderstanding his father’s speech in the royal court; how his anger killed his love and respect to his father; how he wanted to kill his father with an iron rod; & how he hid behind the main door. God was kind and his father entered the home by back door and entered the kitchen first and talked of his real pleasure to his mother. He understood the real love of his father and repented his evil design. He begged his father to punish him severely for this evil plan to kill him.

His parents were first shocked; but ; slowly recovered. They pardoned him whole-heartedly with immense love and affection. But Bhaaravi insisted that a suitable punishment must be given to him. He refused to take food and water unless and until he is given proper punishment. At last his father yielded to his son’s pressure. Alright you asked for it; please do not commit suicide if you feel the punishment is unbearable. If you feel it is unbearable, leave it and come home. If you promise to abide by this condition, then only I tell you the punishment. Bhaaravi agreed. His father, Srikanth Sarma told the punishment; “ You go to your father-in-law’s house three days before Divali festival; you stay there for one month (30 days).Do not act in haste in an unthoughtful manner there; suffer the punishment with patience and come home after conveying your thanks to their family for all their treatment during that one month. Do not tell them about this punishment or your long-stay there. Keep silent and take the treatment they give with coolness and rectitude.” Bhaaravi and his mother, both were surprised. Bhaaravi’s father-in-law was the elder brother of Smt. Managala Gouri, mother of Bhaaravi. She knew his brother and all his family loved and respected Bhaarvi and his family very much. The mother and son felt Sarma fooled them. But due to the love, respect & trust they had to Srikanth Sarma, the mother and son did not say anything against. After hearing the punishment, Bhaaravi felt relieved & took his dinner and rested for night. The next day the entire family celebrated Vijaya Dasami festival with pomp and gait to mark the great honor bestowed on Bhaaravi.

BHARAVI- A REPENTENT YET WORTHY SON

BHAARAVI.

Long long ago there was a great Sanskrit scholar by name Bhaaravi. He was young, energetic and a great scholar; he had all the 32 great qualities prescribed for a great and noble person. He was the 23 years old. He was writing a great book called KIRAATHA & ARJUNEEYAM; the story of King Arjuna; Bhaktha Kannappa & Lord Siva, in Sanskrit. His fame and the greatness of his literary work spread all over the world. His father Srikanth Sarma was also a erudite scholar.

Once the king of the land Sri Maheswara Varma declared to celebrate DASARA POOJA festival with pomp and gait. He declared competions in various aspects of proficiency, like archery, dance, music, horse-race, chariot-race and original writings of great literary works. On Mahanavami holy day a grand gathering of great scholars all over the world was arranged & the erudite scholar and his

greatest literary work would be greatly honoured.

That holy day came; thousands of scholars attended from all over the world; many kings of the world also came to participate in the festivities. The whole day several great writers participated in the competition; by night nine o’clock; the BEST erudite scholar was judged by a jury of five. Young

Poet Bhaskara was selected for the honour for his great literary work KIRAATHA ARJUNEEYAM.

The king Maheswara Varma lead the young scholar Bhaaravi to the glod-throne; he was seated there.

Flowers of gold, 1116 flowers were showered on Bhaaravi by the King and Queen. He was honoured with a title of MAHA-KAVI-RAJA. The short speeches praising Bharavi were delivered. The King

praised Srikantha Sarma as fortunate; and praised him for giving birth to such a noble and erudite son and training him to reach the pinnacles of glory, at a young age of 23 years.

Srikantha Sarma was modest. He thanked the king profusely for showering his affection on his son. He told it was not his son’s greatness but the affection of the king and the members of jury that got this great honour to his son; he is young & immature; he needs many more years of sincere learning to elevate him to the status of MAHA-KAVI-RAJA. So saying he blessing his son and sat down.

Bharavi felt humiliated by the modest speech of his father; he felt his father was envious. He did not like this honour given to his son. His anger boiled like lava in his heart. After the court is dismissed, he hurried to his house, leaving his father behind. His father searched for him & was told that his already left in a hurry. Bhaaravi wanted to kill his father for his insulting speech before the king. So he took an iron rod and himself behind the front door of his house. He wanted to hit his father on his head till he died, when he entered the house through the front door.

KINDLINESS IS GODLINESS !

The angel explained: “What is the noble quality you find in persons, which helps the human race to go well ? The answer I found is ; humanity, kindness and generosity. I got the answer on the very first day from you. Ramayya was drunk; he kicked my body lying on the road in very weak condition.
You wanted to leave me there and moved on; but pity for me overpowered you. You gave me some brandy and helped me to walk and brought me home; your wife was furious with you and with me’
Her poor condition and bad state of family prompted her anger. But she calmed in a few minutes. She felt sympathy for me; she offered me gruel to quench my hunger and allowed me night-rest. Next morning, though you wanted me to leave the house due to your poor condition, you agreedto allow me to stay with you and work as an assistant; you never expected any good to happen. Only humanity and kindness prompted you to help me. I could find a shelter and food till I get redresses.

The second question is: What is the information a person can not have well in advance, in spite of his greatness, power, prosperity and wisdom ? The answer is “the knowledge of his death”. When the the rich land-lord came in, I saw an angel at the door ready to take his life away to God. I smiled at that angel-friend. I also felt amused at the haughty behaviour and talk of the land-lord; his warning to behead us, if the shoes are not prepared as per his instructions and design. So I prepared the slippers to be fitted to his dead-body.

The third question is : What happens to babies born as orphans ? The answer is “God takes care of them. He provides them what best is needed to the baby depending on the past karma (destiny)”. In the case of the twins, I found they were given far better life by God as the grand-children of a very rich lady. If their parents were alive, they would have lived the life of ordinary babies of lower middle class. “ So saying the angel disappeared and returned to heaven to serve God.

These answers are also valuable morals to every person in this world, at all times.

KINDLINESS IS GODLINESS ! -part-3

One year passed; it was morning time about 9 hrs. The sun was bright and the sky was clear. Then a rich lady past middle-age came in a horse carriage; she brought in two young baby-girls aged 3 years. Two lady-servants came as attendants. She showed the feet of the girls and ordered to make luxury shoes for them; she offered thousand dinars, as price, for the two pairs of shoes. She gave one week’s time. The cobbler couple were surprised to see one foot of one girl was deformed; separate trace drawing was taken for that foot. They asked the lady why the foot was deformed.

The rich lady relied; “These girls are not my children; her mother was working as my attendant for over ten years; I liked her very much; I treated her not as an attendant but as my friend well-wisher and advisor. Her husband owned twelve hectors of land; he was supervising the agriculture of our fields also; he was honest and good natured; we treated the couple as part of our own family .

Then she was pregnant; she gave birth to these twins during midnight; nobody was present then. She was alone; her husband was in the fields as watch-man of the heaps of grain. She shivered with pain at the time of conceiving; her legs pressed the feet of this baby hard; so her foot was deformed.

After some minutes the mother died, leaving these children orphans. Their father also died by snake-bite the same night. I adopted them as my grand-children. I want the shoes in three days” When the lady and her children left, Santayya smiled and look up to the sky. After three days, the rich lady came with the two babies; the shoes were ready; they fitted them well’ She felt happy; thanked the cobbler couple and Santayya, paid the charges and left.

The a miracle happened; the room was filled with sky-blue radiance; Santyya rose up; now there stood an angel. The cobbler couple were astonished. The angel spoke, “ Do not fear; I am an angel. I was once assigned the duty of bringing the life of a women to God; I went to that house; it was night; she was alone and helpless; just then she gave birth to twins. You saw them today. The mother saw me; she prayed me not to take away her life; the children become orphans & soon die of hunger. I already took away the life of the father who had snake-bite. So I felt sympathy. I returned to God empty-handed. God was angry. He asked me to go back and bring the life of that women; then I returned I took away the life of that woman. She struggled while dying; he leg trampled the foot of the infant and was deformed. I returned her life to God; God cursed me to go to earth and live there as a poor cobbler and find answers to three questions; when I get answers my curse is removed. I again become the angel and return to heaven to serve God. Today I got answers to all the three questions; my curse is removed. I regain my original angel position; now I return to God. I thank you for having given me shelter and food all these three years. I reward you these riches. Live happily.” Then the cobbler-couple bent on their knees with worship and fear; they prayed him to pardon their rude treatment to him as a worker. Then they prayed him to tell them the questions and answers.

KINDLINESS IS GODLINESS !

One day it was (Tuesday) about 5 hrs. in the evening. The lord of that county (district) came in a chariot drawn by four horses; five attendants accompanied him on horses with spears and swords. He showed great pomp & royal status. The cobbler couple bent down on their knees and greeted him with folded hands (namaste). The lord was proud, haughty and stern in his words and behaviour.
He thundered ; “ I heard highly about your worker Santayya; I bring some rare type of deer skin. It costed me thousand dinars. I bring some costly gems also; they cost thousands of dinars (one dinar was one gold coin of 25 gms). I want artistic shoes as per the design; I got it drawn on a paper here. I pay one thousand dinars as labor-charges. I want to wear these shoes when I shall attend the coronation function of the son of the emperor next week. I give three days time. If any mishap occurs, I behead your entrire family; be careful.” The chief attendant gave the deer skin and some rare gems and gold laces to Ramayya. The cobbler replied,” Yes ! My lord! We make shoes exactly as per the design-diagram you gave; there shall be no mishap or no delay. Let your attendant come on Friday evening; the shoes will be ready as per your orders.” At that time Santayya stared at the entrance door of that room; and smiled. The cobbler couple noted this; but said nothing. They had full faith on Santayya; they gave the materials and drawings to him to make shoes as per order.
Three days were over; Santayya prepared beautiful slipper but not shoes; these slipper are to be fitted to the feet of a dead person, before burying him in a grave. The cobbler couple found this late; they lost their temper; they scolded him aloud; Sanyasamma brought a dagger to stab Santayya.
Santayya was calm and well-composed; he was not irritated; he replied, “I did correct foot-ware; there is no mishap. You get no risk.” Just then the attendant came; he asked whether the shoes were made; he told the lord died that morning; he does not need shoes as per original order. He needs slippers to be fitted to his feet, before burying the corps. He saw the slippers were ready. He felt happy, paid the thousand dinars as charges and took the slippers with him. The cobbler couple were astonished; yet were pleased to note no mishap occurred. All went well.

Santayya was silent; he looked at the sky towards heaven and saluted with folded hands. The couple were surprised. The business prospered well; the cobblers built a very huge mansion, with royal luxuries. They acquired hundreds of hectors of agricultural lands; they were very happy and rich and famous. They stopped working and lived happily, enjoying the luxuries; only Santayya was working as cobbler.

KINDLINESS IS GODLINESS !

KINDNESS IS GODLINESS.

Part : I

On the banks of river Bhima, there was a village by name, Ramavaram. There lived a cobbler named Ramayya; he was middle aged; his wife was a shrew; he had two daughters aged 12 & 9. He was unhappy in life and with his wife; so he became a drunkard. His family was poor and lived in a hut on the outskirts of the village, near the river-bank. His wife could not run the family & faced severe financial troubles; they starved usually. Whatever he earned, he spent most of it for liquor.This irritated her; whenever he came home, in drunken condition, she used to beat him with brooms. She also mended and repaired damaged shoes and chappals at home & earned some money to support the family; the daughters were working as servant-maids in the nearby houses of rich familiesand eked their livelihood. Every night there was fierce fighting between the drunkard and his wife. One night it was very dark; it was a new-moon night. Ramayya was coming home half-drunk; the liquor bottle was in his hand. On the road he stumbled on a log and fell down; he rose up cursing the log; but he felt the log was soft; so he looked with his eyes wide open in that darkness; he fond it was a man. It was winter time. The man had only a loin cloth on and is naked. He was shivering; he was very weak and emancipated. Ramayya walked about a furlong (200 mts) leaving the man behind; he came back and again stared at the man in distress. Again Ramayya recollected his poverty & felt helpless; again he walked for over half-mile. The man on the road was lingering in his thoughts; he came back his heart was filled with sympathy for the man; he made the man drink the brandy in the bottle; the man slowly recovered. Ramayya lifted the man & gave him support & took him home. His wife, named Sanysamma, was very angry; she should; “Wretched drunkard; you come home every night fully drunk; you are a menace to the family; we all toil hard to feed us & you also. Now, you bring another wretched beggar to our home to be fed. Throw him out.” So saying she branded her boom and gave three ormor blows to Ramayya; then she shouted at the other man, “We are beggars; we do not have any bag of money here to feed you; you wretched person; off! go away!” She stared at the man and found his condition is pitiable; a spark of sympathy lit her heart. She said; “Alright, I pity you; I give you a glass of gruel to drink. Sleep here tonight and leave us early morning; we cannot feed you every day.” She offered him a glass of gruel to drink. The man drank and expressed his profound thankfulness to the wife and husband by his smiling looks and his hands folded to say namaste (salutation). He then looked up towards the sky and lifted his hands to offer namaste to God. He was youthful, about 30 years of age; he suffered starvation; so he looked ill. Next morning, they asked the man about him. He replied; “I am all alone in this world; I have no family, no friends, no relatives & no place to life in. If you can keep me with you, I shall work for you and earn for you; what all I earn is yours; I need food, clothing and place to stay in. You may try me for a month; if you so feel, I shall leave you.” The cobbler couple agreed. He was named Santayya. Ramayya showed him how to mend & make new shoes. In just three days time, Santayya learned every-work very well; the cobbler couple were amazed by his artistic skill, speed and technical perfection in his work; soon Ramayya & Santayya Cobbler shop won good name all over the state. Every day dozens of customers came and got the foot-ware made. Santayya’s artistic shoes fetched the prices 100 to 200 times the normal shoes. Soon they became rich. They built a new spacious house, with all comforts. The girls joined a good school for education; the family hadfine and costly clothes of silk. The family members were very happy and prosperous. But Santayya never asked anything; he worked for 16 hours a day; he worked all the seven days in a week; he took no holidays. He ate whatever food was given to him; he slept on the same ordinary cot and cotton bed; he prayed God twice a day before taking food for about fifteen minutes, offered the food to God (naivedya) first and ate it later as prasadam. The cobbler couple treated him very well; they gave him good, healthy, and tasty food and plenty of milk. He was happy; he wore ordinary dress only. He refused all luxuries and comforts; he was content. He was silent most of the time; he never talked unless questioned. He was polite and courteous to all. All liked him very much. He never went out of the house; and always stayed in doors, doing the work. ‘Work is worship’ for him. In one year time, the cobbler family became millionaires; Santayya still lived as a humble worker. He lived a pious life. He had no desires, no anger, no greed, no hatred, no pride, no envy; he wascontent with what he was given and never complained. He lived like a saint. (To be continued tomorrow)

KINDNESS REPAID !

Kindness repaid !

There lived a poor boy, named Dayasagar (aged 12 years), with his widowed mother in the village of Amaravathi on the bank of river Krishna. One day, Dayasagr, who was selling plastic toys and goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one rupee left, and he was thirsty and hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house.

However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman, Karunamayi, opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water.

She thought he looked very hungry so brought him a full plate of upma (wheat floor cooked with spices) . He ate it slowly, and drank water; then he asked, "How much do I owe you?"

"You don't owe me anything, "She replied." "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness." He said, then I thank you from my heart.

As Dayasagar left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man grew stronger also. He had been ready to give up and quit his faith.

35 years later that woman, Karunamayi became critically ill. The local doctors wer baffled. They finally sent her to the nearby big city, Guntur, where they called in specialists from a renowned private hospital to study her rare disease. Dr. Dayasagar was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the lady and the name of the village she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.

Dressed in doctor's gown he went into see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case.

After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Dayasagar requested the accounts office to pass the final bill to him for approval.

He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all.

Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill.

She read these words... "Paid in full with one full plate of upma ! " (Signed) Dr. Dayasagar

Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: "Thank You, God, that your love has spread all over the world through human hearts and hands."

INDEBITEDNESS AND GRATITUDE

INDEBTEDNESS & GRATITUDE.

There was a town named Amaravathi on the banks of the holy river Krishna. A king by name Vishnu Varma was its ruler; he was an exemplary king and won the appreciation of all the people. There was a great vedic scholar and priest in that town by name Amaraeswara Sastry. He was a very pious person; he completed 85^th years of age. He never begged or accepted any free gifts from any person. He was financially poor, yet rich in self-respect. Every day he went to river Krishna three times; at 5-30 morning at 11-30 noon and at 5-30 evening. He bathed in the holy river & stood in waist-deep water and offered prayers to Sun God Lord Sri Savithru; and return home to do his duties.

There lived a cobbler by name Dharmayya in the same town. He had his shop near the temple on the river bank near the boats-ferry. He was earning well by mending shoes and making new shoes; visitors to temple and people and traders who come to the ferry were his customers. He was young, of 31 years old. He was kind generous and helpful to all people and to people in distress. He was not rich but well to do. He also worked as a night usherer in the town. Every night he goes round the streets and the king’s palace three times and should aloud beating his drums; “Attention! Attention! Attention! Awake ! thieves are ready to enter your house & plunder your houses; Awake!” He was paid 300 gold mohurs as yearly salary by the king for this duty. Dharmayya was very sincere & he never missed his duty even for a single night. He did his duty four times in the night at 8, 11, 2, & 5 hrs. He won liked by all town-folk and by the king for his good nature and dutifulness.

In those days shoes were very costly; each shoe was about 3 to 9 gold mohurs depending on its quality. Amaraeswara Sastry was poor and did not have money to buy shoes. So he always walked naked-foot. It was the month of May; (Jyeshtam); the tropical summer was fierce; the room temperatures were around 105* F, every day. Yet Sastry walked to the river in burning Sun at noon to bathe and offer the noon prayers to Sun God. He was walking in burning sand bare-foot suffering a lot. So one day Dharmayya saluted Sri Sastry and offered to make and give him a pair of new (shoes) chappals free; Sastry thanked and declined; he had no money to pay, the 3 mohurs the cost; he had a firm practice of never accepting any free gift from any person. Dharmayya felt pity & dismay.

Dharmayya watched Sastry with dismay for one week; he wanted to help Sri Sastry secretly; he made a pair of chappals for Sastry. He left them near his clothes bag, when Sri Sastry went into water to bathe. Then Dharmayya closed his shop and went home for noon lunch and rest. Sri Sastry came on to the river bank after his noon-bath and prayers; the sun was red-hot; the sand was frying red.
Sri Sastry saw the new chappals near his bag; he looked round for Dharmayya; he was not there; his shop was closed. Sri Sastry hesitated to wear the chappals, waited for about ten minutes. He felt his bare-feet burning in the hot sand. He wore the chappals in resigntation and left the place. One month passed. Sri Sastry wore the chappals daily and felt relief from hot Sun and the scorching-sand.
Dharmayya watched Sri Sastry wearing the chappals and felt secret pleasure.

Once Sri Sastry saw Dharmayya and thanked him and said God shall bless him; then the cobbler replied he had no sons, even after 8 years of his married life and asked Sri Sastry to bless him

so that he can have son soon. Sri Sastry blessed him that God shall soon with a son. Three months passed. Sri Sastry died of old age. Dharmayya felt distressed at the death of such a holy person.

One year passed; the wife of cobbler was blessed with a son; the couple were happy and thanked God; they believed that the blessings of the holy person Sri Sastry were fruitful and they had the son. They named by boy after the name of the God in the nearby temple and name of Sri Sastry as Amar; The boy grew well; he got the best nature and all good qualities. He was a great devotee of God and prayed Lord Sri Surya (Sun), three times regularly. He also learnt to read and write. He sat with his father in his shop and mastered the art of shoe-making. He grew to a boy of 12 years, hale, healthy and had very attractive appearance of a Brahmin boy. All the town-folk liked the boy and his good nature and often praised Dharmayya for having such a gifted and well-bred son.

Once Dharmayya got Malaria fever; he was shivering with cold; the doctor gave him chincona decantation juice for one week and asked him to take bed-rest for one week at home. So Dharmayya asked his son Amar to do his duty of night usherer. The boy agreed. Night came.

It was 8 P.M. the boy ushered aloud near the king’s palace a Sanskrit verse in clear and melodious voice of a holy Brahmin. “Attention! Attention! Attention! Six thieves named Kaama (lust), Krodhaa (Anger), Lobhaa (Greed), Mohaa (sex-desire), Madaa (Pride & Arrogance), Maathsarya ( Envy) are ready to loot you and doom your life. Awake! Destroy them!”. The king Vishnu Varma heard this sloka (verse) thrice; he was surprised; he was a great scholar; he understood the great significance of this verse.

He again heard this verse at 11 P.M.; he wondered who this new usherer was and what happened to Dharmayya. Again the king kept awake out of curiosity & heard the usherer repeat the verse 3 times
near his palace at 2 A.M and again 3 times at 5 A.M. The king was immensely pleased with this new usherer; his genius, erudite nature and wanted to honour him in his royal court next day.

Next morning he consulted his ministers and court-schlars about the night-incident; they also reported they heard the new usherer reciting the verse in a very loud & melodious shouting tone.

They also strongly advised the king to honour the new usherer in a befitting manner. The king sent word to the cobbler couple to come to the royal court immediately. Five soldiers went to the house of
Dharmayya and told of kings orders to come to the court with his wife immediately; the king sent them a horse-carriage; the couple were perplexed and feared something went wrong and the king sent for them to punish. They asked the Amar to sit in the shop near the ferry and went to the court.

The king asked the couple what was wrong and why a new usherer was sent the previous night. The cobbler couple shivered with fear; they felt things went wrong and they get beheaded soon for that crime. Then Dharmayya fell on the feet of the king and wept pathetically; Oh! My Almighty Lord, Sir! I beg you to pardon me and my son. I beg you to spare us for this time from death penalty for the great mistake we did! I had malaria-fever and was shivering violently; the medical practioner gave me nedicine and advised me bed rest for one week. My son was with me several times in the past when I did my duty as usherer around the town. I thought he can do it properly and asked me to do the job last night in my place; I never expected him to make mistakes and incur your wrath. Please spare him and his life; you may behead me if you want to punish us for what happened.” So saying he wept; his wife also fell on the feet of the king and begged pardon. The king was amused; he assured them they will not be harmed. He sent again a horse-carriage to bring Amar to the royal court; the soldiers went and brought the boy to the court.

The boy entered the royal court and bent on his knees before the king and touched his feet with his brow as a mark of reverence to the king. The king was pleased, he lifted the boy holding his shoulders and asked him about his usherer duty the previous night. The boy told the truth and said he did not think it a crime to usher in that verse; he begged the king to pardon his parents for his crime and punish him. The king embraced the boy and made him sit on his throne by his side. All were perplexed and applauded loudly the king’s noble gesture. The king told aloud the court-assembly what all happened. The King said; “God has given me invaluable gift in the form of this young erudite scholar. I appoint him as a court-scholar and as a member of the cabinet of counselors to the king; though very young in age, he deserves this honour; so saying the king covered him with a golden-embroidered silk shawl as a mark of the great honour; then he praised the cobbler couple as very lucky for having given birth to such a celebrity son. The cobbler couple were over-whelmed with joy, though did not understand how their son was a great scholar and what the verse he ushered last night meant. They believed the king was over-generous and showered his grace on the boy. The king then
announced the boy would get 10 thousand gold mohurs as his honororium and would be given a royal mansion to stay in with his parents. The cobbler couple almost fainted with over-joy.

Then the king gave a bag containing 10,000 gold mohurs as advance salary for this year to the boy. The boy thanked the king and came down and prostrated to his cobbler parents with full respect. He the talked aloug: “ Amma and Baba! Most Venerable King ! and great persons present in this royal court. I am happy today. The King rewarded me as a erudite scholar. During my previous life I was Amareswara Sastry; but I was not lucky to get the royal patronage then; I did not even try for it. My father gifted a pair of chappals to Sri Sastry to wear in hot summer; compelled by need and poverty Sri Sastry accepted that free gift from Dharmayya, in a helpless situation. So Sri Sastry was indebted to Dharmayya. Sri Sastry could not get moksham (freedom from birth & death cycle, though he richly deserved it). So Sri Sastry was born as a son to these good natured couple as a son.

Today the great king gave me 10,000 gold mohurs as a reward; I take it and give that bag of mohurs to my parents; now I am freed from my indebtedness to my father for the chappals he gave me as charity in my last birth / life. Now I have no shackles to bind me. I am free from all Karmaa & worldly-bonds.

Now I go to the Supreme Lord to attain moksham. Please bless me.” So saying the boy Amar fell down dead in the arms of his father. The sorrow of the cobbler couple, the king and the courtiers had no bounds. But after a few days they recovered from grief & praised the noble nature of the boy Amar, and built a befitting memorial for him.

The reader of this story have some morals to learn : 1) the affection and love the boy Amar has to his parents; (2) the pious nature of Sastry not to accept any gift as free without return gift; (3) the principle of real Hindus about indebtedness; if you take any material or favour from any person you are indebted to him / her; if you do not repay it properly, you shall repay it in the next birth thousand-fold. (4) A good king should appreciate the merit / scholarship / erudition of any of his subjects in any profession or learning and use it for the benefit of all / kingdom and also reward the person suitably and encourage proficiency; then only the professions prosper and yield good results to all people.

5) a person must be devotional to God and pray him three times daily like Amar and Sri Sastry.

6) Irrespective of caste, profession or creed, every person must be generous and kind to his fellow-humans and help them in coin or kind expecting no return. Dharmayya donated secretly new chappals to Sri Sastry to alleviate his suffering and misery of walking bare-foot in summer noons.

Ravana's Advices to Lord Sri Rama

EMPEROR RAVANA’S

VALUABLE ADVICES TO SRI RAMA.

The great emperor of Sri Lanka was defeated in the fierce battle; he was fatally wounded and was on his death-bed. Lord Sri Rama wanted to visit Ravana and console him. He went to Ravana’s death bed. On seeing Lord Sri Rama, the great Ravana folded his hands with devotion and saluted him worshipfully. After consoling Emperor Ravana, Lord Sri Rama asked: “O noble Emeperor! You are a great and scholar “Brahmajnani (who had God-realisation and knew thorughly vedic scriptures)”. You ruled Lanka kingdom for a thousand years & won the love and admiration of all the people. You defeated Devatas and Kingdom of heaven. You are highly experienced king and ruler. After returning to Ayodhya, I shall be coronated as the Emperor. I want to get some useful advices from you, what are the best deeds I shall do to win the hearts of my people and to become a worthy person.”

Emperor Ravan replied with all-humility; “ O Rama! You are the God Sri Narayana, ominscent,omnipotent & omnipresent. I get mokasha-padam (freedom from the cycle of birth & death) because I was killed by you. I am not competent to give you any advices. But you asked me; I take it as your order. I offer humbly you two advices; these are valuable lessons I learnt from my own life.

1) NEVER POSTPONE ANY GOOD DEED TO A LATER DAY. DO IT IMMEDIATELY.
After defeating the kingdom of heaven and dethroning Emperor Devendra, I visited that place; I found the heaven with all pleasures, solely occupied by persons loyal to Devendra; I visited hell and saw millions of people suffering ghastly punishments, like fried in boiling oil, baked in flames. I felt very much distressed. So I took two decisions; (1) to close hell, sending my army. (2) to built stairs from Sri Lanka to heaven, so that every person of this earth can walk up to heaven and enjoy there. As a conqueror of heaven these two plans are very easy for me to implement. But I postponed them several times; finally the opportunity is lost. Now I am defeated and on my death-bed. Now these good plans cannot be implemented by me. So hell continues to exist; heaven is out-of-reach for ever.

2) NEVER LISTEN BAD ADVICES & NEVER HASTEN TO DO BAD DEEDS; AVOID FOREVER.

I know you are Lord Sri Narayana; due to curse given to Sunda, Upasunda, the watchmen of the Vaikuntham, the abode of Lord Sri Narayana, I and my brother Kumbhakarna were born as demons.
I always wanted to avoid confrontation with you. My sister, Soorphanakha, was insulted by you and your brother Lord Sri Lakshmana punished her by cutting her nose and ears for her devil—actions. She advised me to steal mother Sita and bring her to Sri Lanka and marry her, to take revenge on you two brothers, for refusing the accept her proposal for marriage, and for cutting her ears and nose. She entreated me a hundred times again and again. At last, I obeyed her bad advice; I acted on her plan to steal Sita when you two are away, chasing golden deer, and to bring her to Sri Lanka.
This evil action, brought doom to my family, to my country Sri Lanka and its people and death to me.
Lord Sri Rama thanked emperor Ravana for his good advices. These are invaluable advices even now.

GOD KNOWS THE BEST

2. GOD KNOWS & DOES ALWAYS THE BEST.

Sitaramayya worked as a school-teacher and as a temple priest in Gangapuram; village on the banks of river Krishna. He worked for 40 years; his children were all well-settled and married. His wife died due to poison-fever (typhoid) ten years ago; he completed 65 years of age. So he handed over his professional duties to his well qualified sons; he wanted to go on pilgrimage for three months on foot. In those good old days some 200 years ago there were no buses, rail-trains & public transport system, or even good roads. There were also dangers of serpents, wild animals in forests, and dacoits. So he prayed Lord Sri Krishna , in whose temple he worked for 40 years as a priest, to be with him and protect him during his journey and ensure his safe return home. He started his travel.
On the third day, he met one person of about 30 years of age in a way-side choultry, where night lodging is offered free for pilgrims. They both introduced each other. The person was called Gopal;
he worked as a farmer in his native place; he had ten hectors of land in his native village, also he was doing agriculture in the farms of some other people; he got 66% of produce as his share for his labor and investment on the land. He told he also started to visit holy temples for a period of 3 months. Sitaramayya asked the youth to accompany him & visit all the temples; they can be of mutual help. Gopal agreed but told his condition: he should be treated as a friend with complete
liberty; no objection should be expressed for his words and actions; no questions should be posed by the old man. Sitaramayya agreed gladly; he needed the company & protection of Gopal in his tour.
After a week, they reached the village Ramapuram; it was a small village; there was free-lodge (choultry) there; the villagers told the village-head was a very rich landlord, Sankaram, he was
kind and generous and treated the pilgrims with royal comforts. They went to the house of that land-lord; he welcomed them cordially and gave them feast in gold plates. He showed of his riches & pomp with pride. He offered them two silk beds in his guest room; they thanked their host & told they leave the place before sun-rise on their pilgrimage, even before the land-lord wakes up. He agreed.
Next morning they woke up before sun-rise; and left the house of land-lord; while coming out Gopal stole a big plate of gold from the house and hid it in his bag. Sitaramayya saw this and felt very
much distressed. He wanted to admonish Gopal but he remembered the promise he already made,ie.,not to question the actions of Gopal.
Two weeks after this incident, they reached another village Polavaram; it was a very small village with no choultry or shelter; the asked for shelter; the head of that family Subbayya, was hostile; but he allowed them to sleep in the cattle-shed on the grass that night. The place was a hell for the travelers; there was stink (bad odor) of cow dung; there were thousands of mosquitoes in that shed; the ground was damp, they could not sleep; they suffered their stay during that night. The next morning they rose up to start on their pilgrimage; Gopal left the stolen gold plate on the grass-bed,where they slept in the cattle-shed. Sitaramayya was surprised why Gopal was so generous to such a hostile and miserly host; but he did not dare to ask.
Two weeks after this incident, they reached another small village Sitanagaram; it was also atiny village, and there was no choultry to stay for night. They went to a hut; there they found an old man of about 75 years of age, named Govindam; he had a grandson of 3 years age; they live inthat hut. The old man was a pious man and a great devotee of Lord Sri Krishna. He welcomed them into his hut; he offered them some bread & milk. He told them his story. His only daughter and son- in-law died in a sudden and fierce flood; then the child and he went for a short trip to a nearby village on a hill; so they both escaped from the flood & survived. The boy was an orphan; he loved hisgrandson and cared so much for the boy, he had not much time left to do devotional service to Lord Sri Krishna. Both the travelers pitied him and conveyed their sympathy for him & the boy.
That night all were fast asleep; by around 4 ‘0 clock, Gopal rose up; he woke up Sitaramayya and asked him to start immediately; he was annoyed but could not question Gopal. While leaving Gopal strangled the young boy to death. They left Sitaramayya was shocked with grief; but he had no courage to question Gopal; he was afraid that such a criminal can even strangle and kill him, if any objections are expressed by him. Also he remembered their original conditions when they started on the pilgrimage. But they left the place. After two months of their starting the pilgrimage tour, they completed their tour and decided to return home. Then the old man mustered courage and hesitantly asked Gopal to explain his past actions. Gopal said he would explain on the day when they separate to go to their native villages. Their return journey began. They reached Sitanagaram and visited the hut of Govindam. Govindam was in deep penance. He was uttering the name of Lord Sri Krishna; “AUM NAMO SRI NARAYANA”, oblivious to his surroundings. The travelers went in; Govindam neither observed nor talked to them. Sitaramayya and
Gopal slept in the hut that night and went away next morning.
After a few days journey on foot, they both reached the village Polavaram, and went to the house of Subbayya. He did not recognize them, but received them cordially; he offered them good feast and asked them to sleep in the guest room comfortably. Next morning, when they went to take leave, he told them that God gifted him a gold plate and kept it in the cow-shed, in return to his kindness to two wayfarers just for allowing them to sleep in his cattle-shed, without giving them any food. Now he expected God to gift more and more gold plates, if he shelters & feeds the way-farers. Sitaramayya
thanked and said God is very kind and He may fulfill Subbayya’s expectations. But Gopal said; I do not think so. God may not care to reward any service done by any person, expecting returns.
Both Subbayya and Sitaramayya were surprised and annoyed at the remarks of Gopal.
They continued their return journey; they reached the village Ramanagarm; they went to the house of Sankaram; it was very dark already. He did not recognize them. His servant came out; he took them into a separate guest room; gave them good food in a big plantain leaf, but not a feast in gold plates. Sankaram did not meet them. He went out to a nearby temple to listen to puranam,epic stories from holy Ramayanam by a Haridas. Next morning again the servant came and offered them some milk do drink in a bronze tumbler ; they drank the milk; asked the servant to convey theirthanks to Sankaram and left the village.
They finally reached the place where they met; it was time to bid farewell. Then Sitaramayya thanked Gopal profusely for accompanying him all through the pilgrimage & helping and protecting
him, as if he is his own son. Then he asked Gopal; “My son ! I could not understand you and your actions. You seem be a nice person; but your actions perplexed me.” Then Gopal asked Sitaramayya to accompany him to a nearby temple of Sri Krishna; both went there. It was past mid-noon. They had darshan (sight) of the stone idol of Lord Sri Krishna; they offered worship for about 15 minutes; the priest offered them plenty of pongali (rice pudding) as prasadam. They ate it & it was very tasty and their bellies were full; they took rest in the outer--premises of the temple. The priest closed and locked the door of sanctum-sanctorum and left for noon-rest to his cottage, nearby.
Then Gopal explained: (1) Sankaram was rich and his generosity crossed all limits; his pomp and extravagant expenditure on the way-farers may reduce him to poverty in a few years. He needs to be
just a good host. When he lost the gold plate, he learnt the lesson; if the way-farers begin to steal his gold plates one by one, soon he will lose his riches. So he changed for good; he just gave normal good
treatment to way-farers. It made both the host & guest happy; he left the treatment of guests to his good servant; they are there to do their duties. He need not personally waste his time on guests; he went to the temple to listen to the holy stories of Lord Sri Krishna, and thus spend his life peacefully.
2) Subbayya was very rich; he was a miser. He did not give any generous treatment to way-farers. He always expected hundred-fold return for any good deeds he performed. He was very happy when
he fond gold plate in the cattle-shed; he believed as a gift from God for offering us shelter for night. He was greedy; so he started giving shelter and food to way-farers with a fond hope of more gifts from God, as gold plates. Though we know well such gifts will not be showered on him, that was what I told him when taking leave from him in the morning.
3) Govindam is a great devotee of God; he led a pious life. God is ready to give him Moksha-padam (freedom from the cycle of birth and death; state of eternal bliss in the heavenly abode of Lord Sri Krishna). But his grandson proved to be a hidrance; Govindam left his penance of God to take care of the child. So I removed that obstacle by strangling the boy to death. So though grieved, Govindam turned to penance. He shall attain moksha-padam soon. All obstacles were removed.
So saying Gopal walked through the locked door into the sanctum-sanctorum & vanished. Sitaramayya then realized that Lord Sri Krishna himself accompanied him to protect him during his pilgrimage tour to enlighten him; God’s ways are always good, just and wise; GOD KNOWS AND DOES THE BEST.

The hermit & the butcher

1. THE HERMIT & THE BUTCHER.

Kausika was a great scholar in vedic sciences & a pious Brahmin (priest-class). He decided to renounce the family life & become a hermit. He went to a nearby forest & began to chant the name of Lord Siva; he expected to gain true enlightenment & super-natural power soon. Every noon he used to visit the nearby village & ask for food from a Brahmin family; the village ladies had worshipful respect for him. So they offered him sumptuous food in a big platter. He would take it in his food-bag (joli) to his asylum in the forest, worship Sun God & offer the food to Sun God & eat it later.

One day during noon, Kousika was about to start for village; a crow on the tree excreted & it fell on his shoulders; the hermit was angry & looked up; the crow was burnt to death & fell down; then Kousika realized he acquired some super-natural powers and felt happy. He took his noon bath in the nearby river; did noon-prayer to Sun God & then set out to the village to beg for food.

He reached the house of a Brahmin family; and shouted aloud: “Oh! Mother! Give me food!” The lady of the house is known as Annapurna; she is a pious & noble lady past middle age. She came out saw the hermit. She said, “Please wait! I shall bring you food.” She went inside the house. In the mean time her husband came & entered the house; he greeted Kasika & asked him to wait.

Kausika was standing in the noon sun (very hot) and waited for about one hour. She did not come out. As per convention, he can not go to another house & ask for food, when he got promise of food in one house. So he stood and he was losing patience. After about three ghaties (about 1 hr-12 ms), the lady came out & offered him sumptuous food in a big plantain leaf placed in a silver platter.

Kausika was much annoyed & stared at the lady angrily; then lady replied in a calm tone, “Oh! holy hermit Kausika, do not stare at me angrily. I am not a crow to be burnt by your angry looks. My husband returned home from the farm, working in the field; it is my first duty to attend on him, bathe him, serve him food & fan him; then press his feet when he takes noon-nap. I worship my husband more than any God & serve him with love and care. This service to husband protects me from any harm, also I gained super-natural powers, with no effort. So I know what happened some
2 hours earlier in the forest. I am of the age of your elder sister; the true quality of a hermit is renunciation of anger, greed, hatred, pride and such evil qualities. So you have to learn many lessons before you attain the state of a true hermit. I give you a fond advice. Eat your meal; go and take rest for a ghatika (24 minutes); the go to the out-skirts of the village; there is a harijan colony there. There is one butcher by name Dhrmavyadha; go to him & he will teach you some good lessons.”

Kausika was stunned; his pride and anger were gone; he saluted the lady with reverence and took the alms (food) and returned to his asylum. He did his offering & ate the food, he took rest for a while. He then walked to the harijan colony.

As he entered that colony, he was annoyed by the filthy atmosphere there. Soon he found the butcher’s shop; the shop owner saw Kausika from a distance; he immediately ran to him; prostrated before the hermit; then rose of offered him a wooden seat under a nearby tree and asked: “ how are you venerable Sir; I am really fortunate to have you here in our colony; I know you were sent by that holy mother Annapoorna, to me.” Then Kausika was surprised and asked “how do you know her, did she sent you a word through any person about me.”

Dharmavyadha, the butcher, replied, “ Oh! No! sir; I do not know her; I never saw her. She never comes out of her house except to visit the temple. She can never visit our harijan colony, as she is a holy Brahmin lady. I serve my old parents as my Gods, with devotion and care; I lead a pious life; I do not kill any animal; the butchers kill, remove the skin and bring the meat to my shop; I pay them the price and sell it to my customers. I practise truth, non-violence and lead a pious life. My service to my old parents and their blessings bestowed on me supernatural powers. I don not get any sin in my my profession; it is my family profession for thousands of years; I am honest & genuine in my business. I lead a disciplined and pious life. I got the message to tell you about me & my life-style from the holy mother Annapurna by divine telepathy. She acquired super-natural powers by her pious life and service to her husband, in-laws and her children with dedication & devotion to God.”

Then wisdom dawned on Kausika. He realized the truth; (1) A person need not do penance in a forest to gain enlightenment & supernatural powers; (2) It is enough if he / she performs his / her duties with dedication (3) It is necessary the person leads a pious life with devotion to God and serve the humanity; then the all people like him & he gains wisdom & supernatural powers with no effort.

(The story was from Sri Mahabharatha epic in Sanskrit & other Indian languages)