Story of Sunandini - Charity

Story of Sunandini - Charity

Dec--25-- 2010 (Saturday)

Sunandinii was the daughter of Sudharma and Sumanasaa. Sunandinii right from childhood was a great devotee of Bhagavan (Lord) Sri Shiva and used to be very nice to others. Seeing her noble qualities, her parents used to be very happy. The three of them were always satisfied with what they had and used to do help others in whatever way they could.

Time never remains the same. Change is its nature. 0nce, unfortynately, Sunandinii got separated from her parents during a crowded weekly market. The small girl searched everywhere for her parents. But of no use. Searching for them, she reached a forest. A Siddha (sage), who was doing Tapas in the forest, saw this helpless girl and took pity on her. He gave Sunandinii a divine fruit and divine flower and said “O daughter! Take these divine fruit and flower. As long as you have them you will never have hunger and thirst. You will get a male body, strong and sturdy and it will help you survive in this dangerous forest and world”. Sunandinii paid respects to the sage with divine powers and nature (Siddha) and took the divine flower and fruit gratefully.

Sunandinii continued her search for her parents. Due to having the Divine fruit and flower she had male body and never had thirst and hunger. When she was going through the forest she heard an cry for help from an old woman . The old woman was very hungry and asked Sunandinii to feed her and help her. Sunandinii got separated from her parents, but not from the noble teachings they gave her. Sunandinii remembered the stories of Saktuprastha, Rantideva and Sibi and other noble persons; which she heard from her parents several times. She also was blessed with generosity and charity.

Taking pity on the old woman, she wanted to give off the divine fruit and flower to her, even though she knew it will be very difficult for her to survive without them! The Siddha who was passing by saw this and stopped Sunandinii. He said “O noble gitl! Why are you giving away these? Don’t you know without them it will be very difficult for you to survive? Is self-protection not the greatest duty of any person and dharma (righteousness)”?

Sunandinii replied “O divine sage! My parents taught me that helping persons in need and distress is the greatest Dharmam nad noblest duty. After all the purpose of having this physical body is to help others and thus progress in the path liberation and reaching the Divine (Moksham)”. Saying thus, Sunandinii gave off the Divine flower and fruit to the old woman. Impressed with the noble and divine qualities of Sunandinii, Bhagavathi (Goddess) Parameshvarii, who came in disguise as the old woman, showed Her true form and gave Her Divine Blessings to Sunandinii. She was re-united with her parents and lead a noble life of royal comforts, generosity and charity. She attained union with Bhagavathi Parameswari after her death.------------------- Compiler : Prof. Komaragiri Venkata Ramana Rao. Ph.D., (Retired Professor; Andhra University College of Engineering); Astrologer-Scienitst. Durham. NC; U.S.A.: (Tatayya = Grand-father). My e-mail address : pandit@jyothishi.com---------- I dedicate all these stories in the blog with utmost devotion to Sri Parama Paalakas (Supreme Rulers of this entire Universe): Bhagavan Sri Siddhi Vinayaka, Sri Lakshmi Narayana and Sri Gouri Sankara and Sri Saraswathi and Bhagavan Sri Venkateswara !