A story by Sita to Rama

గురు బ్రహ్మ గురుర్ విష్ణుః గురుర్ దేవో మహేశ్వరః

గురు స్సాక్షాత్ పరబ్రహ్మ తస్మై శ్రీ గురవే నమః

శుక్లాం బరధరం విష్ణుం శశివర్ణం చతుర్భుజం

ప్రసన్న వదనం ధ్యాయేత్ సర్వ విఘ్నోప శాంతయే

శ్రుతి స్మృతి పురాణానాం ఆలయం కరుణాలయం

నమామి భగవత్ పాదం శంకరం లోక శంకరం

ఓం నమః శివాయ

There lived a sage who was doing great tapassu. Indra is the first person to be alerted whenever some sage does great tapassu. The reason is that if some body does great tapassu, then he can get elevated to the position of Indra and obviously Indra doesnt want to lose his position. So the first thing Indra does whenever some one is doing great tapassu is to spoil that deeksha. He employs multiple ways to achieve that and generally the first method is to send Menaka or Rambha.

So, Indra decided to spoil the tapassu of that rushi. So, he transforms into a soldier and runs to the ashram of that Rushi. He hands over a sword to that Rushi and tells him,
"పూజ్యులైన గురువర్య! నన్ను కొంత మంది తరుముతున్నారు. ఈ కత్తి మీ దగ్గర ఉంచండి. ఆపద నుంచి బయట పడిన తరువాత నేనే వచ్చి తిరిగి తీసుకుంటాను."
Saying the above, he gives the sword to that Rushi and runs away.

By accepting the sword, this Rushi obviously has taken the responsibility of safe guarding the sword.  
So, for some days he continues his tapassu keeping the sword inside his hut. Then he wonders what would happen if some one steals it.
So, he keeps it in his view and continues his tapassu.
Then he keeps the sword near him and continues his tapassu for some more days.
After that he holds the sword in his hand and continues...

From then onwards, whereever he goes, whatever he does, he keeps the sword in his hand. When he goes to get Dharbhalu, he carries the sword and uses it to cut the grass and other weeds in the path. Slowly he gets addicted to the usage of Sword for everything. He tries to chop and cut everything.

He slowly starts using the sword on small animals and other beings for fun.
Finally this Rushi becomes a forest robber killing the people with the sword. He gets completely misled from his main purpose.

Seeing this transformation, Indra feels very happy on his achievement.

Sita tells the above story to Rama and says, "All weapns have a soul. These have certain attributes. They act on the persons who carry them. So, if you carry your Kodandam and sword in this forest, you would obviously want to fight with any one and every one. So you please stop carrying these weapons."

Intention of Sita of making the above statement is something else which has been mentioned in another post.

The moral of the story is that we should not be carrying or using any weapons irrespective of what intention we have because our intentions are going to get changed gradually because of the presence of these weapons.

సర్వే జనాః సుఖినో భవంతు

PS: There could be typos and other mistakes in telugu and english, kindly pardon me with big hearts.

Sita's reminder to Sri Rama about his kartavyam...

గురు బ్రహ్మ గురుర్ విష్ణుః గురుర్ దేవో మహేశ్వరః

గురు స్సాక్షాత్ పరబ్రహ్మ తస్మై శ్రీ గురవే నమః

శుక్లాం బరధరం విష్ణుం శశివర్ణం చతుర్భుజం

ప్రసన్న వదనం ధ్యాయేత్ సర్వ విఘ్నోప శాంతయే

శ్రుతి స్మృతి పురాణానాం ఆలయం కరుణాలయం

నమామి భగవత్ పాదం శంకరం లోక శంకరం

ఓం నమః శివాయ

In Sri Ramayana, in many places, the word Kartavyam is used and not Bhaadyata. There is a subtle difference between the two.

Kartavyam is your duty, Bhaadyata is duty with an expectation of the result. Let me explain this through a simple example.

When we bring up our children, it is our Kartavyam to impart good morals, provide appropriate facilities for education. Our Job ends by providing all the above.

If we take that as our Bhaadyata, then we would be affected by the result. For example, in case the child doesnt study well, then we would feel very bad bcos we have taken up the responsibility (Bhaadyata) of the child succeeding in his education. That is, we are taking the responsibility for the result and probably react based on the result like getting depressed, abusing the child etc.

On many occassions in Sri Raamayana, the word Kartavyam is used and not Bhaadyata.

కౌసల్య సుప్రజా రామా............. కర్తవ్యమ్ దైవ మాహ్నికం - Wonderful sloka by Viswamitra to wake up Rama Lakshmana.

During the Aranya vaasam phase, once some of the rushis and munis come to Raama and tell him their woes bcos of the Raakshasas in the forest. Raama feels very bad.
Two reasons:

1. As a king there should not be any one in his kingdom, who should suffer.

2. Even if some one suffers, he should be in a position to identify those and get rid off those sufferings.

But here, he had to hear from the Rushis and Munis that they are suffering.

He promises them that he will ensure that all the Raakshasas are killed and that they would not have any interruptions in their tapasya.

Having said this, when Rama Sita and Lakshmana start towards their Ashram, Sita says, "Dear Rama! I am not very sure if I should say this to you or not, but as your wife I felt that I should tell you what I have in mind and get it clarified rather than not telling you at all.

1. We have come here to forests to lead the life of a taapasi as per Maata Kaikeyi's wish. That basically implies that we should live like a taapasi, eat some vegetables, spend 14 years and go back to Ayodhya. Why should you carry your Bow and Arrow (కోదండం), Sword and other weapons with you as if you have come to the forest to wage wars?

2. Importantly, the Raakshasas did not cause you any harm. You dont have any direct enmity with them. They have some enmity with the Rushis and Munis and why are you promising that you would kill some one with whom u have no enmity at all? Isnt it wrong, as per Dharma, to kill some one without any enmity?"

Sita tells a small story in this context and I shall mention that in another post.

Sri Rama listens carefully to what Sita says and responds,"
When Bharatha came to me to return from forests and become a king, I refused and told him that he would be the king for the civilised part of Kosala kingdom and I shall be the ruler in the forests.
క్షాత్ర ధర్మం ప్రకారం ఎక్కడ ఆర్తనాదం వినపడ కూడదు. 
But after they have come to me seeking protection, refusing them protection is adharmam and completely against the Kshatriya rules.
ఆర్తనాదానికి కారకులైన వారితో రాజుకి శత్రుత్వం ఉన్న లేకపోయినా వారితో పోరాడవలసిందే. ఆ ధర్మము నందు నిలబడుట కోసం, నేను నిన్ను కాని లక్ష్మణుని కాని వొదిలి పెట్టాల్సి వస్తే వొదిలి పెట్టేస్తాను." 

Sita felt very happy on hearing the above words.

The reason for Sita to take up these things is not to get her doubts clarified, but to remind Sri Raama of his Kartavyam.

సర్వే జనాః సుఖినో భవంతు

PS: There could be typos and other mistakes in telugu and english, kindly pardon me with big hearts.

Satyam and Dharmam - 2

గురు బ్రహ్మ గురుర్ విష్ణుః గురుర్ దేవో మహేశ్వరః  

గురు స్సాక్షాత్ పరబ్రహ్మ తస్మై శ్రీ గురవే నమః

శుక్లాం బరధరం విష్ణుం శశివర్ణం చతుర్భుజం

ప్రసన్న వదనం ధ్యాయేత్ సర్వ విఘ్నోప శాంతయే

శ్రుతి స్మృతి పురాణానాం ఆలయం కరుణాలయం

నమామి భగవత్ పాదం శంకరం లోక శంకరం

ఓం నమః శివాయ

In continuation of my previous post about Satyam and Dharmam, here is one more instance in Raamaayana where Dharmam was not bound by Satyam.

When Sita gets abducted by Raavana, Rama and Lakshmana go towards Pampa river to find Sugreeva, based on the advice of a Devatha. After Hanuman gathers information about Rama & Lakshmana and assures Sugreeva that they have not been sent by Vaali, and that he should make friends with Rama, Rama and Sugreeva become friends (Agni saakshiga).

When Sita gets abducted by Raavana, Raavana’s chariot flies over Rusya Mookha parvatam. This is the mountain where Sugreeva lived after being driven out by Vaali with 4 of his ministers (Hanuma, Jaambavanta, Maindudu, Dvividudu). Seeing the Vaanaras on the mountain, Sita tears a small part of her saree and puts some of her ornaments in that and drops that on the mountain.

When Sugreeva shows those ornaments, Rama and Lakshmana immediately recognize those. At that point of time, When Rama asks where Raavana lives, Sugreeva tells him “I do not know where Raavana lives, but let me assure you that once I get the kingdom, I will have access to so many Vaanara and other resources, that it will be very easy for me to locate Raavana and Sita.”

The above statement is not true. Sugreeva indeed knows where Raavana lives. Infact at a later point of time, after Vaali gets killed and Sugreeva gets the kingdom back, he assembles millions of monkeys and segregates them into 4 groups and sends each of the groups in one direction each. To each of the groups he gives such detailed instructions as to what they can expect to see and at what distance, Rama finds it incredible. He immediately asks Sugreeva, “How come you know each and every place on this entire globe to that precision?”. Sugreeva responds, “When Vaali used to chase me I used to run around this entire globe and I have visited every nook and corner of the earth. That’s how I know every place on this earth.”

So, he did not speak the truth to Rama when he said that he doesn’t know where Raavana lives because he was very much aware that if he discloses the location of Raavana to Rama, then Rama would immediately want to go to Lanka to fight Raavana. Sugreeva knows that without sufficient army it is not possible to fight Raavana. So, to upkeep his Mitra Dharmam, he lied to Rama.

సర్వే జనాః సుఖినో భవంతు

PS: There could be typos and other mistakes in telugu and english, kindly pardon me with big hearts.

Satyam and Dharmam...

గురు బ్రహ్మ గురుర్ విష్ణుః గురుర్ దేవో మహేశ్వరః  

గురు స్సాక్షాత్ పరబ్రహ్మ తస్మై శ్రీ గురవే నమః

శుక్లాం బరధరం విష్ణుం శశివర్ణం చతుర్భుజం

ప్రసన్న వదనం ధ్యాయేత్ సర్వ విఘ్నోప శాంతయే

శ్రుతి స్మృతి పురాణానాం ఆలయం కరుణాలయం

నమామి భగవత్ పాదం శంకరం లోక శంకరం

ఓం నమః శివాయ

We all know Raamaayana. It is said Sri Raama walked with two legs, one an embodiment of Satyam and the other Dharma. He did not put even one step without one of these being in place.

The one big difference between Satyam and Dharmam is that Satyam is immutable. Doesnt depend on anything. Doesnt change with anything. Whereas Dharmam is situational. It at times need not be bound by Satyam also. For example, we have heard proverbs like
 వెయ్యి అబద్ధాలు ఆడి అయిన ఒక పెళ్లి చెయ్యాలి. This does not mean that u literally lie perpetually. It basically means that its ok to lie on small things to conduct a marriage. This is Dharmam, not Satyam.

Similarly, when a parent has to be given some bad news about a son/daughter, no one speaks the truth until and unless some one is around to manage the parent. These are examples of Dharmam where it is not bound by Satyam. But predominantly, Dharmam should be bound by Satyam only. Lets touch upon couple of instances in Raamaayana where Dharmam was not bound by Satyam.

When Rama starts to leave for Forests to abide by his father’s dictum, Sumantra (minister of Dasaradha) drives Sri Rama in the chariot. Dasaradha runs after the chariot like a mad man, forgetting his stature, crying aloud asking Sri Rama not to leave. Then he shouts at Sumantra, “Sumantra! You are my minister and I am your king. You have to abide by words. Stop the chariot immediately. Do not take my son away from me.” By then the chariot would be a little distance away, but Dasaradhas words are audible to both Sumantra and Sri Rama.

Sumantra gets puzzled. He obviously can’t ignore his kings words. On the other hand he is driving Sri Rama who told him not to stop the chariot. So, with a puzzled look on his face, he again looks at Sri Rama, asking him what to do. Sri Rama tells him to continue driving the chariot.

Then Sumantra asks him, “What should I say if the king asks me why I did not heed to his words?”

Sri Rama says, “You tell him that you did not hear him because of the noise of the chariot wheels and hence could not execute his instructions.”

That obviously is not Truth. But Sri Rama abided by his Dharma to make his father abide by Satyam.


తండ్రిని సత్య వాక్ పరిపాలన యందు నిలుపుట కోసం శ్రీ రాముడు అబద్ధం చెప్పాడు, ధర్మంగా ప్రవర్తించాడు.

My Sincere and humble request is this. Kindly don't use this as an example everytime you want to lie, stating that even Sri Rama lied once. I know that all of you are not that immature, but I still wanted to convey this.

Will continue this... 

సర్వే జనాః సుఖినో భవంతు

PS: There could be typos and other mistakes in telugu and english, kindly pardon me with big hearts.

What is money according to great people

గురు బ్రహ్మ గురుర్ విష్ణుః గురుర్ దేవో మహేశ్వరః  

గురు స్సాక్షాత్ పరబ్రహ్మ తస్మై శ్రీ గురవే నమః

శుక్లాం బరధరం విష్ణుం శశివర్ణం చతుర్భుజం

ప్రసన్న వదనం ధ్యాయేత్ సర్వ విఘ్నోప శాంతయే

శ్రుతి స్మృతి పురాణానాం ఆలయం కరుణాలయం

నమామి భగవత్ పాదం శంకరం లోక శంకరం

ఓం నమః శివాయ

For many great sages and rushis, money (and material possessions) mean nothing. They always kept themselves away from that.

Bhagawan Ramana Maharshi
Bhagawan used to have two pieces of small clothes with him. He used to use these for covering very little part of his body, irrespective of the season. He would store one cloth in a small hole in a tree and sometime later, he would actually wash it and dry it and then use it. One day one of his followers became curious and wanted to know what he was hiding in that hole of the tree. He went there and pulled the cloth out of that. He was shocked to see that the cloth had more holes than the cloth itself. He asked Bhagawan, "Bhagawan! You have so many followers and many of them are stinkingly rich. Cant they get u a simple untorn loin cloth for you to wear?" Bhagawan responded, "Who said I am poor and I needed a untorn loin cloth? Dont u see this? This has so many holes in it like Sahasraaksha (One with 1000s of eyes). Indra is also known as Sahasraaksha. In Rudraadhyaayam (Namakam recited during Rudrabhshekham), Sahasraaksha is one name used to address the Lord. I feel as if Indra is wrapping me. What more privilege a human being can have in a life?" But he never took any money or anything from any body because Bhagwan never had to touch money (only once after ran away from home).

Sri Paramaachaarya
Once Sri Paramaachaarya (Paramaacharya is Sri Sri Sri Chandra Sekharendra Saraswathi Swamy. He was called, "Nadiche Devudu (Walking God)". He was the Sankara peethaadhipathi.) was sitting and a poor brahmin came to him and said, "Swami. I have to get my daughter married and I need some money. Kindly help me." Then Sri Paramaachaarya told him, "Who am I to give u money? Go and request God and do three pradakshinas and ask her."
While that brahmin was doing that, a man walked in and offered Swamiji some money saying that he wanted to donate that money to be given to the needy. Swamiji asked him to leave the money there.
Once the brahmin returned, Swamiji used his Dharma Dandam (the stick he carries) and he pushed that bowl with the money (without touching it with his hands) towards the brahmin and said, "Goddess seems to have heard your prayers and here is the money." To the brahmins surprise, that was the exact amount he was looking for. This obviously is a miracle without making it look so. Great people never claim any credit for such things and put it on god, though they play a major role in effecting that.

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
One night Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was sleeping on his bed, but he just could not sleep. He was feeling very restless and he did not know the reason for his restlessness. But he figured out that there is some money somewhere in that room and thats what is causing him the restlessness. He called his disciple, Swami Vivekananda, and told him this. Vivekanda immediately apologised and told him that he had put a 1 rupee coin under his pillow. Once that coin was taken out, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa could sleep happily.

This is the state of great people. We are not talking about people who are from Kritha yuga or Tretha Yuga. We are talking about people who lived in the 20th century.

సర్వే జనాః సుఖినో భవంతు

PS: There could be typos and other mistakes in telugu and english, kindly pardon me with big hearts.

What we give is ours, what we keep is not ours...

గురు బ్రహ్మ గురుర్ విష్ణుః గురుర్ దేవో మహేశ్వరః  

గురు స్సాక్షాత్ పరబ్రహ్మ తస్మై శ్రీ గురవే నమః

శుక్లాం బరధరం విష్ణుం శశివర్ణం చతుర్భుజం

ప్రసన్న వదనం ధ్యాయేత్ సర్వ విఘ్నోప శాంతయే

శ్రుతి స్మృతి పురాణానాం ఆలయం కరుణాలయం

నమామి భగవత్ పాదం శంకరం లోక శంకరం

ఓం నమః శివాయ

In continuation of my previous first post, where I ended with a statement similar to the title of this post, here is a small story.

Once there lived a Swamiji (sanyaasi) on a small hillock near a village located on the other side of a small river. He used to get Bhiksha from the villagers once in a while and continue with his meditation and other things. Once two women went to the Swamiji and said, "Swamiji, we hear you saying many times in your discourses, 'What you give is yours and what you keep is not yours.' Can you please explain this?"

Swamiji went on, "When we enter this world we dont get anything physically with us. But we are given things by God based on what has been accrued to us over the previous janmas. If your bag contains punyam, acquired through good deeds, then that will enable you get better things in this janma. If it contains Paapam, then it will leave you with troubles, difficulties etc. Both Punyam and Paapam effects are distributed in every lifespan. So, you acquire punyam by helping others, giving to others. What you give to others during one janma is what comes back to you in your next janma. Its like a deposit in a bank. But what you store with you without giving to others will be taken up by some one else and that will not be given to you in your next janma. Most importantly what you give should be something that you would have utilized. One should never give something that the other person cannot use. So, if you want to give some food to some one, make sure that you give something that is edible. Not the one that you could not eat. What you sow is what u reap."

With that explanation, the women put up a smiling face, having heard the above innumerable times from multiple people till then. The Swami understood that expression and immediately tells them. "You please get me some clothes, utensils, bed sheets and any other items that you deem good for use for a person who has lost his/her shelter because of floods. Please wrap them up in a big cloth so that I dont get to see what's inside."

Both the women go home and return the next day with two big packs. One woman puts all nice clothes, nice utensils, rugs and other usable items in that. The other woman puts all useless and torn clothes, broken utensils etc. The Swamiji asks them to put those two packs in one corner of his hut and tells both of them to leave.

After few weeks, the river overflows and drowns most of the houses including the houses of these two women. Both the women go to the Swamiji and tells them their problems. Swamiji then asks them to take the packs that they had deposited with him few weeks back. Rest is obvious...

Btw, the reason why I mention the slokas in the beginning is to ensure that you read the post along with those and not skip those. If you dont have time, make sure that you read the slokas and leave the post, but dont skip reading those. Also, while reading, kindly ensure that you remember your guru (Sri Sankaraachaarya otherwise), Vighneswara (Ganapathi) & Sri Sankaraachaarya. That would give immense benefit.

సర్వే జనాః సుఖినో భవంతు

PS: There could be typos and other mistakes in telugu and english, kindly pardon me with big hearts.

Starting...

గురు బ్రహ్మ గురుర్ విష్ణుః గురుర్ దేవో మహేశ్వరః  

గురు స్సాక్షాత్ పరబ్రహ్మ తస్మై శ్రీ గురవే నమః

శుక్లాం బరధరం విష్ణుం శశివర్ణం చతుర్భుజం

ప్రసన్న వదనం ధ్యాయేత్ సర్వ విఘ్నోప శాంతయే

శ్రుతి స్మృతి పురాణానాం ఆలయం కరుణాలయం

నమామి భగవత్ పాదం శంకరం లోక శంకరం

ఓం నమః శివాయ

With the grace and blessings of god, I want to share some little knowledge I have gathered by listening to great people like Brahmasri Chaaganti Koteswara Rao garu, Brahmasri Saamaveda Shanmukha Sarma garu and others. I would be attempting at writing small small stories and episodes which have a clear cut lesson. I sincerely hope that this will be useful to every one who reads these and may God bless every one.

Guru is the greatest person for any human being. Very evident from the first slokam above. So, lets kick off with a small story about Sri Sri Sri Sankara Bhagavath Paadulu (Sri Sankaraachaarya).

Quickly refreshing your memory about Sri Sankaaraachaarya - He is one of the greatest gurus. He is an incarnation of Lord Siva. In Kaliyuga when people started creating different branches based on vedas and Sanaatana Dharma, he took birth and brought every one together with this greatest philosophy of Adwaitha Siddhaanta. Dwaitha means two. Adwaitha No Two. Only one. Indicating that there is only one thing in this world, which is God and God is all pervasive. He established four Peethas on 4 directions of India. He died at a very young age of 31 but what he established 100s of years ago are still functional (Talk about management). He was an expert in Tarka Saasthram (Arguments and discussions) and there was none to beat him in that field. Not just that field, any field for that matter. If any one doesnt have a guru, he/she can have Sri Sankaraachaarya as Guru. There is no one else who can be taken as Guru without proper Upadesam or Sishyarikam. This is the greatness of Sri Sankara. I am certainly doing lot of injustice by writing only few statements about Sri Sankara but...

So lets come to todays small story and its about Sri Sankara.

One day Sankara went out for Bhiksha (Begging is not the right word, but for making understanding easy, am forced to use it). He was a 8 year old boy. When he goes to bhikhsa he would stop at one house randomly and ask for Bhiksha by saying, "Bhavathi Bhikshaan dehi." They would say this three times, with some gap ofcourse, and if the house hold person doesnt come out with Bhiksha, they he would leave that home and would not go to another house that day for Bhiksha. 

Walking on the road, he finds one hut and he stops in front of that hut and shouts for Bhiksha twice. The woman inside could not come outside because she is an extremely poor woman and she doesnt even have a full saree to wear. So she says from inside, "Sir, kindly dont ask 3rd time. I dont have anything in my house, but I am looking for some thing. Kindly dont go away." People would know the significance of giving Bhiksha and the punyam that it begets. Especially with some one like Sankara, opportunities dont come often. So Sankara waits and feels lot of sympathy for the woman. Immediately he prays for Goddess Lakshmi by reciting "Kanakadhaara Stotram".

Immediately Goddess lakshmi appears before Sankara. "What do u want Sankara from me?"

Sankara, "I dont want anything from you. But look at this woman. She doesnt have even a grain in her house and she is suffering from abject poverty. Why dont u bless her?" Such is the greatness of sankara. They always think of others. Some one who can invoke goddess lakshmi goes out for Bhiksha. Having power is not for utilizing. Having some expertise is not something that should be used for our own self. 

Lakshmi, "How can I give her anything Sankara? She did not give even a grain to any one in her previous janma when she was having plenty of money. She did not do even one punya kaaryam. Hence she is suffering from poverty in this janma. Let her do one punya kaaryam and I shall change her fortune."

Hearing this Sankara thought for a while and told the woman. "In that shelf of yours, there is one dried up gooseberry (amla or usirikaaya). Please put that in my bowl."

As soon as the woman dropped that gooseberry in Sankara's bowl, Lakshmi filled her house with golden gooseberries.

This is the power of Gurus. They can change our fortune if they want. They can rewrite our account books (paapa punya kaaryam accounts over the janmas). So, what we give to others is what belongs to us. What we keep doesnt belong to us. I shall elaborate that statement with a story next week.        

సర్వే జనాః సుఖినో భవంతు

PS: There could be typos and other mistakes in telugu and english, kindly pardon me with big hearts.