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
This is one of the stories by Sri Sri
Sri Vidyaaranya Mahatheertha Swamy, guru of Sri Sri Sri Bharathi Theertha
Swamy, the peethadhipathi of Sringeri Sankara peetham.
There used to be two thieves, who used
to steal things in the surrounding villages and make their livelihood. Once
they went into a house to steal things in the night and the people in the house
woke up. The thieves started running and by the time they reached the outskirts
of the village lot of villagers started chasing them. At some point, they
parted ways and ran in different directions. After running for a pretty long
time, they finally could have the villagers off their backs.
The first thief sat under a tree and
slept for one full day. When he woke up the following morning, he saw few coins
in front of him. He also saw some people saluting him. He understood that
people have mistook him as a sanyasi. He felt that he should continue in that
mode for some more days so that his livelihood is taken care of before he
continues his robbing. So he wore a saffron robe and continued to sit under
that tree with his eyes closed. After few more days, he started moving his lips
once in a while. More and more started giving him money and food and he started
to enjoy his new life style.
The second thief landed in a cemetery and
slept there for a long time. He woke up and he saw few people in front of him.
He got scared. They asked his help to get rid off the spirits around. He
understood that people have mistook him as a maantrik (person who can drive
away the spirits). He started clearing some things here and there in the cemetery
and made people believe that he is taking care of the spirits. Soon the word
spread around and he started receiving money and food. He was happy leading
that new life style.
Once a Swamiji saw the first thief and
the thief started becoming uncomfortable. The Swamiji sat beside him. The thief
fell at the feet of Swamiji and confided in him. Swamiji asked him if he wanted
to change and the thief was more than happy. Swamiji told him one mantra and
asked him to recite diligently. The thief started reciting it sincerely and he
found a major change in him slowly. He was happy and contended. He stopped
worrying about people visiting him. After few months the same Swamiji passed by
and noticed the change in the thief and he was happy about that.
The same Swamiji met the second thief
as well and gave him another mantra. The Swamiji also taught him how to do
poojas. By virtue of that the second thief also became a wise and good person.
He went to the nearby village and requested the villagers to construct a small
temple for him. He became a priest in that temple and start leading a very
happy and contended life.
By this story Sri Sankara
says that change can be brought in at any stage of life. Many a time we hear
people saying that they are too old to change. But Sri Sankara says that one
just needs to be open to learn and change and change for good can be brought in
at any time. So, one should always be open to learn good things and unlearn bad
things rather than blaming the god for creating him/her like that.
సర్వే జనాః సుఖినో భవంతు
PS: There could be typos and other mistakes
in telugu and english, kindly pardon me with big hearts.
