Kashi will not be born again.
One day at Kailasha, Parvathi asked Shiva, "Lord, I have heard that
all those who visit Kashi, where there is a celebrated shrine for your
worship, will attain Kailasha and stay on there in your presence.
Millions are coming to Kashi, but is this place big enough to
accommodate all of them?"
Shiva replied, "Every one of them cannot come to Kailasha. I shall
design a play and make clear to you who among the millions can come
here. You, too, have a role to act. Do as I direct you to."
Parvathi became an old lady of 80 and Shiva a rickety old man of 90.
The old woman had the old man on her lap, right at the main entrance
of the famous Shiva shrine of Vishweshwara, and she lamented: "My
husband is terribly thirsty. He is about to die of thirst. I cannot
leave him and go to the river Ganga to bring him water. Will any of
you pour a little GANGES water down his throat and save his life?"
The pilgrims were coming up from the ghats after their ceremonial bath
in the holy river, their clothes still wet and clinging to their
bodies. Some of them commented that their peace was disturbed by the
sight of this pathetic couple. `We have come to take Darshan of the
Lord, and look what meets our eye.' There were some who flatly ignored
her cries and lifted their noses in the air. Some said, `Wait. Let us
finish the worship inside the temple and then we shall bring the Ganga
water for you.' No one offered them Ganga water since they needed it
for themselves!
Just then a robber, who was hurrying into the temple to pick a few
pockets, heard the plaintive voice of the old woman and halted near
them.
She cried, "Son, we came to this place to have Darshan of Lord
Vishweshwara of Kaashi, but my husband has fainted out of sheer
exhaustion. He might survive if someone will bring a little Ganga
water and pour it down his throat. I cannot leave him here and go for
water. Please help me and earn the merit."
The robber was moved into compassion despite his `profession'! He had
a little Ganga water in the hollow gourd he had with him. He knelt
down near the dying person on the lap of the old woman, but the woman
stopped him suddenly saying, "The moment the Ganga water wets his
throat, my husband may die; he is in the last stage of living.
Therefore speak a word of truth and pour the water."
The robber could not understand what she meant, so she explained,
"Speak within his hearing, some good deed that you have done in your
life, and then pour the water in his mouth." That created a problem
for the robber. He was at his wits end. He could not quite comply.
He said, "I have, in truth, not done any good deed so far. This
present act, the offering of water to this thirsty man, is the very
first good deed I am responsible for." And saying this, he placed the
gourd at the lips of the old man and gave him a mouthful.
Just at the moment, the couple disappeared and in their placed stood
Shiva and Parvathi, in all their splendour, blessing the robber who
was completely stunned & speechless!
LORD SHIVA told him, "Life is to be dedicated for the service of
others and not devoted to the exclusive interests of oneself.
Howsoever many wicked deeds you might have done so far, for your
selfless offering of Ganga water with truth on your tongue, we bless
you with this Vision & grant you liberation! Remember there is no
morality higher than truth; there is no prayer more fruitful than
seva. No amount of rituals & worship would help if you don't do seva.
Both are essential just like a bird requires 2 wings. With these 2
wings you can reach KAILASHA!!!"
knr
--
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God
No comments:
Post a Comment