A KING WHO TURNED A HERMIT
In the western part of India, there was a town by the name Bidar. It was ruled by a king named Santha Bramani for a long time. King Santha Bramani used to think that any one's life on earth is meaningless and purposeless unless he had contributed something for the benefit of others in society. He was feeling guilty that he had not achieved anything in life. His queen was also of the same view.
Once, both the King and his queen were sitting in the palace balcony discussing on various matters connected with their kingdom and their self deveopment in life. They had a plate of ripe bananas kept before them with a cup of honey. While they were in conversation about their philoopy of lfe, bananas were being peeled , dipped in honey and being eaten by them. They threw out the peeled banana skins down below in the palace open yard.
An old man it appears some how dodged the security outside their palace and entered in. He was so tired and hungry and sat on the floor of the open yard under a shelter. He was very happy and thanked God for providing him some food in the form of banana skins which fell in front of him, from the balcony of the palace. He collected the banana skins and began eating them one by one.
The queen was the first to observe some movement below and looked down. She was surprised to see a stranger inside the palace seated in the open yard.
''Maharaja, how is that some stranger had gained access to our palace without our knowledge? See there down below.''
The king looked at the old man and was very angry. He shouted at the security guard below .
The watchman who heard the angry voice of the king rushed from somewhere and looked up at the king in the balcony with folded hands.
''Maharaja. i am here at your command''
''What are you doing there sleeping ? who is that old man and how did he enter the palace. Did you allow him ?''
''Maharaja, I went for fetching a pot of water for sprinkling the entrance to keep it cool. During that time this old man might have entered. I will enquire''
''No we have to punish the old man. Bring him before me here''
The security got angry at the old man and he vented out his anger on the old man when they were before the king.
"Hey Old man! because of your entering the palace unnoticed by me, without permission, I got scolding from the King. So receive this beating as my reward for your act.". He gave blows to the old man on his back. The beatings did not bother the old man. He laughed instead. The King was surprised. Why this old man is laughing and is seen jovial, even after he was beaten by the palace guard.
The King felt that the old man might be a Yogi or some gnaani who was not worldly.
''Guard, stop beating this old man. I want to talk to him ''
The old man saw the King and now instead of laughing cried uncontrollably. The King was perplexed and confused what made this old man now cry though he was not beaten. When beaten he laughed and when stopped he cried, what is this?''
''You old man, who are you and please tell me "Why did you laugh when you were beaten?".
"Maharaja, I am just nothing. I was passing by your palace in the hot sun and wanted to sit under the shadow of the wall and entered your palace and was sitting to relax myself. There was no one around when I entered and so I could not get anyone's permission. As I was hungry and when I saw the banana skins in front of me, I collected and ate a few of them. For this I got so much of beating from your good guard. '
'It does not explain why you were in uncontrollable laughter''
''Well it made me laugh when I thought reasonably, that, just for eating the skins of the banana if one has to receive such heavy blows how much beating he who ate the bananas would be entitled to? '' in your kingdom. You and the queen were eating some full bananas. For a minute I wondered what was in store for you both and it made laugh''
"My god, Why did you cry on seeing me?"
"Oh! I came into this palace and spent my time only about 15 minutes. Even during this short period of my stay in this palace, I am being punished so much. Poor you. You are living here for many years! I imagine what a rigorous punishment would be awaiting you both. I felt pity on you and it made me cry for you. I felt so sorry for you and could not control my tears.''
This incident changed the King. He received an awakening in himself. This turned out to be the break which awaited him for long. He prostrated before the old man and instantaneously left the palace. He was a Vittal devotee and so he started walking towards Pandarpur on a pilgrimage. He served the devotees there. "Vittal! Vittal ! Finally you have shown me the way" cried the King. He was in search of a good teacher. Without food or water, he meditated in the temple. After three days, Vittala appeared in his dream and gave him a book. "Read this and live your life according to the book. Go to a place called Kalyan. You will find a sadhu by the name Sahajananda. He will be your teacher".
The King woke up and found a book placed near him with the title "Viveka Sindhu".
The King was surprised and realised what he experienced was not just a dream but the proper guidance he was looking for from Vfittal and began reading the book as many times as he could and followed what was said in it.
The king wandered to many places and finally one day he met with Swami Sahajananda in Vittal Sanctum itself.
The King bowed to the swamiji and told him about his dream and Vittal's command. He requested the Sadhu to accept him as a disciple.
Swami Sahajananda made King Santha Bramani his disciple and changed his name to Mrithyunjayan.
With proper guidance from the teacher, Mrithyunjayan became a learned person and finally a hermit. He became Vittal's ardent devotee. He travelled to many villages and towns and preached people on sastras and religious way of life to follow. He guided them to follow what was prescribed by rishis in the holy scriptures. He found many joining him as his disciples.
Once Mrithyunjayan stayed and meditated at a place called Narayanpur. That town had many Saivites. They were staunch Saivites wearing Shiva Linga tied to a thread around the neck. They would never remove it from their person. They heard about Sadhu Mrithyunjayan's fame and received him in their village with a warm welcome . They had taken Upadesam (spiritual advice) from him. One among them was Bavaraya. He was a very pious person and served the sadhu. Ultimately Sadhu Mrithyunjayan took him as his disciple. Another Saivite by the name Samuchyan did not like this. He was unfriendly with Bavaraya. So he started spreading bad news and rumours about Bavaraya and the guru Mrithyunjayar in the town. When Bavaraya came to know about the activity of Samuchyan he was sad.
Sadhu Mrithyunjaya when he found Bavaraya was not happy, called him and asked ''Bavaraya, are you not keeping good health why do you look sad and unhappy which is unusual for you?''
"Guruji, a man called Samuchyan is talking ill of you and spreading bad news and lies about you and insulting you. When I came to know this, it made me very sad and I am helpless to prevent him from doing this. It upsets me very much".
"So what? You do your duty. Always pray to God that good things should happen to him." replied the teacher.
The place where Sadhu Mrithyunjaya was staying with Bavaraya was ruled by a local King. He was also a staunch Shiva baktha and his name was Kasipathi. This king was a good hearted Siva baktha and he followed as a routine, Anna dhana every day, feeding at least 10000 Shiva devotees daily around noon in the palace open yard . After performing a puja to lord Siva he would prostrate before the devotees assembled for annadhanam, seeking their blessing and then serve them food himself . Only after feeding them, he would have his food.
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