Sri Guru Charitra adyay - 12
As Siddha went on thus recounting the divine acts of Sree Guru, Namadharaka Sharma, who
was listening attentively asked: 'Sir, you have said that Sree Guru left the banks of river Krishna , for the banks of river Bheema. Yet you say that he abides on the banks of the former river as the invisible Spirit, answering the prayers of the devout! Has anyone experienced the truth of this claim?
If so, I long to hear atleast one instance of it'.Siddha began: 'Oh Namadharaka, the Supreme Spirit of Self does not have anything like movement from place to place, location or any particular state of existence. What seems so is but the divine play of the Lord. He will be experienced as per one's own attitude to him.
Sri Guru Charitra adyay - 12
Now listen: In course of time, people came to know from Ganganuja how the Lord blessed the Yoginis and assured them of his presence there in spirit. So they worshipped the padukas with due reverence.Indeed, all their wishes were fulfilled. I shall recount one incident.
There was a brahmin lady living in that area. All her children died immediately after. In desperation, she revealed her plight to a pious and learned brahmin priest. The latter was divinely inspired to tell her thus: 'Madam, there can be several karmic causes, belonging to one's previous lives, for the loss of one's children in the present life. It can be the consequence of killing cows, brahmins, dogs, snakes and children, or of stealing other's wealth.
In your previous life, you unfairly appropriated the wealth of a brahmin of the Sounaka Gotra. He has become a vengeful spirit and has been killing all your children. One is obliged to reap the consequences of one's misdeeds of a
former life.
There is no other way to workout one's past karma. You too shall do so'. The lady could not bear these words. She prostrated to his feet and begged him to teach her a way out of her pitiable plight. The latter replied, 'Madam, perform the religious rites necessary for the elevation of the brahmin's soul to higher realms of existence, along with the special rites of absolution and repentance. Observe such religious vows for a full month. Then take aholy
dip in the Ashtatheertha and worship the sacred padukas and the fig tree. Then feed brahmins and give away
gifts of money plentifully to a pious brahmin of Sounaka Gotra.' The lady submitted, 'I do not have a plentiful store of money.
I shall certainly observe the monthly vows and worship the padukas'. Subsequently, the brahmin lady. started observing the vow along with her husband. On the third night, the spirit that was killing her offspring appeared in her dream. She immediately ran to Sree Guru who was seated under the fig tree and sought his refuge. Sree Guru consoled her and sternly reprimanded the spirit, 'You, mean spirit! How dare you threaten a helpless woman?' The latter replied, 'Lord, it is not proper for you to be partial to her. She misappropriated my money in her previous life. Inorder to win it back by tormenting her, I have assumed this form'. Sree Guru said, 'By assuming this form and frightening her like this, you will not achieve your salvation. I shall teach you the means of attaining higher realms of being. Listen: It was in a previous life that she deprived you of your wealth.
In this life she is poor and has no means of paying you back. I shall see that she scrupulously performs religious rites which will secure higher states of existence for you and I shall make her offer as much money as she can manage, to a man of your Gotra. Besides, I shall secure liberation for you. If this satisfies you, it is well. If it doesn't, do what you can, but I shall certainly protect her!' The spirit submitted, 'Lord, at the very sight of you, I am freed from the thrall of my evil tendencies. You may do as you please and I shall be satisfied.' Sree Guru turned to the lady and said, 'My dear, did you hear what he said? You do accordingly and he shall be liberated. Thereby, your offspring will prosper'. And the Lord disappeared.
The lady woke up and informed her husband about the dream and acted accordingly. Thereby, she was freed soon from the cursed torment and from the fruits of her former misdeed. Later, Sree Guru again appeared in her dream, gave her two fruits and said, 'My dear, feed brahmins and eat these fruits!' When she woke up, she found the fruits by her side and did as she was told. Soon she conceived and, in course of time, she was blessed with handsome twins.
The happy couple performed all the rites enjoined by sastras and brought up the children with love and tenderness. In their eighth year, they made all the arrangements necessary to invest the first child with the sacred thread. To their amazement, the boy was laid up for a few days with typhoid and died. The mother could not withstand the calamity. She beat her breast and lamented loudly saying, 'My son! Where have you gone? How long will you sleep? Wake up! It's time for lunch. Take your food and play in the frontyard. Your playmates are awaiting you. I cannot live without you. Of the five children born to me, you are my very life. At your birth, all the grief caused by the loss of
earlier children was wiped clean from my heart. Leaving me in the ocean of grief, where did you go? It's cruel on your part to do so. Who will support us in our old age?'
