Scorpion dharma

 One day a sadhu went to the river to bathe.

There he noticed scorpion struggling in the water.

Scorpions cannot swim and the sadhu knew that if he did not save the scorpion, it would drown, therefore carefully picking up the scorpion, the sadhu rescued it from drowning and was just about to set it down gently on land when the scorpion stung his finger.

In pain the sadhu instinctively flung his hand and the scorpion went flying back into the river.

As soon as the sadhu regained his composure from the sting he again lifted the scorpion out of the water.

Again before he could set the scorpion safely on land, the creature stung him. This drama went on several minutes.

A hunter watched as the saint carefully and gingerly lifted the creature out of the water, only to fling it back in as he convulsed in pain from each fresh sting.

Finally, the hunter said to the sadhu, “Forgive me for my frankness, but it is clear that the scorpion going to continue to sting you each and every time you carry it to safety.

Why don’t you give up and just let it drown?”

The sadhu replied, “My dear child the scorpion is not stinging me out of malice or evil intent. Just as it is water’s nature to make me wet, so its scorpion’s nature to sting. He doesn’t realize that I am carrying him to safety. That is a level of conscious comprehensions greater than what his brain can achieve.

But just as it is the scorpion’s nature to sting. So it is my nature to save. Just as he is not leaving his nature, why should I leave my nature?

My dharma is to help any creature of any kind-human or animal.

Why should I let a small scorpion rob me of the divine nature which I cultivated through years of sadhana?

Srimad Bhagavatam following 2 verses 3.1.15 and 16 teaches us how Vidura controlled his insult from Duryodhana without uttering a word in return, he just left the palace accepting it as Krishna’s
benediction. Duryodhana said,

ka enam atropajuhaava jihmam
dasyaah sutam yad-balinaiva pushtah
tasmin prateepah parakrtya aaste
nirvaasyataam aashu puraac chvasaanah

“Who asked him to come here, this son of a kept mistress? He is so crooked that he spies in the interest of the enemy against those on whose support he has grown up. Toss him out of the palace immediately and leave him with only his breath.”

sa ittham atyulbana karna baanair
bhraatuh puro marmasu taadito ‘pi
svayam dhanur dvaari nidhaaya maayaam
gata-vyatho ‘yaad uru maanayaanah

“Thus being pierced by arrows through his ears and afflicted to the core of his heart, Vidura placed his bow on the door and quit his brother’s palace. He was not sorry, for he considered the acts of the external energy to be supreme.”

Chaliya.

 There used to be a Baba (saintly person) in Mathura who performed arcana of his shalagrama-shila with great love.

He did not have complete knowledge of the various limbs of arcana, but whatever arcana he performed, he did with love.

He had taken a vow to bathe in Yamuna every day during brahma-muhurta, and to worship his shalagrama with Yamuna water only.

Once, on the amavasya (new-moon day) in the month of Mägha, the cold winter month from mid-January to mid-February, it rained the entire night and a heavy cold wind blew.

On that pitch-dark morning he had no idea of the time because no stars were visible in the sky.

He woke long before the brahma-muhurta hour and set out to take his bath.

Although Yamunas waters were as cold as ice and he was shivering due to the extreme cold, he nevertheless took bath just to maintain his vow.

He then started back for his home, carrying the Yamuna water for his worship.

He faced severe difficulty because of the dense darkness, heavy rain and the weak condition of his shivering body.

He was anxiously wondering how it would be possible to return home to worship his Deity when, suddenly, he saw somebody holding a lantern coming towards him.

As the person came closer, he saw that it was a young boy carrying a blanket on His head to protect Him from the rain.

Coming close to the Baba the boy asked, Baba, where are you going?

When the man told Him where he lived, the boy said, I am also going that way. Come with Me and I will take you to your house.

He started walking with that boy and reached his house very quickly.

Just as he was about to enter, he thought,Let me ask this boy His name.

But what a wonder!

The Baba could not see Him anywhere.

He looked all around but there was no trace of Him.

Standing there like a stone, he lamented, Alas! That chaliya

Bakula as tooth brush.

 How did the unique bakula tree in the courtyard become known as the Siddha-bakula tree?

Every morning the Pujaris offer three twigs of a kumbhatua tree as toothbrushes (danta-kastham) to Jagannath Swami, Baladeva and Subhadra.

One day before the offering, a twig was missing so the Pujari substituted a twig from a bakula tree to use a toothbrush.

That bakula twig was given to Mahaprabhu as Maha-prasadam.

Gauranga came to see Haridasa and planted the maha-prasadi bakula toothbrush in the garden.

Soon the tree grew up luxuriantly and provided soothing shade to everyone.

Haridasa used to perform his Bhajana under this tree.

After the departure of Haridasa Thakura, a devotee named Srila Jaganantha Goswami used to perform Bhajan here.

One day the king’s officers came to cut down the bakula tree which was stout and straight; ideal for making the wheels for Jaganantha’s chariot.

Jagannath Goswami told them about the Supreme sancity of the bakula tree, which was planted by Mahaprabhu and used as the Bhajana sthali of the revered namacharya Thakura Haridasa.

When the king’s officers returned the next day to take the tree, they observed a miracle.

Overnight, the main trunk of the bakula tree had become petrified; as hard as rock.

The rest of the tree was completely hollow, bent over and winding here and there like a snake. It was of no use of them.

Unlike a normal living tree, this phenomenal bakula tree has no middle portion; it only has outer bark.

According to botanical principles the tree should be dead, yet it is thriving beautifully.

Any person or even an object like a bakula twig that is intimately connected with Lord Jagannath, Gauranga Mahaprabhu and the namacharya Haridasa Thakura will surely attain perfection and perform miraculous deeds.

The bakula tree had attained perfection, and from that day on it became famous as the Siddha-bakula tree.

Every year on Chaitra Sankranti (April), which is the day that Mahaprabhu manifested the bakula tree, the locals celebrate a festival called Danta-kastha-ropana Mahotsava, “the festival of planting the wooden toothbrush.”

The devotees bathe the Siddha-bakula tree with 108 pots of water and sing many bhajans glorifying Gauranga Mahaprabhu and His devotees like Thakura Haridasa.

Siddha Bakula ki Jai! Namacharya Haridasa Thakura ki Ja

Wings.

 Once there was a sage named Galava and he had to go on a urgent and important mission.

He spoke to his friend Garuda, the Great Eagle, who offered to fly him to his destination.

After they had flown a long distance, Galava said to his friend that he now felt that there was no need to travel to that destination.

So he asked Garuda to return.

Garuda said, ‘There is a hill on the sea coast ahead; we will rest there, have some food, and return.’

Descending on the hill, they saw a woman, Shandili, who had on her face the glow of some ineffable energy because of her performing austerities.

They saluted her most respectfully; and she offered them food, wholesome and satisfying, and, there on the earth, they both fell into deep sleep.

When Garuda awoke, he saw that his wings were severed from his body, and without them he looked like a lump of flesh.

It seemed to be some kind of punishment.

The sage asked Garuda, ‘Did you think anything offensive about the woman?’

Garuda said, “I just wondered why should this ascetic woman live in this forsaken place in the midst of a hill performing austerities?

There are so many Holy places of pilgrimage and she should be staying there.”

Then he realized that wherever the saintly persons or Vaishnavas live, that is the place of pilgrimage and we should never think that it is a condemned place and for this offensive thinking, he lost his wings.

Later he sought forgiveness from Shandili and got back his wings.

Moral of the story:

In Srimad Bhagvatam 1.13.10, King Yudhistira glorifies Sri Vidura saying:

bhavad-vidhaa bhaagavataas / tirtha-bhutaah svayam vibho
tirthi-kurvanti tirthaani / svaanta-sthena gadaabhrtaa

“My Lord, devotees like your good self are verily holy places personified. Because you carry the Personality of Godhead within your heart, you turn all places into places of pilgrimage.”

Hymn on Narasimha.

 Followed by Suresvaracharya and otherdisciples, Sankara moved southwards.

In course of time, the party reached Srisailam hills in Andhra Pradesh.

In those days, there lived a sect of religious fanatics called the Kapalikas, who believed in human sacrifice.

One day Sri Sankara was sitting deeply immersed in meditation.

At that time, a Kapalika came before him.

He woke up Sankara from his meditation and told him that God Kapali would appear to him if he sacrificed either the head of an emperor or the head of a great Sannyasin.

Sankara was amused. He smiled and said that he had no objection whatsoever to surrender his head.

He would come to the temple of Bhairava at midnight without the knowledge of his disciples.

Overjoyed that his wishes would be fulfilled, the Kapalika got busy with the preliminary rites of worship before the human sacrifice.

Man proposes, but God disposes.

Sankara got up from his bed at midnight and left for the temple of Bhairava.

Padmapada sensed some danger to his Guru. He earnestly prayed to Lord Narasimha to protect his Guru.

Padmapada ran to the spot and with the mighty strength of a lion snatched the sword from the hands of the Kapalika.

He then jumped on the Kapalika and tore him to pieces.

Sankara saw Lord Narasimha before him and was overjoyed.

He at once composed a thrilling hymn on Lord Narasimha.

Biggest donor.

 Many persons are considered brave for their virtue of giving away their wealth knowledge and tried with all their might to uphold this virtue. Indian mythology gives many extraordinary instances many persons which preferred giving away their body parts and wealth in order to give more preference to “DAAN” and “Tyaag” as it is referred in Hindu Mythology tales.

But Dadhichi rishi has been raised high above them all for his “Tyaag” and “Selflessness”.

The story of Maharshi Dadhichi and what he did because of which he is considered and the most generous of all in the Ancient Hindu Mythology.

During the War between Devatas and Rakshas(Demons). Demons had clearly dominated in the Warfield and robbed the Devatas of their arms and weapons using some new black magic powers which were far behind the comprehension of the gods.

The Devatas knew for sure that if they lose the rest of their weapons, no one could save their life.

So in order to make sure that their weapons are safe, they went to the Sage Maharishi Dadhichi who agreed to keep the weapons in his protection even neglecting the danger to his own life.

The “Rakshasas”(DEMONS) used all their might to rob those weapons and hurt Maharshi Dadhichi but in Vain. A long time passed and the gods’ didn’t come to take away their weapons.

Maharshi Dadhichi couldn’t think of any way by which he could always have an eye on the weapons at all time.

Finally, one day, with his divine Powers, he put all the weapons in his sacred water pot and mixed them in the water and drank it. He was now free and he could continue his regular penance undisturbed.

A short while after this, the Devatas returned and asked Dadhichi for their weapons.

Dadhichi Maharshi replied, “I waited a long time for you to come and collect your weapons. I thought you wouldn’t return back. So I drank them away”.

Devatas went on pleading “Maharshi, we are now in a position to fight Rakshasas.

If we do not have our weapons, we will not be in a position to fight with them and to save Dharma and the universe”. Dadhichi thought about it calmly and was convinced that Devatas deserved help.

Their weapons were now more powerful than before. He said to Devatas “Alright, take your weapons back by killing me. They are presently in the form of my bones”.

Devatas refused to do so and said “We certainly do not want to commit the sin of killing a great Rishi like you. We cannot afford to do this cruel thing”.

Now the weapons were inside the hermits’ body in form of flesh and bones and it was difficult to get them out. So he created a huge fire, entered into it and reduced his own body into flames.

Devatas were in the state of bewilderment as they couldn’t comprehend what was happening. Lord Brahma suddenly appeared and converted each of the bones into various powerful weapons and gave them to the Devatas. Dadhichi’s back bone was made “THE VAJRA” and was given to Lord Indra with which he brought an end to the most powerful Rakshasas like Vritrasur.

The power of the divine virtue and powerful soul made the weapons more Lethal than ever. This great sacrifice made his name flash in golden words whenever examples are given of sacrifice and selfless attitude.

Yogakshemam vaahamy aham

 Arjunacharya and his wife were very simple and humble devotees. They lived in a small hut and everyday after his morning duties, he used to go to village and beg for alms.

As a rule he used to visit only three houses and beg alms. He used to accept just enough alms for himself and his wife to live.

He was writing a commentary on Bhagavad Gita and everyday he spent hours reading and writing.

One day he was so engrossed in it that he forgot to go to village for getting food. Since it was already late afternoon, the ladies in the village were resting and there was no spare food even in single house. So he came back empty handed.

Once more he sat to read the Bhagavad Gita. In the ninth chapter verse 22, Lord Krishna says –

ananyaash cintayanto maam ye janaah paryupaasate
teshaam nityaabhiyuktaanaam yoga-kshemam vahaamy aham

“But those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental formto them I carry what they lack, and I preserve what they have.”

Arjunacharya started thinking about the last words deeply and did not find them correct.

How could the Lord say, “vahamya aham” – I personally carry ?

He scratched the line – “yoga kshema vahaamyaham” and then he told his wife that he was going to river for a bath.

Meanwhile two boys ( Krishna and Balarama ) appeared and carried loads of rice, vegetables fruits and butter and handed it over to Arjunacharya’s wife.

She was surprised and wonder-struck by their beautiful faces and so she asked them who they were.

They introduced themselves as disciples of her husband and that they have brought these provisions as per their order.

She was very thankful and happy that now can cook something for her hungry husband,

When the boys started leaving she saw the scars on the back of their bodies, she was shocked.

She asked them: Who has done this to you oh beautiful boys?

They told her that her husband makes them work very hard and if they did not obey he used to beat them.

She was not able to believe what they said. But she felt very sad for them and applied sandal wood paste on their backs to relieve the pain and they left immediately.

When Arjunacharya returned home his wife was very angry at him. She even didint want to speak to him.

Arjunacharya asked her : Why you do not want to speak to me? Have i hurt you?

No – replied his wife you are bad person. You are hurting small children!

How? asked Arjunacharya.

When he heard what his wife told him, he was able to realize that the two boys were Krishna and Balaram.

He ran inside where his Bhagavad Gita was lying and could see that the pen marks on his shloka had vanished.

He started weeping for doubting the Lord’s word and said,”Yogakshemam vaahamy aham ! It is true.

You do come personally to save the devotees. Oh ! Please forgive me”.

His wife felt sad for not having recognized them, though she saw them face to face. But Arjunacharaya was very happy thinking how hsi wife has direct darshan of Krishna and Balarama.

Arjunacharaya consoled her and said, “Now I have understood that there is no difference between Lord Krishna and Bhagavad Gita. By scratching on Bhavgavad gita i was scratching body of the Lord Krishna. And Lord is truth , He takes care of His devotees. He personally carries what they have and provides what they lack” .

Then they began to chant and glorify the Lord.

I doubt any acharya of the south would have done this to scratch the line from the B G.