ACHYUTHA
PRIYAA
short
stories to regain faith
In
our last issue we saw how the thief was determined to meet Bagawan
Krishna. The thief set out in search of Bagawan Krishna and followed the
path that was directed by that preacher. As the thief was proceeding on
his journey he was constantly uttering “Krishna”, “Krishna”,
“Krishna” so that he would not forget the name of that little black
child. The description of Bagawan Krishna had completely occupied the mind
and the heart of that thief. The thief did not even care or bother to
think about anything else. His only concern was that little black child
(Krishna) and HIS jewels. In fact the thief was unknowingly chanting the
Nama of Bagawan Krishna and was drowned in HIS thoughts. This is the prime
duty of all the jeevathamas in this universe. Our mind should be
completely focused at the Lotus Feet of Bagawan Shri Krishna. We all must
chant the Nama of Bagawan Krishna, surrender ourselves to HIS Lotus Feet,
think about HIM constantly, and pray to HIM. The nama of Bagawan Krishna
and HIS thoughts would bring a permanent end to all our worries, miseries
and tensions, it would make us feel relieved and relaxed, and would make
us victorious in every path of our life. So, if our mind meditates only
Bagawan Krishna, there wouldn’t be any sorrow and our life will bloom
with happiness.
The
thief was very eager to reach the place of Bagawan Krishna as early as
possible. This intense urge of the thief to attain Bagawan Krishna and the
Nama of Krishna, which he was unknowingly uttering, proved its result. To
his great surprise the thief saw that a very beautiful river was flowing
across him. On the banks of that river there were many different varieties
of trees. The entire surrounding looked very pleasant and had a soothing
effect. The thief immediately recollected the description of the location
given by that preacher and found that it matched with this location
perfectly. The thief was overjoyed. His happiness knew no bounds. Such is
the greatness of Bagawan Krishna. The thief did not have any love or
liking for Bagawan Sri Krishna. In fact he was not even aware about the
real form of Krishna. In the entire life of that thief this was the first
time he had heard about Krishna. But Bagawan Krishna, who knows only to
love his children and shower HIS blessings on them, blessed this thief
also by enabling him to chant HIS Nama. This nama of Bagawan Krishna which
the thief was chanting only due to the mercy and grace of Krishna
automatically took that thief to the place of Bagawan Krishna and made
that place visible even to his naked eyes. Such is the warmth, love,
comfort and happiness, which our sweet, little Krishna showers on even
those who think about HIM only for satisfying their needs.
Now
it was nighttime. As per the information of that preacher the thief had to
wait till early morning to meet that little black child. The greed of the
thief was making him restless and he was facing a problem in passing the
nighttime. He decided to go to the treetop and wait for Krishna. He was
thinking about all the strategies to loot the ornaments of Bagawan
Krishna. His mind was filled with Krishna dhyanam. He closed his eyes and
started visualizing Krishna as per the description given by the preacher.
The thief was not aware that time was passing. That is the power of
Krishna dhyanam. To his surprise he could hear a soothing music of a
flute. The preacher had informed to the thief that the little black child
carries a flute with HIM. So as soon as the thief heard the sound of a
flute, he opened his eyes and started searching in the direction from
which the sound was coming. The eagerness of the thief went on increasing.
Immediately he noticed a group of children coming from that direction. As
the children were far, everything was not clearly visible to him. So he
climbed down the tree and went closer to the children to see whether this
little black boy was among them. The same black boy with the ornaments (Bagawan
Krishna) whom he had visualized was standing before him. It was at this
point of time the thief realised that it had dawned. He had spent his
entire night thinking only
about Krishna.
The
thief had unknowingly spent his entire night in doing Krishna dhyanam. He
had “Eakaagra
Chinthanai”(sole thought) of Krishna only. This is how we all should
keep on thinking about our lovable Kiccha Payal (This is how Krishna is
affectionately called by his bhaktas). We should forget everything and
keep on chanting HIS Nama and thinking about HIM only. We should be like
an innocent child, which has an unconditional faith on its parents. Its
world is restricted to its parents only. It knows nothing but to cry
whenever it feels hungry or sleepy. But the parents of that child
understand the reason behind its crying and fulfill its desire
accordingly. The parents carry their child with them to various places.
The child does all sorts of mischief and enjoys the life in the way it
wants without any tension or fear. This is possible for the child only
because it depends solely upon the parents and has an unconditional faith
on them. The outside world, the surroundings, the near and dear ones does
not affect it in any way. A child knows only one thing i.e. its parents
would take care of it in all the circumstances. This is how we should have
a strong faith on Bagawan Krishna and surrender ourselves to HIM. Then it
becomes HIS responsibility to take care of all our need and happiness. But
the elders lack such an unconditional faith on Bagawan due to which they
themselves are responsible for their sufferings.
As
soon as the thief saw the same black boy with all the ornaments standing
before him, his happiness knew no bounds.
Hence it is said “Yath Bhaavam Tath Bhavathi”. Bagawan Krishna
is so merciful that HE gives darshan in the form we would like to see HIM.
Some may like Krishna as a child holding butter in HIS hands, some may
want to see Krishna as their sakha (friend), some may want to see Krishna
as their master, while some may desire to experience Krishna as their
Bhartha (husband). The thief had spent his entire night in thinking about
Krishna and HIS ornaments. This dhyanam of the thief made Krishna to come
in front of him with the very same ornaments.
The thief was stunned and could not believe his eyes. Though he was
a thief, the beauty of Bagawan Krishna attracted him. The thief thought
that whatever the Brahmin had said was not enough as Krishna was many
times more attractive than what the Brahmin had described. The thief got
the dharshan of Bagawan Krishna even without knowing that HE is the
Supreme One. Unconditional faith of the thief compelled Bagawan Krishna to
give darshan. We should have such unconditional faith in our Guru. A
faith, which should not be shaken at times of adversity.
Then
suddenly the thief remembered that he should loot the ornaments HE was
wearing, instead of being engrossed in HIS beauty. So the thief threatened
Krishna and asked HIM to give all the ornaments. Bagawan Krishna pretended
as if HE was afraid of that thief and hid HIMSELF behind HIS elder brother
Balaram. From this Bagawan Krishna strongly conveys this message to us
that unless one gets the krupa kataaksham (blessings) of a Bhaktha it is
difficult for us to enjoy and experience the true grace and mercy of
Bagawan. The thief ordered Bagawan Krishna to come in front of him and
asked to remove all the ornaments. But Bagawan Krishna refused to do so
saying, “My mother will scold me”. After a lot of negotiations Krishna
surrendered to the thief. This is how we should be rigid in our praying
and should not take a back step until Krishna grants our desire. This
argument went on between Krishna and that thief and in the end the thief
lost his patience and he screwed Krishna’s ears. As soon as the thief
touched Krishna’s ears, a warm lighting passed through his body. He
experienced a great comfort, warmth and such a soothing feeling, which he
had never experienced before. What
a great experience!
The
moment the thief touched Krishna’s ears his feelings changed completely.
He totally forgot that he had come to loot the ornaments of Bagawan
Krishna. He was experiencing a deep calmness and peace in his heart and a
happiness that he had never ever felt before. A feeling which touched his
heart, which made his body melt and which made him forget about this
world. His blind faith in the existence of Krishna, the Nama of Krishna
that he was chanting unknowingly, and his innocence proved its results. He
got the dharshan of the Supreme without any difficulty. Most of the times
people make statements that it is very difficult to see Krishna, to feel
His presence, to touch Krishna, to talk with Krishna, hear HIS divine
voice and so on. But this thief did not even know who Krishna was but knew
only one thing that a black little boy named Krishna exists and he wanted
to loot his ornaments. This
strong belief of the thief gave him the dharshan of Bagawan Krishna and
even enabled him to touch Krishna. See
how merciful our Kiccha Payal is!!
Now
slowly the thief was getting drowned in the beauty of Bagawan Krishna. He
was no more interested in looting the jewels of Krishna. He kept on
admiring the beauty of Bagawan Krishna. Now he was interested only in
cherishing the beauty of Krishna. This is the miracle of Bagawan Krishna.
Bagawan Krishna did not say anything to the thief but the beauty of
Bagawan Krishna brought a major change in the life of that thief. This is
how Krishna attracted the thief towards HIM. Krishna had brought the thief
to such a condition that even if HE would hand over the ornaments, the
thief would refuse to accept it. At this point of time Bagawan Krishna
started removing all HIS ornaments to hand it over to that thief. Now
Krishna was persuading that thief should take the ornaments but the thief
refused. The thief said to Krishna that HIS mother would scold HIM if HE
returns home without any ornaments but to this Krishna said that HIS
mother is concerned and interested only in HIM and not HIS ornaments. This
entire incident transformed a thief into a strong Bhaktha (devotee) of
Krishna.
The
thief told Krishna that he was no more interested in the ornaments and he
wanted Krishna to do him a favour . He said that he would wait for Krishna
in the morning and evening everyday. He wanted Krishna to bless him with
HIS divine dharshan daily in the morning while Krishna would go with HIS
friends to graze the cows and in the evening while HE would be returning
home. He said he had no other wish. Krishna who never knows to turn down
the words of HIS bhakthas eagerly accepted the request of that thief.
Krishna gave to that thief ornaments and also promised to give the thief
HIS dharshan. That is why Krishna is called as Bhaktha Vathsalan (one who
willingly fulfils all the desire of HIS bhakthas).
Krishna
showered His blessings on that thief and went to graze the cows. The thief
spent his entire time in thinking about the beauty of Krishna and in
remembering all those sweet nectar like words that spilled out of the
Lotus like lips of Krishna. He was totally engrossed in the memories of
Krishna and was waiting eagerly for the evening time so that he would once
again get the dharshan of Krishna. At last in the evening before returning
home Krishna once again blessed the thief with his dharshan. The
happiness, which the thief was experiencing today, could not be expressed
in mere words. Krishna promised the thief that he would come back next day
morning and left for home. At this point of time the thief remembered the
words that he had said to the preacher before leaving. He had promised the
preacher to give 50% of the looted ornaments . So the thief immediately
set out to hand over the ornaments to the preacher. The thief wanted to
return back as early as possible as Krishna had promised HIM to give HIS
dharshan in the morning.
The
thief reached the house of that preacher. The preacher was afraid to see
that thief. He was sure that the thief would not have met Krishna and
hence has come to kill him. But as soon as the thief saw that preacher, he
thanked him and the preacher asked the thief the reason for the same. On
this the thief narrated the entire incident to the preacher. The preacher
was not ready to believe this as he had doubts in the existence of
Krishna. So to prove the truthfulness the thief showed the looted jewels
to that preacher as per his promise. On seeing the jewels the preacher was
stunned. He could not believe his eyes. Whatever ornaments the preacher
had described were all present in front of him. On this the preacher asked
the thief whether he had really seen Krishna. The thief was surprised and
asked the preacher that had he never experienced the divine dharshan of
Krishna in his entire life? He said that now he could make out why the
preacher was making mistakes in describing Krishna. He said that Krishna
was much more beautiful than what the preacher had described. This aroused
an eagerness in that preacher to see Krishna.
The
preacher expressed his desire to see Krishna and the thief accepted to
fulfill his desire. This is Krishna! He showers HIS grace on one and
selects that one as a medium to enable others to realise HIS grace, power
and mercy. The thief took the preacher to that place where he had got the
dharshan of Krishna. The next day dawned. The thief was waiting eagerly to
see Krishna. A little later the thief heard the sound of flute and said to
the preacher that Krishna was coming as the sound of the flute could be
heard. But the preacher was unable to hear it. Now Krishna came very
closer to the place where the thief and the preacher were standing. But
Krishna was not visible to the naked eyes of that preacher. From this it
is revealed to us that what is important for Krishna is our mind and
heart. The feelings and beauty of Krishna should capture our mind and
heart in such a way that we should even forget ourselves. It is really
immaterial that who we are or what work we do.
What is important for Krishna is only a true love for HIM in our
mind and heart.
The
thief had such a love for Krishna. Though he was a thief , but he was
drowned in the beauty of Krishna and now his world was restricted to
Krishna only. Hence Krishna was visible to his naked eyes. The preacher
told the thief that he was not able to see Krishna. On this the thief
asked Krishna that why he was not visible to that preacher. Krishna
replied that the preacher did not have faith in HIM and in HIS existence
and hence HE was not visible to him. But the thief requested Krishna to
give the preacher HIS dharshan. More over after listening to the beauty of
Bagawan Krishna the preacher was also eager to see Krishna. Krishna did
not wanted to turn down the request of HIS bhaktha. So HE decided to give
HIS dharshan to that preacher also.
This
is true in case of a samsari also. A samsari can get the divine dharshan
of Bagawan only on recommendation by a Sathguru. Krishna asked that thief
to hold HIM with one hand and hold the preacher with other hand. The thief
followed the instructions of Krishna. Now the preacher was able to see
Krishna. The preacher did not have unconditional faith or love for
Krishna. But it was only due to the thief that the preacher got the
dharshan of Krishna. This is how a Sathguru is. He is like a connecting
pool between Bagawan Krishna and the samsaris. A Sathguru uplifts the
samsaries from darkness of ignorance. A Sathguru is basic necessity for
leading a happy life.
Thus
we saw that how an unconditional and innocent belief transformed a thief
into a great devotee of Krishna. Have unconditional faith on Bagawan
Krishna and enjoy a life filled with joy.
Radhekrishna!
Abhilash
and Anuja
Jay
Sathguru Maharaj Ki Jay