Tamil Nadu, which is located in the southern part of India, has been a birth place of many saints like Ramana Maharishi, Kanchi Periyavar, Manika Vachagar, etc.. The Brihadeeshwarar temple in Tanjavur is known for its own glory. What can we say about the glorious festival of Meenakshi Thirukalyanam in Madurai which happens once in a year. It is such a beutiful sight. Tamil Nadu is also known for the Six Abodes (Aarupadai Veedu ) of Lord Muruga. Like this, Tamil Nadu is blessed with so many piligrm centres.
Swami says," Since ancient times, many such great saints took birth in Tamil Nadu. Divinity that blossomed in sacred Tamil Nadu is not noticed elsewhere. Right from daybreak people go to temples, make sacred offerings, and divinise their lives. That is why there are more temples in Tamil Nadu than anywhere else in the country."
Swami has also visited Tamil Nadu and blessed many places like Naga Sai Mandir in Coimbatore, Sri Sathya Sai Aananda Nilayam in Madurai, Sundaram in Chennai and the most loving Kodaikanal. ( Actually Swami has visited many places in Tamil Nadu. The above are only few of them.) Each place that Swami visited has its own History. Actually it is not History but His-Story with those places.
Swami consecrating the shirdi sai idol in Naga Sai Mandir, Coimbatore
Swami in Sri Sathya Sai Ananda Nilayam, Madurai
Swami in Sundaram, Chennai
Swami with his students in Kodaikanal
Take one step towards God
One day when I was engaged in some activity suddenly a question raised from my heart. I say it is from the heart because I felt the inner voice strongly within me. The voice said "wheather Swami has said something about the people of Tamil Nadu?"
This strong voice arised definetly not from the mind because if it is from the mind it would just vanish within few moments. Mind is just a bundle of thoughts. One thought enters into the mind as soon as one exits. But if the thought rises from the heart it inspires us towards the next step. That is what happened in my case too. That voice which came within me struck strongly in my heart for several days. It made me so curious that I started searching in Sathya Sai Speaks weather Swami has said something about the people of Tamil Nadu. Of course, Swami has given Discourse so many times during Tamil New Year. But most of the discourse were based on Human Values. But I seeked something different. I seeked something about the people of Tamil Nadu from the Divine Voice. So with great enthusiasm I started refering each volume of Sathya Sai Speaks. But everything failed. The truth is I didn't have enough patience. In 42 volumes where will I start and where will I end. I only went through the discourse delivered during the Tamil New Year. But I did not get what I seeked. Finally, I just gave up.
After few days when I was reading Sai Literature ( not Sathya Sai Speaks ), continously I came across several incidents where Swami narrated some stories from the lives of great saints of Tamil Nadu. I was thrilled as I read that. After that I found the correct source of those stories in Sathya Sai Speaks too. More than a story, it is a great lesson that has to be seeded in todays generation. As Swami says, " It is not the statues of saints that are important, but their teachings. The best way to propagate their teachings is to practice them."
If you take one step towards me, I take hundreds towards you.
Looking back at the whole episode, I realised, it is the God who activates everything within us. He is the source of inspiration. That is why he is called Hrudayanivasi. He is the one who raised the question in my heart. When I took one step towards that He automatically answered through multiple ways. This is another revelation where Swami tells me that if you take one step towards God then God will take hundred steps towards you. He is waiting for that one step of self effort. Whatever work we may be assigned with, let us do our best and definetly He will do the rest.
Manika Vachagar
Manika Vachagar who was a famous Tamil poet who lived in 9th century in Madurai. He is known for his famous Thiruvasakam. The following are the two stories in the lives of Manika Vachagar as narrated by Swami in his Divine Discourse.
Saint Manikavasagar
First Story
In Tamil Nadu there was a person by the name Manikavachika. One day he was travelling somewhere. When he reached a particular place, there was heavy downpour. He looked around.There was no place where he could take shelter. There was a small veranda of a small house. He entered that veranda. The people in the house had bolted the door from inside. It was small veranda. He folded his legs and layer down there. Another person was getting drenched in the rain. He came there. Manikyavachika called that person who was getting drenched and told him to come in the veranda.
Manikyavachika told the travellar, "I will not lie down now. Let us both sit in this small Veranda."
After sometime Manikyavachika spotted a third person running in the rain. He called him also.
He said, " Both of us are sitting, if a third person comes here, all of us will stand and wait till the rain stops". Even as he was telling this the rain stopped.
Then he said " This is my command, where one person can stay, there can be two persons; where two persons can sit, if a third one comes, all the three can stand. Social service is thinking of others happiness apart from one's own happiness, and giving them happiness."
( Source : Swami gave this discourse on 1st April, 1998. This full discourse is beutifully recorded in My Dear Students, Volume 5, Discourse 21 )
Second Story
One may face problems, blames, and accusations of all types, but it is devotion that protects one from all these. Once upon a time, the Pandya kingdom in Tamil Nadu reigned supreme. The Pandya king was very fond of horses. Once, he sent his minister to buy horses. He gave him all the money and manpower required to procure the horses.
The minister reached a village named Perundurai. There he came across a holy man, Balayogeeswara. He did not want to waste that pleasant evening, so he joined the congregation and listened to the discourse of the holy man with rapt attention. He forgot himself as he listened to the discourse. He developed strong faith in that holy man. He forgot even the task assigned to him by the king, spent his time listening to the discourses, and got immersed in the contemplation of God. One day, he found a Siva temple in a dilapidated condition. He used the money given to him by the king for renovating the Siva temple.
The king came to know that the minister had used all the money given to him to buy horses, to renovate the Siiva temple. The king was also a devoted man. But since the minister disobeyed his command, he sent his soldiers to bring him back. The king summoned the minister to his presence and asked him what he had done with the money given to him for procuring horses. The minister said, “O king, I used the money for God. Everything is God’s gift. What God had given, I gave it back to Him. Not only that I have offered myself to Him.”
The king asked, whether he was justified in spending the money for a different purpose other than for which it was intended. The minister replied that he did not use the money for worldly purposes, but used it for a sacred purpose. The king became furious at the minister’s audacious reply, had him arrested and put in prison.
The minister was unruffled. While in prison, he continued to recall the teachings of the holy man, Balayogeeswara, and started writing them down in the form of slokas (verses). He composed many slokas every day. He was immersed in bliss while composing hymns in praise of God and thus lost track of time.
Later, the king realised his mistake and summoned him. He was surprised to see the aura of radiance and brilliance around his face. How did he acquire such an aura? It was due to the constant contemplation of God. That minister was none other than Manikavachagar. Each sloka composed by him reflected the essence of the Vedas and the sacred texts. This work is known as Thiruvachakam, meaning sacred reading.
( Source : This Divine Discourse was delivered by Swami on 28th October, 1998. It is recorded in Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 31, Ch 38 )
When I was reading this story I felt that one thing is not right in the story. How can the minister use the money for different purpose when it is actually given to buy horses? But the minister said that he had spent it for sacred purpose and not for worldly purpose. Yes, what the minister said is absolutly right. In life, we too are put into such situations. For example, a man be highly devoted to God. Swami says respect your parents. But if the parents are totally opposed to spirutuality, what will the man do? Will he respect his mother as per Swami's command and leave God or will he seek God and leave his parents. In such cases Swami gives the straight answer.
Swami says,
" There is nothing wrong in disobeying others for the sake of God. In the world many things may happen. You can do anything for God. There is nothing wrong. You recognise this principle. As long as you are in the world, as long as you dont realise divinity within you, respect your parents, respect the teacher. Look after the wife and children. It is our duty. They are the worldly duties. Once you have Divine relationship, you need not care for anything else. Other things are small things.
Kaikeyi sent Rama, who was very life breadth of Bharatha to the forest. She wanted Bharata to be crowned he king. But Bharata said, " Rama is God for me. He is like my father. Kaikeyi has hurt Rama who is Divine. Therefore she is not my mother." Even if you refuse mother for the sake of God there is no mistake. You can disobey Father for the sake of God. Not for other's sake. For the sake of God you can do anything. "
( Source : Swami delivered this divine discourse on 19th March, 1998. It is beautifully recorded in the book My Dear Students, Vloume 5, Discourse 2 )
Thiruvalluvar
Thiruvalluvar, was another famous poet celebrated in Tamil Nadu and a great philospher. He is also known as Valluvar. He is a great man of virtue. You will understand that in the following story. He is known for his greatest composition of Thirrukural.
Thirrukural contains totally of 1,330 couplets or Kurals. It has 133 different sections. The first 38 sections deals with ethics ( Aram ). The next 70 sections deals with political and economic matters ( Porul ). The last 25 sections deals with Love (Inbam). Each section has 10 couplets. So there are 1,330 couplets totally. This Thirrukural has been translated into various languages. Swami says that the sacred book Thirrukural is equivalent to Vedas.
Here are another two stories about Thiruvalluvar which has a great insight as narrated by Swami in his Divine Discurse.
Story 1 : Dont lose your anger at any cost
There was great saint by the name Thiruvalluvar. Initially, he was a weaver. He used to weave just one sari per day, sell it in the bazaar, and earn money for his family. Good and bad exist together; it would be impossible to separate them. In the same village, there was the son of a rich man who was wasting his time wandering aimlessly.
Where there is money, there is ego. Ego gives rise to bad qualities. Once the money is lost, all bad qualities too disappear.One day, the rich man’s son came to Thiruvalluvar and asked for the price of the sari. Thiruvalluvar said it cost four rupees. The boy was known for his arrogance and mischief. He picked up the sari, tore it into two pieces and asked for the price of one piece. Thiruvalluvar replied, it cost two rupees, since he had made the Sari into two halves. The boy tore it again into another piece and asked for the price. Thiruvalluvar replied that the price was one rupee.
This brought about a transformation in the mind of the boy. He wondered how the businessman was calm and composed even after he tore the sari into pieces. The boy fell at Thiruvalluvar’s feet and repented for his behaviour. The boy said that due to his pride and arrogance, he made this mistake. Then he went to his father, got the required money for the sari and kept it at the feet of Thiruvalluvar.
( Source - Swami narrates this story during his Divine Discourse delivered on 12th October, 1998 )
As I was reading this story I remembered watching the same theme of the story few years back in Uncle Lion Tales of Radiosai.
This situation occurs most of the times in our lives too. People may annoy us or critisize us or do something which makes us angry. In such a situation if we get angry that means they win and we loose. We should never let anyone to steal our inner peace.
Swami says, " Forgive those who have harmed you and criticized you. Have faith that whatever happens is for your own good. If someone hurls abuses on you, do not retaliate. Enquire within yourself whether he has criticized the body or the atma.If he has criticized the body, indirectly he has done a favour to you because body is nothing but a heap of flesh, blood, bones and facal matter. On the other hand if he has criticized the atma, it amounts to criticizing his own self because the same atma exists in both of you. One should cultivate this kind of forgiveness and broad-mindedness."
Story 2 : Food is God. Do not waste it.
In Tamil, there is a sacred book named Thirukural, which is equivalent to the Vedas. It was written by Thiruvalluvar. He took to the path of spirituality, worked for the welfare of humanity, and led a disciplined and peaceful life. He used to ask his wife to keep a cup of water and a needle by his side while he ate his food. As per the command of her husband, his wife did accordingly day after day, but not even once did she find him putting them to use while having food. When his wife asked him for the reason, he replied, “I don't want to waste even a single grain of rice. The purpose of this needle is to pick up the grain of rice if it were to fall outside my plate and to wash it clean with water before putting it back in the plate. So far I have not used this needle, since I have been very careful not to spill rice grains.”
Annam Brahma, raso Vishnu, bhokta devo Maheswara (food is Brahma, the essence is Vishnu, and the one who partakes of it is Maheswara). Food is called Brahma since its essence pervades the whole body and gives it strength.
( Source - Swami narrates this story during his Divine Discourse delivered on 14th April, 1999 )
Swami and Karanyananda
Whenever the topic of wasting food arises immidiately the story of Swami and Karunyananda flashed in my mind. After reading that story I never wasted food in my life. It is such a beuatiful story.
Swami and Karunyananda
Once Karunyananda accompanied Swami to Dharmakshetra in Mumbai. There, he was given room on the ground floor right below Swami's residence as per Swami's command. He went to his room and sat by his window. As he sat by the window, he saw the slum beyond the compound. He saw some childrens eating wasted foods in the dustbin from the discarded leafs. Karunyananda was very much depressed when he saw this. He felt why should such things happen when the Avatar himself has manifested in human form in this very building. He was very much disturbed. So he asked Swami why should they eat from garbage in your Avataric prescense. For that, with most patience Swami replied that whatever food that they had thrown in the garbage in their previous birth, is been eaten by them in this birth.
Therefore let us not waste food. Even, I have felt this when I went to puttaparthi. I saw many beggars in the streets of puttaparthi. I felt that the sathya sai organisation is doing Narayan Seva to huge number of people. Then still why should people beg in the streets where God himself has incarnated ? But everybody has to repent for their own karma. God stays as an eternal witness for all our acts. We should help people who are suffering. We should not say that they are suffering because of their bad karma. Swami says that it may be a bad karma for them but it will be a good karma for you if you help them. Therefore, we must engage ourselves in service activities. God can be pleased only through selfless service. Service to mankind is service to God
the eternal witness
Swami says,
"What is karma? It is the action that we perform. It is the cause of our birth, our life on earth, and our ultimate death. Our very existence depends upon karma. There can be no human life without karma. Spiritual practices like rituals and sacrifices (yajnas and yagas) are also forms of karma. The welfare and well-being of the world depend upon these spiritual practices. The very basis of the world is karma. Therefore, everyone must necessarily perform action (karma).
You should strive to attain God realisation by doing your duty. As the action, so is the result. No one can escape from the consequences of their actions. Karma does not mean merely the actions that we perform with the limbs of our body; even the process of breathing constitutes karma. Eating, drinking, walking, sitting —all are various types of action that man performs. So it is not possible to know the consequences of our actions. We should enquire about the nature of karma before performing. Being a human being, we should ask whether the actions that we perform are befitting a human being or not. If you perform action without proper enquiry, you will not have the desired results.
Karma is verily God. God is not separate from you. God is present in subtle form in every action. God exists in the form of karma in everything right from microcosm to macrocosm. Brahman is subtler than the subtlest and vaster than the vastest (Anoraneeyan mahato maheeyan). One must necessarily perform action and should offer all actions to God. Do all actions to please God (Sarva karma bhagavad preetyartham). Do like this, and you will not be bound by the consequences of your actions. "
Not only Tamil Nadu, but the whole Bharat is blessed witth many spirutual saints. It is not an ordinary country. It is so pleased that God has incarnated several times in this great land. Many times Swami used to speak about the greatness of Bharat. Whenever I read that I feel proud for being born in Bharat. But, who is a true Bharathiya? Is it the people who live in Bharat?
Swami says that 'Bha' refers to Divinity and 'ratha' refers to one who loves God. Bharathiya means the people who loves God. Therefore, whoever loves God is a True Bharathiya! Let us all be true lovers of God.
Thirrukural contains totally of 1,330 couplets or Kurals. It has 133 different sections. The first 38 sections deals with ethics ( Aram ). The next 70 sections deals with political and economic matters ( Porul ). The last 25 sections deals with Love (Inbam). Each section has 10 couplets. So there are 1,330 couplets totally. This Thirrukural has been translated into various languages. Swami says that the sacred book Thirrukural is equivalent to Vedas.
