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PRAYER TO THE REVERED LINEAGE OF GURUS (ENLIGHTENED MASTERS)

गुरुब्रह्मा  गुरुरविष्णु: गुरुरदेवो महेश्वरः

गुरु: साक्षातपरब्रह्म तस्मै श्री गुरुवे नम:

Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu Gurur Devo Maheshwara

Guru Saakshat Parabrahma Tasmai Shree Guruve Namaha

Meaning:

Guru is the Creator, Guru Sustains the Creation, Guru is the cause for Dissolution

Guru is the Supreme Being, Salutations to such a GURU.

GU means Darkness, RU means Light.

Guru removes the darkness of ignorance and shows you the light of knowledge.

Darkness also means Sin

Guru destroys your sins and makes you shine with the Divine Light of Consciousness.

Benefits of the Company of Saints and One Pointed Concentration

STORY OF VALIMIKI AND SAGE NARADA

Along the banks of the river Ganga there was a thick forest many sages built their hermitage in that forest for their 'tapas' (penance); that means they meditated on God. Among them was a sage by the name of Prachetasa. He had, a son called Ratnakara. When he was a very young boy, Ratnakara went into the forest. While playing he lost his way and began to cry. Just then a hunter came there looking for a prey. He saw the chubby boy and fondled and pacified him. The hunter had no children. He took the boy to his hut in the midst of the jungle.

Ratnakara's father searched for his son all around the hermitage, but could not find him. Finally he and his wife thought that the boy had become the prey of some wild beast. Both wept very much.

The hunter and his wife brought up the lad with great love. Ratnakara forgot his parents. He took the hunter for his father and the hunter's wife for his mother. He was taught how to hunt by the father. Ratnakara was a clever boy and learnt it quickly. He became a hunter with a sure aim. 

To the birds and beasts of the forest, he became verily Yama, the God of Death. 

When he came of age, his foster father searched for a bride and celebrated his marriage with a beautiful girl from a hunter’s family. In a few years she gave birth to some children. Thus, Ratnakara's family grew in size. It became very difficult for him to provide food and clothing to his large family. Ratnakara took to robbery. He began to attack people going from one village to another, frightening them and taking away all that they had. If they opposed him, he killed them.

One day Ratnakara was sitting by the side of a road waiting for a victim. It happened that the great sage Narada was passing that way. Narada had his favorite musical instrument, a Veena, in his hands. As he played on the Veena, he was singing a song in praise of God. When he was thus lost in joy, suddenly Ratnakara rushed at him. He lifted the stout staff in his hands and shouted, "Look here! Hand over all your possessions or else I'll break your head."

But Narada was not an ordinary man. He was a divine sage. He was not frightened by the loud shouts of Ratnakara. He smilingly said, "My dear man, all that I have is this old Veena and the rags I wear; if you want them, you can certainly take them. Why should you break my head for these?"

Ratnakara was astonished at these words. He looked up at Narada's face. There was neither fear nor anger; there was only peace. And how bright was that face! He was surprised to see a face tender and innocent like that of a child. He had never seen such a lovely face. As he gazed, his cruel mind melted into tenderness.

Narada sat beneath a tree and as he played on the Veena, sang a song in praise of God. It was sweet like the song of cuckoo. Ratnakara was deeply moved. Noticing the change, the sage Narada paused in his song and said, "Brother, stealing is a sin. Killing animals is also sinful. Why do you do such evil?"

"Sire, what can I do?” Ratnakara replied, “I have a large family. There are my old parents and my wife and children; they partake of my happiness and my troubles. I have to provide them with food and clothing. Hunting and stealing are all I know. What else can I do?"

The sage smiled and said, "My friend, will any member of your family partake of your sin also? Go and ask them and bring back their reply."

Ratnakara thought that Narada was trying a trick him to make his escape. Narada understood it and again said, "Well, child, if you do not trust me, you can tie me to this tree and then go."

Ratnakara thought that was all right. He tied Narada to a tree and went home.

On reaching home, he first went to his father and said, "Father, I rob people to get food and clothing for you all. It seems that is a sin. Do you not share in that sin?"

His father was angry and said, "You sinner, you should not do such bad things. Am I to share your sins? No, never. You have to suffer for what you do."

Ratnakara went to his mother and said, "Surely, mother, you will share my sin, won't you?" But she also scolded him and sent him away.

He then went to his wife and said, "Do you know how I earn to provide you and your children with food and clothing? It is by robbery. But I steal for your sake. Therefore you are partners in my sin. Isn't that so?"

The wife was displeased and said, 'What are you saying? What have we to do with your sin? You are my husband, and my children are your children. It is your duty to look after us and give us food and clothing."

Ratnakara's eyes were opened. He realized that he alone was responsible for all his sins no one else would share his sin. As soon as it was clear to him, he ran to Narada. He untied the sage and amidst weeping, narrated to him all that had happened at his home.

Falling at Narada's feet he asked the sage, "Oh, sire now what of me? How can I atone for all the sins I have committed? You are my only saviour."

Narada lifted him up and wiped his tears. He consoled him saying, "Do not be afraid. I shall teach you a way to wash off your sins." So he taught Ratnakara the sacred name of Rama - 'Rama Naama'.

He made him sit beneath a tree and asked him to go on repeating the sacred name of Rama.

He said, I shall come here again, till then you should not get up and go away." Then the sage departed.

Ratnakara continued his 'tapas’ chanting the name of Rama. His eyes were closed. His whole mind was concentrated on the chanting of the name of the Lord. He forgot his existence. He had neither food nor sleep for days and days. In this way quite a few years passed. An anthill grew all around and above him. He could not even be seen by anybody.

At last one day the sage Narada again came that way. Of course, he knew that Ratnakara was inside the anthill.

Very carefully he cleared that anthill, still Ratnakara was wholly lost in his 'tapas' and did not wake up to the world around him. Narada chanted the name of Rama in his ears. Then he opened his eyes and saw the sage standing before him. He saluted him from where he was sitting.

Narada helped him to get up. He also gently touched him all over. Ratnakara felt new life flowing through him. He touched the sage's feet, Narada lifted him up and embraced him.

He said to him, "Ratnakara, you are blessed. God is pleased with your 'tapas'. You are now a sage of the highest order, a Brahmarshi. As you are now reborn from a Valmika (anthill), you will hereafter be famous as Valmiki."

Tears of joy welled up in Valmiki’s eyes at these words. He prostrated before Narada again and said, "Sire, all this is your kindness. The company of good men uplifts man. I am myself a proof of this." Narada blessed him and went his way.

The sage, Valmiki, now formed his ashrama or hermitage near the river Ganga. His fame spread everywhere. Many other sages went with their families and settled down in his ashrama. Their sons became the disciples of Valmiki.

 Moral of the Story :

Two wings which take you away from bad habits are (i) good company and (ii) chanting the name of God.

Whatever one meditates on or thinks about continuously one becomes.

 Ratnakara was a hunter and a robber.

When Sage Narada (good company) taught him tapas (chanting the name of God) his thoughts became immersed on the Lord.

By chanting of the name of Sri Rama, he was transformed from a robber into a holy person known as Sage Valmiki.

 

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE STORY

  i.        Ratnakara earned his livelihood through hunting and robbery to support his family. 

ii.        Ratnakara met Sage Narada who asked him who will help him to bear the burden of his sins.  

iii.        Ratnakara realized he alone has to suffer the consequences of his bad actions. Not even beloved family will help in this matter. 

iv.        Ratnakara had a sincere desire to make amends (atone) for his sins. Sage Narada told Ratnakara he will tell him a way to wash off his sins. 

v.   With the initiation of the name of God (Raama Naama) from Sage Narada, Ratnakara began to chant the name of God.

vi.   By chanting the Name of God with total concentration of mind and through the grace of Sage Narada, Ratnakara was transformed from a Hunter to a Holy person.

vii.  After coming out of the anthill Ratnakara became known as Valmiki and did many good deeds to bring benefit to the universe.

          Chanting the sacred name of Sri Raama enhances a person character, so he/she becomes Godlike.  

SRI  RAAMA  JAYA RAAMA JAYA JAYA RAAMA