A PURE HEART
Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji and the Vina Player
Swamiji loves music and has conferred on many renowned musicians various scholarly titles. There was one very famous vina player he was about 80 or 90 years old and very popular in India. Swamiji wanted to confer the Vidhwan title to this scholar in music.
He sent a message to the famous vina player, “Please Swamiji is requesting that you come to the ashram in Mysore and receive this title of Vidhwan.”
The elderly musician did not like Swamiji and started to say on his television shows many bad things about Swamiji. This Ganapathy Swami is only 70 years and thinks he knows music and wants to give me a title. He is a false Swami, what does he know about music?”
Everywhere he went in all his concerts and public appearances he was saying negative words only about Swamiji. Swamiji called his devotees and told them please request once more that the vina player come and receive the title.
They said, “Swamiji he is not a good person he is saying so many bad things about you. Why do you want to give him any title, he does not deserve this.”
Swamiji replied, “No don’t say like this, he is a very experienced person and deserves the title. I want to give to him. It does not matter if he does not like me, I like him very much. Please request him to come.”
Swamiji sent four famous violinists to request the elderly vina player to come to the ashram. When they met him they said, “Sir, our Swamiji wishes you to please come to Mysore ashram and receive the Vidhwan title for your music. We do not like you but our Swamiji likes you very much and has requested us to please take this message to you.”
The elderly musician thought, “What after all the bad things that I have said about this Swami still he wants to give me a title, still he says he likes me very much!”
He said to the devotees, “Okay I will come but I will not do any prostrations or bowing before the Swami. I will not bring any flowers to offer. I will not accept any titles.”
The devotees said, “It doesn’t matter. Please come once to Mysore and bring your vina and play a few tunes. You need not bow or bring any flowers.”
The elderly vina player visited Mysore ashram and played for Swamiji. After the performance he met Swamiji.
Swamiji enquired, “How is your family? How are your children, your brother Chandrashekar is a devotee of Swamiji?”
He replied, “What is this? You are not an arrogant Swami! You are asking about my family. I heard so many people say you do not meet anyone, you are a proud Swami!”
Swamiji said, “What, who said like that? Never mind, even you were saying about me. Swamiji likes you very much and your music.”
Swamiji and the elderly musician spoke for some more time. Then this elderly vina musician, the Vidhwan, fully prostrated at Swamiji’s feet.
After leaving the ashrama, during his concerts he would say that he does not know anything about music, Ganapathy Swamiji is the only master of music. He kept on telling about Swamiji like this after his visit. Swamiji sent a message not to publicize like that.
Still he continued praising Swamiji and Swamiji’s knowledge of music and how much love and kindness he shows to his devotees and even to those persons who do not like him!
Swamiji says that his mantra is, “You don’t like me, I like you!”
He loves everyone equally.
The message of this story, if we have a pure heart and treat others with love and respect, then we can win over everyone.
