In the past chapter Baba taught us
about goats story where they were humans in their past life. But they were born
as goats in the next life. Baba's grace will break the bondage of past actions
and his devotees attain the favor of Self bliss with in a moment. The sacred
rivers clean the bad deeds of people but they themselves thrive for the touch
of the saintly people so that they can be cleansed. Hemadpanth says that by
listening to this story everyone will gain wisdom and their ego will be
burnt. The doctrine of ‘karmas’ is incomprehensible. No one is able to
understand it thoroughly. Even the very wise ones are baffled; but the devoted
ignorant ones are saved. Similarly, the laws of God are difficult to be
understood. Who will transgress them? All we can do is to follow the code of
conduct of the world, and do one’s duty always. Otherwise, it will be completely
against the scriptures; and after death one is reborn in a form which is in
accordance with the actions in life. In order to be born again in a body,
foolish and ignorant people should bear in mind that it depends on one’s merits
and they will acquire bodies accordingly. Consider him to be wise, who before
death, in order to achieve self-realization, fully utilizes the human birth.
He who is a great miser in spite of immense wealth, his life can only invite scorn. Till death, he will experience a wasted life. Added to it, if there is a feeling of enmity it will never be good. Restrain and control yourself from that. Otherwise, it will completely destroy a person’s life. Mutual enmity causes one to fall from a higher state of life to a lower. Natural evolution of life is destroyed by debt, animosity and murder. Our next illustrates this moral which was narrated by Baba himself. This story was narrated by Sai which is in line with the story of goats that was discussed in Chapter 46. Here Sai elaborated this karma theory and past lives in detail. Now let us go into the story.
One day around 8 AM Baba went for a walk and reached a river bank. He washed his feet, bathes and sat near a tree. There was a footpath and also a road for vehicles on the bank of that river. There was excellent shade and cool breeze was coming. Baba wanted to light his chillum and heard croaking of a frog. There was another person sitting next to Baba and they were having a conversation. Then all of a sudden the croaking increased in intensity and Baba told him that this frog has got great difficulty because of its past actions. Then this passerby went to check the frog and found out that a snake was trying to eat this frog. But it could not swallow. Then Baba tells this person about their past lives. Both were very wicked and the deeds of both of them have been dreadful. The sins of their past lives have been terrible; and they have been born in another form of existence, to suffer the fruit of their action. Then Baba also goes there and says “Oh, Veerbhadrappa has not your enemy Bassappa yet repented, though he has been born as a frog? You, too, though born as a snake still maintain bitter and mortal enmity? At least, now be ashamed; and giving up your enmity remains at peace”. No sooner than the words were uttered, the snake left the frog and fled by quickly entering into the deep waters. He disappeared from there. Escaping from the jaws of death, the frog with a rebounding jump went and hid into the thicket. Seeing all this this passerby got surprised and became curious to know more about this.
Baba narrated the story as follows. There was a dilapidated temple of Lord Shiva in a holy place where I used to live. This temple required renovations and the villagers collected donations. A rich and local man was selected as a manager for this task. But he was a great miser and he did the work in such a way that he had to bear no loss. Therefore the work was not completed. He spoke sweet
This lady had another vision where God asked her not to press her husband for money and offer her own with her husband’s permission. Then she decided to sell her jewelry but husband became greedy. He wanted to buy that himself. Instead of giving money to her, he gave a piece of land which was barren. He told his wife to offer this land to Lord Shiva. Believing her husband, the wife of
the miser offered that land with love
and devotion, to satisfy Shankar’s wishes. This land was mortgaged by a
destitute woman by name Dubaki. She was helpless and was going through
financial difficulties. But the rich man was very greedy. Not only did he cheat
Lord Shankar but he misappropriated his wife’s personal wealth. He was pleased
with this deceit or fraud. But the land was given to temple even though it was
barren. After some time heavy storms came and lightning struck. Everything was
damaged and the rich man. His wife and Dubaki died because of the storm.
This rich man was born in Mathura in
next life in a poor Brahmin family and named Veerabadrappa. His devoted wife
was born as a daughter to a pujari and was named as Gouri. Dubaki was born in
Guraav caste that worships Lord Shiva as a man and was named as Channabassappa.
Baba continued to say that he liked the priest of Shiva temple and they became
close. When Gouri became an adult, Pujari started searching for a bridegroom.
Baba tells him that the bridegroom is on his way and not to worry. Then
Veerabadrappa comes to that place and the priest liked him and gave his
daughter to him. After the marriage they went to Baba and got blessings.
Veerabhadra now had an easy life and looked contented as he was blessed with
happiness and was prosperous. He too became devoted to me. His prosperity
increased with time; but have you ever come across a person truly satisfied and
not hankering after money?
Veerabadrappa was disturbed and wanted to have more money. He did not like the situation and came to Baba. Baba reassured him and asked him to be patient. He and Channabassappa did not like each other. After sometime the land’s price that was in the name of Gouri shot up. Someone came to buy that land. They wanted to pay 2000 rupees with interest every year. Gouri will be fully compensated in twenty five years. Everyone agreed with the deal Channabassappa being Gurava claimed some part of it as it was offered to God. He wanted half of the interest that is paid every year. Veerabadrappa did not accept this. They both started fighting with each other. Then everyone came to Baba Baba said “Shankar alone is the Lord of the land; and it cannot be utilized by anyone else. Do not be entangled by greed”, I told both of them. “This is the price of the land which had been offered to Shankar. Anyone else, besides Gauri, who makes a claim on it, will get nothing. Anyone who touches that money without the permission of God will certainly invite His wrath. All this belongs entirely to God.
Later Veerabadrappa accused Baba also in the process. Then Gouri had a vision in which Lord Shiva asked her to spend money on the temple and give half of the interest to Channabassappa. She tells this to Baba and Baba asked her to follow this. Veerabadraappa became very angry and threatened to kill Channabassappa who in turn asked for Baba’s help. Baba promised him that there was no danger to his life and he will protect him. Later Veerabadrappa had a seizure and died. Channabasappa also died of fears and apprehensions. Now they are born as Snake and Frog. As I promised Channabasappa I protected him so that Veerabadrappa as a snake do not kill Chanabassappa. God comes running for his devotees at the times of their troubles. He has sent me here to protect his devotee. Baba concludes the story to passerby and describes everything as God’s leela.
Om SriSainatharpanamasthu!
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