Rama Katha Rasa Vahini - Post 9

Nevertheless, the Maharaja was apparently overcome by some mysterious anxiety; his face was losing effulgence. The lapse of a few years did not improve matters. Despair wrote its deep lines firmer on his brow. 

One day, he revealed the cause of his gloom to his queen Sudakshina, "Darling! We have no children, and sadness is overpowering me as a consequence. I am even more affected when I realize that this Ikshvaku dynasty will terminate with me. Some sin which I committed must have brought about this calamity. I am unable to decide the process by which I can counter this malign destiny. I am eager to learn from our family preceptor, the sage Vasishta, the means by which I can win the Grace of God and make amends for the sin. I am very much agitated by grief. What do you suggest as the best means to win Grace?"

Sudakshina did not take time even to think out the answer. "Lord! This same fear had entered my mind too, and caused me much grief. I had not given expression to it. I smothered it in the mind for I cannot, I know, reveal my fears, without being prompted by you, my Lord. I am ever willing and eager to support and follow implicitly what appeals to you as the best means of overcoming our sorrow. Why should there be any delay? Let us hasten to consult revered Vasishta", she said.

Dileepa ordered the chariot to be brought for the pilgrimage to the hermitage of the Preceptor. He directed that no escort or courtier need accompany him that day. In fact, he drove the vehicle himself and reached the simple cottage of his Gurudev.

At the sound of the chariot, the hermits on the out-skirts of the Asram went into the cottage and made known to their Master the arrival of the Ruler of the Empire. Vasishta showered his blessing on him as soon as he saw him near the door and lovingly inquired about his health and the welfare of his subjects and his kith and kin.

Sudakshina fell at the feet of the sage's consort, the famed Arundhathi, embodiment of all the virtues which adorn the noblest of women. Arundhathi lifted her into her arms and fondly embraced her prodding her with questions about her welfare. She led her into the inner part of the hermitage. 

As befitted the monarch of the realm, Dileepa acquired from Vasishta whether the Yajnas and Yagas the ascetics had to perform as part of the cultural tradition were being carried out without any handicap, whether the anchorites were experiencing any difficulty in acquiring food and carrying on their studies and spiritual practices, and whether their sylvan campuses were terrorized by wild beasts. He was yearning, he said, to make their studies and spiritual exercises progress well without any distraction due to adverse environment or counter-influences.

Continued.......

Love.

Rama Katha Rasa Vahini - Post 8

Chapter - 2

In the Immaculate pure Solar Dynasty was born the highly

mighty, the far famed, the strong armed, the Intensely loved and revered ruler, Khatvanga. His rule showered supreme bliss on the immense populations under his throne and persuaded them to pay homage to him, as if he were himself God. He had a 'one-and-only' son, named  Dileepa.

He grew up, shining in the glory of knowledge and virtue; he shared with his father the joy and privilege of guarding and guiding the people. He moved among his subjects, eager to know their joys and sorrows, anxious to discover how best to relieve pain and distress, intent on their welfare and prosperity.

The father watched his son grow straight and strong, virtuous and wise. He sought a bride for him so that after the marriage, he could place on his shoulders part of the burden of the spectre  He sought her in royal houses far and wide, for she must be a worthy companion for the prince. At last, the choice fell on the Magadhan princess, Sudakshina. The wedding was celebrated with unsurpassed pomp and exultation by the people and the court.

Sudakshina was endowed with all womanly virtues in ample measure. She was saintly and simple and a sincere votary of her husband; she served her lord and poured love on him, as if he were her very breath. She walked in the footsteps of her husband and never deviated from the path of righteousness.

Dileepa, too, was the very embodiment of righteousness, and, as a consequence, he saw that neither want nor disappointment affected him in the least. He held fast to the ideals and practices of his father so far as the administration of the empire was concerned and so he could slowly and without any dislocation, take upon himself the full responsibility of administration. 

Thus, he was able to give his father rest in his old age. Khatvanga rejoiced within himself, contemplating the great qualities of his son and observing his skill, efficiency and practical wisdom.

Some years passed thus. Then, Khatvanga directed the court astrologers to select an auspicious day and hour for the Coronation of Dileepa and on the day fixed by them he installed Dileepa as the Monarch of the realm.

From that day Dileepa shone forth as the Lord and Sovereign of the Empire, which stretched from sea to sea, with the seven islands of the Ocean. His rule was so just and compassionate, so much in conformity with the injunctions laid down in the scriptures that rains came as plentifully as needed and the harvest was rich and profuse.

The entire empire was green and glorious, festive and full. The land was resonant with the sacred sound of the Vedas recited in every village, the purifying rhythm of the manthras chanted in the Vedic sacrifices performed throughout the land; every community lived in concord with all the rest.

Continued.....

Love.

Rama Katha Rasa Vahini - Post 7

Chapter-1 - concluding post.

God, when appearing with Form for the sake of upholding Dharma, behaves in a human way. He needs must! For, He has to hold forth the ideal life before man and confer the experience of joy and peace on men. His movements and activities (Leelas) might appear ordinary and commonplace to some eyes. 

But, each of these will be an expression of beauty, truth, goodness, joy and exaltation. It will captivate the world with its charm, it will purify the heart that contemplates it. It will overcome and overwhelm all the agitations of the mind. It will tear the veil of Illusion (Maya). It will fill the consciousness with Sweetness. There can be no 'ordinary' and 'commonplace' in the careers of Avatars. Whatever is seen and taken as of that nature is really 'super-human', 'super-natural', deserving high reverence! 

The story of Rama is not the story of an individual; it is the story of the Universe! Rama is the Personification of the basic Universal in all beings. He is in all, for all time, in all space. The story deals not with a period that is past, but with the present and future without end, with beginning less eternal Time!

No ant can bite, without Rama's Will! No leaf can drop from its branch, without Rama's prompting! Sky, wind, fire, water and earth - the Five Elements that compose the Universe - behave as they do for fear of Him, and in tune with His Orders! Rama is the Principle which attracts - and endears through that attraction - the disparate elements in Nature. The attraction that one exerts over another is what makes the Universe exist and function.

That is the Rama principle, without which the cosmos will become chaos. Hence, the axiom: If there be no Rama, there will be no Panorama (Universe).   

1st chapter ends

Dear All,

This post must be read and read and read again and all Sai devotees / other Bhaktas must align whatever Swami has poured in this post, with their one to one , subjective experience with SAI / their chosen God.

It is worthwhile to read what Swami has to say about an AVATAR, which is given in the link given below

http://media.radiosai.org/journals/Portal/On-Himself.htm

A portion of Swami's gospel on Avatar covered in the above link is produced below

"It has always happened that many people around the Avatar knew that the Avatar was God in human form; yet, they often forgot that fact. Why? Swami explains: 

"When the Avatar appears in human form, we find that He exhibits human consciousness along with Divine Consciousness. Ordinary people cannot grasp the Divine Consciousness of the Avatar. 

God appears to be an ordinary human being to the limited intelligence of lay people because of the co-existence of the Divine and the human aspects of the Consciousness exhibited by Him. Man's perception is limited to the level of human consciousness. 

Therefore, human comprehension is restricted by the limits of human consciousness. But the sages of yore were able to cognize the Formless God in the visible Form because they had imbued themselves with Divine Consciousness. Thus, according to their levels, different people regard an Avatar as a mere human being or the Cosmic Reality."

Dear Readers,

It is for us to introspect in depth on the following questions which we must poser to ourselves. 

"Have we really grasped the mystery of Sai Avatar?",

"Are we really following what Sai gave us in the form of so many SS Speaks, so many Vahinis, so many discourses?", 

"Are we really getting closer and closer to SAI every moment, every month, every year  In a manner that Swami considers us worthy enough to whisper into our ears, "YES, YOUR LIFE IS INDEED MY MESSAGE!!"

Love.