Sunday, December 9, 2018

Agnani story Part- 1

This is another amazing story from Samartha Ramadas Vijayam book which will make us realize that God /Guru accepts true devotion.We will learn that we should never  humiliate innocent people and take advantage of their innocence.

 One day all the disciples in Ramadas Swami ashram requested Swami to accompany Him on their pilgrimage to Kashi. Those days people would go by walk to visit any holy places as there was no transportation. Ramadas Swami does not agree to accompany because, if He accompanies them, there would be none to take care of  Lord Ramachandra Moorthy's abhishekam, offering prasadam to the Lord in the ashram.He rejected saying, it would take nearly 1 month to reach Kashi and return journey would again take 1 month and asks them to carry on and He is happy to stay back and render His seva to Lord Sri Rama.

Disciples request Swami again to accompany them as they would be blessed and happy if He does so.Swami says, "Okay, if any one among you is ready to stay back  and take the responsibility of Lord Rama's abhishekam and prasadam offering daily, I am ready to come". Swami asks them to decide among themselves and give Him the name.All disciples fall in a dilemma now, as everyone wanted to visit kashi.

Finally, they remember of a disciple in the ashram who is very innocent and unwise.They decide, as he is unwise and Swami also calls him agyani, he would be the right person to stay back as he is unfit to come on a pilgrimage.They all, together, try to convince agyani  to stay back and take the responsibility of Lord Rama's abhishekam and offer prasadam to Him daily and be blessed doing Rama's seva as they wanted to go a pilgrimage to Kashi along with Guruji. The disciples were aware that he was a very innocent man who agrees to everything and hardly says 'NO' to anyone.The man quickly and happily agreed to stay back and take care of SriRama.

   The disciples rushed to Swami to give the name of the person who would be staying back. Ramadas Swami asks, "Whom did to choose to stay in the ashram?" All the disciples reply that Agyani agreed to stay back and their choice is agyani. Swami says."Oh! You chose Agyani to stay back!" Ramadas Swami very well knew of everyone's intentions.Before leaving to Kashi Swami tells  Agyani  to be in Lord Rama's seva  by performing  Rama's abhishekam and giving Him prasadam daily without fail and  also tells him to take of himself as he would be staying all alone in the ashram. Agyani very humbly listens  to Swami and agrees to follow whatever Swami has instructed him to do.Swami again says to Agyani ,"Do take care of SriRama and I am leaving to kashi trusting you completely, that you will never miss His seva." So saying all of them left to kashi.

   Agyani the next day does all the work in the ashram like cleaning the ashram premises, getting wood from the forest for cooking etc., single- handedly as instructed by His Guru.He also performs Abhishekam to Lord Sri Rama with devotion and offers Him prasadam and closes the temple door.After a while he opens the door and sees that Lord Rama has not eaten the prasadam. He thinks with innocence, "Why has Rama not accepted my food?He eats if my Guru offers daily.But, why has He not eaten food prepared by me?" He stand before Rama's idol and starts talking to Him ,"Rama please eat food prepared by me.Daily you accept from my Guruji. My Guru has told to take care of you and be at your service.Please Rama, you have to eat, please".This was the reason why Ramadas Swami also called the man agyani as he did not know anything such was his innocence.


He thinks, In spite of his repeated requesting SriRama  is not eating food.He starts banging his head at Lord Rama's feet saying, "Please accept my food Rama, my Guru will feel bad and hurt if there is any flaw in my seva..you have accepted when my Guru offered please do the same now as well, please".He keeps banging his head.Lord Rama's feet were  completely covered with agyani's blood.Seeing all this Rama speaks with him from the idol, "Does God idol eat prasadam?" Agyani immediately replies, " Haa..then, does God idol talk?"This reply of agyani and innocence of his makes Rama laugh.Agyani again says, " Now that you spoke who have eat as well!" Looking at his pure heart and innocence Rama appears before him along with Sita mata, Lakshman moorthy and Lord Hanuman.Rama with His motherly love touch  agyani's wonded head which heals immediately.

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