Chanting Sri Rama Namam and having Lord Rama Darshan.

Once Sri Samartha Ramadas Swamy was giving a discourse to a some devotees. After the discourse is completed, one devotee walks to Sri Samartha Ramadas Swamy and asks, Swamy I want darshan (God Vision) of Lord SriRama. What do I have to do to get Sri Rama darshan? Please instruct me so that I can follow and get SriRama darsan. Then Swamy replies to the devotee saying that if you want Sri Ramachandra Murthy's darsan, then do not listen to your heart. Try controlling the thoughts of listening to your heart and keep chanting Lord Rama's name "Sri Rama ...Jaya Rama..Jaya Jaya Rama Rama". If you do this, then you will get the darshan of Lord Sri Rama. The devotee then takes a resolution to get Sri Rama Chandra's darshan and starts practicing the art of ignoring the heart's desire and chanting Lord's name as suggested by his Guru. As he keeps walking back home, his heart tells him to go back home quickly and eat something as I'm really hungry. Then the devotee thinks as Ramadas Swamy suggested I should not listen to my heart's desires to get Lord Rama's darsan and chant and remember Lord Rama's name "Sri Rama Jai Rama Jai Jai Rama Rama"...chanting like this he walks towards a forest. In the forest he keeps on continuously meditating on Lord Rama's name "Sri Rama... Jai Rama... Jai Jai Rama Rama"....Again his hearts says let's go back home and eat food...but the devotee ignoring the commands of the heart and following the words of his Guru keeps on chanting Lord Sri Rama's name with single-pointed  devotion. Then after few hours of meditating and chanting Lord Rama's name the devotee actually gets the darshan of Lord Rama. Then Lord Rama asks the devotee why he is meditating so much and what he needs from Lord Rama? Then the devotee says, " Who are you?". Lord Rama replies, "I'm Sri Rama...you are meditating for me." Then the devotee again says how do I know that you are Lord Rama? I do not have any proof that You are Lord Rama ..I cannot just believe that You are Lord Rama. Then Lord Rama goes to Samartha Ramadas Swamy and tells him to go his devotee and confirm that He is Lord Rama Chandra. Then Ramadas swamy says...why my dear Lord I need to confirm Your identity? Then Lord Rama says to Ramadas Swamy to meet his devotee so that he would know the truth. When Samarth Ramdas swamy goes to the place where his disciple is meditating, the disciple(devotee ) immediately bows to the Lotus Feet of his Guru. When Ramadas Swamy asks the devotee as to what happened here, then Lord Rama tells him that as this devotee is continuously chanting my name I gave him my darshan...this devotee asked me for a proof that I'm Lord Rama.So I have asked you to come here and prove that I'm Lord Rama to your devotee(disciple). If you confirm that I'm Lord Rama then your disciple believes. Then Ramadas Swamy feels sorry that the devotee suspects Lord Rama and then confirms that He is indeed Lord Rama Chandra and the devotee is seeking this Lord Rama's darshan itself.  Is your doubt  cleared now? Then the devotee bows down to the Holy Lotus Feet of Lord Rama and apologizes for suspecting Lord Rama. Then he gets darshan of Lord Rama to his heart's content. After the darshan is done, Samartha Ramadas Swamy goes back to his ashram and the devotee goes back to his house. In the next day's discourse Samartha Ramadas Swamy narrates about this devotee's experience of ignoring his heart's desires and chanting the name of Lord Rama and also obtaining the darshan of Lord Rama. After the darshan is given, he tested Sri Rama if He is actually Lord Rama and asked Lord Rama to prove it to Him. Lord Rama made me to meet this devotee and confirm that He is in-fact Lord Rama. Samartha Ramadas Swamy narrates in the discourse that,  this experience happened yesterday for real. This is the power of believing in Guru's words and meditating on the holy name of the Supreme Lord.

Sadhguru Shakti

The below leela makes us realize that Guru is Supreme.Our strong and unshakable faith in Guru will protect us from all odds in life.
 Samarth Ramadas Swami always encouraged his disciples and devotees to sing, chant and perform various rituals and made people realize that this is the easiest way to reach God and enlighten one's self. Samarth Ramadas Swami always preached various sections of people.His where about's were usually unknown and kept a secret to everyone except his three close disciples. Once a close disciple requests Swami to participate and preach in an event at a temple to let people know the greatness of Lord Rama. However, Samarth Ramadas Swami asks His student to preach and participate actively on behalf of Him. He takes blessings of Swami and preaches the people in the event. Kalyan conducts the event very well with his Guru's grace on him. When Guru Himself has blessed, why will it not be a stunning event? It is very clear that Guru Sakthi was with Kalyan, which made all the  devotees who attended the event just forget themselves and get involved in the bhajan completely.
  The people in the event feel  blessed and understand the greatness of Rama and his sacrifices. The Sultan of that region comes to know about this meeting  through his spies.Very next day the king orders his  soldiers to arrest and bring the person who preached about Rama to his custody. swami student and other disciple of Ramadas Swami were just about to start their morning routine with holy bath, they both were taken to the king.The Sultan imposes very hard punishments to swami student who conducted the divine event Knowing this the other disciple rushes to Swami, to let him know that the king is taking action and also makes Swami aware of the punishments imposed on him. Swami remains silent and closes his eyes as he hears about his student's arrest.
Samarth  RamadasSwami doesn't go to rescue the student immediately- In turn, he says to the other disciple  that his Student deserves to be punished for praising and preaching about Rama more than needed and doing the bhajans with pomp.
 Hearing this the disciple felt helpless and starts thinking  that Swami Himself agreed swami student to conduct the event and why was He talking like this now? He doubts Swami's intention and decides to rescue swami student first & all by himself and rushes to the palace. Actually, Swami wanted to test how much faith and trust he had on his Guru. No sooner the disciple leaves the place, Swami appears in the place where swami student was kept under custody.
Swami questions the king that what was going on there and what was that troubling Sultan.The Sultan says to Swami as that they all were preaching and teaching about Lord Rama to everyone with pomp, if Swami could show Lord Rama to him, he would set swami student free from his custody.
 After listening to him, Samarth  Ramadas Swami looks at a wall with tiny holes in it. He tells the king that He will enter into the room through the tiny hole. He displays His powers to the king by entering into a room  through a small tiny hole and asks the king also to do the same and if he succeeds, He would show him Lord Rama.Is it possible for a normal human being to do such an act?
  The king realizes his mistake and sets swami student free from his custody and  understands the greatness of Lord Rama.
 Further, Ramadas Swami also makes all His disciples realize that no disciple should never ever doubt on the capabilities of the Guru.They should never doubt Guru's intentions.As one of the disciple felt that Guru was not rescuing swami student who was arrested, his faith wavered and went to the king not understanding the reply of Guru.He could not realize that it was because of Guru's blessings that Lord Rama's event which they organized went out very well and each and everyone who attended the event could experience the state of bliss. How could anyone and everyone experience this state without Guru's invisible presence? Guru Sakthi transformed to his Student & made this possible.With pure heart one should sincerely surrender to their Guru.
The blessings of Guru would  always be there on His devotees like shadow.But, it is the devotee who needs to have complete faith in his Guru and assimilate His teachings to progress  life.

Ramadasa swami hita bodha to all of us

The creator knows how to take care of His creation
  Once Shivaji Maharaj wanted to build an ashram for Ramadas Swami as He was growing old and requests Swami to accept his proposal.He says Swami that all devotees can have His darshan in His ashram rather Swami moving from place to place.Seeing Shivaji's devotion Swami agrees for his proposal.
One fine day Shivaji Maharaj pays a visit  to inspect how the construction work is moving forward.Seeing  many people working for the construction of the ashram, he feels great within himself and starts thinking he is taking good care of the workers by providing them with some work and paying them for their living . Ramadas Swami is Omniscience, He could read  what was going in His shishya's mind.He had to correct His shishya. He goes to Shivaji and says, "Shivaba, come with me". He takes him near a large rock and asks Shivaji to move the rock.He obeys to his Guru and moves the rock and sees a frog  deep underneath the rock. Swami then asks Shivaji, "Shivaba, Is it  you who is  taking care of this frog as well?" Immediately Shivaji  Maharaj  realizes his mistake. Then Swami says  to him," God who created this creation and creatures will take care of His creation and creatures".
What is the message that Ramdas Swami wants to give all of us by this? The creator will know what to give whom and how to give.Never take pride of the small things done or achieved by us.We should always have the feeling that it God who is doing it through us.
Stay blessed everyone!
Om Sri Sai Ram Guru Deva Datta. 

Ramadasa swami and Shivaji Maharaj

Sometimes we will have many concerns regarding our parenting.The story I read  from Samartha Ramadas Vijayam book made me immensely happy and grateful to my Guru who made me read this chapter and built confidence in me.
      When Shivaji Maharaj was in his mother's womb there were unfavourable conditions in the kingdom. So, his father  asks his mother(Shivaji's mother) to leave the kingdom for the safety of the unborn child.She being a mentally strong women agrees and leaves the kingdom all alone during her pregnancy. As she was a strong believer of Mata Bhavani and offered prayers to her regularly pleased with her devotion Mother Bhavani once appears to her in her dream during her pregnancy and blesses her that she will have a male child with Lord Shiva Amsha. As per Mata's blessings she delivers a male child.She all alone raises him as a strong person both mentally and physically.From his mother he also develops faith in Mata and for his faith and devotion Mata gifted Shivaji Maharaj a sword!
I realized from the above story: mother plays an important role in shaping a child.Due to busy schedule if father is not able to spend enough time with children there is nothing to worry..we as women can make our kids grow strong and train them to be socially responsible.
  First meeting of Ramdas Swami  and Shivaji Maharaj                                 
After a certain period of time in life Shivaji Maharaj desperately wanted  a Sadhguru in his life.He prayed to Mata with utmost devotion to show him a Sadhuguru. Mata Bhavani blessed him that he will be very fortunate to have a Samartha Sadhguru in his life.Directly Samartha Ramdas Swami never gave His darshan to Shivaji Maharaj but, He was training young men to join Shivaji's army as soilders. Guru was already helping His shishya without shishya's knowledge.Coming to know from the soilders about Ramadas Swami, Shivaji prayed for Swami's darshan.
  Seeing Shivaji's faith and devotion towards Him, One night He appears in his dream and gifts him a rudraksha or kamandalam ( sorry not sure).Shivaji immediately wakes up.To his surprise he sees the thing gifted by Ramadas Swami present by his side!His happiness has no bounds.He thanks Swami  for accepting his devotion and giving darshan to him.But, Shivaji wanted direct Darshan of Samartha Ramadas Swami.He, one day, very stubbornly with devotion searches for Swami in all the forest.Finally, he gets the opportunity to have darshan of Swami!Shivaji Maharaj falls at His feet and seeks blessings.
  Ramdas Swami tells His main disciple Kalyan that this is the true devotion, faith and love one should have for his Guru. Shivaji Maharaj never behaved as if he was the king But, he behaved as a servant near his Guru.This is the first meeting of Ramdas Swami and Shivaji Maharaj. From then, Shivaji Maharaj never did anything without informing his Guru and without taking His blessings. Ramadas Swami also developed immense love towards Shivaji and Shivaji's death made Swami very sad.He left His  physical body few months after Shivaji Maharaj's death.Such was the love for His shishya. Swami always said it is impossible to get a devoted shishya like Shivaji Maharaj. One has to read the story of Shivaji Maharaj's relation with Ramadas Swami to know how  one should serve and render services to his Guru if they are fortunate to have Sadhguru in their life.

My experience after reading Agnani story Part-3

My thoughts from Agyani's story and my experience.

      From the agyani's story there is an amazing moral for all of us.Many times we do not give importance to innocent people and never take them serious.But, God shows more love and compassion towards them as their heart is pure. In spite of many years of penance, the one whose darshan was impossible for great saints too, He Himself came down on this Earth for the innocent devotee ate food prepared by Him, worked for him, SriRama was very close to him  just like a family member, obeyed his orders.The relationship between God and devotee is barrier-less, if the devotee's heart is pure.Going to kashi is not that important but seeing the supreme energy residing in kashi is important which the Agayni could get.How much ever pooja we do, we can not get the blessings and grace of the Supreme Power by being selfish, egocentric and wicked.

 I also had and have a habit of making my daughter do any  one chore like loading dishwasher, putting back toys in place(choice was her's) at home before having her meal, it could either be before breakfast, before lunch or before dinner. I was a bit strict with her regarding this. Unless, she completed  chore  of her choice, she was not given a meal to eat. But, sometimes I felt bad thinking may be I am too strict with her as she is still young. Again, I used to counter myself saying- that's fine she should learn to be responsible from young age, along with studies they should learn to help mother at home as well.This confusion was always there in my mind- Am I doing right or wrong?  The same question I also used to put before Sri Vittal Babaji..please answer me Baba- Am I doing anything wrong?Am I hurting her feelings? Am I too strict will my little child?I am feeling guilty Baba plese help me. And all this was 1 year before I read Ramadas  Vijayam book.When I read this chapter from Ramadas Vijayam, I was very very happy and Thanked Baba million times for answering me. Ramadas Swami also had imposed the same rule in His ashram that before having meal the disciples in the ashram had to complete some or the other chore! And even the Agyani out of innocence asked Sri Rama to work or do some seva before having His meal.

 The day I read this chapter all my confusion and guilty feeling had gone and I was happy that I was doing the right thing with my child.

Agnani story part- 2

Agyani very quickly makes all the arrangements for all the four to have food and serves them with devotion.
SitaRama Lakshman Hanuma have food served by him.Agyani requests Lord Rama to accept food daily from him by coming to the ashram till his Guruji returns from Kashi yatra.All four agree and leave.Few days pass like this and agyani's closeness towards Rama increases.With this closeness he asks Rama, " Swami, everyday you are having food in our ashram right?Ramadas Swami had made a rule in our ashram that before having our daily meal we have to do some seva/work big or small.All of us in the ashram follow this rule.We do some seva and then only we are allowed to take our meal.Everyday you are having meals in the ashram. Rama, are you doing any work/seva here?" Listening to this Lakshman moorthy becomes furious.Rama signals Him to have control our Himself.

Rama asks agyani, " Okay dear!, Tell me what work shall we do?" He replied very tiredly, " I am daily doing all the ashram work single handedly which is becoming a burden to me.Hanuman is very strong He can fetch water, Lakshman moorthy can bring wood from forest, Sita mata can cook. As she is very sensitive I am not giving her any hard work.I am performing abhishekam.Rama it is so nice if we distribute our work.Do you agree Rama?" Lord Rama replies, " Sure! Everything will be done as per your wish dear".
From the next day onwards, all completed their assigned work and then used to have their meal.One day agyani makes kheer offers it as prasadam to the Devatha moorthy's and all of a sudden starts weeping.Seeing him in this condition Lord SriRama asks him what the problem was.He tells SriRama that his Guru liked kheer very much and that he is not able to share with his Guru.

Rams says, "Why  do you worry dear, you can go and give your Guru his favourite kheer right now".He instructs Hanuman to take agyani to his Guru Ramadas and share kheer with Him.

Hanuman carries him on his shoulders and takes him to Kashi within no time.Hanuman tells agyani to give prasadam to his Guru and return back quickly and also tells him not to reveal that he was here with Hanuman.Agyani agrees and rushes to his Guru happily calling out loudly, " Guruji!..Guruji.!."

Ramadas Swami is awestruck to see him.He asks him why did he come to kashi  leaving lord Rama's seva!He says to him that they just reached Kashi after 1 months travel by walk.He feels hurt that none was there to take care of SriRama in the ashram seeing agyani in kashi.
Swami questions him, " How did you come here and when did you come here?" Not knowing what to do he reveals the truth that he was here with Hanuman to give Him(Ramadas Swami) His favourite dish kheer and that Hanuman is hiding behind a tree.

Ramadas Swami quickly goes to greet Hanuman and asks Him, " Swami, all the way to came here. Did my disciple trouble you?"

Then Hanuman tells Ramadas Swami to return to ashram as soon as possible and that His disciple is making all of them do a hell of work.So saying Hanuma carriers back agyani to the ashram.

This is how for nearly 1 month agyani was blessed to spend quality time with SitaRama Lakshman and Hanuman.This is an amazing leela.
Usually, we insult or look down on people who are innocent.God showers His grace immensely on such innocent one's.

The disciples of the ashram with a selfish thought wanted agyani to stay back as they knew that he never said 'no' to anyone.They could only visit kashi.But, for this innocent man SriRama Himself came along with His family to stay with him in the ashram and they obeyed to what all agyani said.What a blessing indeed!!

God will definitely come to one's rescue if one has a pure heart with pure thoughts and pure actions.Our love should be selfless and unconditional.

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.

Ramadasa swami bhikshtana lela - 2.

SadhGuru's words will never go wrong                               

As usual one day, Ramadas Swami goes out to take Biksha. His way of asking for  Biksha is chanting Lord Rama's name  aloud.One fine day he chooses a house to take Biksha, stands before that house and starts chanting Lord Rama's name aloud.None respond from the house! Swami doesn't stop here, He continuously chants Rama's name with a higher voice as, He Knew there is somebody at home but not ready to attend Him.What can be hidden from a Guru after all!

 Finally, the women of the house annoyed with Swami comes out with frustration and says to Swami with a irritated tone, " We are no more doing any rituals. We have stopped doing all pooja and deity worship  as well.You may leave now". Swami asks her what was troubling her and what her problem was. But, she refuses to answer Him and gets back inside the house. 

Ramadas Swami again starts chanting Rama's name with a very high pitch and non-stop.This time she was forced to offer biksha to Swami. She brings some raw rice, offers to Him as Biksha and talks to  Swami in anger,  " My husband had been imprisoned.We have no trust in God any more. What is the use of doing so many poojas, when the one who has to protect is watching everything in silence!"

Swami listens  to her and asks her, " Would you start believing in God and involve yourself in Pooja and other rituals again if your husband returned within 10 days?". She agrees happily as, what else would she want other than her husband's release.But, immediately she expresses a doubt with anger, 'How could this be possible?There is no chance for his freedom".Swami consoles her and tells her again that he would be set free within 10 days for sure and asks her to confirm that, on her husband's return will  she take Rama's name daily with faith  and devotion? She agrees  she would chant Rama's name with devotion if her husband is set free.Swami leaves that place chanting Lord Rama's name aloud.

To the lady's surprise her husband gets released exactly on the 10 day!There was no bound for her happiness!She completely trusts Ramadas Swami now and  developed unshaken faith and devotion towards Him.She waits for Swami's arrival daily for many days with faith.A Guru will definitely be forced to visit His devotee if He is called out with faith and patience. Ramadas Swami was pleased with her devotion and visits her house for biksha. With love  and devotion the couple invite Swami inside and cherish the divine moment.

Later part of her life, the lady surrenders herself to Guru and Guruseva till her last breath. 

Ramadasa swami leela during his Bhikshatam -1

We all know that Ramadas Swami used take Biksha daily.Today we will read amazing Leela of Swami during his Bikshaatana wich will increase our trust towards Guru.

 Swami saves a widow devotee's life and blesses her              

Ramadas Swami made His presence known to the households that He was there to take Biksha by calling out Lord Rama's name aloud, until the occupants of the house attended Him and offered Him Biksha. This was His daily routine of taking Biksha. One day Swami stands in front of a house and starts chanting lord Rama's name aloud to take Biksha. A small girl who was a widow comes out to offer biksha to Swami.On seeing the little girl, Swami's heart becomes very heavy and He thinks, " All of us have to face our karma someday and none  of us are exceptional, who ever it may be, they can't escape".Swami accepts biksha from her and it becomes a daily routine for Swami to take biksha from the little girl.As days pass she becomes a devotee of Swami.One fine day, she requests Swami to take her to the ashram along with Him and give her an opportunity to render seva to Him, as it is becoming difficult for her to live in the society.

He doesn't agree to this and tells her there was still time for her to join the ashram and if she comes along with Swami now, she will have to face humiliation.She obeys His words.As days pass, the society's ill treatment also increases day by day.Her parents were  fed up with the everybody'd humiliation and also they were fed up of their own child.They were not ready to take this kind of ill treatment towards them as well their child.They decided to kill her, by poisoning her.They give her poisoned food to eat and locked her up in the room.As the girl was unaware about the intention of her parents she partakes the food.As a result she immediately starts frothing with vomiting.She calls out  her parents for help, but they ignore her completely, show no mercy and relax themselves thinking a big trouble and misfortune of their life is coming to an end and leave the place immediately making sure that she will die for sure!

Guru will always come to the rescue of His devotee's when we surrender with faith. Ramadas Swami appears before her!The divine touch of Swami will bring her to normal state, and  Guru Shishya start talking to each other.After a while the girl pleads Swami, "Swami, please allow and bless me to stay in the ashram". Out of the long talk they had, the parents of the girl could only hear this. They wondered, how come a person nearing to death bed speak! They opened one of the window and when they looked into the room from the window to their surprise the girl was alive and having a conversation with Sadhguru Sri Ramadasa Swami then .....
 Swami Himself opens the door with the  girl, who was ready to leave with Swami. Ramadas Swami says to the girl, "You shall come with me".The parents of the girl try to stop Swami saying - He has no right to take their child any where.

He makes it clear to them that their daughter died when they gave poisoned  food to her and now it was His daughter whom He is taking with Him to the ashram.Since then the little girl spends the rest of her life in Guru seva with immense devotion and faith till her last breath.

   

Eknath Maharaj- control of anger Part - 2.

In another instance, when Eknath Maharaj was coming out of the holy river after his bath, one of the villagers spits on Maharaj. Maharaj with a very quite and composed mind  and with a smile goes back for the holy dip again. Again the villager spits at Maharaj...again he goes back for the holy dip in the river for the third time.This keeps on repeating 108 times! The villager now feels guilty and seeing Maharaj's patience asks Maharaj, " Aren't you angry?". Maharaj replies, "I should thank you for what you have done.As I was blessed to take 108 dips in the holy river." In stead of getting angry Maharaj was thinking in a very positive way that he was fortunate to take 108 dips in the holy river.He never thought  he was getting late for his sadhana and daily pooja schedule.

The above incident from Maharaj's life makes us understand  people troubling us in our life are a blessing in disguise for us.Which will make us to be more patience or make us detached to materialistic things.It also makes us to understand things, look and think in a positive way.The more love we receive from people around us sometimes makes us bind to the materialistic world.

Reading and recollecting these stories will help us to control our anger and see things going around us in a positive way and accept them.

Eknath Maharaj - Control of anger Part -1.

Control of anger is the first step in the attempt of spiritual progress.Due to anger we have to face many unpleasant consequences.Anger  also triggers other emotions in us such as fear, jealousy, selfishness, disappointment, helplessness so on..

Today we will read a very valuable story from Swami Samartha Ramdas Vijayam book, which are incidents that took place in  great Saint Ekanath Maharaj's life.

 Nobody ever saw  Ekanath Maharaj angry and nothing could make him lose his temper.One fine day few people in the village decided to test his patience and make him angry.They thought, as he is very pious and devotional if any situation was created that would disturb his Pooja rituals he may be disturbed and loss his temper.They hired a man to do this work, and promised to pay him few expenses for his daughter's marriage if he succeeds in making Maharaj angry.The man being helpless, as he needed some finance for his daughter's marriage agrees to try and do his best.

  The man enters Ekanath Maharaj's pooja room with shoes, thinking that this act would definitely make him lose his temper.Seeing Maharaj not losing his temper, he decides to sit on his lap with shoes.Alas! Maharaj did not loss his temper, instead he calls out his wife saying, "See dear! Your son is here". The man now decides to sit in Maharaj's wife's lap, thinking this act will make Maharaj loss his temper and he will succeed in making him angry.But to his utter surprise she also treats him as his son.This makes him feel disappointed as he could not succeed in making Maharaj loss his temper, and starts crying as he lost a chance to get some help for his daughter's marriage.

 Maharaj asks him the reason for  sorrow and also what made him do this kind of act.The man narrates the whole incident. Maharaj listens to him, understands his situation and gives him more money than the villagers agreed to pay him if he succeeds in making Maharaj lose temper.Also, Maharaj comes up with a plan where in the man could also get paid from the villagers.

 Maharaj says that he would run behind the man as if he is mad on him..and he can tell the villagers that he succeeded in making Maharaj lose his temper.In this way he will have enough money for his daughter's marriage. Maharaj and the man act in the same way..the villagers are finally happy thinking they succeeded in making Maharaj lose his temper.The man with Maharaj's blessings could get enough help for his daughter's marriage.

Maharaj was happy and feeling blessed that he was blessed with an opportunity to help someone who was helpless.He neither thinks bad of the villagers nor the person who behaved bad with him.

A story of young boy Part -2

Next morning Swami takes bath, wakes up the boy and asks him to start his daily routine after bath. The boy says to Swami, "Anyhow I will die in some time why should I take bath?"Swami replies to the boy  saying there is still time for that incident to take place  and whatever might happen we must not leave or neglect our daily activities.Swami again cooks for the boy and asks him to eat food..again the boy says the same.. "Why should I? I will die anyway".Swami says to him what shall happen, shall happen but, we must not break our daily routine.

After  a while, Swami says to him last night he could not sleep because of the boy's continuous crying and also that he(boy) was sick he was blabbing the whole night.He says to boy  now that he is feeling a bit better,He wants to take some rest and goes to the nearby Hanuman temple and asks the boy to accompany Him and massage His legs.Swami sleeps near the Hanuman idol and the boy also sits there massaging his Guru's legs.As the boy was nearing to death the followers of Yama came and threw Yama noose (yama pasham) on the boy.But, how much ever they tried they fail to take the life of the boy.The boy was observing all this and feels happy as the noose is not able to harm him.And he laughs to his hearth and enjoys looking at what was happening.The Yama batulu threatened  the boy to come out..but the boy understands that the noose is not able to enter the main temple and holds on to His Guru's feet more strongly with faith and replies  them that he will not come out  .Not knowing what to do, they leave and inform Yamadharam Raja. Now it was his turn to loose!

While all this was happening Swami Ramdas was in a deep sleep and the boy did not leave His Guru's feet even for a second.But, he horoughly enjoyed by looking at what was happening.The followers of Yama and Yama both leave the place as  all their efforts of taking the boy's life did not succeed.The boy keeps on laughing.Mean while Swami wakes up from His sleep and asks him surprisingly he was weeping last night and how come  he is very happy and laughing now!He narrates the whole incident that happened while Swami was asleep.He says that he is no more scared as all the efforts of Yama and His followers did not succeed.Swami says to the boy to take biksha from the astrologer's house and asks him to tell confidently and bravely that he is still alive and is with his  Guru.

That evening very excited he boy stands in front of the astrologer's house and asks for biksha with more strong and powerful voice.The astrologer gets stunned by listening to the boy's voice and hastily comes out.He was in a great doubt as how could his prediction go wrong!How could the boy be alive!He asks the boy, "Are you still alive?How can my prediction go wrong?" The boy replies that he is alive, happy and healthy.The astrologer requests the boy to take him to His Guru Swami Samarha Ramdas. The boy introduces the astrologer to Swami.Swami then says to the astrologer, "Oh, so you are that great astrologer". The astrologer immediately asks for forgiveness.Swami advises him even if he predicts anything serious in the astrology chart one should not let the person know it and scare them.Our speech should give happiness and solace to others.Thus explaining he blesses the astrologer.

  What is not possible for a Guru?If we have Guru's blessings with us and if Guru's grace has fallen on us none can harm us.As a disciple, we must make sincere efforts to follow the path Guru has set for us.Doing so we will be eligible for Guru's full grace and Guru Kripa. By following Guru's teachings and Guru's instructions  day by day we progress and one fine day Guru will be forced to glance at us...His mere glance has the power to remove all the karma we are facing. Complete surrender to Guru and devoted love for Him most importantly following and practicing His wisdom teachings will make us win all the difficult situations in life and Guru only has the power to make impossible things possible.

A story of young boy Part -1

A very beautiful story from 'Swami Samartha Ramdas Vijayam' of a young boy, who was saved from the jaws of death.

  Once it so happened that, parents of a child leave him forever  in the ashram of Swami Samartha Ramdas as they wanted the child to do Guru Seva .Swami assigns him a job to get alms from 4 houses (biksha) daily for Swami and himself.Swami also used to accompany the child.But, one day Swami does not accompany him and asked him to go alone.

The child leaves for biksha. After asking for biksha in few houses, he sees a house nearby and he stands in front of a house and shouts aloud "Bavathi Biksham Dehi" reciting a beautiful sloka with a very sweet and powerful voice.The owner of the house, is well versed in astrology and a pious man.He listens to the child and gets amazed at his voice and perfect pronunciation at this tender age.He rushes out immediately  asks the boy to recite the sloka again and feels very happy.He calls the boy inside and offers him biksha. He informs the boy that he is well versed in astrology and he predicts that the boy's life is nearing to death by tomorrow .The boy then very confidently says  he has his Guru's blessings on him and  his Guru will take care of him.The pandit says to the boy his predictions never failed and if again the boy comes back to take biksha at the same time tomorrow then he will agree that his Guru Samartha Ramdas is a very great saint and his astrology knowledge is of no use.

The boy leaves to the ashram crying.Swami Ramdas asks the boy the reason for his sorrow.He does't reply but keeps crying the whole day.Finally, during the dinner time he tells Swami what the astrologer predicted about his death and also says to swami with a very heavy heart that he can no more see his parents and take care of them.He also says to Swami that the astrologer challenged him that his predication will never go wrong and his Guru also can not help him .Listening to all this Swami says to the boy,"Oh! Okay, let's see what will happen, for now let's have food".The boy says to Swami  there is no point in taking food as he would die anyhow, by the next day.Swami tries to convince him  to take some food. As the boy does not agree Swami himself cooks and feeds the crying little boy.The whole night the boy weeps and falls sick, during dawn finally the he falls asleep.