Shri Ramana Maharshi and Lakshmi, the Ashram Cow .......

[Guest guest]

Nairji,

 

May i share a story regarding whether an animal can be liberated or

not from the biography of Shri Ramana by Arthur Osborne ?

 

Here it is....

 

Lakshmi

The most favored of all the animal devotees was a cow named

Lakshmi. She was brought along with her mother as a gift to Bhagavan.

He felt he could not properly care for the cows and so they were

taken to farm in a neighboring village. After Lakshmi had been with

the farmer for a year or more he went one evening to Ramanas ashram

for prayers bringing Lakshmi and her mother with him for a visit.

Lakshmi was irresistibly attracted to Ramana and must have noted

carefully the way to the ashram. The next day she appeared on her own

and from then on came every day returning, by herself the farm in the

evening. At some point along the way she became a permanent member of

the ashram. During her life at the ashram, Lakshme bore several

calves at least three of them on Bhagavan's birthday.. She was

extremely devoted to Bhagavan and he showed her the utmost Grace and

kindness.

 

On June 17, 1948 Lakshmi became very ill and it was clear that

her time had come to an end. Bhagavan went to her and said: "Amma

(Mother), do you want me near you?" He sat down beside her and

cradled her head in his lap putting one hand on her head and one over

her heart just as he had done when his own human mother lay dying. He

gazed into her eyes for a long time and lay his cheek against hers

stroking her gently. She focused all of her attention on Bhagavan and

was conscious up to the end, her eyes bright and clear. On June 18th

at 11:30 am she left her body peacefully. She was buried in the

Ashram compound and given full funeral rights. Her grave was beside

that of a deer, crow and dog which Bhagavan had also buried there. A

stone was placed over her grave with her likeness carved into it. On

the stone was also engraved the epitaph he had written for her

stating that she had attained (Mukti) final liberation. The word

mukti is used in two different ways. Generally when it is said that

someone has attained mukti it means that they have died. The more

spiritual term Mukti means that the soul (usually a very advanced

soul) has attained final liberation from this realm of existence.

When Bhagavan was questioned as to which definition he was referring

to when speaking of Lakshmi, did he mean that she had died or that

she had attained liberation, he said Mukti - final liberation!

 

http://www.anaflora.com/articles/saints-sages/saint-2.html

 

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well, Nair-ji,

 

When i was in Ramanashram in Jan of 2004, i visited the GOSHALA (

where the Ashrama cows are kept) and i saw a COW whose is the direct

descendent of Lakshmi... .....There was something very special about

this cow .... She was so tranquil and looked so 'human' - her eyes

were full of compassion and when i patted her , she responded by

kissing my hand!!!

 

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ANIMAL AND MAN IS , AN ANIMAL IS FREE

EVEN IF BOUND AND A MAN IS BOUND EVEN IF HE IS FREE !!! HAVE YOU

HEARD OF ASHTA-PASHAS?

 

I leave you all with this beautiful verse from Ashtavakra Gita

 

For me here is neither bondage nor liberation. The illusion has lost

its basis and ceased. Truly all this exists in me, though ultimately

it does not even exist in me. 2.18

 

HARI AUM!!!