Namasthe- Ramayanaparam- 8

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

 

This is the story of Guha's previous janma and also illustrates the greatness of Raama Naamam.

 

Once there was a Maharshi who taught several students in his aashramam. Maharshi was especially fond of one student who was a great devotee of Rama. One day Maharshi explained the greatness of Rama naamam and told them that chanting Ramam naamam just ONCE would burn any worst sin committed by anybody and would give salvation. That is why Rama Naamam is called Taaraka Naamam- it helps us to cross the troubled ocean of life and reach the safe banks of God's land.

 

After a few days the Guru had to go to the King's palace for a few days. So only the Shishyaas were in the ashramam. Before leaving Guru had told everybody to contemplate on what they learnt and told them to be careful and responsible when they he was away.

 

Next day, an old Brahmin came there terribly upset and weeping. So all the students came out and asked him the reason for his sorrow. Brahmin said that by mistake a cow was killed by the stone he threw at it. It was not intentional. Cow was eating all his corn and other vegetables in his garden and he wanted to just scare the cow and he threw a stone. Unfortunately it hit at the nerve center on it's forehead and killed the cow instantaneously. He was worried about the paapam he had accumulated by killing a cow and wanted to know what praayaschittham or atonement he could do to alleviate the sin.

 

Then the smart brahmin boy (let us call him Gopal) whom Maharshi was fond of came forward and told the brahmin: Please do not worry. Just chant the naamam " Rama " thrice and all your paapam will be alleviated. Brahmana was relieved and with sincere atonement, he chanted the naamam with poorna bhakthi and peacefully went home.

 

Maharshi or Guru came back and the beloved sishya explained what happened during his absence. Gopal told about the old Brahmin's story. Then he confidently explained how he advised Brahmin to chant the Rama Naamam thrice to free from the sin of killing the cow. Suddenly Guru got very angry and cursed this sishya: " What? Why did you advise him to chant Rama naamam thrice? It is enough to chant it one time with Bhakthi. That shows you do not have complete trust in the greatness and power of Rama Naamam. So to have an attitude of complete surrender, you will be born as a Nishaada (hunter) and when Sri Rama comes to the forest, you will completely surrender to Him and soon you will get salvation. "

 

This brahmin boy was born as Guha, the king of Nishaadaas in the next Janma and helped Lord Rama to cross Ganga and in turn Lord helped him to cross the samsaara saagaram.

 

Regards and prayers

 

savitri

 

P.S. I do not remember the Maharshi's or Sishya's name. I had read this story long back and do not remember where I read. Sorry for the incompleteness.