THE TEMPLE PRIEST

July 24, 2009

Dear Achuthanji,

Bhakti is eternal.

A very nice story.

There is historical evidence for this in Andhra Pradesh. During Sri Krishnadevaraya's ruling period, the poet Sri Tenali Rama has solved a dispute among three brothers, in the same way. But there, the elephant included was of the King.

With love and regards,

Sastry--- On Fri, 7/24/09, anair1101 <anair1101 wrote:

anair1101 <anair1101[Guruvayur] THE TEMPLE PRIESTguruvayur Date: Friday, July 24, 2009, 12:15 AM

TO DIVIDE A LIVE ELEPHANT ============ ========= ====

Long ago there lived a King who was adored by his subjects. He was fond of music and arts and encouraged his subjects to get involved in such actiivities.

Once a group of three artists visited his palace. The king welcomed them and asked them to perform. The king was overwhelmed by their performance and presented them with expensive gifts. To top it up he presented them with 17 -seventeeen - live elephants.

But this gift had conditions to be fulfilled. He ordered that out of the 17 elephants, the leader of the group should get 9 animals, His assistant should get 7 animals and the third member should get half of what remained.

It was easy to carry out the first and second order, that is presenting 9 and 7 animals respectively but when it came to giifting half of an elephant it became a dialemma.

The Ministers cracked their heads but could not find a solution.

When u take out 9 plus 7 elephants from 17 , what remains is one . Now how to get half of that ? if they cut the elephant in two, it will die and who wants a dead animal ? All people including the Pandits were consulted but noone had an answer.

Then someone suggeted that the learned Temple priest be called. The priest listened to the story and said; give a little time and I will solve the problem. So saying the priest left.

He returned after a couple of hours accompanied by the temple elephant and its keeper. He addressed the king's men :

I am temporarily gifting this temple elephant to you; that means now you own two elephnts and half of two is one. so give one to the third artist and that will total up to 17 elephants. He then told the third artist to take away what is due to him, that is the ( half) gift elephant from the king .

What remains now is the temple elephant and since it was only a temporary gift, the priest withdrew his offer and returned with it to the temple.

jai shree krishna !

Achuthan Nair

July 25, 2009

HARI AUMGood story Achuthanji and Sastriji. But in our 'MODERN TIMES' this problem will not arise: "Now how to get half of that ? if they cut the elephant in two, it will die and who wants a dead animal ?These days people will prefer half of a dead elephant to a full living one. At least one FULL TUSK and A FEW NAILS become readily available: and what more one wants?To MAINTAIN a living elephant WITH LOVE one needs a lot of wealth. Hence put that creature to all sorts of works, make some money; wait and wait till it meets its end to claim those TWO TUSKS. ONE TUSK in my hand is better than TWO TUSKS on his head!Sorry, FACTS often are not PALATABLE! But that is how we progress? Regards,NB Nair. guruvayur , "Dr.B.G.Y Sastry" <drbgysastry wrote:>> Dear Achuthanji,> ï¿½> Bhakti is eternal.> ï¿½> A very nice story.> There is historical evidence for this in Andhra Pradesh. During Sri Krishnadevaraya's ruling period, the poet Sri Tenali Rama has solved aï¿½dispute among three brothers, in the same way. But there, the elephant included was of the King.> ï¿½> With love and regards,> ï¿½> Sastry> > --- On Fri, 7/24/09, anair1101 anair1101 wrote:> > > anair1101 anair1101 [Guruvayur] THE TEMPLE PRIEST> guruvayur > Friday, July 24, 2009, 12:15 AM> > > ï¿½ > > > > TO DIVIDE A LIVE ELEPHANT > ============ ========= ====> ï¿½> Long ago there lived a King who was adored by his subjects.ï¿½ He was fond of music and arts and encouraged his subjects to get involved in such actiivities.ï¿½ï¿½> ï¿½> Once a group of three artists visited his palace. The king welcomed them and asked them to perform. The king was overwhelmed by their performance and presented them with expensive gifts. To top it up he presented them with 17 -seventeeen - live elephants. > But this gift had conditions to be fulfilled. He ordered that out of the 17 elephants, the leader of the group should get 9 animals, His assistant should get 7 animals and the third member should get half of what remained. > It was easy to carry out the first and second order, that is presenting 9 and 7 animals respectively but when it came to giifting half of an elephant it became a dialemma. > The Ministers cracked their heads but could not find a solution. > When u take out 9 plus 7 elephants from 17 , what remains is one . Now how to get half of that ? if they cut the elephant in two, it will die and who wants a dead animal ? All people including the Pandits were consulted but noone had an answer. > ï¿½> Then someone suggeted that the learned Temple priest be called. The priest listened to the story and said; give aï¿½little timeï¿½ and I willï¿½ solve the problem. So saying the priest left. > He returned after a couple of hours accompanied by the temple elephant and its keeper. He addressed the king's men : > I am temporarily gifting this temple elephant to you; that means now you own two elephnts and half of two is one. so give one to the third artist and that will total up to 17 elephants.ï¿½He then told the third artist to take away what is due to him, that is the ( half) gift elephant from the king .> ï¿½> What remains now is the temple elephant and since it was only a temporary gift, the priest withdrew his offer and returned with it to the temple. > ï¿½> ï¿½> jai shree krishnaï¿½ !> ï¿½> Achuthanï¿½ Nair> ï¿½>