Sri Sathya Sai Baba Stories and Parables - 27 - Recite the sacred name

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Sri Krishna Chaitanya was the pioneer of the movement of

Nagarsamkeertan. He used to get himself immersed in the

contemplation of the Lord while singing His glory and used to be

oblivious of the external world.

 

Once he was conducting Nagarsamkeertan in Navadweep. Several leaders

of the town too joined him in his bhajan. They were all ecstatically

singing bhajans and walking along the streets. A thief also joined

this group. He thought it would be an opportunity for him to pick

the pockets of rich devotees who would be lost in singing and

dancing. But when he actually participated in it he began singing

with more zeal than others. All of them had come to a temple and

were seated. He sat near Chaitanya, while those sitting in front

were listening to his discourse. Many had left the temple precincts

by then. He held Chaitanya's both feet and said: " Swami, you are

giving so much advice to so many people. Kindly impart to me some

sacred " manthra " . Chaitanya looked at him and said: " Tell me first

of all who you are and what you do " . The thief said: " Swami! How can

I lie to you? I am a thief. I have been a thief all my life. My name

is Rama, people call me 'Rama' - the thief. "

 

Chaitanya said: " Oh what a pity. I shall give you a name or a

message but what will you give me as guru dakshina? " The thief at

once said without any hesitation: " I shall give you a share in the

booty I get from my theft. " Chaitanya said: " I have no need for any

money. All that I insist is that you should give up stealing. " The

thief said: " Swami, that is my profession, how else can I earn a

living, when I do not have any other skill? " " Well, " said

Chaitanya, " I shall give you a sacred name on one condition, when

you go for thieving, you must first recite the sacred name I give

you 1008 times. " Chaitanya whispered into his ear: " Om Namo

Bhagavathe Vasudevaya " . Transformation even by then had taken place

in the thief because of the touch of the holy person. He was also

freed from the sin of his past deeds because of the conversation

with Chaitanya. The thief went back a refined person.

 

One day many wealthy house-holders had locked their houses and had

gone for the darshan of Sri Krishna Chaitanya. The thief did not

want to lose this opportunity to break into a house. He went to the

house of the richest man of the town. He broke into the house and

entered the room where the iron safe was kept. He opened it and saw

valuable gems and jewels of gold. He resolved not to touch anything

until he had finished reciting 1008 times the manthra given to him.

Before he completed the number, the master of the house arrived

along with the familiy. The lady of the house wanted to remove all

the jewels she had worn before she left the house and keep them back

in the safe. She saw a stranger lost in the recitation of the sacred

manthra " Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya. " She thought he must be a

great sage who had come to their house to bless them. She called her

husband. The thief was lost in his meditation. The entire familiy

sat round him with folded hands. They thought he must be a saintly

soul like Chaitanya.

 

The thief opened his eyes after the completion of 1008 times the

manthra. He was surprised to find a group of people sitting

reverentially before him. The master of the house asked him, " Oh

Sir! May we know who you are and may we request you to honour us by

accepting to take food with us today so that we shall be redeemed of

our sins. " The thief said to himself: " If the mere recitation of the

Lord's name, now and then can bring me such honour, what greater

things cannot happen to me if I sincerely make it my daily habit of

reciting the name continuously. I may certainly win the grace of the

Lord. " He decided to give up thieving. He prostrated before the

master of the house and his wife and said, " Mother, let me tell you

the truth. I am a thief. Let me go to the forest. I shall spend the

rest of my life in the contemplation of God. " All were surprised at

his words but were very happy.

 

He stayed with them as their guest that night. The news of this

event spread fast around in the morning. As a result, the whole

neighbourhood came to see him. They took him in a palanquin round

the town and left him in the forest where he wanted to do his tapas.

Later, once again, he came to Chaitanya and received his blessings

so that he may blossom into a real sage.

 

Source: Chinna Katha

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