Spiritual Stories by Ramana

[Guest guest]

GOING ROUND THE SELF

 

In the evening when some devotees were beginning giripradakshina,

(circumambulation around the hill Arunachala), Sundaresa Iyer, a long-

standing devotee also felt like going with them. Then feeling that he

might not be able to complete the round, as the others were taking

leave, he quickly went around Bhagavan. Bhagavan asked him why he was

doing this. He replied, " I am afraid I cannot go around the hill, so

I have gone around Bhagavan. " " Go around yourself That will be Atma

pradakshina, " Bhagavan said with smile.

 

Another devotee remarked, " It means he has done what Vinayaka once

did " . Bhagavan was then asked to tell that story.

 

ONCE UPON A time, Lord Parameswara wanted to teach a lesson to His

Son, Lord Subrahmanya. Along with Parvathi, Parameswara sat on the

top of Mount Kailas holding a fruit in His hand. Seeing the fruit

both Ganapathi and Subrahmanya asked their Father, Parameswara for

it. Then Iswara said that He would give the fruit to whoever of them

returned first after going round the whole world. With self-

confidence and pride that he would win the race, Subrahmanya started

immediately riding on his favourite mount, the peacock. He began

going at a fast pace, frequently looking behind to assure himself

that his elder brother Ganapathi was not following. What could poor

Ganapathi do, with his huge belly? His vahanam (mount) was after all

a mouse. So he thought it was no use competing with Subrahmanya in

the race round the world, and went round Parvati and Parameswara,

bowed before them and claimed the reward. When they asked him whether

he had gone round the world, he said, " All the worlds are contained

within you; so if I go round you, it is as good as going round the

world " . Pleased with his reply, Parameswara gave him the fruit and

Ganapathi sat there eating it.

 

By the time Subrahmanya finished going round the world in full

confidence that he would be the winner, arriving at the starting

point, he found Ganapathi seated before Parvati and Parameswara,

eating the fruit. When he asked Parameswara to give him the fruit for

winning the race, Iswara said, `There it is, your elder brother is

eating it.' When he asked his father how that could be fair, Iswara

explained to him all that had happened. Subrahmanya then realised his

vanity in thinking that he was a great sage, bowed before his

parents, and asked to be pardoned. That is the story. The

significance is that the ego which goes round like a whirlwind must

get destroyed, and must get absorbed in Atma. That is Atma

Pradakshina, said Bhagavan.