Stories for Children- Who is a 'Brahmin'?! By Sri.Sri.Muralidhara Swamiji-7

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Dear All,

 

Four Mahatmas by name Gnaneswar, Nivrithi Devar,

Sobaana Devar and Muktha Bai, born in the same family,

lived in a village near Pandaripuram. They were born

to the couple Vithoba and Rukmini.

 

Gnaneswar was born as the Avatar (incarnation) of Lord

Vishnu, Nivrithi Devar as of Lord Parameswara, Sobaana

Devar as of Lord Brahma and Muktha Bai as that of

Goddess Durga.

 

Their parents left them, even while the children were

still young, to do tapas (practice of the path chosen

to attain liberation). As three of these children were

boys, they desired to get 'upanayana' (thread ceremony

conducted to a boy born in a Brahmin family) done. So

they approached the village Brahmins for the purpose.

 

The Brahmins, however, refused to conduct the

'upanayana' as these children had no parents and also

their father had returned to family life after having

led an ascetic life. Further they said, " How are we to

conduct the 'upanayana' for one who knows not the

Gothra? " (the name of the sage in whose lineage a

Brahmin is born) and so refused to conduct the

ceremony.

Gnaneswar explained that in such cases the Gothra of

the one who would conduct the ceremony could be used.

Hearing this the Brahmin advised, " Prathishtanapuram

is a village nearby. Many scholars who are well versed

in the shastras live there. Go and tell them of your

desire. " These children then went to Prathishtanapuram

and told the scholars of their desire.

 

The scholars asked, " What is the proof of your being

Brahmins? " Gnaneswar explained, " No one is a Brahmin

by birth. At birth all are one and the same. The day

'upanayana' is conducted then he is known as

'dwijan'(twice born). By repeated chanting of the

Gayathri when one earns 'tejas'(brilliance) he is

known as 'Vipran'. He is known as 'Shastri' with the

deep practice of the shastras. After learning the

Vedas if he conducts yagna he is then known as

'Srowthi'. After being initiated into a 'Mantra' if he

does japa (repeated chanting) of the 'mantra' and the

darshan of the god or the goddess of the particular

'Mantra' is had, he is then known as 'Rishi'. He is

known as 'Muni' if he controls his mind and does

enquiry of the Self.

 

If one attains oneness with the highest and sees only

Hari everywhere and in everything he is then known as

a 'Brahmin'. Since we see only Hari everywhere it is

proof enough to show that we are Brahmins. "

Hearing this the scholars critically asked, " What you

say is right. Well then, will this buffalo standing

beside you chant the Veda? Gnaneswar replied, " If you

look at it as a buffalo it shall not. But if you look

at it as Lord Panduranga it shall then chant the

Veda " . So saying he stroked the buffalo. At once the

buffalo chanted the Veda.

 

Moral: By this it is known that there did live

Mahatmas who could establish the presence of Brahman

(God the almighty) even in the mundane world.

 

 

Regards

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

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