Stories for Children- Sant Ekanathar By Sri.Sri.Muralidhara Swamiji-8

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Dear All,

 

The state of Maharastra in India is renowned for the

spiritual giants it had given to the world. Sant Nama

Dev, Sant Thukaram, Sant Gnaneswar, Sant Jana Bai....

the list is almost endless and Sant Ekanathar is one

amongst the most exalted saints of India. He is

frequently quoted as the one of the best examples for

devotion towards a Guru.

 

An incident in his life highlights his broad mind,

forbearance and his compassionate nature. Sant Ekanath

lived in a village called Prathinapura, in Maharastra.

He practised Bhagavatha Dharma - singing the names and

glories of the Lord. He performed pooja to the idols

of Rukmini and Panduranga which was presented to him

by his Guru - Sri Janardhana Swami. Sant Ekanathar was

particularly famous in his village for his patience;

nobody ever saw him angry and nothing could ever make

him lose his temper. Almost all his fellow-villagers

paid respects to Ekanathar for his great virtues.

 

In the same village there were a few vagabonds who

used to regularly meet for gambling. One morning it so

happened that one of them arrived late. When the

others looked at him with a questioning look, he said,

" I had been to Sant Ekanathar's residence to pay

respects to him. So I could not come here in time. " On

hearing this, the others guffawed and with a mocking

tone asked him, " So my friend, what is so special

about this gentleman, which makes you fall at his

feet? " " Sri Ekanathar never loses his temper under any

circumstance. Isn't this trait unusual? " They teased

him further... " How can he who never gets angry be

called a human? " On hearing thus he immediately

answered, " That is the reason why I regard him a

saint... " The conversation which started in a light

vein, took a serious turn... In the end one of them

challenged, " I shall make Saint Ekanathar lose his

temper and prove to you all that he is no different

from others and I shall accomplish what I just said by

tomorrow itself. "

 

The next morning, Sant Ekanathar, in line with

Bhagavatha Dharma - went to bathe in the Holy Godavari

river early in the morning. While he was retuning, the

one who threw down the gauntlet, was waiting for Sant

Ekanathar on a rooftop with mouthful of Paan (Betel

leaves and Betel nuts, usually taken after meals).

While walking back home, Ekanathar suddenly felt

something wet falling on him, without any signs of

surprise, and without losing his composure, walked

back to the river for a holy dip.

The defiler was surprised, but when Sri Ekanathar

returned from his second dip he again spat on this

great saint. Sri Ekanathar again went back to the

river for a dip without losing his calm. But the

vagabond was persistent in his efforts to make this

saint angry, and he kept on spitting at Saint

Ekanathar. Each time he spat on the saint, he could

not even detect a faintest frown in Ekanathar's face.

As the twilight of the dawn started to bounce off from

the glittering waters of Godavari, the vagabond got

tired of spitting at Ekanathar. He was totally

bewildered on seeing the patience and forbearance of

Ekanath. While his mouth was aching stiff due to

repeated spitting, Ekanathar was looking as composed

and as fresh as he was early in the morning!

 

The vagabond feeling guilty and ashamed, rushed down

to fall at the feet of Saint Ekanathar. Saint

Ekanathar, with eyes brimming with compassion and love

even for this offender, blessed him. Now the vagabond

was totally perplexed, " Swamiji, how is it possible

for you to be like this? " Saint Ekanath replied,

" Brother, if you can stick so stubbornly to this vice

of harrassing sadhus, it isn't the least surprising

that I should, on my part, should stick to my virtue

of not losing my temper. " " I am on the way to offer my

morning worship to my Lord. The dirt on my body can be

easily cleansed by a dip in the river, but if I let

anger enter my mind it defiles the mind and no amount

of bathing in any river can cleanse me of this

impurity. Worshipping with an impure mind would not

bear fruits. So, can I ever afford to lose my temper? "

Such a great soul was Sant Ekanathar.

 

Remembering Sant Ekanathar when we get angry, would

help us to regain our composure without much

difficulty.

 

Regards

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

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