Spiritual Stories by Ramana

[Guest guest]

SWAMI IS EVERYWHERE

 

An American lady unaccustomed to squatting on the floor, somehow

managed to sit in the hall by stretching her legs towards Bhagavan's

sofa. One of the attendants suggested to her that she sit

cross-legged. When Bhagavan saw that, he said smiling, " When they find

it difficult even to sit down on the floor, should you force them to

sit cross-legged also? " " No, no! As they do not know that it is

disrespectful to stretch their legs towards Bhagavan, I merely told

them so, that is all, " said the devotee. " Oh is that so! It is

disrespectful, is it? Then it is disrespectful for me to stretch my

legs towards them. What you say applies to me as well. " Saying this in

a lighter vein, Bhagavan sat up cross-legged. Even though the

rheumatism in Bhagavan's legs rendered them painful and stiff after

ten minutes of being folded, he continued to sit cross-legged

stretching them from time to time, saying that it might be deemed

disrespectful. Even after the visitors took leave he kept his legs

folded saying, " I do not know if I can stretch them. They say it is

not good manners. " The attendant stood by Bhagavan's side crestfallen

and repentant. Bhagavan, full of compassion, stretched out his legs as

usual and began telling this story.

 

SEEING THAT SUNDARAMURTHI was going away on a white elephant which had

come from Kailas, the Rajah of Chera whispered in the ear of his horse

the panchakshara mantra and got upon it to go to Kailas. Avvaiyar, who

was at the time doing puja to Lord Ganesa, saw them both going to

Kailas and so tried to hurry up her puja as she too wanted to go to

Kailas.

 

Seeing that, Ganesa said, " Old woman, don't hurry. Let your puja be

performed as usual. I shall take you to Kailas before they reach it. "

Accordingly, the puja was performed in due course. Waving his hand

around, he said, " Old lady, close your eyes. " That was all. When she

opened her eyes, she found herself seated in Kailas in front of

Parvati and Parameswara. By the time Sundaramurthi and Chera Raja

reached the place, they found her already seated there. Surprised at

that, they asked her how she had got there and were overjoyed at her

bhakti. After all, she was very old. So she sat facing Parameswara

with her legs stretched out like me. Parvati could not bear that

sight. She was worried because to sit with legs stretched out towards

Swami, she felt, was a great insult. She respectfully suggested to

Parameswara that she should be permitted to tell the old lady about

it. " Oh, don't speak, don't open your mouth. We should not say

anything to her. " How could Parvati put up with that insult? She

therefore whispered into the ear of her maid to tell the old lady, who

said, " Grandma, Grandma, don't keep your legs outstretched towards

Iswara " . " Is that so? " She replied, " Tell me on which side Iswara is

not present. Shall I turn this side? " asked Avvaiyar. So saying, she

turned her outstretched legs to another side and Iswara got turned to

that side; and when again she turned to a different direction, He

also got turned to the same side. Thus Swami got turned to whichever

side she turned her legs. Looking at Parvati, Iswara said, " Do you see

now? You would not listen to me. See how she turns me this side and

that. That is why I told you not to open your mouth. " Then Parvati

requested the old lady to excuse her. It is similar to that when

people are asked not to stretch their legs towards Swami. Where is He

not present?