Sant Tukkaram- Part-2 by Sri.Sri.Muralidhara Swamiji

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Dear Members,

 

Four ˜asramas™(stages) have been prescribed in a Brahmins life- Brahmachari

(celibate), Grahasta (householder), Vanaprasta (giving up the family and leading

a spiritual life in a forest all alone) and Sanyasa (ascetic). In this order of

life, one can move from brahamchari to grahastha to vanaprastha to sanyasi and

never the other way round. One can move from the first to the next stage of life

but not vice versa. And to turn from an ascetic life to the householder's life

is verily a grave sin. Unpardonable one! There is atonement for any sin

committed in the first three ˜asramas™ but none for the Sanyasi. This is the

reason that one should think well before taking up ascetic life. It is a very

hard life and only one who is totally dispassionate should take it up.

 

But, Vittoba said to his Guru, As per your desire I will get back to

householders life. He went back to live with his wife and four children were

born to them. Nivritti deva was the first to be born, Jnaneshwar - the second

child, Sopana - the third and Mukta bai the last. Nivritti was the incarnation

of Parameswara (Lord Siva), Jnaneshwar of Lord Vishnu, Sopana of Lord Brahma and

Mukta bai of Goddess Durga. Even while the children were still young, Vittoba

left the family to spend his days on the banks of the Ganga. His wife followed

him.

 

Left to fend for themselves, the children approached the Brahmins to perform

˜upanayana™ (the holy thread ceremony for a son born in a Brahmin family). The

Brahmins asked, What is your ˜gotra " The children did not know their family

˜gotra™. The Brahmins refused to perform the ceremony, as the children did not

know their ˜gotra™. Jnaneswar told the Brahmins, One who does not know his

˜gotra™ can take the ˜gotra™ of the conductor of the ceremony. Thus speak the

Shastras.

 

The Brahmins scoffed at him, Oh! You speak of the Shastras! You have all been

begotten by a Sanyasi, as such we cannot perform the ceremony for you.

Jnaneshwar said, I do not need this ˜upanayana™. But, while living in the world

one should follow the ways of the world. It is for this reason that I request

you to perform ˜upanayana for us.

 

The Brahmins were shocked at what they deemed to be the audacity of Jnaneshwar.

They retorted, Oh! You deem everything to be Panduranga? Then can you make this

(pointing to a buffalo that stood nearby) perform ˜Sama gana™ (sing the Sama

Veda)? Jnaneshwar immediately said, Why not? If you look at it as Panduranga,

he will certainly chant the ˜Sama™. If you look at it as mere buffalo it will

not. Saying this he touched the buffalo and said, Panduranga! Chant the Sama

Veda!

 

And lo! The buffalo began to chant the Sama Veda! The astounded Brahmins had no

choice but to recognize the greatness of Jnaneshwar and his brothers and sister.

The owner refused to take the buffalo back. The buffalo followed the children.

The Atma bala of Jnaneshwar made even the buffalo chant the Sama Veda!

 

!!! Will continue !!!