Athithi Devo Bhava- Ramanujar- Baba

May 4, 2004

Athithi Devo Bhava- Baba

Concept of Bhagavadha Kaingaryam ( Ramanujar)

A True Devotee of GOD will face only tests, But never face defeat. Devotees would have been tested , but for a better future. " ATHITHI DEVO BHAVA" Once Ramanujar went from Srirangam to Thirumalai with 30 people. On the way, when he was enquiring for a place to stay. They showed a hut of a very poor Brahmin couple who were doing Bhagavatha Kainkaryam ( Food service).

Ramanujar went to that poor couple's hut & knocked at its door. Since that house lady had worn a torn saree, & since men had come outside, she was feeling shy to come outside, & stood inside the house, behind the door. Seeing this, Ramanujar felt very sad & he threw his turban cloth to her.

That lady took that cloth & wrapped it & came outside. Ramanujar told that lady, " We, 30 people have come to your house for Bikshavandanam (to have food)". She immediately washed their legs & made them sit inside & told Ramanujar, that she will be just come soon & went outside.

In that place, one Mr.Komutti Chettiar had an eye on this lady for many days. She went to him & said that she needed rice ,dal & other things to cook & serve for 30 Bhagavathas & asked him to give her all these things & promised that she will come to his house that day night & will appease to his likes. Then , He gave her all the things required by her & He was waiting for the Night. This is a true event in history.

Here, We have to see -That lady did'nt agree to it, for her Pleasures. Her only Thought wa that there should ne no lapse in her Service to the Bhagavathas.There was no other Thought. She Prepared food nicely for the Bhagavathas. When her husband came & asked ,from where she had got rice & dal.

She told him what happened & said, "I didnt have any other way out. RAMANUJAR , a Great MAHAAN has come home. How to give food for them? That's why ,Today night at 9.00 p.m, I am going to the Chettiar's house".

Hearing this, her husband did not get angry. He was happy that somehow, it was possible to serve food for the Bhagavathas. The couple after serving the 30 Bhagavathas, then at night, they went inside the room & were crying thinking of their state.

Seeing this, Ramanujar cries within himself. If she was such a Great & Pure wife, that she will agree to this & this showed her undiluted service to God. Even, husband did not say anything.

husband says. "Very Happy.I will only accompany you & leave you there'. He was happy that he was able to serve the Bhagavathas. he is not bothered about the Body. You should see the Determination in him.

Ramanujar gave a little Thulasi & theertham to them & told "When you are going in the night, give this to the Chettiar." In the night, the husband took his wife to the Chettiar's house. When they reached there, He was scared & was trembling seeing her husband & the husband told, "I have not come to make you angry.

With total acceptance only, I have brought my wife to you. Because of you ,we got to do a Good deed. We had the great Honour of serving for a Great MAHAAN & 30 Bhagavathas like RAMANAJUR & He gave the Thulasi & Theertham for the Chettiar.

When he ate it, In the Chettiar's eyes, this poor Brahmin couple appeared to him as " Sakshath MAHAVISHNU & MAHALAKSHI".

Immediately, He fell at their feet & said "please taek me to Ramanujar. because, only today, I got Vishnu & Mahalakshmi's Darshan. & prayed. He went to Ramanujar & said "You gave me good sense of mind " & thanked Ramanujar.

IT IS NOT IMPORTANT WHAT A MAHAAN GIVES YOU, BUT THE REAL TEST IS,TO WHICH EXTENT ,YOU ARE RECEIVING IT WITH FAITH.MAHAANS GIVE WITH A PRAYER OF THOUGHT.

Even, when they faced so many miseries in Life, the poor couple never ever left the task ,which they undertook of the Bhagavatha Kaingaryam (food service) ,under any circumstance . Hence God , through Ramanujar gave this sort of an experience in their lives. " Krishnan Manadhu kal Manadhanroa -"Krishna's heart is like a stone"

So, as per these words, when we face miseries & troubles in life, we doubt God or we become angry with god. There are so many situations that arise in our life.Similarly, You also, should never ever leave God, under any circumstances & God will also give brightness in your LivesThis you should keep in your mind.

TRUE SERVICE TO GOD ,SHOULD COME FROM THE HEART. IT IS THE PURITY OF YOUR THOUGHTS. IF YOU TRULY WORK FOR GOD, GOD WILL COME IN ANY FORM & WILL STILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AFTER YOUR WANTS.

Life is a battle field. You are the soldiers. Don't run away from the battle. Face it with undaunted courage. Hurdles form the foundations to Life's achievements. In the struggle of life, there will be waves & whirlpools. The human fish have to live amidst these waves & whirlpools & prove their worth. Because, life is all about survival of the fittest. This is nature's decree. The extent to which a human being submits to life's pressures & obstacles , is the height to which he can elevate himself.

Realise that life is very short. So, do not waste time in worrying & hunting for pleasures. Resolve to make your life more purposeful from now on. What you have to learn from the lives of MAHAANS , is whatever trials & tribulations, they had to face , how much ever, the depths of misery, DON'T EVER LEAVE GOD.

You cannot reach God by your will. God will captivate you at the right point of time.HE will subdue the results of your actions & grant you the bliss of being moved by His thoughts & yearning for HIM. For, there is nothing more ecstatic than, Yearning for God.The mountain called GOD can be captured in the hold of LOVE.* BASK IN THE WARMTH OF GOD'S LOVE !

LOVE AND BLESSINGS = BABA

Shankaram Shiva Shankaram

Chant and be happy

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