Post by jksivan on Oct 5, 2013 9:42:42 GMT 5.5
Dear Children
25. TOUCH ME NOT
We are talking about many miracles performed by Vittal in the Vitoba, the nectar stories. If you deeply analyse what is it that we identify as a miracle, you will understand that whatever that we cannot do but which occurs on its own, is a ''miracle''.It is supernatural!. Miracles are those acts that we accept only God can perform usually superceding natural laws. It refers to some power not limited to the laws of matter or mind. A miracle is a sign that God uses to point to Himself to us . Nature can only move from event to event through supernatural intervention.
There are so many people who have witnessed the happening of many miracles in their own lives. This is yet again a short story of a person who was treated an untouchable because he was born in the lower caste. The caste is only a man made by some to differentiate people. God is in no way responsible for this unfortunate invention of some. You know God is the creator of every one and everything. Such being the truth, how can HE differentiate between his own creations as inferior and superior?
Chokka Mela was an ardent devotee of Pandurangan. He lived at a time when the caste difference was predominant attitude amongst the brahmins who claimed to belong to the higher caste and ill treated those they considered as low caste born. The low caste people were not entitled to certain privileges which they higher caste people enjoyed. Thus having born in a low caste, Chokka Mela therefore was not allowed to enter the temples. He was blessed with an excellent voice. He would go near the temple everyday. From outside, he would sing Bhajans and dance. Even people belonging to other castes enjoyed his singing. As long as they enjoyed his singing, they did not bother about his caste. But the moment his singing was over, they would keep away from him and resented his presence near a holy place !! Chokka Mela knew all this and it was not affecting him. He would as usual heartily pray to Pandurangan in his mind and the leave the temple area. Days passed by.
One day a person teased Chokka Mela when he was singing his bhajans. ''Chokka! Stop your singing and dancing and answer my question. You say you have so much love and devotion to Panduranga. Then why is He not allowing you to come inside the temple? That means He does not approve you. Do not waste your time. Try to understand. A dog is a dog. It can never aspire to enter the King's palance and share the food with princes. In this birth, you can never enter Vittal's temple or have his dharshan." Many people around him joined together and chased Chokka Mela away..
Thinking of Panduranga, Chokka mela returned home heart-broken. His wife Saira consoled him. Still he could not control his tears. He cried "Is it my fault that I was born in a low caste? Except devotion, love and faith towards my Panduranga, I do not know anything and I do not have time for anything else. All I know is Vittal, Vittal and nothing but Vittal."
Both the husband and wife were crying the whole night. Chokka mela found a hand wiping his tears. He called his wife ''Saira, why are you worrying about my fate. Our Pandurangan will help us'. Saira too was weeping and thought her husband was comforting her by wiping the tears off her eyes. Saira opened her eyes and saw someone sitting by her side. She got up and lighted the only oil lamp in their hut. She found Pandurangan sitting between by the side of Chokka Mela. ''Vittala'' she cried in surprise which made Chokka Mela also to get up from his bed. . He was thrilled and in ecstacy to find his loving Vittala sitting by the side of his bed. Both the devotee and his wife could not believe themselves
Vittal said "Why do you both worry over nothing when I am with you. Come with me". Saying thus, Vittal took Chokka mela to the temple in spite of Chokka being reluctant and refusing to enter the temple out of fear for the brahmins. Though all the doors were locked, Vittal took him directly to the Garbahgraham (the sanctum sanctorum). He said "Vittala, you know I am forbidden to enter the temple. If any one comes to know that I have entered the temple, you will be blamed.". Vittalan said "Chokka! Did you notice the temple when we entered ? It was very dark because of their ignorance. Now the moment you entered see how it is. See how bright it is". Laughing Vittal continued "those who do not come close to me through their devotion, are considered untouchables even if they are born in rich families. Even those who insult my devotees are untouchables to me". Chokka was so touched by Vittal's kindness and asked "Hey Panduranga ! What sort of life should we lead to attain Mukthi?".
Krishna answered "Very simple Chokka! Just as you are doing now, keep continuing to do the nama sankeerthanam always. Be true to yourself and serve others. Fill yourself with kindness and love and think of GOD. In this Kaliyugam, these are the only ways to attain mukthi". Chokka Mela asked many more questions to Vittal which he happily clarified and the whole night they were exchanging talks with each other.
Next morning, the Chief priest opened the door and heard voices. He saw Chokka Mela standing by the side of the main idol of the temple, Panduranga. He was enraged and shouted "Maha Paapi! How dare you enter the temple and stealthily gained access to the garba graha.? The temple lost its holiness and sanctity by your presence." Priest and others dragged him and threw him out aftr heavy beating with sticks. No one listedned what Chokka was trying to explain them.
The Sun's rays always fall on everything equally. Similarly the wind blows in every direction without any discrimination. These fools did not know that everyone is equal in GOD's creation.
They felt that if Chokka Mela lived in the same place, he would again visit the temple with enter Vittal's sanctum sanctorum. So they decided to banish him from the village. They drove his family to move to the other side of the Chandrabaga river. May be the fools thought that Vittal cannot cross the river and reach the other side. Isn't it funny? Dear children wait and see what happened next?
25. TOUCH ME NOT
We are talking about many miracles performed by Vittal in the Vitoba, the nectar stories. If you deeply analyse what is it that we identify as a miracle, you will understand that whatever that we cannot do but which occurs on its own, is a ''miracle''.It is supernatural!. Miracles are those acts that we accept only God can perform usually superceding natural laws. It refers to some power not limited to the laws of matter or mind. A miracle is a sign that God uses to point to Himself to us . Nature can only move from event to event through supernatural intervention.
There are so many people who have witnessed the happening of many miracles in their own lives. This is yet again a short story of a person who was treated an untouchable because he was born in the lower caste. The caste is only a man made by some to differentiate people. God is in no way responsible for this unfortunate invention of some. You know God is the creator of every one and everything. Such being the truth, how can HE differentiate between his own creations as inferior and superior?
Chokka Mela was an ardent devotee of Pandurangan. He lived at a time when the caste difference was predominant attitude amongst the brahmins who claimed to belong to the higher caste and ill treated those they considered as low caste born. The low caste people were not entitled to certain privileges which they higher caste people enjoyed. Thus having born in a low caste, Chokka Mela therefore was not allowed to enter the temples. He was blessed with an excellent voice. He would go near the temple everyday. From outside, he would sing Bhajans and dance. Even people belonging to other castes enjoyed his singing. As long as they enjoyed his singing, they did not bother about his caste. But the moment his singing was over, they would keep away from him and resented his presence near a holy place !! Chokka Mela knew all this and it was not affecting him. He would as usual heartily pray to Pandurangan in his mind and the leave the temple area. Days passed by.
One day a person teased Chokka Mela when he was singing his bhajans. ''Chokka! Stop your singing and dancing and answer my question. You say you have so much love and devotion to Panduranga. Then why is He not allowing you to come inside the temple? That means He does not approve you. Do not waste your time. Try to understand. A dog is a dog. It can never aspire to enter the King's palance and share the food with princes. In this birth, you can never enter Vittal's temple or have his dharshan." Many people around him joined together and chased Chokka Mela away..
Thinking of Panduranga, Chokka mela returned home heart-broken. His wife Saira consoled him. Still he could not control his tears. He cried "Is it my fault that I was born in a low caste? Except devotion, love and faith towards my Panduranga, I do not know anything and I do not have time for anything else. All I know is Vittal, Vittal and nothing but Vittal."
Both the husband and wife were crying the whole night. Chokka mela found a hand wiping his tears. He called his wife ''Saira, why are you worrying about my fate. Our Pandurangan will help us'. Saira too was weeping and thought her husband was comforting her by wiping the tears off her eyes. Saira opened her eyes and saw someone sitting by her side. She got up and lighted the only oil lamp in their hut. She found Pandurangan sitting between by the side of Chokka Mela. ''Vittala'' she cried in surprise which made Chokka Mela also to get up from his bed. . He was thrilled and in ecstacy to find his loving Vittala sitting by the side of his bed. Both the devotee and his wife could not believe themselves
Vittal said "Why do you both worry over nothing when I am with you. Come with me". Saying thus, Vittal took Chokka mela to the temple in spite of Chokka being reluctant and refusing to enter the temple out of fear for the brahmins. Though all the doors were locked, Vittal took him directly to the Garbahgraham (the sanctum sanctorum). He said "Vittala, you know I am forbidden to enter the temple. If any one comes to know that I have entered the temple, you will be blamed.". Vittalan said "Chokka! Did you notice the temple when we entered ? It was very dark because of their ignorance. Now the moment you entered see how it is. See how bright it is". Laughing Vittal continued "those who do not come close to me through their devotion, are considered untouchables even if they are born in rich families. Even those who insult my devotees are untouchables to me". Chokka was so touched by Vittal's kindness and asked "Hey Panduranga ! What sort of life should we lead to attain Mukthi?".
Krishna answered "Very simple Chokka! Just as you are doing now, keep continuing to do the nama sankeerthanam always. Be true to yourself and serve others. Fill yourself with kindness and love and think of GOD. In this Kaliyugam, these are the only ways to attain mukthi". Chokka Mela asked many more questions to Vittal which he happily clarified and the whole night they were exchanging talks with each other.
Next morning, the Chief priest opened the door and heard voices. He saw Chokka Mela standing by the side of the main idol of the temple, Panduranga. He was enraged and shouted "Maha Paapi! How dare you enter the temple and stealthily gained access to the garba graha.? The temple lost its holiness and sanctity by your presence." Priest and others dragged him and threw him out aftr heavy beating with sticks. No one listedned what Chokka was trying to explain them.
The Sun's rays always fall on everything equally. Similarly the wind blows in every direction without any discrimination. These fools did not know that everyone is equal in GOD's creation.
They felt that if Chokka Mela lived in the same place, he would again visit the temple with enter Vittal's sanctum sanctorum. So they decided to banish him from the village. They drove his family to move to the other side of the Chandrabaga river. May be the fools thought that Vittal cannot cross the river and reach the other side. Isn't it funny? Dear children wait and see what happened next?
