Post by jksivan on Oct 3, 2013 19:16:13 GMT 5.5
23. '' The Duplicate''
Dear children
Which one among you had not so far tasted the fresh sugarcane juice? In India in most streets of the towns, vendors can be found under the trees or in some sheltered verandas of complexes, or in front of big shops having a kerosene operated power generator motor or electric motor operated crusher, with a bunch of sugarcane shoots. The sugarcane shoots when squeezed between the rollers we obtain the very sweet juice. What is the message we get from this? You can enjoy the fruits of your labour only when you worked hard. The gold is heated and hithard to form any shape desired by the jeweller, either threaded, flattened, bent and twisted. After undergoing this process the gold becomes the attractive ornament and is appreciated.
What message we get from this? The failures, disappointments, sufferings and difficulties we undergo are the outcome of our own actions and faith in god helps us from these sufferings and He shows the way out. These are taken by saints as ''tests'' for purification process to train the mind to treat both happiness and sorrow equally as His will. It is only the hungry person who has been starving without food, who will realise and relish whatever food he gets ultimately which would be amrit to him. In the stories of Vittal, we will come across many saints who have been subjected to tests and tribulations which hardened their faith on Vittal. He rescued them from the severe sufferings and sorrow. The story below of Sakkubai is not any exception to this.
Sakkubai was born after many years to her parents who were poor and issueless for a long time. Her paents were staunch devotees of Vittal. She was a beautiful girl and a happy child. She was therefore the apple of their eyes. Born in such a disciplined family, she was no doubut brought up with patience, simplicity and true devotion to Vittal. Everyone praised her for the good characteristics in her..
In our country, there are many regions where people talk different languages. Telugu is one such a language spoken by people in a region, now known as Andhra Pradesh. In those days there was no separate states based on the language spoken. There lived a miser in a town called Karaveerapuram. His wife Kayyali Bai was worse than him. Both of them had not known the words Dharma, fairness, God etc. They had a son who had imbibed such qualities from his parents. Both the son and father would not open their mouth in front of lady Hitler, the cruel Kayyalibai. Even their neighbours and other people living in the town were not friendly with this family and avoided them.
When the boy grew up, the miser wanted his son to get married. He was searching for a good girl. Once he happened to visit the village Pandarpur, where sakkubai was living. Her parents welcomed him. The miser saw Sakkubai and naturally, as anybody would, he liked her. The poor parents did not know anything about the miser or his family. In those days communication had not developed.
They thought that Vittal has introduced to them, a rich man's family to their daughter and felt at least their daughter would lead a happy life. With this intention, they arranged for the marriage. After the marriage the 10 year old girl went to her in-laws place.
Imagine the life of an innocent good child having to live with a mother-in-law who enjoyed torturing, a foolish husband, who was just a puppet in his mother's hands, and a father-in-law who did not know the word kindness and never cared for anything than money. Sakkubai lived among these people with only Vittal in her mind and as soul companion.
The hell of a life with miseries started for the little girl since then. Throughout the day, she was asked to work. The mother in law, Kayyalibai found fault with everything she did and dinot do, and was brutal and hit her. No food was given to her for many days as punishment.
One day when she was preparing rice, someone knocked the front door of the house. It was a poor man hungry and begging for some food. Sakkubai gave him a handful of rice. For this ''unauthorised'' act, she was tortured for the whole day. No food was given to her. However, she never missed chanting Vittal's name. Her constant companion was Vittal in her mind.
A few months passed by. Sakkubai's parents had no information of their pet daughter married and living with her in laws. They were anxious and longed to see her. They therefore visited her at Karaveerapuram. No one welcomed them into the house. Their daughter had lost weight and they could not even recognize her. She was completely reduced, pale and looked pitiable. The parents were shocked and they tried to take her with them but the in-laws did not agree. So the parents prayed to Vittal and left. Before leaving, the sad and helpless parents left with Sakkubai, a small statue of Vittal saying ''darling Sakkubai, when we are helpless let Him save you".
After her disappointed parents left her, life of misery as usual continued for Sakkubai and the tortures and cruelties of Kayyalibai and others in the house continued as a routine. The miserly father-in-law did not bother about her while the mother-in-law Kayyalibai was inventing new ways to torture the daughter-in-law. Her husband was not at all interested in her and blindly supported his mother. The Vittal statue was the only source of mental strength and solace to Sakkubai. She used to talk to him crying and laughing ventilating her feelings and emotions as there was none to understand and support her.
She used to ask her Vittal, "How many days more do I have to suffer? I have not committed any sin. Why am I being tortured like this ?". She kept the Vittal's small statue tied to her saree as she was scared of her mother-in-law who did not believe in God.
Unfortunately for Sakkubai, one day while Sakkubai was talking to her little statue of Vittal the cruel Kayyalibai had noticed it. She believed and formed an opinion that Sakkubai was complaining about her to Vittal statue. She got very angry. She grabbed the statue and threw it as she was not religious and never worshipped or prayed to god. She began abusing Vittal using very nasty words besides scolding Sakkubai using filthy language. Sakkubai for the first time in her married life, talked back to her mother in law, just to imploring to be kind and not to speak ill of Vittal saying ''Mother! you tell me anything but please do not speak ill of my Vittal or discard him". The more she pleaded, the more she was beaten and the Vittal statue was thrown out by Kayyalibai. Sakkubai lost her only outlet of ventilation and source of strength. Her health began to deteriorate.
When some neighbours who pitied her and supported her, it aggravated the situation, resulting in even more insults and beatings. So she kept chanting the name of Vittal's name all the time which was only the life line for her.
One day, while washing clothes in the river bank, she saw a group of Panduranga devotees doing bhajans and going towards Pandaipur. She remembered and recalled her happy life in the past in Pandarpur and visists to the Vittal temple. She longed to go with them and joined them. But her family caught hold of her. They accused her of running away from home. After severe beating and routine tortune, they tied her to a pole and torment her. Even then Sakkubai's mind was revolving around Vittal only in spite of tears rolling down and the entire body bleeding with pain all over.
That night a girl who resembled Sakkubai exactly, came in her dream and said "Sakkubai! If you want to go to Pandaripur and see Vittal, you may just now go. I will take your place here till you return back. I do not have a house of my own and I have no one to bother me and because I am your look alike, I can replace you here very easily. I also need a change in life. This will suit me. When Sakkubai woke up and saw the person, she realised it was not a dream and availed the excellent opportunity of joining the devotees who were just away from her village on their way to Pandarpur. So when the replacement Sakkubai removed the ropes which tied her to the pole, she ran towards the group of devotees and joined them to visit Pandaripur.
The replacement Sakkubai tied herself to the rope to make everything look normal. Next day the mother in-law came to see where Sakkubai was tied. She saw Sakkubai murmuring Vittal, Vittal looking quite normal. She got scared. She thought Sakkubai would have died. She could not believe a girl can be so devoted to Vittal and feared Vittal was the person who kept her alive. She was afraid of Vittal and asked Sakkubai to move into the house and start the routine household work.
Sakkubai did all the work and cooked just liked a machine without talking to any of them, but ony chanting the name of Vittal all the time. Her mother-in-law and father-in-law got scared. The entire household work was performed neatly to their best satisfaction without their asking her to do this and that. She was looking stronger than before. Her in-laws viewed Sakkubai with a slight fear.
In the meantime, the real Sakkubai went to Pandaripur. She saw Vittal and forgot her sufferings. She kept on chanting Vittal's name. She stayed in the temple itself. One day she died peacefully with Vittal''s name on her lips. . Everyone in Pandarpur was amazed at her devotion and cremated her in a proper way befitting a staunch Vittal devotee.
In Karaveerapuram, Vittal was engaged in Kayyalibhai house as the replacement Sakkubai. Rukmani was worried about Vittal. She realised the necessity for Sakkubai to be alive and return back to Karaveerapuram to relieve Vittal there. Then only Vittalan would be able to come back to Rukmini. So Rukmani brought back to life, the dead Sakkubai who was no walking back to Karaveerapuram. When she reached the village and was near the usual river bank where she used to daily wash the clothes, she met the "other Sakkubai" washing clothes. She went near and hugged saying "Vittal". Those from the village who were also washing their clothes or bathing in the river witnessed the miracle of Two Sakkubais talking to each other. News spread fast and the entire village turned up to the river bank.
In the meanwhile, Kayyalibai, her miserly husband and useless son, all began understanding the value and pious nature of the Sakkubai who never talked to any of them but performed her duties without their having to tell her and that too to their full satisfaction working like a tireless machine, they were astonished and began respecting her because of her constant chanting of Vittal name. They were changing and treated her better than before.
So Kayyalibai and the family rushed to the river bank when they got the news of the miracle. When everyone saw Sakkubai addressing the other Sakkubai ''Vittal" they all fell at the feet of the Vittal Sakkubai, seeking his blessing. They all fell at the feet of Kayyalibai and other members of the family who were the luckiest on earth to have Vittal serving them as a daughter in law. This sudden attitude naturally changed the family members who began respecting Sakkubai and treating her with reverence and respect as a true devotee of Vittal. She was give the due honours and helped to do her poojas and bhajans, nama sankeerthan etc., in which they too joined. Sakkubai changed the character of all them by Vittal's grace after this miracle. All of them lived a very happy devoted family dedicated to serving Vittal and his bakthas. As for Sakkubai she was normal as before, doing her duties, respecting elders and chanting Vittal's name. Everyone in the village visited this family and there was a great joy for all of them.
Dear children
Which one among you had not so far tasted the fresh sugarcane juice? In India in most streets of the towns, vendors can be found under the trees or in some sheltered verandas of complexes, or in front of big shops having a kerosene operated power generator motor or electric motor operated crusher, with a bunch of sugarcane shoots. The sugarcane shoots when squeezed between the rollers we obtain the very sweet juice. What is the message we get from this? You can enjoy the fruits of your labour only when you worked hard. The gold is heated and hithard to form any shape desired by the jeweller, either threaded, flattened, bent and twisted. After undergoing this process the gold becomes the attractive ornament and is appreciated.
What message we get from this? The failures, disappointments, sufferings and difficulties we undergo are the outcome of our own actions and faith in god helps us from these sufferings and He shows the way out. These are taken by saints as ''tests'' for purification process to train the mind to treat both happiness and sorrow equally as His will. It is only the hungry person who has been starving without food, who will realise and relish whatever food he gets ultimately which would be amrit to him. In the stories of Vittal, we will come across many saints who have been subjected to tests and tribulations which hardened their faith on Vittal. He rescued them from the severe sufferings and sorrow. The story below of Sakkubai is not any exception to this.
Sakkubai was born after many years to her parents who were poor and issueless for a long time. Her paents were staunch devotees of Vittal. She was a beautiful girl and a happy child. She was therefore the apple of their eyes. Born in such a disciplined family, she was no doubut brought up with patience, simplicity and true devotion to Vittal. Everyone praised her for the good characteristics in her..
In our country, there are many regions where people talk different languages. Telugu is one such a language spoken by people in a region, now known as Andhra Pradesh. In those days there was no separate states based on the language spoken. There lived a miser in a town called Karaveerapuram. His wife Kayyali Bai was worse than him. Both of them had not known the words Dharma, fairness, God etc. They had a son who had imbibed such qualities from his parents. Both the son and father would not open their mouth in front of lady Hitler, the cruel Kayyalibai. Even their neighbours and other people living in the town were not friendly with this family and avoided them.
When the boy grew up, the miser wanted his son to get married. He was searching for a good girl. Once he happened to visit the village Pandarpur, where sakkubai was living. Her parents welcomed him. The miser saw Sakkubai and naturally, as anybody would, he liked her. The poor parents did not know anything about the miser or his family. In those days communication had not developed.
They thought that Vittal has introduced to them, a rich man's family to their daughter and felt at least their daughter would lead a happy life. With this intention, they arranged for the marriage. After the marriage the 10 year old girl went to her in-laws place.
Imagine the life of an innocent good child having to live with a mother-in-law who enjoyed torturing, a foolish husband, who was just a puppet in his mother's hands, and a father-in-law who did not know the word kindness and never cared for anything than money. Sakkubai lived among these people with only Vittal in her mind and as soul companion.
The hell of a life with miseries started for the little girl since then. Throughout the day, she was asked to work. The mother in law, Kayyalibai found fault with everything she did and dinot do, and was brutal and hit her. No food was given to her for many days as punishment.
One day when she was preparing rice, someone knocked the front door of the house. It was a poor man hungry and begging for some food. Sakkubai gave him a handful of rice. For this ''unauthorised'' act, she was tortured for the whole day. No food was given to her. However, she never missed chanting Vittal's name. Her constant companion was Vittal in her mind.
A few months passed by. Sakkubai's parents had no information of their pet daughter married and living with her in laws. They were anxious and longed to see her. They therefore visited her at Karaveerapuram. No one welcomed them into the house. Their daughter had lost weight and they could not even recognize her. She was completely reduced, pale and looked pitiable. The parents were shocked and they tried to take her with them but the in-laws did not agree. So the parents prayed to Vittal and left. Before leaving, the sad and helpless parents left with Sakkubai, a small statue of Vittal saying ''darling Sakkubai, when we are helpless let Him save you".
After her disappointed parents left her, life of misery as usual continued for Sakkubai and the tortures and cruelties of Kayyalibai and others in the house continued as a routine. The miserly father-in-law did not bother about her while the mother-in-law Kayyalibai was inventing new ways to torture the daughter-in-law. Her husband was not at all interested in her and blindly supported his mother. The Vittal statue was the only source of mental strength and solace to Sakkubai. She used to talk to him crying and laughing ventilating her feelings and emotions as there was none to understand and support her.
She used to ask her Vittal, "How many days more do I have to suffer? I have not committed any sin. Why am I being tortured like this ?". She kept the Vittal's small statue tied to her saree as she was scared of her mother-in-law who did not believe in God.
Unfortunately for Sakkubai, one day while Sakkubai was talking to her little statue of Vittal the cruel Kayyalibai had noticed it. She believed and formed an opinion that Sakkubai was complaining about her to Vittal statue. She got very angry. She grabbed the statue and threw it as she was not religious and never worshipped or prayed to god. She began abusing Vittal using very nasty words besides scolding Sakkubai using filthy language. Sakkubai for the first time in her married life, talked back to her mother in law, just to imploring to be kind and not to speak ill of Vittal saying ''Mother! you tell me anything but please do not speak ill of my Vittal or discard him". The more she pleaded, the more she was beaten and the Vittal statue was thrown out by Kayyalibai. Sakkubai lost her only outlet of ventilation and source of strength. Her health began to deteriorate.
When some neighbours who pitied her and supported her, it aggravated the situation, resulting in even more insults and beatings. So she kept chanting the name of Vittal's name all the time which was only the life line for her.
One day, while washing clothes in the river bank, she saw a group of Panduranga devotees doing bhajans and going towards Pandaipur. She remembered and recalled her happy life in the past in Pandarpur and visists to the Vittal temple. She longed to go with them and joined them. But her family caught hold of her. They accused her of running away from home. After severe beating and routine tortune, they tied her to a pole and torment her. Even then Sakkubai's mind was revolving around Vittal only in spite of tears rolling down and the entire body bleeding with pain all over.
That night a girl who resembled Sakkubai exactly, came in her dream and said "Sakkubai! If you want to go to Pandaripur and see Vittal, you may just now go. I will take your place here till you return back. I do not have a house of my own and I have no one to bother me and because I am your look alike, I can replace you here very easily. I also need a change in life. This will suit me. When Sakkubai woke up and saw the person, she realised it was not a dream and availed the excellent opportunity of joining the devotees who were just away from her village on their way to Pandarpur. So when the replacement Sakkubai removed the ropes which tied her to the pole, she ran towards the group of devotees and joined them to visit Pandaripur.
The replacement Sakkubai tied herself to the rope to make everything look normal. Next day the mother in-law came to see where Sakkubai was tied. She saw Sakkubai murmuring Vittal, Vittal looking quite normal. She got scared. She thought Sakkubai would have died. She could not believe a girl can be so devoted to Vittal and feared Vittal was the person who kept her alive. She was afraid of Vittal and asked Sakkubai to move into the house and start the routine household work.
Sakkubai did all the work and cooked just liked a machine without talking to any of them, but ony chanting the name of Vittal all the time. Her mother-in-law and father-in-law got scared. The entire household work was performed neatly to their best satisfaction without their asking her to do this and that. She was looking stronger than before. Her in-laws viewed Sakkubai with a slight fear.
In the meantime, the real Sakkubai went to Pandaripur. She saw Vittal and forgot her sufferings. She kept on chanting Vittal's name. She stayed in the temple itself. One day she died peacefully with Vittal''s name on her lips. . Everyone in Pandarpur was amazed at her devotion and cremated her in a proper way befitting a staunch Vittal devotee.
In Karaveerapuram, Vittal was engaged in Kayyalibhai house as the replacement Sakkubai. Rukmani was worried about Vittal. She realised the necessity for Sakkubai to be alive and return back to Karaveerapuram to relieve Vittal there. Then only Vittalan would be able to come back to Rukmini. So Rukmani brought back to life, the dead Sakkubai who was no walking back to Karaveerapuram. When she reached the village and was near the usual river bank where she used to daily wash the clothes, she met the "other Sakkubai" washing clothes. She went near and hugged saying "Vittal". Those from the village who were also washing their clothes or bathing in the river witnessed the miracle of Two Sakkubais talking to each other. News spread fast and the entire village turned up to the river bank.
In the meanwhile, Kayyalibai, her miserly husband and useless son, all began understanding the value and pious nature of the Sakkubai who never talked to any of them but performed her duties without their having to tell her and that too to their full satisfaction working like a tireless machine, they were astonished and began respecting her because of her constant chanting of Vittal name. They were changing and treated her better than before.
So Kayyalibai and the family rushed to the river bank when they got the news of the miracle. When everyone saw Sakkubai addressing the other Sakkubai ''Vittal" they all fell at the feet of the Vittal Sakkubai, seeking his blessing. They all fell at the feet of Kayyalibai and other members of the family who were the luckiest on earth to have Vittal serving them as a daughter in law. This sudden attitude naturally changed the family members who began respecting Sakkubai and treating her with reverence and respect as a true devotee of Vittal. She was give the due honours and helped to do her poojas and bhajans, nama sankeerthan etc., in which they too joined. Sakkubai changed the character of all them by Vittal's grace after this miracle. All of them lived a very happy devoted family dedicated to serving Vittal and his bakthas. As for Sakkubai she was normal as before, doing her duties, respecting elders and chanting Vittal's name. Everyone in the village visited this family and there was a great joy for all of them.