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So easily,
for small things, people discard their Guru. Whenever Swamiji
used to get tough and scold and insult us in the midst of
the public, that was to test us and remove the ego to give
the highest things of life. Many a time HE has told me the
story of Lord Rama and that great Character and Embodiment
of Wisdom, Hanuman.
Swamiji
used to say, "Look, Rama wanted to kill Hanuman. Still then,
Hanuman never thought of discarding the Guru's name. Such
is the power of Guru's name, even the Guru cannot harm. What
do you say?"
Swamiji
used to ask like that and narrate this story:
Once all
the great Sages including Sage Narada had gathered for a big
conference. That was the time when Lord Rama had come back
to Ayodhya after killing Ravana and installing Vibhishana
as the king of Lanka. Ayodhya was a big Empire. As the great
Sages were discussing Spiritual matters, the subject turned
to the greatness of Rama's power and His use of weapons.
Sage Vishvamitra
said, "I can promise that there is no power in this Universe
which can challenge the power of Rama's archery. Nobody can
dare stand up to HIS Bows and Arrows, the power of which I
have seen in His childhood."
To this
Sage Vasishta said, "Oh Venerable Sage, please do not feel
offended. I think there is one power which can challenge Rama's
Bows and Arrows."
Sage
Vishvamitra felt irritated and yelled, "Don't talk foolishly
O sage Vasishta! Really, is there any such… which can
challenge Rama's Bows and Arrows?"
To this
Sage Vasishta said again, "Yes there is. O venerable Sages
who have gathered here, I promise that a Devotee of Rama who
always has His Guru's name on His tongue, in His heart and
Mind, I promise that no power in the universe can harm such
a person."
"Nonsense!"
laughed Sage Vishvamitra. "If that is the case let us test."
And they
chose a Devotee of Rama called Chandrabhanu who was a king
under the empire of Ayodhya where Rama ruled. Chandrabhanu
was a devotee of Rama who practiced Meditation and always
recited "Ram, Ram…" When King Chandrabhanu was in Meditation,
deliberately Vishvamitra went there. As the King was in Meditation,
he could not attend to the needs and to the reception of Saint
Vishvamitra. Taking this as an excuse Vishvamitra got annoyed
and straight away went to Lord Rama and complained that He
(Vishvamitra) was dishonoured by the King.
As Rama
revered Sage Vishvamitra, He got terribly annoyed at this
and said He would kill and punish that king for this lapse.
Rama said, "This is a promise in the name of My Bows and Arrows
by which I killed great Emperors like Ravana and Kumbhakarna."
Satisfied, Vishvamitra went away.
Here Sage
Narada who always enjoyed the Leelas of the Divine, came to
the King out of curiosity and informed him that Rama was going
to kill him for the offence of dishonouring Vishvamitra. "O
God what shall I do now, O sage Narada?"
Narada
said, "Look King, this is a terrible situation. However there
one person who can come to your rescue. Sri Hanuman, the great
disciple of Rama is the only person who can help you. Go and
surrender. But do not tell Him that Rama is going to kill
you. Just tell that you shall be killed and that He should
help you. Only after taking out a promise, then you tell Him
who is going to kill you."
The King
went To Hanuman and surrendered. "O great Devotee and Disciple
of Rama, please save me from disaster! Coming out of Meditation,
Hanuman said with affection, "O Devotee of Swami Rama, what
calamity has befallen you? Tell me." To this the King replied,
"O Hanuman, only you can help me! Otherwise it is certain
that I will be killed."
"Don't
worry," replied Hanuman, " you are a devotee of Swami Rama.
No danger can happen to you in this universe. I will protect
you and this is a promise in the name of Rama, whose Sweet
Name is dearer to me than anything else."
Well,
out of curiosity, all Sages, Devatas, (Angels) gathered to
watch the leela. Hanuman defeated an entire army of Rama,
His brothers and all. Finally Lord Rama, Himself, came. He
was terribly annoyed at the sight of His dear Devotee and
Disciple, Hanuman, protecting the King. Rama ordered Hanuman
to release the King. "Hanuman," Rama yelled, "hand over the
King! Should I have to remind you that I am your Guru and
Swami? Now it's My order!"
Composed
and with Devotion and Respect due to His Guru and Swami, Hanuman
said, "Not in my wildest dreams, could I have thought of disobeying
You my Lord, but when You shall drop Your physical Body, Your
Bows and Arrows will also vanish along with You. My Lord,
only Your Sweet Name of nectar, 'SRI RAMA', will come to the
rescue of the Devotees in the coming ages. So I cannot allow
the promise made in Your name to go to waste, My Lord. But
Your promise in the name of Bows and Arrows can go because
it is of no use."
Well,
Rama went on shooting arrows to kill Hanuman but Hanuman stood
chanting "Ram Ram…" and to the astonishment of the gathered,
nothing happened to Hanuman. All the Arrows got converted
into Flower Garlands on the neck of Hanuman. Finally Rama
blessed Hanuman and the King.
"This
is the power of the Guru's name. If you chant Guru's Name,
nobody can harm You, not even the Guru," Swamiji used to smile.
Copyright 2001 Shiva Rudra Balayogi
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Related
reading
Other
talks and writings by Babaji
This page was published August 30, 2001.
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