Category: Datta Maata

Jun 27 2017

Datta maata 36: Charity is the stepping stone to liberation.

June 27, 2017

Charity is a stepping stone to salvation. Tattvātvam tvādrusho bhava! This is the lesson that a beggar teaches everybody. He teaches us not to born like him by not donating in this birth and instead by involving in charity, we can be born like what we actually are. We must understand this very well. Usually, when somebody talks, they use the words dāna (charity) and dharma (righteousness) together. The inner meaning behind such usage is that daana is the greatest dharma. The body is of no use if one does not learn to give.

Two foxes went near the dead body of a cruel person. One of the foxes knew the history of the deceased and it told the other fox not to touch the body because it had to undergo many blames. A sinful person’s mortal remains will not be touched by even dogs or foxes because his hands have never involved in any charity, his ears have never listened to God’s names, his eyes have never seen the Guru’s form anytime, his feet have never circumambulated around the God, his stomach was filled by the food which was obtained by the money earned through illicit means and his head is heavy because of ego. Hence, the first fox advised the second one not to eat that person’s body even if it is very hungry. It also said that if it eats him, then it has to take a lower birth. After giving all the suggestions, it left the decision to the other fox. The second fox immediately left the place even without smelling the dead body.

From this story, we must understand the importance of charity and lead our life. Such is the greatness of dāna. The mind and body that possess such a virtue are the greatest. There are many who do not even feed a crow. There are few who eat food on a banana leaf washing it every time. There are certain people who preserve the leftover food in refrigerator and eat it the next day. Occasionally it is good but not every time. Why such avarice? There are many who eat right in front of others without even caring for them. It is at least better to close the door and eat instead of eating in front of others. Few eat by closing their eyes while few others purposefully eat in front of others shamelessly. Such kind of eating will only lead to stomach-ache. We must offer to the people around us while we are about to eat. One should learn to do such charity else dogs and foxes also do not tend to see the dead body. We have listened to many stories teaching us this. During the ancestral rites, pindam (rice balls) is provided to the departed souls and usually crows come and eat them. If crows do not eat the pindam, then that person is said to be sinful. If they eat, then such a person is considered to be meritorious. We must observe the subtleties involved with dāna and dharma.

Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/datta-maata-episode-36-charity-is-the-stepping-stone-to-liberation/

Jun 27 2017

Datta maata 35: True virtues a disciple should develop

June 27, 2017

What is the dharma of a disciple? How should he behave? It is a bit difficult to answer this. A disciple is obviously the one who has all the virtues. But, that is not enough. We have to answer the questions. Else, there is no use. The most important and greatest virtue is devotion towards Guru. This is what we must understand. To understand the virtues of disciples, we must learn about the story of Uttanka.

Uttanka was one of the disciples of sage Veda. He completed his education by devoutly serving his Guru. Now it is time for him to enter into Grihasthashrama from Gurukula. He prayed and asked his Guru about the Guru dakshina he wanted. Guru says that he does not need any Guru dakshina because Uttanka had finished his education with great devotion and that itself is like dakshina to him. But, because Uttanka insisted further, Guru tells him to ask his wife and bring whatever she asked for. That will be the Guru dakshina that he can offer. The wife of Guru says that she wanted the ear rings of the wife of King Paukshya within four days. Here comes the problem! He should have gone to his home directly after completion of the education. He had to struggle for this. Uttanka went straight away to the queen and requested her to give the ear rings. The queen agreed but cautioned while giving the rings that Takshaka – the king of Nāgās will snatch them away if he sees them. Uttanka while coming on his way stopped near a river for bath. He kept the ear rings on the floor. Takshaka came in the guise of a sage and took them away. Uttanka understood that it is Takshaka who took away the ear rings. Uttanka started digging the earth to find him. He did so for many hours. Pleased with his devotion on the Guru, Indra and other gods appeared in front of him and blessed him with Vajrayudha. With the help of that, Uttanka went down till pātāla loka (the world below Earth), re-obtained the ear rings and gave them as dakshina to the wife of his Guru. This is a very big story that tells us about devotion on Guru.

The devotion and commitment towards Guru is as equally important as the education that one pursues near him. Only then, he will be successful. In fact, devotion is more important than the education. Our devotion must be at least equal to the amount of education one obtains. Such an education alone will be meaningful. What is the use of education that is devoid of devotion and commitment towards Guru? Uttanka would not have gone to patala loka. Indra and other gods tested him and his devotion. Finally, they helped him go to patala loka. Else, he would not have gone at all. This story is a proof which tells us that only when there is devotion and concentration on Guru, the education will carry any meaning.

Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/datta-maata-episode-35-what-is-the-true-virtue-a-disciple-should-develop/

Jun 27 2017

Datta maata 34: It is not difficult to lead a righteous life

June 27, 2017

We must live according to dharma. Everybody tells this. Tadātmānam srujāmyahaṁ! When dharma (righteousness) has no value and instead adharma (unrighteousness) rules the world, then the Lord himself will incarnate. This is his oath. God incarnates in the form of mahatmas. He may not come directly. Out of such incarnations, the Guru of Sikhs – Guru Nanak is also very prominent. He always preached about truthfulness. He taught that one must follow Dharma, adhere to truth and must not rob others. Thousands of people used to gather to listen to his preaching. A burglar named Bhumya also was one among them.

One day, that burglar invited Guru Nanak to his home for food. Guru nanak asked him about the job he does and preached him to only tell the truth. Bhumya told that he robs people and survives. Listening to this, Guru Nanak told him that many people may live easily and happily by telling lies, stealing and deceiving others. Such people say that following the path of truth and dharma is very difficult. It is wrong. By following truth, one can get the grace of God and enjoy the bliss of heaven right here on this Earth. For this, Guru Nanak had some condition. Bhumya agreed. Guru Nanak told Bhumya to speak only truth and not to harm those who helped in the past and also told him to show gratitude. If you do so, you can get the bliss of heaven right here. Having such gratitude is very difficult. Many do not have that gratitude towards others. This is the preaching of Guru Nanak. Bhumya promised him and left away.

The bad habits do not leave us so easily. The next day itself, Bhumya got an opportunity to rob the king’s house. He entered the palace out of great difficulty. He wrapped up all the valuable ornaments of the palace. Bhumya was very hungry too. So, he went to kitchen and sat there to eat away all the dishes over there. Meanwhile, he remembered the words of Guru Nanak – “Do not deceive those who offered you food”. He immediately left all the ornaments there itself, stopped eating midway and left the palace.

The next day, Bhumya went to the king’s court and regretted for the mistake he had committed. The king liked Bhumya’s behavior. The king immediately gave him a good job there. By recollecting the words of Guru Nanak, Bhumya lived happily. How beautiful it is to lead life according to dharma! Here, the devotion on Guru and the promise given to him brought so much of transformation. If there was no promise made to the Guru, his preaching cannot be understood. Bhumya accepted his mistake. He left away all that he wrapped to steal away. He did not even eat food. This was because of the Guru’s words that one must not deceive those who feed. If one can follow the principles contained in Guru’s words, even a cruel person can reach the divine state. This story of Bhumya is a very good example. We understand through this story that it is not difficult to lead a dharmic (righteous) life. Many people have a wrong notion that leading a non-dharmic life will give happiness. But, it is totally wrong. Bhumya’s story reminds us that adhering to dharma is very easy.

Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/datta-maata-episode-34-living-righteously-is-not-as-difficult-as-it-appears/

Jun 27 2017

Datta maata 33: Personal efforts and God’s grace equally bestow success in any field

June 27, 2017

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Jun 27 2017

Datta maata 32: Guru’s tests are only aimed at uplifting the devotee

June 27, 2017

Tests (adversities) are for our betterment. Life is the confluence of the dualities like sheetha (cold)-ushna (heat), sukha (happiness)-dukha (sorrow), jaya (victory)-apajaya (defeat) and labha (profit)-alabha (loss). Many do not know this fact and they have a misconception that life is meant for happiness. But, when they are troubled by sorrow, they approach elders, who advise that all these are the tests of God and that one must pass in it. When we listen to such words, those in distress get a doubt – “Why should Gods and Guru have to test? We feel sometimes that they can instead give happiness even without doing so. As soon as we hear the word “test”, we remember Indra from the Puranas. We know from many stories that Indra tests all those who sit for penance. But, only few know that such tests are meant purely for the benefit of the seekers. Rest of the people does not understand the principles of Indra and instead disrespect him. To get rid of such misconceptions, we must observe the history of sage Vishwamitra.

While Vishwamitra was doing penance to become Brahmarshi, Indra sent Menaka as a part of the test. She enslaved the sage. She used to request the sage to take her to a different place each day and Vishwamitra, by utilizing his power of penance used to roam with her in the sky. He lost his power of penance in doing so.

One day, Menaka requested that she wanted to go to Himalayas along with the sage. He agreed to her but he could not fly any more. So, the sage understood that his energy got wasted and the power of his penance got diminished. He had no energy either to curse Menaka or to scold her. She left for Indra’s world because the sage was of no use to her. Vishwamitra continued his penance further.

This time Indra sent Rambha to test him. The sage cursed her to become like a rock. But, now Vishwamitra came under the control of anger. Earlier, he was under the control of desires (kāma) and now he became a slave to anger (krōdha). Once again, his power of penance that was accumulated since 1000 years got wasted.

The next time, while he was sitting for penance, he strongly determined that he must not come under the control of Arishadvargas (the six inner enemies) because he already had learnt lessons by wasting his penance for kāma and krōdha. He then became a Brahmarshi by doing penance for 1000 years continuously. The actual resolve of Indra was fulfilled. Had he not tested, Vishwamitra would not have brought the arishadvargas under his control. He would not have acquired such experience. It is God’s resolve to give experience, make the seeker go higher and higher and let him attain the permanent position. Even the Gurus have the same resolve with respect to their disciples. Hence, during the time of adversities, we must never scold God/Guru for the tests we are facing. Instead, we must try to pass on the tests.
Parikshā hitakārini – This means that the tests are for our betterment. We must not rebuke God or Guru for that.

Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!

Permanent link to this article: https://puttugam.com/datta-maata-episode-32-gurus-tests-are-only-aimed-at-uplifting-the-devotee/