Thursday, October 1, 2009

Lakshmi's complaint & Vishnu's consolation

"Whenever and where ever a decline of righteousness and a predominance of unrighteousness prevails; at that time I manifest Myself personally, O descendant of Bharatha."
Shri Krishna in His Holy Gita.

Once the Supreme Lord Maha Vishnu awoke from his blissful nap after a few thousand years.

The moment he woke up he saw Maha Lakshmi, sitting at his feet, having a long face. Sensing trouble, Vishnu thought unto himself, 'Oh man! You've woke up at the wrong time' and decided to get back to sleep, which is anyway a pretense.

So all married men, out there! Console yourselves! Even The Supreme Lord gets into a fix when His wife puts up a long face.

By the time He could close His Lotus eyes, Maha Lakshmi had turned towards Him and caught Him wide awake. Maha Vishnu thought unto Himself, 'It's long since I had been a kid in Gokul. Forgot the art of slipping away without getting caught.' Anyhow, managing to flower his mesmerizing trademark smile, He got up and sat on His bed.

Maha Lakshmi, like all wives, turned away her face and sat looking the other side expecting her Husband to ask her why she wasn't happy.

Maha Vishnu, like all husbands, not knowing what was in store for him gathered much courage, which he never did even while fighting the deadliest asuras, touched Her cheeks and turned Her face towards Him.

"Who has stolen the smile on your lips, my love? Why has the face, that glows like the full moon, lost all its radiance?

"Nothing" (Like all wives)

"Oh! Come on, My Love! Won't you tell me what troubles you?" (Is there any other dialogue a Husband could've spoken after that simple and innocent looking 'nothing'?)

"What is the use of telling you?"

Maha Vishnu knew she is getting ready to register her complaint.

"What is the use of all these years of service I did to you? When I accompanied you as Sita, you took me through all the jungles in India. When I accompanied you as Rukmini, I had to put up with all your other wives. After all this, what is the recognition you've given me? Nothing! Just Nothing!"

"This isn't a fair complaint! I have given my heart to you, my love. I am the one who is the Heart of this creation. And you live in my heart. What better...."

Maha Lakshmi interrupted him, "Oh Yeah, I live in your heart. But you don't live in my heart. Isn't it?"

"I never said that! Of course I know, I am The One who resides in your heart!"

"Then why is that when I am known as the one who resides in your Heart, You are never known as the one who resides in my heart? Why is that none of the poets starting from Valmiki, Kamban, Tulasidas, The Alwars... none of them have sung about you as the one who resides in my heart. Why didn't you give them such a thought? How will you? When you don't want to disappoint your other wives by giving me such a recognition."

Maha Vishnu smiled at her, "Is that all your problem?"

Maha Lakshmi looked at him from the corner of her eyes, "Why? You are so bothered about it?"

Maha Vishnu got serious. He took her hands in his. Looking at them in a thoughtful mood he said," In the Kali Yuga, the Britishers will spread their rule far and wide. Not knowing how to defeat them all weapons will fail. At that time of darkness, I will be born in Porbhandar of Gujarath as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Having firm conviction in The Supreme Truth, preaching non- violence as the virtue and civil-disobedience as the strategy, I will lead the country to freedom. I will show the world a way out of madness. The world will know a new way. The way of peace, love and harmony."

"And coming to your grievance" The Lord continued, "The Indians, after establishing their own rule will issue Rupee notes with my face on it. By which, people will know that I too reside in your heart!"

Now you may want to ask me about how I got to know this.

Today I sat in meditation. My kundalini arose slowly and steadily. It moved from my lower chakras to the higher ones and finally entered the Sahasrara. At that blissful moment my third eyes opened and I could watch this delightful scene that happened in Vaikuntham a few hundred years ago.

Okay, Okay... Stop searching for something to throw at me. My Hands up! I Accept! The above story is a fiction weaved from my imagination.

But the message that underlies is something that I have always felt from the bottom of my heart.

When I contemplate on Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, Mahathma Gandhi and Swami Ramakrishna paramahamsa, it is the same joy that my heart seeps out. These four draw the same admiration from my brain and the same devotion from my heart.

Krishna had given us a promise in The Gita. Mahathma Gandhi is the proof that Krishna will always keep up his words!

Below is the proof that it is not just Mother Lakshmi who lives in the heart of Vishnu but it is also Vishnu who lives in the heart of Mother Lakshmi.


HAPPY GANDHI JAYANTHI.

To read the article I posted for lasts year's Gandhi Jayanthi, click here.
To read my Tamil poem on The Mahathma, click here.

22 comments:

  1. Awwwww
    Hats off to you anna :-) This post definitely needs a standing oavtion!!!

    It's Spellbinding!!! Immensly enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek conversations between Mahavishnu and Lakshmi Thaayar :-)) This is imagination at its best! I never could have thought and written such a great tribute to our Mahatma Gandhi! My joy is overbound!!!!

    This is one of best tributes written ever!

    Am so proud of you anna :-) Thanks a ton for this post.

    Happy Gandhi Jayanthi!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. And if I was the first to have commented here...then I am honoured :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mani thanks a bunch.:)

    I know ur love for our Mahathma and Hence, I know u would love this.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Very nice imagination.Beautiful.
    This story shows how much you love & respect Gandiji.

    ''Maha Vishnu thought unto Himself, 'It's long since I had been a kid in Gokul. Forgot the art of slipping away without getting caught.''
    It made me smile...:) :) :)

    1.''Maha Vishnu, like all husbands, not knowing what was in store for him gathered much courage...''
    2."Nothing" (Like all wives)

    Aha....May I know how do you know about ALL husbands & ALL wives?
    You are blaming all women & you are supporting men.
    Atleast you should have told 'like most husbands & most wives'.

    Anyway I enjoyed this story very much.While I was reading your kundalini matter I paused as I suspected for a moment whether I am reading your blog.So I looked at blog's name & made sure.
    To be honest I didn't search for anything to throw at you.I just searched blog's name & made sure.:)

    Happy Gandhi jayanthy!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for the comment Niru and those three smiles.:)

    I don't blame women. In fact I am in awe and admiration for them for making their husbands shiver, even if the husband may be Lord Vishnu Himself,just by a meaningful and yet innocent looking glance.

    Yeah, I know u would enjoy this. As a girl u got to enjoy the moments when Mahalakshmi sets her Husband in a fix and gets things done.
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Happy Gandhi Jayanthi to you and all the readers, Ramesh..

    I enjoyed reading your story. You are ready to start an exclusive blog full of stories like our favourite blog of KP Sir..

    Although I am also a great admirer of M Gandhiji, I feel it is a little preposterous to think of it as an Avathar. For despite his innumerable virtues, he was not flawless. He was very much human despite his greatness...

    Thanks for a wonderful post on this occassion of the birthday of one of the best sons of Mother India...

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for your comment Vish.

    :) I don't have any idea of starting any idea for stories exclusively. I can't post as consistent as KP sir.

    Opinion differs Vish.

    Accepting Mahathma as an incarnation or not depends on one's understanding of what an incarnation of God is.

    And also upon one's understanding of The Gita.

    Considering two statments of Krishna I certainly beleive that Mahathma is an incarnation.

    One is the statement given at the beginning of the post.

    Two, there is a chapter in The Gita where Krishna enumerates to Arjuna his various forms of expression.

    Krishna goes on to say that he is the Sun in the Day, Moon at Night, Lion in the Jungle and so on...

    (i have given in my own words)

    The significance of that chapter is to tell us that Krishna is not just some where far away but in and around us in various forms.

    Going by that chapter, If Krishna says the Gita now, I am sure he will say,"Among all those who fought against the British. I am Mohan Das Karamchand Gandhi."

    The problem with many devotees is that they keep God in the temples, books, in the stories and in Vaikuntha and Kailasha which is too far away from us and dont look for God in the neighbourhood.

    But I look for him everywhere. Near my place, near my time.

    I can see that he has expressed himself at various levels at various times. U may not accept this, but in my vision, I see even Fidel Castro as an expression of Krishna.

    When a situation arises and it cannot be handled by orninary men, an avathar arises and does the extra-ordinary. Thats my definition of an Avathar. That's what Mahathma did.


    About flaws. Being flawless is not the criteria for an Avathar.

    Vishnu himself has flawed, accumulated sin and washed it off in the next avathars.

    Talking about the flaws of Mahathma Gandhi is an heartless act.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I don't mean to say you are talking about Mahathma's flaws. I can understand what you say and also that u respect Mahathma. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Good detailed explanation, Ramesh.. thank you..

    I accept that God is all around us.. For the eveolved being, God is present in every object - living or innate.. A truly wise man sees God in a temple, in a graveyard, in an elephant, lion or in a dog or a swine, in a prince, a King or in a slave or in a stone etc... And, in that sense, I agree that God was present in Gandhiji in ample measure..

    I see that you have reached that stage where you see God in everything.. That is wonderful..

    At the same time, I will be choosy about whom I call as Avathar. There have been many saints and seers who were great devotees and had great prowess.. Every great person cannot be called Avathar (in my humble view).

    I will call this as a classical debate between Advait and Dvait philosophies... Both views are correct but both can be contested..

    cheers

    ReplyDelete
  10. Truly a wonderful write. I just couldn't believe it's just an imagination. Sounded like real. You are very creative and imaginative.Write more.
    Everyone has different views and perception. I respect and appreciate that.Thank you for sharing this wonderful piece of write on this special day.Take care.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Dear Venus,

    Thank you very much. When ever I used to take count money I used to get this feel. When I carry money in my pocket I feel happy because I am carrying Ganhiji along with me.

    Also it is true that though Mahalakshmi as the one who resides in Vishnu's heart. It is never known as Vishnu who recides in Mahalakshmi's heart. He is known as the one who resides in everybody's heart.

    Also the feel when I get while contemplating on Gandhiji, I get the same feel when I contemplate on Lord Rama.

    I put all these thoughts together and this story took form. :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Dear Vish,

    The intention of this article is not to make every one accept that Mahathma is an incarnation of Vishnu.
    I know that is not possible.

    This is an outcome of a few thoughts that arose in me, I linked together. And also the feel I got when I contemplate on Gandhiji.(pls refer to the previous comment)

    ----------------------------------

    Talking about ur reply to my explanation. I think you have mis understood me.

    I am not talking Adwaitam here.

    I did not quote the verses when Krishna says that he is in everybody and a devotee has to see him in The Brahmin, The Low caste, the living , the dead, the dog and the dog-eater all alike.

    I quoted the chapter when he says he is Lion among all animals.

    Though he is the one who lives in all animals. Why did he Highlight, the Lion?

    Because it has some extra-ordinary good admirable qualities which no other animal possesses. It stands apart from the rest of the animals in many ways.

    Mahathma possessed qualities which no other man has possessed in the History of mankind. He was special and unique created for a particular purpose.

    The challenge he was given was equally tough to the ones Lord Rama and Lord Krishna too up.

    They fought with weapons but he was born to fight without weapons which needed more courage. In that perspective I would dare to say he has excelled them.

    In Tamil there is a saying, when the Lion leaps 8 feet. The cub leaps 16 feet.

    I think that's what Mahathma did with reference to Rama and Krishna.

    Even I wouldn't say all great men are incarnations of God.

    Mahathma seems to be an Himalaya among all mountains. :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. ahhhh!! such a nice and refreshing post i had here from you!! it just made my day!! the ending of the story was funny and such meaningful words here!!! woowwww! m impressed soo much b this blog!!!

    keep blogging!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Parv,
    Thank you very much. Your comments have become very special to me. I feel greatly encouraged.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wonderful Shri,it is priceless....always keep the good work...Jai Shri Ram

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Prasad,

    Thank you very much!

    :)

    Jai Shri Ram

    ReplyDelete
  17. You should get 10 points for incredible imagination.

    Yes, while the story itself may not be true, it is a worthwhile tribute to Bapu!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great post. Came across it while looking for pictures of Vishnu and Lakshmi. <3 Love the Love.

    ReplyDelete