Two Bhakts - Sagun sakaar & Nirgun Nirakaar

Once Arjun asked Lord Krishna that you have two type of bhakts, sagun sakaar the one who believes in idols or statues of God and Nirgun Nirakaar is the one who believes that God is everywhere and in everybody, which is your favourite? It s like asking somebody which is your favourite eye, now what answer to give for that as both the eyes are equally precious.
It is like a mother who has two children. One is small three months old child and and another is 15-20 years old. If somebody requests the mother to give him any one of her child, keep only one with her. What would the mother do if the circumstances force her to do so? Firstly the mother will flatly refuse, but if due to certain reason she has to give her child to somebody she will say my both the sons are precious, I cannot stay without them. Both the sons will remain with me. But still somebody insists then she will say "The one who is sleeping in the swing(palna) cannot stay without me nor can I stay without him because he is just three months old. If he feels hungry and thirsty he would cry and call out his mother. For him everything is his mother because he can express only through crying. He cannot stay without me and I also cannot give him to anybody as I am not sure how will others take care of him. This child is like sagun sakaar upaasak.

Now the elder son who is 15 - 20 years old is matured enough. He can at least take care of his basic needs. He is educated and has some experience. He can at least stay without his mother. Mother is confident that this child of mine can face all odds of life and can find his way out. He knows how to keep in touch with me. He is Nirgun nirakaar upaasak. So the mother with a heavy heart would forcefully part with her elder son

Lord Krishna answered Arjun "The one who has surrendered his mind,his life, his soul and believes in sagun sakaar, he is very dear to me as I cannot stay without him nor can he stay without me. He talks to me through the idols in his house or temple But equally dear to me is the one who has attained knowledge and believes that I am everywhere like a Nirgun Nirakaar and has full faith in me and I have confidence in him."

The ultimate way to reach God is through your full faith and belief in him. It is not important how you pray or what religion you believe in. Most imprtant is your FAITH and TRUST

Gyandev and Namdev - Sagun Sakar and Nirgun Nirakaar Upasak

Gyandev once told Namdev that we are all going on a pilgrimage and you must join us. If you will not come, none of us will go. Please don't refuse. Namdev became silent, he did not know what to say. Then he told Gyandev that I will let you know after consulting my God. This is sagun sakaar upasana. Whenever we plan to go out we always say I will consult my friends, husband, relatives etc but we never say I will consult God. But Namdev used to strongly believe in God and each everything he used consult with God and then act.

Gyandev was a bhakt but Namdev was believer of statue or idol of God i.e. Sagun saakaar upasana. Gyandev believed that God is everywhere, he is not only in idols or statues but each and every nook and corner of this universe. When Namdev, Gyandev, Nivritinath, the three brothers and Muktabai, their sister reached Paithan, the Brahmins of Paithan said that by having the name Gyandev is not important, prove us. Our buffalo name is also Gyandev. Gyandev said " Yes! You said it right that there is no difference between this buffalo and me. She also has same atma like me." The Brahmin then hit the buffalo with a stick, the Brahmins could see the marks of stick on Gyandev's back. He said everywhere there is God. The Brahmins were surprised as Gyandev was believer of God as Nirgun Nirakaar.

Then amongst the crowd One Brahmin said we will only believe that God is everywhere and in everybody when you make this buffalo recite the Ved Mantra.. Gyandev politely kept his hand on the buffalo and the buffalo would repeat the Mantra that Gyandev would recite. He then did namaskar and took leave of the Brahmins.

But Namdev believed that God is only in statue to whim he prays and talks everyday. Gyandev then followed Namdev to see what is he doing. In padharpur Namdev starting crying bitterly like a child in front of Lord Pandurang and said that they are forcing me to go to pilgrimage but I don't want to leave you. He could see tears dripping from Pandurang's eyes also. Then Lord Pandurang handed over Namdev's hand to Gyaneshwar and "See Gyandev this Namu is very precious to me, I cannot stay with him. If you are taking him to the pilgrimage, you have to take care of him and I will wait for Namdev."

When they all left for pilgrimage, Namdev would not sleep and middle of the night he would wake and weep for his God. Gyandev used to always appreciate and would say your love of God is unique and would keep his hand on his back with love.

They went for their pilgrimage to different places and lastly they reached Kashi. They stayed in Gora Kumbhar house. He was the seniormost amongst them. He had a wand sort of thing with him. Then Muktabai, the sister of Gyandev asked him why has he kept this wand. He replied that with this he checks the pots to see which pot is strong and which is weak. Muktabai said that we are also like pots, why not test us also. Gora kumbhar picked up the wand and hit it on everybody's back to check how strongly they believed in God. Everybody took it lightly and remained quiet. But when he hit it on Namdev's back, he got angry and said that such great bhakts have come to you house as guests and you testing them by hitting. Everyone was silent.

After sometime Muktabai asked Gora Kumbhar that you did not tell us who is strong and weak amongst us. He said there is no need to tell as all of you are strong but only Namdev is weak. Muktabai asked what is the resaon for his being weak. Gorakumbhar replied that he does not have a Guru. He should have Guru to guide him. Namdev felt very ashamed. He said to himself that when God eats and drinks with my hand, he cries for me and I strongly believe and love him then where is the need to find a Guru, why should I make a Guru.

When Namdev returned back to Pandharpur, he wept bitterly in front of the idol of Lord Pandhrang. God hugged him and made him understand that when I took avtaar as a man, I too had to learn from a Guru, I also needed shelter and hands of Guru who would guide and help me to find the right path. You have to find a Guru, otherwise deep inside your heart the EGO within you will never allow you to learn more, will never make you open your inward eyes. Then Namdev calmed down and requested God to help him to find the right Guru. God then directed him to Visova Kshetra and told him him to make him your Guru.

Namdev went towards a hillside and saw Lord Shankar's temple. There he met Guru Visowa Kshetra, who was 100 years old. He saw that his both the legs on Lord Shankar's pindi. Namdev was grumbling to himself that such an old man has no respect for God, he does not realise that he has kept his leg on God's pindi. That minute Visowa Kshetra called out to Namdev and said "God has sent you to me. I am Visow Kshetra. My leg slipped and fell or Shankar's pindi, please pick up my legs and keep it somewhere else." When Namdev lifted his legs, he would find pindi coming out wherever he would put his legs. Visowa smiled and said now feel that Lord is everywhere, he is not only in the idol you pray to, but each and every bit of universe is his. Wherever you go, just think that God is everywhere and every bit of this universe.

Lord Narayan and his disciples

In Kanchi there is a temple of Lord Narayan. The priest of the temple is appointed by the King of the city. Once the king told the priest to leave the city as he was going to appoint another priest for this temple. This priest used to take care of an old Mahatma of the temple. He used to cook food, wash clothes, vessels etc and all possible care of that old Mahatma. The priest had no choice but to obey king's command. When the priest was to leave, he came and touched the feet of the old Mahatma and told him I am leaving the city as I have been ordered by the king to quit this job. The old Mahatma immediately got up and said "since you are leaving the city, what will I do over here, nobody can take better care of me than you, I will also come with you." Both of them got ready to leave the temple and the city.

When they were going, the Mahatama told the priest that it is our duty to inform Lord Narayan also before leaving. They then joined hands prayed to God Narayan and wanted to take leave from him. Then Narayan, who was sitting on the throne of sheshnag and mouth of sheshnag is like a chatra(shelter), he said if you both are leaving then what would I do over here. I will also join you. They all carried their belongings and Lord Narayan also packed up is sheshnag throne.

When Lord Narayan was about to leave, the entire city became dark, there was no sunlight. The king immediately came running and saw Lord Narayan, the old Mahatma and priest are going together, the king begged sorry from God and apologised for his mistake. He told God not to leave the city. The Lord replied"I always go behind my true bhakt, my disciple. I can't stay without them. If you really want me to stay back in this city then you must request the Mahatma and the priest to stay back. The king begged sorry form both of them and asked the pujari to continue serving the temple rituals.

The priest and the Mahatma kept their belongings back and Lord Narayan also unpacked his Sheshnag throne. In a hurry the sheshnag's mouth i.e. the face turned backwards i.e. on the reverse side. Till today the chatra is on the revere direction . If you visit Kanchi you will find that sheshnag throne in that temple has the face of sheshnag throne is on the reverse direction.

Story of King Vikramaditya

King Vlikramaditya very often used to disguise himself into ordinary man to check and understand the problems of the people of his kingdom. He was always ready to help anybody in need and would take personal care to see that people are happy. No one should be poor or hungry.

Once early morning he was riding on his horse towards a jungle. While returning it became evening time and the sun was setting. Later it became quite dark. On the way he saw a cow was mooing, sort of crying. He diverted his horse towards that direction. He came near a pond and saw the water had dried and cow was stuck in the wet sand. She was trying to come out, but could not. Then the king tied his horse with a tree. He tried to pull the cow out from that pond but all his efforts were in vain, nothing worked. Then a lion came over there to eat the cow, he saw many other wild animals trying to gherao the cow. Near the pond there was a peepal tree, a parrot was sitting on it. The parrot said " oh! King Vikramaditya this cow is anyway going to die, today or tomorrow, why don't you runaway from this jungle as your life is also at stake. These wild animal will not spare you. Why not save your life and leave the cow alone."

The King looked at the parrot and replied "Oh, the beautiful bird, why are you teaching me inhuman lesson. For oneself and for one's own family or community everybody sacrifices their lives but for others very few do. Why? My life and family life is precious, animals also want to live. Only you have the right to live, others also equally want to live. For them life is equally precious as is for us. I will try my best to save this cow." Full night he took care of the cow. Next day early morning before sunrise, he looked around he saw there was no lion, no wild animals, no parrot. He was surprised to see Devraj Indra, on to his right was Earth and to the left human religion. Devraj Indra had disguised himself as lion, Earth was disguised cow and human rights was the parrot. Indra was so impressed by King Vikramditya that he presented him with Kamdhenu cow.

God, the Almighty is not pleased only with puja, prayers, but he is pleased with those who surrender to him with full faith and work hard for mankind and humanity.

Surrender to God in full, not in bits

Once Swami Ramakrishna Paramhans was giving lectures(satsang) to his disciples. During that time a man, who was a rich businessman, entered the hall. He had five hundred golden coins in his purse and he was trying to attract people by making noise with the coins. Later he opened and handed over the purse to Swamiji. Swami Paramhans laughed and gave a faint smile. Now all those present there became inquisitive, they wanted to know what was in the purse. The businessman said "This a small gift for you, please accept it." Swamiji then replied " I accept anything, even your abuses or if anybody insults me, criticizes me , I accept that also as a gift. If anybody throws mud or dirt on me, cow dung etc.I accept it with smile, but Oh! you have offered me so many golden coins, why should I refuse this, I accept this also with grace.

Then Swami Paramhas asked that man that since these coins were closed in a purse, why did you open and gave it to me, if you really intend to give me this gift, you could have peacefully placed in front of me, where was the need to make a show of it. You have disturbed everybody, even my satsang got disturbed. Then the man apologised and begged sorry from Swamiji. Swamiji said "You have offered me five hundred golden coins,now you should not have any possessiveness or attachment towards them, from now on they belong to me. In front of entire public the man agreed that and said "these coins are now yours, swamiji, I have no attachment or any binding on them." Then swamiji immediately ordered him to throw these coins in Ganga river.

The man's hands and legs started shivering. He was thinking how could he throw five hundred golden coins in river, has swamiji gone mad. People say that swamiji is mad, now I totally believe in what people say about swamiji. The man was in a fix as he had already agreed that these coins do not belong to him , swamiji has full right over them. Swami Vivekanand was also sitting next to Swami Paramhans.

The man finally went towards the river to throw these coins in river Ganga and sat down at the edge of the river. When it became very long and the man did not return, Swami Paramhans told Narendra(Swami Vivekanand) to check what is the man doing near the river.

When Narendra went there, he saw the man was counting each and every coin and throwing them slowly with bitter heart in the river. He was sweating, then Narendra took the purse from his hand and threw all the coins in one instance. He then pulled his hand and brought him near Swami Ramakrishna. Swamuji then explained to him that when you have surrendered anything, surrender it with full heart. Since you said they are mine, it is now my look out what should I do with it. Now you canoot stake claim over it.

When we surrender or offer anything to God, we offer in full, not in bits. We don't offer our nose, or eyes, or hands etc. No the true worshiper will surrender everything in an instance. God does not want your money, your flowers or anything. Everything is his which we enjoy today. He has given us good brains to do research, think, judge, good body to enjoy the beautiful world. But what have done in return. God is pleased with us when we surrender everything to him. He will take care, you cannot stake claim to his belongings, it is temporary amanat. Take care of it as one day you have to forcefully return it to him. So why not willingly offer him and leave the rest to him. When a person dies his entire body dies, not in parts.

Pray to God everyday, Not for Last days?

This is a true story. There used to be a Mahatma in Haridwar who would visit his disciple's house once in six months. He would stay in their house for 10-15 days. The disciple's family members would respect him and would be at his service with due respect. The Mahatma had few books and told the family members to keep these books with them as he would come to their house after two months and collect it from them.

Two months passed by, one year went, there was no news of the Mahatma. Then after sometime another Mahatma, who was the friend of that Mahatma visited their house. They told him everything about him and asked him to when he will come to collect his books. The other Mahatma was surprised. He said that he passed away during kumbh mela, he is no more. The family then sympathized for his death and showed him the envelope covered with a cloth in which the books were kept. They requested him to keep the books with him. He then removed the cover and was shocked to see a small pale colour snake. The Mahatma kept the books down and told them to get something like chimta to hold the snake. He captured the snake in the chimta and opened the books. He saw inside one of books there were five golden coins in it. He took five coins in his hand and added one more to it. He promised in front of the snake that tomorrow with these coin we will offer lunch to Brahmins and family members. He sprinkled some holy water on the snake and within seconds the snake died.

Never make promises which you cannot fulfill. We leave everything for future and nobody knows what future holds for us. We normally say that I will do puja, attend satsang when I grow old. This is all old people job. Do your daily routine work but inside always think of him. There is no need to make show of it. Inside only you and your lord know everything. Let me enjoy now, but we don't know our life span. How can we make tall claims. Do not live for last days, live for present.