God's Blessings : Story of squirrel - why they have stripes

Always count on God's blessings. Feel the things which he has given us. Try to move forward. It is we who are delaying, hesitating to go near him, there is no delay on God's part. He is always there. There is no limit to his bhandhar, he has opened up so much treasure for us. There is no end to his kindness. Whatever mistakes are there, are our own creations. We have not fully surrendered to him.

The meaning of Bhakti is to feel and memorise his blessings which have been showered on us. Just leave your pooja, daily rituals and sit peacefully in one corner, close your eyes and honestly think what all he has given us and our we worth it. We just grumble and compare ourselves with others. Feel jealous and hate each other. That is the reason of our unhappiness.

There is story of a squirrel(Gilahari). Once when all the Vaanar of Hanuman's vanaar sena was busy making samundra setu, they were breaking huge mountains and trees to make setu, a small squirrel was taking dip in the water, rolling on the sand, collecting whatever sand she could with her body and keeping it on the setu.

When Hanumanji suddenly noticed this he got very amused. He told the squirrel "Ari, O, gillahari, what are doing? How can a setu be made like this? Any vaanar can stamp you, they are so huge, you can come under their leg. Please take one side".

Squirrel said "see, Hanuman everybody has its own strength and capacity to do service(seva) to Lord Rama. I will do service within my capacity and range, you do your part of service. You don't become a barrier in my part of service". Hearing this Hanumanji pulled her tail with his leg. She forcefully pulled it out and her tail became long. She felt severe pain. When Hanumanji turned back to see, he saw the squirrel has reached Lord Rama's darbaar.

She complained to Lord Rama about Hanumanji's remark and behaviour. Lord Rama politely made her sit on his lap and with mild tears in his eyes started rubbing the wounds on her tail and trying to soothe her. We can still see the stripes on squirrel's tail, they are Lord Rama's finger prints. Then she told him that your loving bhakt Hanuman is not allowing me to help them to make setu. He is putting hurdles in my seva and pulled my tail.

Lord Rama ordered Laxman, his brother, to call Hanuman in my Darbaar. When Hanuman entered and saw the squirrel in Lords lap, he smiled and thought Oh, she has reached to the higher authority. Lord asked squirrel what punishment to give Hanuman. She immediately said that now you pull his tail the same way as he had pulled mine.
Hanuman felt very happy and said what a punishment. If everyday Lord Rama puts his leg on my tail, I shall be very thankful. It will be great honour. Then everyday I am going to stamp your tail to get such a punishment.

This is Hanuman's immense bhakti and the kindness Lord showers on us. A small squireel gets such importance then why are we lagging behind. We have no confidence and trust in God. We have no patience and believe in his justice. He is there, always there. Just feel and experience him from within.