I am God. A story by Swami

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Light and Love

 

About 400 years ago, there was a man by name Mansur in the city of Benaras.

By virtue of his good inherited tendencies and his preceptor's teachings, he

had developed firm faith in the Vedhic dictum: "Aham Brahmaasmi" (I am God).

When people heard him always repeating this aphorism, they questioned him

whether he was really God. He used to emphatically tell them thrice, "Yes, I am

God." In course of time, he became the target of envy and hatred among the

prominent men in Benaras, including Vedhic scholars and heads of religious

institutions. They went to the King of Benaras and complained against Mansur,

saying that he had no knowledge of Sanskrith or scriptures but was going about

shouting, "I am God," thereby insulting eminent scholars and pandiths.

The King summoned Mansur to his court and asked him, "Who are you?" Promptly

came the reply, "I am God." The King got him examined by medical experts and

found that he was not insane. Then the King advised him to give up saying "I am

God," in view of the complaints from scholars. Mansur firmly refused to obey the

King's command and declared that he would sooner give up his life than forswear

his unshakable faith and firm conviction in his oneness with the Divine.

He questioned the King boldly, "Why do you want me to give up truth? The

truth is: I am God; you are God; everyone is God." As he did not change his

attitude despite all kinds of persuasions and threats, the King ordered that

his hands should be cut off for the offence of disobeying the King. As the

King's minions held Mansur tightly and raised their gleaming swords to cut off

his hands, Mansur went on boldly shouting aloud: "Aham Brahmaasmi" unceasingly

and smilingly. After severing both his hands, the executioners went to the King

and reported that Mansur was fearlessly and smilingly repeating his declaration

even after his hands had been cut off and he was bleeding profusely.

The King went to the scene of Mansur's ordeal and found that the place was

reverberating with the sacred sound of "Aham Brahmaasmi" coming unceasingly

from the tongue of the smiling Mansur as well as from the blood flowing

profusely on the ground from his hands. In a short while, Mansur fell down dead

with a smiling and calm face and "Aham Brahmaasmi" on his lips.

The King was deeply moved and he prostrated at the feet of Mansur. He sent

for the scholars, priests, pandiths and heads of religious institutions who had

complained against the saintly Mansur. On their arrival, he reprimanded them

saying, "What is the use of your book learning? You could not recognise or

understand the greatness of Mansur. He was a man who established unity in

thought, word and deed. You don't practise what you read and teach. You are all

a pack of conceited, book-worms, envious of truly great persons. Misled by your

complaints, I have committed the sin of virtually murdering such a saintly

person. However, he has become a martyr in upholding the highest truth of "Aham

Brahmaasmi." In order to teach you a lesson and to provide a source of

inspiration to you and your progeny, I am building a memorial for Mansur in

your Agrahaaram itself." (Excerpts-compilation from, Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol.

26. "The martyrdom of Mansur," Chapter 12).

Namaste - Reet