China Katha from Swami (Vishvamitra & Vashista)

[Guest guest]

bold">This is the story narrated by Swami to show the importance of being

present in a congregation of sadhus and

emphasise the fact of the merits we have earned to have the dharshan, sambashan

& sparshan of the Divinity.

bold">In Swami’s words ………………

If the people

in the olden days had the opportunity of listening to the divine discourses and

sambhashana with God, they would not

have gone to the forests to do penance at all. In those days even eminent rishis

would invite other great rishis to give divine discourses. Maharishi Vasishtha

once had an

opportunity of such a satsanga

for one and a half galige (galige:

span of twenty four minutes) by being in Brahmaloka

for a moment. You are getting the benefits of

such satsanga here for four hours

every day (bhajan, darshan, upanyasa,

and so on). Your punya is,

therefore, immeasurable. But, do not feel proud about it.

bold">Once Brahmarishi Vasishtha and Rajarishi Vishvamitra invited some eminent

sages to give spiritual discourses. In that great gathering of rishis,

Vishvamitra gifted the punyaphala obtained by his dvadasha vrata to Vasishtha.

In return, Vasishtha offered to gift away a quarter

of the punyaphala obtained in Brahmaloka. Vishvamitra felt slighted

thinking that for his gift of the merits of twelve months' penance, Vasishtha

had given him only a negligible

measure of his punyaphala. With

that idea, he rejected Vasishtha's

offer. Vasishtha tried hard to

convince Vishvamitra of the

greatness of the punyaphala.

Finally, he turned to the rishis

and asked them to convince Vishvamitra.

They replied, "You are greater than all of us. We cannot advice you. It is

better if you can get a person greater than you to arbitrate." Sage Vasishtha told

italic">Vishvamitra to bring Surya,

Vayu, Agastya and Adishesha for

arbitration. During Girijakalyana,

when the entire entourage of Shiva

congregated on the northern side of Himalaya, the southern part rose. The devas then made

italic">Maharishi Agastya sit on the raised portion to counter the

imbalance. Such was his mahima.

Sage Vishvamitra left to get

them. When he requested Surya to

come, Surya said, "I cannot

leave my place and come with you. If I do, the entire world will be in

darkness. If you can take my place for sometime, I can go and give my

opinion." Vishvamitra could

not comply with the condition and returned. Vayu,

Agastya and Adishesha

also put similar conditions and he returned alone.

bold">Then, Vasishtha proceeded

to get them. He divided the one and a half galige

punyaphala into four equal parts. With the strength of these, he

substituted Surya by his sphatika japamala; his yogadanda took the place of Adishesha; his

italic">chamara took the place of Vayu

and his kamandala replaced Agastya. All the four of them accompanied Vasishtha.

Seeing them coming, Vishvamitra was highly surprised. He said,

"Brahmarishi, enough. Seeing

them come with you has made me realize your greatness. There is no need for arbitration,"

and prostrated before Vasishtha.

He prayed Vasishtha to bless him

by giving the quarter of the punyaphala.

Vasistha said, "Where is the punyaphala?

It was only by using that punyaphala,

I was able to bring the four of them here."

italic">Vishvamitra realized his mistake and regretted.

bold">Swami then continues ……………….

bold">With the punya of one and a

half galige, Vasishtha could do

so much. HERE, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO

SIT WITH ME IN BHAJAN AND LISTEN

TO DISCOURSES FOR HOURS. IS IT POSSIBLE TO MEASURE THE PUNYAPHALA YOU ARE ACCUMULATING? DO YOU

NOW REALISE HOW MUCH IMPORTANCE THE GATHERING OF HOLY MEN HAS? YOU ARE ENJOYING

THIS ONLY DUE TO PUNYAPHALA OF

MANY BIRTHS.

10.0pt;font-family:Arial">Sai Ram

10.0pt;font-family:Arial">

10.0pt;font-family:Arial">Shivathmika