MOTHER'S BLESSING

[Guest guest]

MOTHER’S BLESSING

"He had to suffer for what he did" –Sri Sai Satcharitra, Ch. XXIV.

Bidhi-mata had two sons – the Sun and the Moon. Like all mothers, Bidhi-mata

loved her sons more dearly than her won life. She put up with hundreds of

sufferings but saw to it that her sons didn’t have to suffer any discomfort,

any pain or hurt. If they went out of her sight even for a while, she would get

anxious; light went out of her life as it were. And as they appeared in front of

her, she was filled with joy.

Once, god almighty, the Creator of the Universe, asked Bidhi-mata if she had any

wish. She said she would like both her sons to become immortal, they should

never die. What else could a mother wish for?

They grew up. The Sun was hot-tempered; he couldn’t tolerate anyone telling him

to do something; he was quick to pick up a row and ever ready to annoy others.

He started irritating his mother also.

One day, his mother sent him to a feast. The Moon was not well that day. The sun

was expected to bring his mother’s and brother’s share of the feast also. While

returning from the feast, he got suddenly worked up – "Am I someone’s servant

to carry things for him or her?" Saying this he threw away the plate and

returned home very late, at a time when both his mother and brother had gone to

sleep on hungry stomach.

Now the Sun started behaving like this everyday – irritating his mother and

torturing his brother. The moon was cool-tempered and afraid of his brother,

unable to stand up to him. The moment the Sun appeared before him, he would

turn pale.

One day, the mother asked the Sun, "Son, it is very hot today and I’ve got

prickly heat on my back. Will you rub my back a little?"

The Sun said, "All right."

And he got hold of a prickly broom and scratched his mother’s back with it so

hard that her skin almost came off. The mother cried in pain but in the

meanwhile her back started bleeding.

Just then the Moon came in. He saw his mother’s condition and immediately

brought some ghee and applied it slowly and softly to his mother’s back. He

took a hand fan and fanned her with it. His mother felt some relief in the back

and also in her heart.

The mother cursed the Sun – "You’ll always continue to burn in the same way as

you made my back burn." And she blessed the Moon, "The way you’ve soothed me,

you’ll always remain cool and comforting, and you’ll change your form each

day."

They say that from that day, the Sun became extremely hot and the Moon cool,

soothing and comforting to one and all.

Even for a mother, there is a limit for tolerance. And parents’ curse or

blessing can mar or make children’s life.

Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya......

If you have plenty of wealth but not a generous heart – are you any better than

a beggar on the street?

He is truly happy who spends all he has in service of the surrounding world!

Life is short. Be swift to spend all you have in service of the less fortunate ones.

If you get the impulse to give – do not tarry! Give immediately! Who knows what may happen tomorrow?

You have not lived a perfect day, unless you have given something to someone who

will never be in a position to repay you.

Check out the new Front Page. www.