Swami's Rama katha rasa vahini

May 9, 2006

My Most loving brothers and sisters,

Some one said once " For qualifying to sing a Rama bhajan, one has to read Swami's first hand version of Rama, "Rama Katha Rasa vahini"

One has to read this vahini, to understand the depth of the above statement. In fact, all devotees must read this book penned by our beloved SAI RAMA.

Upanishads, Bhagwad Gita, Asahtavakra gita have a straight purpose without any deviation, any twists and turns. But the beauty of Ramakatha Rasavahini is that Swami, on one hand, has gone through the entire Rama story right from Rama'sa birth till the destruction of Ravana and restoration of Dharma and on the other hand, through every character, in every page, in every episode, Swami has brought about the essence of all scriptures, Bhagwad Gita,Upanishads !!. One has to open any page in this book and in the same page or surely within 2 pages, Swami would have given such profound philosophy and would have clearly given a message as to How one should be and what a human being should not be. That page would change one's life, if one REALLY WANTS A CHANGE AND IF THE LORD REALLY WILLS A CHANGE IN US.(Our efforts and His grace!!)

I would be recapitulating a few episodes/ lines from our Lord's biography in the coming weeks. To begin with, i have reproduced the episode when Rama wills to meet Sabari and does meet her while on His way in search of Mother Sita.

QUOTE

"Rama, the large-hearted lover of all, moved on from that spot, walking on foot, with his brother as sole companion. They soon came across an old woman - she had a stoop; her head could not be held erect; her eyesight had become dull; her hands were quivering, she was coming towards them, with a basket of fruits on her head! She saw the charming figures of the brothers and inferred that they were the two, who were described with excitement and delight by the rshis of the forest! Placing the basket on the ground, she stood on the track, whispering 'Rama' 'Rama' in reverence and thankfulness. Lakshmana guessed that this too was an impersonation by some wily Rakshasa to harm them. But, Rama knew that his guess was wrong; he proposed to sit under a near-by tree, the tree that was adjacent to the very hermitage where the old woman was residing.

Sabari the old woman noticed the lotus-petal-like eyes, the ringlets of hair on their foreheads, the long arms that reached down to the knees, and the dark-blue complexion of Rama. She could contain her ecstasy no longer; she could not surpress her adoration. She ran forward and fell at the feet of both. She asked, "Where are you coming from? What are your names?" Rama replied, smilingly and coolly: "Mother! We are coming from Ayodhya; we are residing in the forest; I am called Rama; this brother of mine is known as Lakshmana". At this, Sabari exclaimed, "Father! My long cherished desire has been fulfilled, I have been waiting for your arrival, day and night, and looking for you into the distance, until my eyes have become dull and insensitive. I have achieved success. My longing has had its result. My vigil and fasts have borne fruit. Ah! I have been rewarded! This is the result of my Guru's Grace; this is the mysterious working of God".

Sabari stood with folded hands before Rama and said, "Lord! I am of low caste; I am of untutored intellect, dull and stupid. I am not learned in any sacred art or text. I am lower than the lowest. How can I extol you or describe your glory? I have no skill in the use of words. I have not cultivated my Reason. Nor have I practiced austerities prescribed to gain insight into Divinity. I am on the lowest step in spiritual Sadhana. My only strength is my love for God. I have no other support or sustenance". She spoke of Rama's compassion, in accepting her offering. "Your grace is boundless", she said. Rama was listening to her words intensely. He lifted her chin and looked right into her eyes. He said, "Mother! Devotion is the thing I need; the rest are subsidiary. Other things like scholarship, intelligence, status, social prestige, caste, I do not pay any attention to them. They are of no value in my eyes. More than all the powers gained by spiritual disciplines and

austerities, I relish the sweetness of devotion saturated with love. I seek only that. A man who has no love in him is as barren as a cloud with no moisture, a tree with no fruits, or a cow yielding no milk; he is ever far from God and can never earn Grace. Sabari! Of the nine ways of evincing and cultivating devotion, I only desire that any one be followed consistently by man. But, I find you have followed to the very end all the nine ways. So, I do not see any one higher than you in spiritual attainment. I am indeed elated in all manner of ways, for, you have offered me devotion that is pure, steady, and self-less and which is Love springing from the heart and surging from it in all directions and towards all directions and towards all beings. You have not cast aspersions on any one, even while dreaming! That is what makes your mind so pure. Your mind does not blossom when 'good' comes to you; nor does it wither, when 'bad' comes. You are blessed in all ways".

Sabari drank in these words of counsel that Rama spoke to her. She said, "Rama! There is no path for the devotee other than doing one's best to please the Divine, is there? I do not crave for aught else. This day, my father, my God, the Lord of my life, the Lord of all the Worlds, the Lord of all Creation has appeared before me! How can I measure my good luck, O Lord of Janaki, of Sita the daughter of Janaka?" At this she remembered Sita, and the brothers, too, suddenly realized their plight. Rama told her, "Alas, Sabari, all this while you kept us happy, rid of anxiety, floating in joy; but, now, you have plunged us in grief". Sabari was struck with remorse; she raised her head in consternation and pleaded, "Lord! What is this you say? Pardon my indiscretion" and she fell at the feet of Rama.

UNQUOTE

How complete, how meaningful, What depth are there in the lines " Prema sagara Sairama" , " Bhaktha janara jeevana dhana ek rama naam", " Hey Deena Dayala Hare Sai ram Hare Hare", after one goes through the above episode once, twice,thrice, time and again, with one's heart soaked in Love and devotion for SRI SAI RAMA

Swami's Sathya.