Spiritual Stories by Ramana

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DELIVERANCE OF A THORN BUSH

 

One of the devotees who had heard of the verses written by Bhagavan

about the deliverance of Lakshmi, the cow, approached Him and

said, " Swami, we ourselves see that animals and birds are getting

deliverance in your presence; but is it not true that only human

beings can get moksha? " " Why? It is stated that a great saint gave

moksha to a thorn bush, " said Bhagavan with a smile. The devotee

eagerly asked who that great saint was and what was the story about

the thorn bush.

 

IN CHIDAMBARAM, THERE was a jnani by the name of Umapathi Sivacharya.

He was a poet and also a pandit. As he was in a transcendental state

of spirituality (athita sthithi), he did not pay much attention to

the usual brahminical practices. Hence, the dikshitars of the place

became angry with him, especially since he was a learned man and knew

all the precepts of the Hindu religion. They forbade him from living

in the village or even visiting the temple. He therefore lived in a

small hut built on a raised ground outside the village.

 

A low caste man called Pethan Samban used to supply him with all that

he required and also helped him in a general way. As things went on

like this, one day, when Pethan was carrying on his head a bundle of

firewood to the hut, Iswara Himself met him on the way in the guise

of the dikshitar in charge of the temple. He wrote a verse on a

palmyra leaf and gave it to him, telling him that it was to be handed

over to Umapathi Sivacharya, and then disappeared.

 

Pethan gave that verse to Sivacharya, who, on opening it, found in

the first line itself the words, " Adiyarkkadiyen Chitrambalavanan "

(the servant of the devotees, the Lord of Chidambaram). Immediately,

he was overwhelmed with devotion and a thrill passed through his body

as he read the letter. The gist of the verse was, " A note from

Chidambaranathan, the servant of the devotees, to the person who has

set up a new establishment, namely Sivacharya. It is your duty to give

initiation to this Pethan Samban regardless of caste and to the

surprise of all people. "

 

He read the letter and was overwhelmed with joy. In obedience to the

orders of the Lord, he initiated Pethan into the order of sannyasa,

though he belonged to the lowest caste. In due course he gave nayana

diksha (transmission of Power through the eyes) to Pethan,

immediately after which Pethan merged into holy light. Sivacharya

himself was immensely surprised at this occurrence and only then

understood the wisdom of Pethan.

 

Enemies of Sivacharya noticed the sacrificial offerings and other

things he had for this initiation. They complained to the king that

Sivacharya had burnt Pethan to death for some mistake, he might have

committed. When the king came there with his retinue to enquire into

the complaint, Sivacharya showed the verse of Lord Nataraja and said

that he gave initiation to Pethan and that Pethan vanished thereafter

in the form of a divine light (jyoti). The king was surprised and

asked Sivacharya if he could likewise give initiation and moksha to

the thorn bush nearby. " Yes. What doubt, is there? " said Sivacharya.

 

Accordingly he gave nayana diksha to that thorn bush and that too

immediately disappeared in pure light (jyoti). The king was still

more astonished at that and said, " This looks like some black magic.

You said this note had been written by Lord Nataraja. Let us go and

ask Him. " Sivacharya pointed out that there was a ban on his entering

the temple.

 

The king said that would not matter as he himself was accompanying

Sivacharya. Accordingly they started for the temple together. Hearing

all this, all the people – the pundits, the common people curious

about the whole thing and enemies of Sivacharya who were sure he

would be duly punished – flocked to the temple to see the strange

sight. The two entered the temple. Out of regard for the king, when

Arathi (waving of lights) was offered to Lord Nataraja, it was found

that on either side of the Lord there stood Pethan and the thorn

bush. The pundits were surprised and out of fear and remorse, fell at

the feet of Sivacharya requesting him to pardon them for all their

faults. They subsequently brought him back into the village with due

honours.