The Envious Devotee
In an earlier Kali Yuga, there lived a Shudra who was naturally jealous and highly egotistic. Despite his flaws, he was a devotee of Lord Shiva but envious of Lord Vishnu. He worshipped according to his whims and traveled from place to place searching for a guru who would give him the “Shiva mantra.” Due to his inherent envy, he could not approach any guru humbly.
The Compassionate Brahmana
Eventually, the Shudra met a humble and caring Brahmana who was a devoted Vaishnava. Despite knowing the Shudra’s envious nature, the Brahmana saw only the good in him and always tried to uplift him spiritually. One day, the Brahmana gave the Shudra the “Shiva mantra” as he desired and advised him about the greatness of Lord Narayana, but to no avail.
The Shudra’s Hatred and Lord Shiva’s Wrath
The Shudra continued chanting the Shiva mantra, but his hatred towards his guru only grew. One day, while the Shudra was meditating in a Shiva temple, his guru visited. The Shudra, pretending to be in deep meditation, ignored his guru. Lord Shiva, unable to tolerate this insult to a pure Vaishnava, appeared with eyes burning like fire, ready to kill the Shudra.
Guru’s Plea for Mercy
The compassionate guru immediately fell at Lord Shiva’s feet, pleading for the Shudra’s forgiveness and offering his own head in exchange. Moved by the guru’s prayers, Lord Shiva cooled down but cursed the Shudra to become a python and take 1000 births in lower species. However, due to the guru’s plea, Lord Shiva blessed the Shudra, saying he would feel no pain during his births and deaths and would eventually be born as a Brahmana to attain pure devotion to Lord Rama.
The Path to Redemption
The Shudra, now a python, changed his form through 1000 births without pain and was finally born in a Brahmana family. Losing his parents early, he wandered in search of Lord Rama’s mantra. After much struggle and a curse that transformed him into a crow, he met a rishi who eventually gave him the Ram mantra. The crow, Kak Bhusundi, was granted the vision of Lord Rama and received the boon of eternal bhakti.
Immortality and Eternal Bhakti
Lord Rama, pleased with Kak Bhusundi’s devotion, made him immortal. Kak Bhusundi remains at Manasarovar, constantly chanting the glories of Lord Rama. Even Sri Garuda comes to hear his rendition of Ramayana.
Moral of the Story
This story illustrates the transformative power of a pure Vaishnava’s mercy. Despite the Shudra’s unworthy actions, his guru’s compassion and prayers led to his ultimate redemption and eternal service to Lord Rama. It highlights the unparalleled mercy of a true guru who can uplift even the most fallen souls.
The story also emphasizes the value of true devotion and the importance of respecting and following the guidance of a spiritual master. The following verse encapsulates the essence of a guru’s grace:
“mukham karoti vacalam pangum langayate girim yat kripa tamaham vande sri gurum deena taarinam paramaananda madhavam”
“By the mercy of the all-blissful Lord Madhava and the Spiritual Master, even a dumb can speak eloquent poetic verses and a lame can climb mountains.”
A guru’s heart is softer than butter, melting with compassion without needing any heat. This is the true nature of a Vaishnava’s mercy.
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
PS: I humbly request all devotees to forward and share this moral/instructive story so that everyone can benefit by hearing about Krishna and His dear devotees.
