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Sree Guru Charitra
Index
Chapter 18
Namadharaka said: “Swami, my mind which was at first buried deep
under the dense darkness of ignorance and illusion is now awakened
by the dawn of your teaching and as such, it is thirsting to know
ever more of the divine acts of Sree Guru and not content, however
much I have already listened to”.
Siddha was happy to hear this and replied: “My son, you are indeed
awakened. The very fact that your hunger and thirst to know more
of Sree Guru and his deeds show that divine grace has indeed
dawned on your heart. Now listen further:
Once there lived a Brahmin who was content with whatever he had.
He never dined at another’s house or expense. Such is the natural
tendency of the peaceful and of those devoted to the scrupulous
performance of their rites, both in the letter and spirit of the
holy writ, as their life-long vow. But his wife noticed that their
neighbors freely dined at others’ houses as holy guests at
religious ceremonies and accepted gifts of money and new clothes
given away by the hosts. She found fault with her husband for not
doing likewise and securing for her such a variety of possessions.
One day, a wealthy man invited this pair also along with several
others for a feast at his house. But as usual, this Brahmin would
not consent to attend the same. His wife, finding all her
persuasions in vain approached Sree Guru and complained to him of
her husband’s indifference to her wishes. Sree Guru tried his best
to explain her desirability of his vow, but she persisted. He then
summoned her husband and ordered: “Today, break your vow and take
your wife to the feast.” The Brahmin obeyed the Master’s word and
took his wife to the feast. When every one was feasting, the
housewife came to know that the food was polluted by a pig and she
at once complained of it to her husband. The pair was much
disgusted and later complained to Sree Guru. He said to the
housewife: ‘Have you realized the wish of eating another’s food?’
She apologized for her folly. He then exhorted her that it is
always good for her to be guided by him in all matters. The
Brahmin was wild with her and yelled, ‘It is owing to the stupid
obstinacy of this wicked woman that my vow had to be broken, and
with such a consequence! I never committed such a vile error ever
since I was born’ and then he burst into tears.
Sree Guru comforted him saying, ‘My son, do not fear. No sin or
blame accrues to you on this account; on the other hand, your wife
has learned a lesson from it and her attitude in that matter is
permanently corrected and she will never repeat her folly.
Besides, when any pious householders’ ceremonies are to suffer
owing to non-availability of a Brahmin or a priest, you should
help him by accepting his invitation for lunch’.
‘Then Sir, tell me whose food could be accepted and whose food is
forbidden’, said the Brahmin. The Master replied: ‘Pious Brahmins,
those well versed in the Vedas, the teachers, one’s own kith and
kin, one’s disciples, maternal uncle – one can properly take food
from them. The food that is offered by one who is on the ritual
bow of performing a Yagna, or one of who is dedicated to
the contemplation of Brahman, or the food that is left over after
the offerings at a Yagna – such food is by far the holiest.
Food cooked exclusively for one’s own self is unworthy. One who is
not given to righteous living, one who undertakes the duties that,
as per the religious law, belong to a person of another caste or
stage of life, the man given to rancor, the impure man, impure
food and those who are bent on harassing their kinsfolk – food
should never be accepted from any of these. By constantly eating
at another’s expense, one exchanges one’s own religious merit for
the host’s sins and demerit. Another’s food accepted on the holy
day of full moon will destroy all the religious merit that accrues
from months of righteous living. Eating in the company of those
who are forbidden, or eating without the proper consecration by
the chanting of the related prayers, constitutes sin. The meal
cooked by even one’s own daughter could be eaten only after the
latter is married and is blessed with offspring. One should accept
food or money from persons of noble nature and a noble way of
living, and even that, only on auspicious occasions like eclipses,
and in holy places. Articles and materials of use that are
forbidden should never be accepted or received. If, under any
inescapable situation, one were to transgress the ancient code in
any manner, one can purify oneself by performing japa of
the Gayatri Mantra. Those noble ones who take particular care of
those who are in dire misery in giving away gifts would never
suffer from want, debt or disease. Those who neglect their holy
duties, those who are fond of tasks that legitimately belong to
others, would come to grief even in this life. Hence, adhere to
your religious law with all reverence and faith in it. But
remember that faith in Lord is the bedrock of all righteousness”.
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