‘’Father, Forgive Them For They Know Not What They Are Doing’’

When the forces of darkness were nailing you on the cross, Jesus Lord, each nail piercing through your body, blood spilling out of your body, even in that acute pain, you said ‘’Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing’’. These words born out of acute pain and ultimate sacrifice acquired spiritual powers. You shed your blood to absolve the sins of others. The blood spilled from your body became the central theme of service to fellow travellers in life and showed the mankind a new path and a new purpose. This path is the path of purpose and service to the mankind. Service is an approach to human development.

Lord, you were born to a virgin, holy and blameless. When you were born on this day, that is 25^th December, seven Rishis (monks) from India followed a bright star which led to your place of birth. Those Rishis knew that a great soul was being born.

Jesus Lord, we lesser mortals keep drifting form the path shown by great souls. Buddha came back to the Earth in your form to teach us how to love humanity. Again you came back to earth in the form of Mahatma Gandhi whose path was truthfulness. Service, love for humanity and truthfulness together showed that the great souls think alike and they are one and the same in different forms. Krishna in Bhagavad-Gita said ‘’Sambhavami Yuge Yuge’’ that is I keep coming back to Earth again and again whenever there is turmoil on Earth.

Jesus lord, we lesser mortals have again drifted alarmingly. We dropped atom bombs on two cities, Nagasaki and Hiroshima, killing thousands of innocent people and we keep killing innocent people in the name of religion. Our sheer greed has made this Earth warmer and warmer. Man has advanced beyond imaginations. We have landed on moon and mars. Sadly, Jesus Lord, man is yet to learn the art of living on earth. At this time of conflict and turmoil we need you to put us on the right track.

Amidst the tragedy, conflict and agony we still hear your voice pleading with the father on our behalf. ‘’Father, Forgive Them For They Know Not What They Are Doing’’.  Your voice has given a new hope to mankind which makes our heart beat with joy and goads us to share the joy and wish the mankind-

‘’Merry Christmas’’!

Conqueror of Yamadharma Raja: Sati Savitri

Can we bring the dead back to life?  Yes, this unattainable feat was accomplished by a spiritual lady Savitri, who became popular as Sati Savitri. She brought back her dead husband Satyavan back to life through her sheer spiritual powers. This is an interesting and inspiring story told in our Hindu Purana.

Read on....

This happened long, long ago. Savitri was the daughter of the king Ashwapati and his wife Malawi. They didn’t have  offspring for a long time. They prayed and worshipped Goddess Savitri. The Goddess blessed the king with a radiant daughter. They named their daughter after Goddess Savitri. Savitri grew up. When she was travelling round the kingdom she saw an old couple under a tree and she saw a young man absorbed in work. He was offering fruits to his old parents.

The young man was Satyavan and his father was Dyumanathasena who was once the King of Salvadesha. He lost both his eyesight. The enemies easily defeated him. He lost his kingdom and came to the forest. When Savitri saw the bright young man, she fell in love with him and she expressed her desire to marry Satyavan. At that very time Narada  arrived there. After learning Savitri’s desire to marry Satyavan, he said Satyavan was a mine of virtues but the fate is against him. He has a short life. His life comes to an end exactly after a year. But Savitri was adamant. Despite this shortcoming, Savitri’s father agreed to the marriage and the marriage took place.

Savitri went to the forest and lived with her husband but she couldn’t forget Narada muni’s words. As days and months flew, she grew more and more terrified. After eleven months paused Savitri spent the remaining days in religious rites of the most rigorous kinds. She worshipped Goddess Savitri and begged her to protect her husband.

The last day of the year came. Satyavan’s death was round the corner. As usual Satyavan went to fetch the wood. Savitri too went with him. Suddenly Satyavan perspired. His head ached. Savitri took her husband’s head on her lap.

Then there appeared a dark mighty figure near the feet of Satyavan. Yamadharma Raja, the God of death is not visible to the ordinary eyes. Savitri was deeply devoted and had performed many religious rites. This enabled Savitri to see Yamadharma Raja.

Yama took Satyavan’s life and started moving towards the south. Savitri followed Yama. Yama knowing that Savitri could see him because of her spiritual powers was happy but asked her to turn back. Savitri said that if anyone walks seven steps with a person, that person becomes a friend. Hence she says that he was her friend and wanted to speak to him. Elders say that Dharma was greater than anything else and she said that it was her dharma to be with her husband. Yama was pleased to hear this. He gave her a boon and asked her to ask for anything except Satyavan’s life.

Savitri asked Yama to restore her father-in-law’s eyesight. Yama said yes and asked Savitri to turn back. Savitri said according to elders a single meeting with a good person makes him a lifelong friend. Therefore she wanted to keep company with Yama. He was happy about her maturity. He gave her another boon. Savitri asked for her father-in-law’s kingdom to be restored.  Yama said yes to that also.

“Oh! The lord of righteousness one should not deceive anyone in their thought, word or deed. Instead one should help others”. Yama was extremely happy and gave her another boon. Savitri said “I pray that Satyavan and I may have children who are strong and bring fame to their dynasty”. Instantly Yama said yes. Savitri said “may your boon be followed in a righteous way.” So I pray that my husband may come back to life. Here Yamadharma Raja was defeated and gave back her husband’s life. 

Human Thunderbolt: Abhimanyu

He was a boy, barely sixteen years old, yet his prowess made the Kauravas tremble in the Kurukshetra war. He was Abhimanyu. Abhimanyu was Krishna’s nephew, son of Subhadra and Arjuna. He became the sheet-anchor of the Pandavas. He was pitted against the mightiest in the Kauravas rank in the war. Mighty heroes among the Kauravas had to flee. The enemies that is the Kauravas had to kill Abhimanyu by unfair means.

There are several skills and secrets of war. Various formations of army like Makarvyuha and the Chakravyuha. The use of different types of missiles and weapons and the ways of crushing the enemy are the details of war Krishna was telling Subhadra when she was pregnant. Krishna came to Hastinapur to take his sister Subhadra to Dwarka. It was a long journey and Krishna told Subhadra the secrets of winning a war. Krishna explained how to break and enter Chakravyuha. At that time went to sleep. Again it was one of fate’s ploy. The child in Subhadra’s womb heard the story. He learnt how to break and enter Chakravyuha. But coming out of Chakravyuha wasn’t told by Krishna as at that time his sister was sleeping. A few days later Abhimanyu was born. The name means a person who always defends his honour. After a few months Krishna took his sister and nephew to Hastinapur. The boy grew up as everybody’s darling.

After completing twelve years of life in forest and one year of life in incognito, the Pandavas asked Duryodhana to give back their kingdom as per their agreement, Duryodhana refused to give even five villages. Hence the war between them became inevitable. The Kurukshetra war began and it was the fiercest war. It was the ninth day of war. Abhimanyu showered thousands of arrows on the enemies. The mighty Alambusa and Abhimanyu fought a terrible battle. Alambusa created darkness with his magical power. Abhimanyu swept off the darkness with his suryaastra. Alambusa ran away. On the eleventh day of the Kurukshetra Abhimanyu again shook the Kaurava army.

The kauravas were worried. Dronacharya arranged the Kaurava army in the pattern called Chakravyuha. To piece this vyuha and go inside and fight the enemy was very difficult. And it was equally difficult to come out of Chakravyuha. Only Krishna and Arjuna knew how to come out of the Chakravyuha. Abhimanyu knew only how to enter the Chakravyuha. The Pandava army was in distress. Hence Abhimanyu said ’I’ll get into Chakravyuha.’ His charioteer drove forward. Abhimanyu, like a lion fell on the brave men of Kauravas. Abhimanyu entered the Chakravyuha and fought vigorously. Karna and others encircled Abhimanyu and rained arrows on him from all sides. Abhimanyu’s bow was broken. Still Abhimanyu fought the enemy with his sword. The brave boy was standing on the ground. He was tired as he had fought all through the day and at that time Dushasana’s son hit Abhimanyu with his maize and Abhimanyu fell down.

The valorous Abhimanyu’s spirit still lives on.