Thursday, December 1, 2011

Narasimha Saraswati Curing the chronic stomach ulcer of the Brahmin.

Narasimha Saraswati Curing the chronic stomach ulcer of the Brahmin.

Namadharak said to Siddha Yogi that, listening to the Guru's life story, he felt that it was like drinking nectar. He pleaded with Siddha not to stop the narration but to continue with it. He said, he was particularly eager to know any incident relating to Sri Narasimha Saraswati during his stay at holy Prayaga, and where he went thereafter. Siddha then continued his narration. Many more disciples flocked to Sri Narasimha Saraswati at Prayaga. Some of them were Bala Saraswati, Krishna Saraswati, Upendra Saraswati, Mashav Saraswati, Sadananda Saraswati, Dhyan Jyoti Saraswati, and also Sidhha himself. He was day in and dayout engaged in giving spiritual discourses and Upadesa to people and drawing them and guiding them on the Spiritual Path. Just as during infancy he changed a piece of iron into a block of gold, now he was transforming men of clay into spiritual gems. To the common people, he was preaching moral laws and religious disciplines. To Jijnasu, he was imparting Vedic wisdom. To Sadhakas, he was giving yogic instruction and guidance and spiritual enlightenment, He was himself as example to all. His life itself, in truth, was his message. His Darshan itself uplifted man ethically and spiritually.

It was nearly 36 years since Sri Narasimha Saraswati left his parental home and his parents were anxious and pining to see him. As per the promise he had made to them, he thought he should give them the joy of seeing him. He came to KaranjNagar along with his disciples. The joy of the parents knew no bounds. His mother now vividly remembered her previous life's incidents. How Sripada Sri Vallabha blessed her, taught her about the Shani Pradosh Puja, the performance of which found its fruition in her becoming he mother of Sri Narasimha Saraswati, who was none else but the incarnation of SriPada Sri Vallabha Deva. She realised how blessed she was.

Sri Narasimha Saraswati told his mother that she might not have been happy about his taken to Sanyasa Ashrama because of her motherly attachment to him. He told her the unique merits of Sanyasa Ashrama. He said it is the spiritual acme of life. It would besides liberate not only the one who was taken to Sanyas, but also his ancestors for several generations. He blessed the parents saying they would spend their last days at the holy Kashi and would certainly attain salvation and liberation from re-birth. He further indicated that his own taking to Sanyasa Ashrama had a very special purpose, the purpose of revivifying the glory of Sanyana Ashrama, the significance of which was getting missed by people because of the growing materialisation outlook and way of life.

Amba Bhavani had a daughter born to her after Narahari left home. Her name was Ratnai (Ratnabai). She has also now grown up and was married. She approached Sri Narasimha Saraswati, and prayed she be saved.She said the problems of life were almost crushing her. Narasimha Saraswati told her that the duty of a woman was to serve her husband as God himself. That alone is sufficient for a woman to attain salvation he said. He also foretold that her husband would be taking Sanyasa.(but very much late in life, after both of them had become fairly old). He said that because of some of the sins created by her in her previous life, she was destined to suffering this life from a dreadful skin disease, but that will also be late in life. He told her that she could however, over come it if she made a pilgrimage to the holy 'PapaVinasini Theerta', near Gandharvapura (Gangapur). He assured her that she would have his darshan at the time of her death and she would attain salvation.

As almost everyone in the town wanted Sri Narasimha Saraswati to visit their homes for Bhiksha, it is said, he took many forms and blessed each house, by accepting Bhiksha, in the span of few days he stayed in town. Sri Narasimha Saraswati, after visiting his parents, went on pilgrimage to Trayambak and Nashik. He narrated to his disciples there the Gautami-Mahima; what severe penance Gautami Rishi did to bring Ganga (Godavari river) to the earth. The Godavari river is an aspect of the Holy Ganga itself and it was Gautami Rishi's penances that made Godavari to descend and come down for the purification of the land and it's people.

During his pilgrimages, Narasimha Saraswati came to a certain place called Manjarika on the banks of Godavari. He met one very learned Pundit there by the name of Madhavaranya. Madhavaranya was overjoyed at meeting Sri Narasimha Saraswati and sang many songs in praise of him. He sought his blessings and grace. Guru Nath revealed to him Viswarupa and then advised him to always do Manasa Puja to Lord Narasimha (the man-lion incarnation of Lord Vishnu). He said that all his earthly needs would be fulfilled by the Grace of Lord Narasimha, and that he would attain Brahmaloka after his death.

From Manjarika, Sri Narasimha Saraswati came to Vasar Brahmeshwara (Brahmeshwara Kshetra), which is also on the banks of the river Godavari. There he saw one Brahmin near the river. The Brahmin was suffering from severe stomachache for several years. He used to get unbearable pain and it was difficult for him to take food. He was fed up with his life and decided to end his life and or that purpose came to the river to drown himself by tying a heavy boulder around his neck. The all-knowing and Omniscient Narasimha Saraswati came near him and asked what his trouble was. The Brahmin told him about his miserable condition of health and said he would not be able to bear and put up with it any longer. Sri Narasimha Saraswati comforted him by saying he had a panacea, a unique remedy for him and he would be soon free from the ailment and he was not to worry himself about it any longer. Just at that juncture, the gramadhipati (the village chief) of the place, a brahmin of Kaundinya Gotra and by name of Sayamdeo, had come to the river for his bath. Seeing Sri Narasimha Saraswati, Sayamdeo was overjoyed and he prostrated at Guru Nath's feet, and started singing praises for him. When Sayamdeo requested him to come to his house for food, Guru Nath told him to invite the ailing Brahmin also for food.

Sayamdeo said he was afraid that the ailing Brahmin might die if he fed him and he would then incur the Brahmahatya Dosha. "Hardly he had taken a little food yesterday, and he is almost in death pangs now. Any food is like poison for that poor brahmin", thus Sayamdeo gave out his apprehensions for inviting the Brahmin also for food. Guru Nath told him that he need not have any apprehensions any longer.

Guru Nath graced the house of Sayamdeo for the Bhiksha along with his disciples and the ulcer patient. The Brahmin who had not been able to eat even a morsel of food normally was now able to eat at Sayamdeo's house most sumptuously and with great gusto and relish. His chronic ailment, plaguing him for years on end, had now disappeared totally. Sayamdeo and everyone wondered at this, and realised that Sri Narasimha Saraswati was none other than Bhagawan Dhanvantari himself come in human form.

Thus ends the Thirteenth Chapter of Sri Guru Charita describing "The miracle of the stomach cure of the Brahmin", by Sri Narasimha Saraswati.

 

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