Vairagya Bodha (Giving of Philosophical Consolation) who was bemoaning her husbans's death
Siddhamuni continued the narrative to Namdharak describing the glorious account of the Leelas of GuruNath
Gurunath's name and fame was increasing day by day and it started spreading over the county. People from all regions, even from the farthest parts of India, started visiting Gangapur for Guru Nath's Darshan and for seeking His blessings. Whoever came, went back with their hearts filled with great satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment in life and with peace and joy. Everyone returned with a deep conviction that Guru Nath, though physically staying at Gangapur, is ever with them wherever they be living and is ever providing his protection. Without his call, none can ever think of going to Gangapur for his Darshan and without his will none will be able to visit the place and have the audience with him. His love is like the love of a thousand mothers. Whoever visits there will have all his aspirations fulfilled and his grievances redressed although he might put these people to much test during the process.
There lived in the town of Mahur, a Brahmin who was quite well to do and rich. His name was Gopinath. His wife gave birth to many children, but none survived. They prayed fervently to Lord Dattatreya that they should have at least one son who would have longevity and survive. In response to their faith and prayers, they had a son born again, whom they named as Datta, i.e., after the name of Lord Dattatreya with whose blessings he was born. The boy was very healthy and free from any ailment. The parents were very happy. When the boy was five years of age, his thread ceremony was performed. When he was sixteen years of age, he was married to a girl whose name was Savitri, and who was very beautiful. The young couple were leading a very happy life.
After four years of happy married life, the young man unfortunately fell seriously ill. The parents consulted many Vaidyas (doctors) and tried various treatments without minding the expenses. But there was no improvement in his condition. Actually his condition was deteriating day by day. The young wife thought that if she could take her husband to Gangapur and pray to Sri Narasimha Saraswati, his life could be saved. She felt that was the only hope for her. She expressed the same to her parents-in-law. They did not want to stand in her way. They were very distressed that their boy's condition was becoming more and more critical, all the medical treatment proving of no avail. They also felt that only Divine Grace, if at all anything, could save their son and that they should let their daughter-in-law do whatever she felt was best course.
The young wife told her husband that she would take him on pilgrimage to Gangapur for Sri Narasimha Saraswati's Darshan and that would certainly restore his health. The young man was in tears, started saying how distressed he was, not for his illness, but considering that he had not been able to give her any happiness and had to see her toiling all the time looking after him and his needs. The wife said she was happy in doing service to him, and all her anxiety and concern was that he should get well soon. For the purpose she was prepared to make any sacrifice. She said that troubles so come in life as per one's Karma; no one can escape it altogether, but with Divine Grace it should be possible to overcome it. She said she had all hopes that Sri Narasimha Saraswati would rid him of his illness by his Grace, and would shower his blessings on them.
Comforting the parents-in-law, telling them not to worry at all and assuring that she would certainly bring her husband back to them safe and fully restored in health soon, she set out on her pilgrimage to Gangapur along with her husband.
The couple after great difficulty, reached the outskirts of Gangapur and although the wife was very exhausted, she was slightly elated that they could reach the holy precincts. She left her husband in a place nearby, asking him to rest and saying that meanwhile she would go into the town first and find out the whereabouts of Guru Nath and would come back to take him along with her for Darshan. She went into town and was told that Sri Guru Nath had gone to the Sangam. She came back to the place where she had left her husband for rest. Alas! the husband, because of over exhaustion of the journey possibly accentuating his sickness, meanwhile collapsed and died. She was aghast and broke down completely with grief.
The woman was not able to withstand the situation. She started crying aloud, "I have brought my husband away from his parents telling them that with Sri Narasimha Saraswati's Grace I would bring him back to them fully restored in health. What can I do now? What can I tell them, how could I ever face them? Everything for me is dark and dismal, and there is no way out for me except death along with my husband". She was furious with Guru Nath and started shouting "You have belied all my hopes. All my faith in you has been misplaced. You have cheated me. Before, I end my life, I will tell everybody and proclaim to all how you betrayed me and my hopes. I fancied you were the "Mangala Murti". Instead you have proved to be the opposite.. you are heartless..". After giving vent to her wrath against Guru Nath, she fell upon the body of her husband and burst into sobs again, "Oh, my beloved, why have you left me? Didn't you know how much I loved you? You were dearest to me, how can I live a movement without you?" Meanwhile, people nearby, seeing the sad advent, gathered around her and were trying to console her. At this Juncture, Sri Guru Nath himself, in the guise of a Tapasvi, with Rudraksha Malas around his neck and his whole body smeared with Vibhuti and holding a Trishula in his hand, appeared there. He also started comforting and consoling her. He told her "Who can escape Prarabdha Karma? Death is inevitable for whoever is born. Some die early and some die later. But none can escape death. What a delusion of life! How deluding are all family relationships! Wife and husband, father and children, it is all Maya, a scene for a while. Two logs of wood floating separately in a stream come close to one another and flow together for a while and again drift apart and float again separately each going it own way. There is no permanent relationship at all between any two persons. Each one has his or her own de stiny to suffer, each according to his or her Karma of his/her past lives. In life, the only certainty is death, and of avail is bemoaning the inevitable and inescapable. We have to accept things as they come, and reconcile ourselves to the inevitable. Yet at the same time, we should not forget the higher purpose of life and the ultimate goal, and should strive to attain it, irrespective of whatever calamities befall us in life".
Guru Nath's presence, and especially his words though it was all a 'negative philosophy', yet soothed her heart a little. A little sense of reconciliation to her fate and preparedness to face the event with courage came upon her. She prayed to Guru Nath to tell her what she do, about the Stree Dharma after losing the husband.
Thus ends the Thirtieth Chapter of Sri Guru Charitra describing the "Pretanganga Soka".
Glory to the All merciful, the Omnipresent and the ever responsive Guru Nath!
Siddhamuni continued the narrative to Namdharak describing the glorious account of the Leelas of GuruNath
Gurunath's name and fame was increasing day by day and it started spreading over the county. People from all regions, even from the farthest parts of India, started visiting Gangapur for Guru Nath's Darshan and for seeking His blessings. Whoever came, went back with their hearts filled with great satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment in life and with peace and joy. Everyone returned with a deep conviction that Guru Nath, though physically staying at Gangapur, is ever with them wherever they be living and is ever providing his protection. Without his call, none can ever think of going to Gangapur for his Darshan and without his will none will be able to visit the place and have the audience with him. His love is like the love of a thousand mothers. Whoever visits there will have all his aspirations fulfilled and his grievances redressed although he might put these people to much test during the process.
There lived in the town of Mahur, a Brahmin who was quite well to do and rich. His name was Gopinath. His wife gave birth to many children, but none survived. They prayed fervently to Lord Dattatreya that they should have at least one son who would have longevity and survive. In response to their faith and prayers, they had a son born again, whom they named as Datta, i.e., after the name of Lord Dattatreya with whose blessings he was born. The boy was very healthy and free from any ailment. The parents were very happy. When the boy was five years of age, his thread ceremony was performed. When he was sixteen years of age, he was married to a girl whose name was Savitri, and who was very beautiful. The young couple were leading a very happy life.
After four years of happy married life, the young man unfortunately fell seriously ill. The parents consulted many Vaidyas (doctors) and tried various treatments without minding the expenses. But there was no improvement in his condition. Actually his condition was deteriating day by day. The young wife thought that if she could take her husband to Gangapur and pray to Sri Narasimha Saraswati, his life could be saved. She felt that was the only hope for her. She expressed the same to her parents-in-law. They did not want to stand in her way. They were very distressed that their boy's condition was becoming more and more critical, all the medical treatment proving of no avail. They also felt that only Divine Grace, if at all anything, could save their son and that they should let their daughter-in-law do whatever she felt was best course.
The young wife told her husband that she would take him on pilgrimage to Gangapur for Sri Narasimha Saraswati's Darshan and that would certainly restore his health. The young man was in tears, started saying how distressed he was, not for his illness, but considering that he had not been able to give her any happiness and had to see her toiling all the time looking after him and his needs. The wife said she was happy in doing service to him, and all her anxiety and concern was that he should get well soon. For the purpose she was prepared to make any sacrifice. She said that troubles so come in life as per one's Karma; no one can escape it altogether, but with Divine Grace it should be possible to overcome it. She said she had all hopes that Sri Narasimha Saraswati would rid him of his illness by his Grace, and would shower his blessings on them.
Comforting the parents-in-law, telling them not to worry at all and assuring that she would certainly bring her husband back to them safe and fully restored in health soon, she set out on her pilgrimage to Gangapur along with her husband.
The couple after great difficulty, reached the outskirts of Gangapur and although the wife was very exhausted, she was slightly elated that they could reach the holy precincts. She left her husband in a place nearby, asking him to rest and saying that meanwhile she would go into the town first and find out the whereabouts of Guru Nath and would come back to take him along with her for Darshan. She went into town and was told that Sri Guru Nath had gone to the Sangam. She came back to the place where she had left her husband for rest. Alas! the husband, because of over exhaustion of the journey possibly accentuating his sickness, meanwhile collapsed and died. She was aghast and broke down completely with grief.
The woman was not able to withstand the situation. She started crying aloud, "I have brought my husband away from his parents telling them that with Sri Narasimha Saraswati's Grace I would bring him back to them fully restored in health. What can I do now? What can I tell them, how could I ever face them? Everything for me is dark and dismal, and there is no way out for me except death along with my husband". She was furious with Guru Nath and started shouting "You have belied all my hopes. All my faith in you has been misplaced. You have cheated me. Before, I end my life, I will tell everybody and proclaim to all how you betrayed me and my hopes. I fancied you were the "Mangala Murti". Instead you have proved to be the opposite.. you are heartless..". After giving vent to her wrath against Guru Nath, she fell upon the body of her husband and burst into sobs again, "Oh, my beloved, why have you left me? Didn't you know how much I loved you? You were dearest to me, how can I live a movement without you?" Meanwhile, people nearby, seeing the sad advent, gathered around her and were trying to console her. At this Juncture, Sri Guru Nath himself, in the guise of a Tapasvi, with Rudraksha Malas around his neck and his whole body smeared with Vibhuti and holding a Trishula in his hand, appeared there. He also started comforting and consoling her. He told her "Who can escape Prarabdha Karma? Death is inevitable for whoever is born. Some die early and some die later. But none can escape death. What a delusion of life! How deluding are all family relationships! Wife and husband, father and children, it is all Maya, a scene for a while. Two logs of wood floating separately in a stream come close to one another and flow together for a while and again drift apart and float again separately each going it own way. There is no permanent relationship at all between any two persons. Each one has his or her own de stiny to suffer, each according to his or her Karma of his/her past lives. In life, the only certainty is death, and of avail is bemoaning the inevitable and inescapable. We have to accept things as they come, and reconcile ourselves to the inevitable. Yet at the same time, we should not forget the higher purpose of life and the ultimate goal, and should strive to attain it, irrespective of whatever calamities befall us in life".
Guru Nath's presence, and especially his words though it was all a 'negative philosophy', yet soothed her heart a little. A little sense of reconciliation to her fate and preparedness to face the event with courage came upon her. She prayed to Guru Nath to tell her what she do, about the Stree Dharma after losing the husband.
Thus ends the Thirtieth Chapter of Sri Guru Charitra describing the "Pretanganga Soka".
Glory to the All merciful, the Omnipresent and the ever responsive Guru Nath!
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