Whom do you prefer…Lakshmi or Narayana…? Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 How much have we utilised His Presence when He chose to walk amongst men, loving and serving, teaching and preaching the Supreme Path Of Truth to Sanathana Dharma? Has mankind ever understood the supreme potential of this Mighty Lord? Hinting upon man’s folly in going after Lakshmi, leaving Narayana out Bhagawan narrated a beautiful story involving Lord Narayana, His consort Goddess Lakshmi and Devarishi Narada. This is a story about the Gods. It deals with the greed of men. It was a fine day in heaven; Sriman Narayana and His consort Lakshmi were talking away the hours, when Narada, the wandering minstrel, entered and attracted their attention. Narayana asked Narada whether the denizens of Earth were happy. Narada replied that since they worshipped Him and won His Grace, men everywhere were quite happy and prosperous. At this, Lakshmi (who was the Goddess of Wealth) was afflicted with jealousy and anger for, Her share in conferring happiness on man was not acknowledged. She challenged Narada to prove that Narayana was more adored than Herself down on Earth. Narayana accepted the challenge. Donning ochre robes, He transformed Himself into a monk and went down amongst the villages and towns, preaching the Path. Thousands flocked at these meetings and listened to the enchanting oratory. They followed Him from place to place and adored Him with effusive enthusiasm. He was being carried along on a huge wave of devotion and adulation. Lakshmi saw this and could not contain herself: She was overwhelmed by envy. So, She too donned the Sanyasi (ascetic person) robe and came down to the very region which Narayana had conquered for Himself. The people were drawn towards Her by the effulgence of Her presence, many came away from the meetings addressed by Narayana to bask in Her Presence. A few invited Her to their homes for dinner. She agreed but, declared that it was a vow she had undertaken, not to eat out of plates other than her own. She said, she would bring Her own plate, cup, drinking vessel etc. The host was only too glad to comply with Her request, for, that helped him to overcome one bother among many! Lakshmi took with Her when She went to the houses of Her hosts, a plate of gold, a cup and a water-vessel, all three of gold! The host admired and adored Her the more for this display of pomp and wealth. But, he was astounded and delighted, when, after dinner, Lakshmi said that She was leaving the plate etc., at the host’s home, since that too was part of Her vow! When the news spread that it was highly profitable to invite Lakshmi to dinner and to adore Her, there was a huge clamour for Her Grace and millions deserted Narayana’s discourses and hovered around the Giver of Gold. People prayed to Narayana to go back to whence He came, for, they had no time to receive’ Him or listern to Him. Lakshmi was monopolising their attention! So, Lakshmi came back to Heaven, to meet Narayana who was already there. She asked Narada, “Who is being worshiped more, Narayana or Lakshmi?” Narada replied with another question: “Whom are You worshiping, please?” Lakshmi answered, “Why? I worship Narayana.” Then, said Narada, “Know that it is Narayana’s grace that is helping you to bestow those gifts of gold, which make men worship you.” Lakshmi’s pride was humbled; but, man’s foolishness continues. He worships vasu-deva (vasu = gold, meaning Lord of wealth), not Vasudeva (Indwelling Divinity), Lakshmi, not Narayana! II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II sourced: http://www.theprasanthireporter.org/2013/05/whom-do-you-prefer-lakshmi-or-narayana/ Sai Ram, We present before the readers articles for Week 36 of the 'Sathya Sai with Students' Blog: 1. In modern society, sizes of the family are shrinking. Small is considered better. The younger generation thinks that the generation gap prevents the elders from understanding them, and hence propose to stay separately as a nuclear family. What are Bhagavan's views on the family system? He shared this with students in June 1989 at the Prasanthi Nilayam Campus Hostel. http://sathyasaiwithstudents.blogspot.in/2013/05/nuclear-family-or-joint-family-which.html#.UZ2_08oV-dw 2. Brother Gopal writes on the theme: 'I have a dream...'. http://sathyasaiwithstudents.blogspot.in/2013/05/i-have-dream-by-c-gopala-pani.html 3. We continue our series on Divine career counselling. This week we have a conversation with Swami wherein He gives His opinion on the Medical education and the qualifications required to pursue it. http://sathyasaiwithstudents.blogspot.in/2013/05/divine-insights-on-medical-education.html 4. India is said to be the original land where solutions to daily problems - both common and complex were provided by the ancient seers and sages. In a Discourse to Management students, Swami gives some of the native Indian solutions to daily problems. http://sathyasaiwithstudents.blogspot.in/2013/05/divine-insights-on-medical-education.html 5. Seventy-three years ago, on this very day, Swami declared for the very first time, "I am SAI BABA". We reminisce the events that occurred on that momentous occasion. http://sathyasaiwithstudents.blogspot.in/2013/05/the-day-he-declared-i-am-sai-baba.html 6. In the section on the 'Song for the Soul', we have a song sung often by students in Sai Kulwant Hall: "Dil Chahtaa Hai Yeh Din Baar Baar Aaye..." http://sathyasaiwithstudents.blogspot.in/2013/05/may-this-day-come-again-and-again-dil.html Click the link to read 190 full articles: http://sathyasaiwithstudents.blogspot.in/ Visit us: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sathya-Sai-With-Students/383848508365392 Google+: https://plus.google.com/108773725221384230860/posts Twitter: http://goo.gl/VaH10 Please forward the link to your class groups, friends, Sai devotees and Samiti members. You could suggest to them to enter their email address on the home page of the blog (top right corner) so that they would get an update every Thursday. Happy Reading! Loving Regards 'Sathya Sai with Students' Blog Team Sri Sathya Sai Hostel for Senior Students Prasanthi Nilayam One With Sai - Devotional Music by Smt. Ranjani Venkatesh and Party. Sri Sathya Sai Organizations, Karnataka welcomes you for an evening of Devotional Music by Smt. Ranjani Venkatesh and Party. When: Sunday, May 26, 2013 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM ... Where: Sai Ramesh Hall, Brindavan Ashram, Kadugodi Smt. Ranjani Venkatesh is an alumna of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning , Anantapur Campus . She is an accomplished musician and is a ‘B High’ Grade artiste of the All India Radio (AIR) in both Classical and Light Classical Vocal Music, and has performed in prestigious sabhas in and around Bangalore. She has been a lead bhajan singer for Akhanda Bhajans at Prasanthi Nilayam for the past decade plus and has also sung devotional songs in the Divine Physical Presence. She has sung in multiple Album offerings at the Divine Lotus feet of Bhagawan including the Sri Sathya Sai Geethamulu series. She currently teaches Carnatic Classical Vocal at the Shankar Mahadevan Academy and also works a a Production Assistant in AIR Bangalore. -- When my arms cannot reach people who are close to my heart, I always hug them with my prayers -- --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "saimsg" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
