JAY SHREE POOJYASHREE SHREE AMMA
JAY MAHAN BRAHMASHREE GOPALAVALLIDASAR
JAY SHREE RADHEKRISHNA SATHSANG
Radhekrishna to our readers!
We are amidst a very interesting story of Lord Krishna. Taking the story ahead from where we stopped in our previous post, let us know what happened later.
Krishna said, “Look Satyabhama, because of your stupid vow, I have to be a slave to this rishi. Oh how I hate this”, he complained. Satyabhama was at a loss for words when Krishna continued, “Why don’t you ask Rukmini. She must be able to get us out of this predicament”, he suggested coyly. Satyabhama was in such a state that all her ill will towards Rukmini flew out of the window. Rushing to Rukmini’s private chambers she poured out the dire state of matters. Rukmini, ever calm, didn’t panic and came along with Satyabhama. On the way she passed the sacred Tulasi and plucking a single leaf of Tulasi [Sacred Basil], she continued her way to the hall. She very quietly walked towards the balance and praying to Krishna, placed the single tulasi leaf on all the piled up wealth. Lo and Behold! The pan containing Krishna flew up and remained under balanced. Shocked at this, Satyabhama looked to Krishna for explanation. “Try removing your riches, Bhama,” Krishna told her, all smiles.
With a very skeptical expression on her face she removed all her riches until nothing but the single tulasi leaf sat on the pan. And yet, it weighed more than Krishna. She was stunned and humbled. Krishna jumped down from his high hanging pan and came to her, “Bhama, you gave all your riches to me, but there was no devotion in that offering; just the feeling of possessiveness. When you made your offerings with such a thought in your mind, they lost their value and became mundane things. On the other hand Rukmini offered just a single tulasi leaf. But her intentions were noble. She made the offering with utmost love and devotion towards me. And that single leaf was sufficient to please me beyond expectations. Remember it is not the offering that matters, but the love and devotion with which you do it, that does.” Then leaving Satyabhama standing stunned in the court, Krishna returned to his chambers with his other wives. Turning to Narada, her eyes now shining bright with tears, Bhama said, “Devarishi, thank you for teaching me this hard learnt lesson today. I will never ever underestimate the power of devotion and love towards the lord.” Narada nodded and with his characteristic Narayana-Narayana, he was gone.
And thus ends the leela of Bhama’s lesson and thus begins the new custom of offering Tulabharam to the Lord in his temples. But let us all remember, that it is not so much the value of the offerings that matter, as the love with which you offer it to the god almighty. After all, Love ‘IS’ God.
This tradition started in the Dwapara Yuga is still practiced today.
Of the various sevas and offerings made to Shri Guruvayoorappan (Lord Shri Krishna), none is as famous or widely spoken about as the Tulabharam. In this divine offering, the person who has made the vow sits on the pan of a large weighing scale (Tula) and is weighed against a particular item of choice like paddy, sugar, bananas etc. The person then gives the item equivalent to his weight to the temple for use in the worship of the lord.
Section II: Information about Indian herbs
In this post, let us know about Khariya, also called as Chalk.
1. It is used in rural areas in place of lime
2. It is a cleansing agent
3. It is used as a dentifrice
4. It cleans the teeth
5. Purified chalk helps stop bilious diarrhea
That concludes our post for the fortnight. Till the next post on 22nd March, Radhekrishna! Also wishing all our readers a very happy Holi pournima!
Sarvam Guruvaarpanam
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