“Atma Yoga Story Time Book”Stories to be read during Sivasana/Relaxation

Story of Ajamila

There once was a very dedicated brahmana named Ajamila. Following the order of his father, he went to the forest to collect fruit and flowers. On the way home, he came upon a very sleazy fellow making out with a prostitute. The prostitute's eyes were rolling in intoxication, and her dress had become loose. When Ajamila saw her, dormant lusty desires in his heart awakened.

Ajamila began to obsess. He always thought of the prostitute, and within a short time he took her as a servant in his house and abandoned all the regulative principles of a brahmana. In order to maintain his trophy wife he engaged in all sorts of mobster like activity, not caring who he hurt in pursuit of profit. Ajamila had ten sons with the prostitute. The youngest was named Narayana. He was the favorite of the now aging father. Unexpectedly the time of death arrived for the criminal Ajamila, Suddenly, standing before him were three excruciating specters. Horribly deformed with fierce, twisted faces, and hair standing erect on their bodies. With ropes in their hands, they had come to take him away to the abode of Yamaraja - God of Death.

Ajamila became bewildered, and because of attachment to his child, Ajamila began to call out to him loudly. Thus with tears in his eyes he somehow or other chanted the holy name of Narayana.

The angeles of Vishnu, the Vishnudutas, immediately arrived when they heard the holy name of their master from the mouth of the dying Ajamila. The Yamadutas were snatching the soul from the core of the heart of Ajamila but with resounding voices the Vishnudutas forbade them to do so.

The Yamadudas replied: “You are most extraordinary and angelic beings. Your eyes are just like the petals of lotus flowers and you all appear fresh and youthful. Your bright aura has dissipated the darkness of this place, but why dear sirs, are you obstructing us?”

The servants of Vishnu smiled and spoke the following words in voices as deep as the sound of rumbling clouds. “Ajamila has already atoned for all his negative karma. Indeed, he has atoned not only for the bad karma of this one life but for that of millions of lives. In a helpless condition he chanted the holy name of Narayana. Even though he did not chant purely, he chanted without offense, and therefore he is now pure and eligible for liberation. Do not try to take him to your master for karmic retribution.

Having been released from the ropes of Yamaraja’s servants, the brahmana Ajamila immediately offered obeisances to the Vishnudutas at their lotus feet.

For the remainder of his life Ajamila gave up his materialistic ways and dedicated himself to spiritual activism. He went to live in a sacred place and practiced Bhakti yoga. After some time, Ajamila once again saw before him four celestial beings. He knew that they were those he had seen previously, and thus he offered them his obeisances. Ajamila then gave up his material body and regained his original spiritual form. He then departed for the abode of Lord Vishnu.

“Dhruva”

Once upon a time, King Uttanapada was patting the son of Suruci, Uttama, placing him on his lap. While the child, Dhruva, was trying to get on the lap of his father, Suruci, his stepmother, became very envious. She told Dhruva “My dear child, you do not deserve to sit on the throne of the King. You are also the son of the King, but because you did not take your birth from my womb, you are not qualified to sit on your father's lap.”

Dhruva, having been struck by the strong words of his stepmother became very angry. When he saw that his father did not protest, he immediately left the palace and went to his mother. She said “Whatever has been spoken by your stepmother is factual. Therefore, if you desire to sit on the throne then you must engage yourself in worshiping Lord Visnu.”

With intelligence and determination, a the young age of six he left his father's house. The great sage Närada approached Dhruva. He said “Now you have decided to undertake the mystic process of meditation, just to achieve the mercy of the Lord, but in my opinion such austerities are not possible for any ordinary man.”

Dhruva said,”My dear Närada, I want to occupy a position more exalted than any yet achieved within the three worlds. Kindly advise me of a path to follow by which I can achieve the goal of my life.” Närada Muni became very compassionate, and said, “You should go to the bank of the Yamuna and perform the necessary regulative principles for astanga-yoga. Chanting Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya, meditate upon the transcendental form of the Lord as He stands on the whorl of the lotus in your heart.”

Dhruva observed fasting in the night with great care and attention. For the first month Dhruva Maharaja ate only fruits and berries on every third day. In the second month Dhruva Maharaja ate only every six days, and for his eatables he took dry grass and leaves. In the third month he drank water only every nine days. In the fourth month Dhruva inhaled air only every twelfth day. By the fifth month, Dhruva was able to stand on only one leg without motion, and concentrate his mind fully on the Supersoul.

The three worlds began to tremble and the total universal breathing became choked up. The form of the Lord, which was brilliant like lightning and in which Dhruva, in his mature yogic process, was fully absorbed in meditation, all of a sudden disappeared. Thus Dhruva was perturbed, and his meditation broke. But as soon as he opened his eyes he saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead personally present, just as he had been seeing the Lord in his heart. Dhruva became overwhelmed with love.

Then God said to him “My dear Dhruva I know the desire within your heart. I shall award you the glowing planet known as the polestar. No one has ever ruled this planet. After your material life in this body, you will go to My planet. You will never have to come back again to this material world.

Dhruva Maharaja and the Yaksas

When Dhruva Maharaja heard of the killing of his brother by the Yaksas, being overwhelmed with lamentation and anger, he got on his chariot and went out to fight. Dhruva finally came upon a valley in the Himalayan range. He saw a city full of ghostly persons who were followers of Lord Siva.

Dhruva immediately blew his conchshell, and the sound reverberated throughout the entire sky. The Yaksas, unable to tolerate the resounding vibration of the conchshell, came forth from their city with weapons and attacked. Dhruva immediately began to kill them by simultaneously discharging arrows three at a time. The Yaksas threw twice as many arrows from each of their soldiers. The Yaksa soldiers were 130,000 strong, all greatly angry. They showered various types of feathered arrows, iron bludgeons, swords, tridents, lances, pikes, spears and other weapons.

Dhruva was completely covered by an incessant shower of weapons. Dhruva’s bow and arrows twanged and hissed, causing fear in the hearts of his enemies. He began to shoot incessant arrows, shattering all their different weapons. The sharp arrows pierced the shields and bodies of the enemy. The remaining Yaksas who somehow or other were not killed had their limbs cut to pieces by the arrows of the great vaisnava warrior. Thus they began to flee. Not one of the opposing soldiers was left standing with proper weapons.

Suddenly Dhruva heard a tremendous sound, as if all the whole oceans were there, and he found that from the sky a great dust storm was coming from all directions. Within a moment the whole sky was overcast with dense clouds, and severe thundering was heard. There was glittering electric lightning and severe rainfall of blood, mucus, pus, stool, urine and marrow. Hailstones fell, along with lances, clubs, swords, iron bludgeons and great pieces of stone. Dhruva also saw many big serpents with angry eyes, vomiting forth fire and coming to devour him. Then, as if it were the time of the dissolution of the whole world, the fierce sea with foaming waves and great roaring sounds came forward before him. The dark angel Yaksas are by nature very heinous, and by their dark power of illusion they can create many strange phenomena.

When the great sages heard that Dhruva was overpowered by the illusory mystic tricks of the dark angeles, they immediately assembled to offer him auspicious encouragement. They reminded him that sacred mantras which are names of the Lord are as powerful as the Lord Himself. Therefore, simply by chanting and hearing those mantras many men can be fully protected from fierce death. When Dhruva heard the encouraging words of the great sages, he invoked the Holy names of the Lord and then took up his arrow made by Lord Narayana. As soon as Dhruva Maharaja joined the Narayanastra arrow to his bow, the illusion created by the Yaksas was immediately vanquished. Arrows with golden shafts and feathers like the wings of a swan flew out from Dhruva’s bow. Dhruva, by the power of the transcendental mantra non-different from the lord, single handedly conquered the evil forces present before him.

“Dhruva Maharaja Goes Back To the Spiritual World”

Kuvera, the demi god master of the treasury appeared before Dhruva and spoke as follows, “My dear Dhruva, we have heard that you are constantly engaged in transcendental loving service to God. You are worthy to take all benedictions from us. Please ask without hesitation whatever benediction you want from me.”

Dhruva, that most elevated pure devotee begged that he might have unflinching faith in and remembrance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Kuvera was very pleased, and happily he gave Dhruva the benediction he wanted. Thereafter he disappeared from Dhruva's presence, and Dhruva returned to his capital city.

Dhruva continued to rule over his planet for thirty-six thousand years. Dhruva thus passed many, many years favorably executing his duties. Thereafter he handed over the charge of the royal throne to his son. Dhruva realized that this cosmic manifestation is a creation of the illusory, external energy of the Supreme Lord. Thus Dhruva left his kingdom for the forests of the Himalayas.

Dhruva's senses became completely purified. He fixed his sitting position and by yogic practice controlled the breathing process. Then he concentrated his mind on the form of the Lord and entered into complete trance. Because of his transcendental bliss, incessant tears flowed from his eyes, his heart melted, and there was shivering and standing of the hairs all over his body. In a trance of spiritual bliss, Dhruva completely forgot his bodily existence, and became liberated from material bondage.

As soon as the symptoms of his liberation were manifest, he saw a very beautiful airplane coming down from the sky, as if the brilliant full moon were coming down. Dhruva saw two very beautiful associates of Lord Vishnu in the plane. They had four hands and a blackish bodily luster, they were very youthful, and their eyes were just like reddish lotus flowers. They held clubs in their hands, and they were dressed in very attractive garments with helmets and were decorated with necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

Dhruva immediately stood up. But, being puzzled, in hastiness he forgot how to receive them in the proper way. Therefore he simply offered obeisances with folded hands and chanted and glorified the holy names of the Lord. The two confidential associates of Lord Vishnu, said, “Dear King, We are representatives of the creator of the whole universe. We are here to take you to the spiritual world. Please come with us and live eternally.”

When he heard the sweet words of the Lord's associates, he immediately offered his respectful obeisances and accepted their blessings. He became as brilliant and illuminating as molten gold. When Dhruva was attempting to get on the transcendental plane, he saw death personified approach him. He took advantage of the opportunity to put his feet on the head of death, and thus he got up on the airplane. While Dhruva was passing through space, he gradually saw all the planets of the solar system, and on the path he saw all the demigods showering flowers upon him like rain. In this way, the fully God conscious Dhruva Maharaja attained the ultimate goal of human life.

“Gajendra”

There is a very large mountain called Trikuta. Being surrounded by the ocean of milk, it is very beautifully situated. Its peaks are made of iron, silver and gold and are full of jewels. The sounds of the waterfalls on the mountain create a pleasing vibration. The ground at the foot of the mountain is always washed by waves of milk. Trikuta Mountain has many lakes and rivers, with beaches covered by small gems resembling grains of sand. The water is as clear as crystal, and when the demigod damsels bathe in it, their bodies lend fragrance to the water and the breeze.

At the base of the mountain is a very large lake filled with shining golden lotus which add excellent beauty to the mountain. The lake is crowded with swans and other murmuring birds. The banks of the lake are abundantly adorned with varieties of trees that yielded flowers and fruits in all seasons.

The leader of the elephants, Gajendra, once wandered toward the lake with his female elephants. He made Trikuta Mountain tremble all around because of the weight of his body. Gajendra entered the lake, bathed thoroughly and was relieved of his fatigue. Then, with the aid of his trunk, he drank the cold, clear, nectarean water, which was mixed with the dust of lotus flowers and water lilies, until he was fully satisfied.

By the arrangement of providence a strong crocodile was angry at the elephant and attacked the elephant's leg in the water. The elephant was certainly strong, and he tried his best to get free from this danger. When the King of the elephants saw that he was under the clutches of the crocodile he was extremely afraid of being killed. He decided to seek protection from the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Right at that moment Vishnu appeared carrying His disc and other weapons. When Gajendra saw that Vishnu was coming in the sky on the back of Garuda, he immediately took a lotus flower in his trunk, and with great difficulty due to his painful condition, he uttered the following words: "O my Lord, Narayan, master of the universe, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto you.” He was able to do this because he had memory of past live in which he performed Bhakti Yoga.

Seeing Gajendra in such an aggrieved position, the lord immediately got down from the back of Garuda and pulled the King of the elephants, along with the crocodile, out of the water. Then the Lord severed the crocodile's mouth from its body with His disc.

Because Gajendra had been touched directly by the hands of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he was immediately freed of all material ignorance and bondage. Thus he achieved the same bodily features as the Lord, being dressed in yellow garments and possessing four hands.

In the presence of the demigods, who were showering flowers, the Lord, sitting on the back of His carrier, Garuda, returned to His all-wonderful abode and took Gajendra with Him.

“Autumn”

While Krishna and Balarama are enjoying the gifts of the rainy season, the autumn season gradually arrives. With the appearance of autumn, the sky is completely cleared of all clouds, and it recovers its natural blue color. Everything becomes beautiful. The clouds of autumn are white, for they do not carry any water. Sometimes the falls come down from the tops of the hills. The water of the ocean becomes calm and quiet.

During the daytime, the sun is very scorching, but at night, there is clear moonshine and the stars shine very beautifully. The waters in the lakes and rivers became as clear as crystal and fill with fragrant lotus flowers, and breezes blow very pleasantly.

At this time Krishna enters the forest of Våndävana with the cows and cowherd boys. Krishna is very much pleased with the atmosphere of the forest, where flowers bloom and bees and drones hum very jubilantly. While the birds, trees and plants are all looking very happy, Krishna, tending the cows and accompanied by Balarama, begins to vibrate His transcendental flute.

After hearing the vibration of the flute of Krishna, the cowherd girls remember Him and begin to talk amongst themselves about how nicely Krishna plays His flute. While the cowherd maidens describe the sweet vibration of Krishna’s flute, they also remember their pastimes with Him; thus their minds become disturbed, and they are unable to describe completely the beautiful vibrations.

While discussing the transcendental vibration, they remember also how Krishna dresses, decorated with a peacock feather on His head, just like a dancing actor, and with blue flowers pushed over His ear. His garments glow yellow-gold, and He is garlanded with a very beautiful necklace. Dressed in such an attractive way, Krishna fills up the holes of His flute with the nectar emanating from His lips. So they remember Him, entering the forest of Vrindävana, which is always glorified by His lotus-like footprints.

The scorching heat of the autumn sunshine is sometimes intolerable, and therefore the clouds in the sky appear in sympathy above Krishna and Balarama while They engaged in blowing Their flutes. The clouds served as a soothing umbrella over Their heads.

Krishna and Balarama carry binding ropes on Their shoulders and in Their hands, just like ordinary cowherd boys. While milking the cows, the boys bind their hind legs with the small ropes. The ropes almost always hang from the shoulders of the boys. In spite of Their being the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they play exactly like cowherd boys, and therefore everything becomes wonderful and attractive.

While Krishna is engaged in tending the cows in the forest of Våndävana or on Govardhana Hill, the cowherd girls in the village are always absorbed in thinking of Him and discussing His different activities. Their only purpose is to remain always absorbed in thoughts of their beloved Krishna.

“Damodara Lila”

While mother Yasoda was churning butter one day, young Krsna appeared before her, and caught hold of the churning rod to stop her from churning. He was hungry and wanted to drink her breast-milk. Mother Yasoda then embraced Krsna and sat him on her lap, gazing at him with great love and affection, and because of her intense affection, milk automatically began flowing from her breasts. However, as soon as she saw that a pan of milk on the stove was boiling over, she immediately left her son to take care of it, although he was not yet fully satisfied.

Becoming very angry and biting His reddish lips with His teeth, Krsna, with tears in His eyes, broke the churning pot with a piece of stone. Then He left the room and began to eat the freshly churned butter from the pot in a solitary place.

Mother Yasoda, after taking the boiling milk off the stove, returned to where she had left Krsna, and when she saw that the pot was broken and that her son was gone, she concluded that he must be responsible.Krsna sat on an upside-down wooden grinding mortar, and began distributing yogurt and butter to the monkeys. Because of having stolen, he was looking around anxiously, suspecting that He might be punished by His mother.

Meanwhile Yasoda, who had tracked him by following his butter-smeared footprints, cautiously approached Him from behind.

When Lord Krsna saw His mother with a stick in her hand, he quickly got down from the mortar and began to flee as if he were very afraid.

Mother Yasoda, her thin waist overburdened by her heavy breasts, followed Krsna swiftly, the flowers in her hair falling to the ground as she ran. When she finally caught him, Krsna became more and more afraid and admitted to being a thief. She saw that he was crying, his tears mixing with the black ointment around His eyes, and as He rubbed His eyes with His hands, He smeared the ointment all over His face. Mother Yasoda, catching her beautiful son by the hand, began to scold him mildly. Yasoda was always overwhelmed by love for Krsna, not knowing who he was, or how powerful He was. Because of intense maternal affection for Krsna, she never even cared who He was.

When she saw that her son had become too afraid, Yasoda threw the stick away and decided to tie Him up to stop him doing any more naughty activities. However, when she tried to bind him, she found that the rope was too short by the measure of two fingers, so she brought another rope to join to it. After joining both ropes, this longer rope was also too short by the measure of two fingers, and when another rope was joined to it, it was still two fingers too short. Thus, mother Yasoda joined all the ropes available in her household, but still she failed to bind Krsna. Meanwhile, the elderly cowherd women in the neighbourhood, who had gathered to watch, were smiling and enjoying the fun. Similarly, Yasoda, although labouring hard, was also smiling. All of them were struck with wonder.

Because of mother Yasoda’s hard labour, her whole body became covered with perspiration. When young Krsna saw that His mother was very fatigued, He felt compassionate and finally agreed to be bound, and suddenly the ropes, which were previously too short, were able to cross over and bind his belly, which is in fact the resting place of the entire universe.

“Kardama and Devahuti”

The sacred lake, Bindu-sarovara, was the home of many sages.

As he approached it, the great Emperor Svayambhuva Manu, saw Kardama Muni sitting in his ashram. Although dressed in old rags and his hair matted the sage’s body shone brilliantly. His eyes were like the petals of a lotus amidst his beautiful face.

“O valiant King,” Kardama said “Please tell me the purpose for which you have come here. Whatever it may be, I shall carry it out without reservation.”

“O great sage,” replied the emperor, “ My daughter is seeking a husband similar in age and qualities. She has heard from the sage Narada of your noble character, learning, beauty, youth and other virtues. Because you have not taken a vow of perpetual celibacy, I beg you to accept her hand in marriage.”

Kardama remembered how recently the Supreme Lord Vishnu had appeared before him, and told him that a very special girl’s parents would come to offer her hand to him in marriage. Thinking of this, Kardama Muni answered the king: “Let your daughter’s desire be fulfilled. I accept this chaste girl as my wife, on one condition. After she bears children, I shall accept a life of complete renunciation, leaving home for the forest.”

When her parents left, Devahuti served Kardama constantly with great love and respect. After selflessly serving him for a long time, she grew weak and emaciated. Kardama saw this and said, “O respectful princess, I am very pleased with you for your great devotion and excellent loving service. It astonishes me that you have neglected your own body to use it on my behalf.”

“My dear husband, you once made the promise of children and now I ask you to fulfill that promise. Please make some arrangement so that my emaciated body may be rendered fit for you.”

Therefore, Kardama instructed her to go and bathe herself in the holy waters of Bindu-sarovara. As she entered the lake, within its waters she saw one thousand female angels, all in the prime of youth and fragrant like lotuses. After bathing her with oils, they mystically restored her beauty. Her countenance began to shine, she regained her beautiful body and the dark curling tresses surrounding her face. She then returned to her husband.

Using his yogic power, Kardama instantly created a beautiful palace that could be transported anywhere in the universe at his will. It was seven stories high, adorned with pillars of precious stones, and capable of satisfying all desires. Aboard the palace, they traveled through celestial lands and enjoyed for many years.

Kardama Muni then returned the palace to his ashram, where he divided himself into nine forms to give pleasure to Devahuti, who was eager for sexual enjoyment. In the company of her handsome husband, situated on a bed that increased sexual desires, a hundred autumns passed like a brief span of time.

Kardama impregnated Devahuti nine times and immediately afterward Devahuti gave birth to nine girls, all charming and fragrant with the scent of the red lotus.

Then, when she saw her husband about to leave home, she became distressed, and she spoke, suppressing her tears.

“You have fulfilled all the promises you made, yet because I am dependant on you, you should grant me fearlessness too. You are powerful enough to give anyone liberation from this world, but unfortunately I did not seek liberation from you.”

“Don’t be disappointed with your-self,” Kardama replied. “Soon Lord Vishnu himself will enter your womb and become your son and he will vanquish the darkness in your heart by teaching you spiritual knowledge.

“Messing with Mom”

One day, when Krishna and Balarama were playing with Their friends, all the boys joined Balarama and complained to mother Yasoda that Krishna had eaten clay. On hearing this, mother Yasoda caught hold of Krishna’s hand and said, “My dear Krishna, why have You eaten earth? Just see, all Your friends, including Balarama, are complaining about You.”

Being afraid of His mother, Krishna replied, “My dear mother, all these boys are speaking lies against Me. I have never eaten any clay. My elder brother, Balarama, while playing with Me today, became angry, and therefore they have all combined together to complain so you will be angry and chastise Me. If you think they are truthful, then you can look within My mouth to see whether I have eaten clay or not.” His mother replied, “All right, open Your mouth. I shall see.”

When Krishna who was the none other than God himself was so ordered by His mother, He immediately opened His mouth just like an ordinary boy. Then mother Yasoda saw within that mouth the complete vision of creation. She saw the entire outer space in all directions, mountains, islands, oceans, seas, planets, air, fire, moon and stars. She also saw all the elements—water, sky and the extensive ethereal existence, along with the total ego and its products, namely the senses, the controllers of the senses, all the demigods and the objects of the senses like sound and smell. She saw the three qualities of material nature, all living entities, eternal time, material nature, spiritual nature, activity, consciousness and different forms of the whole creation. Yasoda could find within the mouth of her child everything necessary for cosmic manifestation. Upon seeing all this, she became struck with awe and began to wonder whether she were dreaming or actually seeing something extraordinary.

She thought that she had become mentally deranged to see all those wonderful things. Then she thought, “It may be cosmic mystic power attained by my child, and therefore I am perplexed by such visions within His mouth. Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is beyond the expression of consciousness, mind, work and philosophical speculation, and whose different energies produce everything manifested and unmanifest.”

Lord Krishna then expanded His internal energy just to bewilder Mother Yasoda with maternal affection. Immediately she accepted Krishna as her own child. She took Him on her lap and became overwhelmed with parental love. She thus began to think of God as her own begotten child.

“Lord Siva saves the world”

The great sage Kasyapa had many sons, who were both demigods and demons. Once, they gathered by the shore of the ocean of milk, desiring to extract nectar from that ocean, a nectar which when drunk would make them immortal. After convincing Vasuki, the king of the serpents, to assist them, they wrapped his gigantic body around Mandara Mountain and, using him as a churning rope, they began churning the ocean of milk.

The mountain, which was being used as a churning rod, had no support, so although held by the strong hands of the demigods and demons, it sank into the ocean. Everyone became disappointed, and their faces began to shrivel. Seeing the situation, the unlimitedly powerful Lord Vishnu, took the wonderful shape of a tortoise, entered the water, and lifted the great mountain upon his back, which extended for eight hundred thousand miles like a large island. When the demigods and demons saw this, they became encouraged and began churning again, rotating Mandara Mountain on the back of the extraordinary tortoise, who accepted the pivoting of the mountain as though someone was gently scratching his back.

Then, manifesting thousands of hands, Lord Vishnu simultaneously appeared on the mountain’s summit, and held it with one hand. The demigods and demons worked madly for the nectar, being encouraged by Vishnu, who was both above and below the mountain. The great serpent Vasuki breathed smoke and blazing fire from his thousands of mouths, which weakened the demons, who gradually became powerless. The garments, garlands, weapons and faces of the demigods were also blackened by smoke.

However, by the grace of Vishnu, clouds appeared, pouring torrents of rain, and cool breezes blew, giving the demigods relief. When, despite so many endeavors, the nectar did not appear, Lord Vishnu personally began to churn the ocean. His body color was like a blackish cloud, he dressed with yellow garments and earrings like lightning. With unimaginably strong arms, He took hold of Vasuki and began churning the ocean, using Mandara Mountain as a churning rod. The entire ocean became turbulent, and the sharks, crocodiles and even large whales became agitated.

Due to the churning, the ocean first produced a fiercely dangerous poison, and seeing that uncontrollable poison spreading in all directions, out of great fear the demigods approached Lord Siva for help. They found him sitting on the summit of Kailash Hill with his wife, Bhaväni, and began to offer him prayers with great respect, saying “ O greatest of all demigods, Mahädeva, please save us from this fiery poison, which is spreading all over the universe.”

Lord Siva, feeling great compassion, turned to his eternal consort, Bhavani, and said:“Just see how the whole world has been placed in danger by the churning of the ocean of milk. It is my duty to give protection to all living beings, therefore, let me drink this poison, for all living entities may become happy by my actions.

Then Lord Siva, who is dedicated to auspicious, benevolent work for humanity, took all the poison in his palm and drank it. As if in spite, the poison from the ocean of milk demonstrated its potency by marking Siva's neck with a bluish line. That line, however, is now accepted as a wonderful ornament of Lord Siva. It is said that great personalities always accept voluntary suffering to help alleviate the suffering of others. This is considered the highest method of worshiping the Supreme Lord, Vishnu, who is present in everyone's heart.

“Markendaya Rishi”

The sage Markendaya, after receiving brahminical initiation, fixed himself in the vow of lifelong celibacy. He then worshiped the Supreme Lord Hari for six lifetimes. Lord Indra then sent the most beautiful of all women to interrupt the sage's austerities. But Markandaya defeated them by the potency of his penance.

Then, to show mercy to Markendaya, Lord Sri Hari appeared before him. Markendaya prostrated himself in obeisances. The Lord said “My dear Markendaya, You have perfected your life by fixed meditation upon Me. I am perfectly satisfied with your practice of lifelong celibacy. Please choose whatever benediction you desire.” The sage said: “Although I am satisfied simply by seeing You, I do wish to see Your illusory potency, by whose influence the entire world is bewildered.” The ultimate Personality of Godhead, smiling, replied, "So be it," and then departed.

The sage remained in his asrama, meditating constantly upon the Lord. One day while Markendaya was performing his evening worship a great wind suddenly arose. That wind created a terrible sound and brought in its wake fearsome clouds that were accompanied by lightning and roaring thunder and that poured down torrents of rain. Then the four great oceans swallowed up the surface of the earth with their waves. The rain pouring down from the clouds filled the ocean more and more until that great sea inundated the earth, outer space, heaven and the celestial region. Out of all the inhabitants of the universe only Marendaya remained. His matted hair scattered, the great sage wandered about alone in the water.

Tormented by hunger and thirst, attacked by monstrous fish and battered by the wind and waves, he moved aimlessly through the infinite darkness. He grew increasingly exhausted and could not tell the sky from the earth. Countless millions of years passed as Markendaya wandered about, his mind bewildered by the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of the divine.

One day he came upon a small island, upon which stood a young banyan tree bearing blossoms and fruits. On a branch of that tree he saw an infant boy lying within a leaf. The child's bright aura was swallowing up the darkness. His dark-blue complexion was the color of a flawless sapphire, His lotus face shone with a wealth of beauty. The corners of His eyes were reddish like the whorl of a lotus.

As Markendaya beheld the child, all his weariness vanished. Indeed, so great was his pleasure that the hairs on his body stood on end. Just then the child inhaled, drawing Markendaya within His body. There the sage found the entire universe arrayed as it had been before its dissolution. Seeing this, Markendaya was most astonished and perplexed. As Markendaya beheld the entire universe, the infant exhaled, expelling the sage from His body and casting him back into the ocean of dissolution.

In that vast sea he again saw the banyan tree growing on the tiny island and the infant boy lying within the leaf. The child glanced at him from the corner of His eyes with a smile imbued with the nectar of love. At that moment the child became invisible to the sage. Suddenly the banyan tree, the great water and the dissolution of the universe all vanished as well, and in an instant Markendaya found himself back in his own hermitage, just as before.

“Story of the Four Kumars”

At the beginning of creation, Lord Brahma created from his mind four sages named Sanaka, Sananda, Sanatana and Sanat, who became known as the four Kumaras. He wanted them to marry and produce children in order to populate the universe, but because they were completely self-realised, they refused to obey his order. Desiring to detach themselves completely from worldly affairs, they purposefully remained as young boys, their bodies never ageing.

After travelling throughout many universes, the Kumaras entered the spiritual sky, Vaikunthaloka, by the strength of their yogic powers. They passed through six golden gates, and as they arrived at the seventh gate, they saw two beautiful beings armed with clubs.

The four boy-sages, who were completely naked, looked only five years old, even though they were the oldest living entities and were fully self-realized. But when the doormen saw them, they blocked the gate with their clubs, preventing the Kumaras from entering. The sages’ eyes turned red with anger due to their great eagerness to see their beloved master, Lord Narayana.

They said: “Who are these people with such an unfriendly attitude? They are servants of Narayana, and so they are meant to possess the same wonderful qualities as Him. They are probably imposters. Let us decide how they should be punished in a way that will be for their ultimate benefit. Since they find duality in the spiritual existence of Vaikuntha, they are contaminated and should be removed from this place.”The doormen realised that they were about to be cursed, and fell at the sages’ feet in great fear and anxiety.

As soon as Lord Narayana learned about the insult to the saintly Kumaras, He at once went to see them. The Lord, who was formerly visible only within their hearts in meditation, had now actually become visible to their eyes, displaying His exquisite beauty . The sages joyously bowed their heads at His feet, and when the breeze carrying the aroma of tulasi leaves from the lotus-like feet of the Lord entered their nostrils, they experienced a change in body and mind, becoming enchanted by the personal form of the Lord. Thus the sages became fully satisfied by meditating upon Narayana’s transcendental body, even though they were already liberated souls.

Lord Narayana said to the Kumaras: “My attendants, Jaya and Vijaya, have committed a great offense against you, and I approve of the punishment that you have chosen for them. The disrespect shown by them has actually been displayed by Me because they are My servants; therefore I seek your forgiveness for this incident.”

The Kumaras replied: “Whatever punishment You wish to award these two innocent persons, or also to us, we shall accept. We now understand that we have cursed two faultless persons.”“ O sages,” Narayana continued “ The curse you inflicted on them was actually ordained by Me. They will soon take birth in a family of evil sorcerers, but they will be constantly united with Me by meditating upon me in intense anger, and they will return soon.”

After the Kumaras left, Narayana spoke to His attendants, Jaya and Vijaya: “Please depart now, but do not fear. By practicing the mystic yoga system in anger, you will be cleansed of your offense and within a very short time you will return to Me.”

“How Valmiki came to tell the Ramayana”

One day the great sage Valmiki was visited in his ashrama by the celestial seer Narada. Valmiki wanted to know who was the most virtuous person in the world.

Actually, by his own spiritual practices and meditations Valmiki had been able to realize that the Supreme Lord, Visnu, had appeared on the earth in a human form.

Narada replied, “There is one descended in the line of Iksvaku and known by men as Rama. He is powerful, radiant, resolute and has brought His senses under control. Intelligent, sagacious, eloquent, glorious and an exterminator of foes, He knows the secret of virtue, is true to His promise and is intent on the good of the people.”

Narada went on at length describing Rama’s many qualities. He then narrated in brief the whole story of Rama’s pastimes. When he had finished he said, “This Rama is now ruling in Ayodhya. Indeed, you have already met Him when He came to your ashrama. The remaining part of His pastimes are yet to be manifested. O sage, all this will soon be described by yourself.

This sacred story of Rama, known as the Ramayana, should be heard by all men. It is on a par with the Vedas and capable of destroying all karmic reactions.”

Narada rose to leave and was worshipped by Valmiki. As the celestial seer rose into the sky by his mystic power, Valmiki stood thinking about Rama.

As he went toward the riverbank, the agni surveyed the beautiful forest scenery. He saw playing among the reeds by the river a pair of cranes. Those two birds were engaged in mating and they sported together making a delightful sound.

Suddenly, as Valmiki looked on, a huntsman fired an arrow and struck one of the birds. Mortally wounded and covered in blood, it thrashed about on the ground screaming in pain. Its mate also cried piteously and fell about in sorrow.

Seeing this, the soft-hearted Valmiki felt compassion. He saw the hunstman approaching with bow in hand. In grief, he said to that hunter, “As you have slain this poor bird while it was absorbed in pleasure, may you have no peace of mind for the rest of your life.”

The curse, however, came out in perfectly metered poetry. Astonished by this, Valmiki said, “What have I uttered? Tormented by grief I have composed a stanza filled with that emotion.”

The sage, brooding over the incident, entered the river and took his bath. After coming out he went back to his hermitage still thinking on the rhyming couplet he had spoken to the hunter. When he reached his ashrama he took his seat and was about to commence his lessons to his disciples when Brahma suddenly appeared there.

Seeing the great creator of the universe approaching on his swan carrier, Valmiki hastily rose and joined his palms in humility. He offered his prostrate obeisances and worshipped the deity with many prayers. Brahma then sat down on an exalted seat quickly brought for him by Valmiki’s students.

Even though Brahma was present before him, Valmiki could not stop thinking about the incident with the hunter. He again recited the verse he had composed. Feeling sorry that he had lost control of himself, he appeared dejected and sighed.

Brahma laughed and said, “Let this poetic utterance of yours become the source of your glory. Do not brood any more, O sage. It was by my arrangement that this speech flowed from your lips. In that same meter you should now describe the pastimes on earth of the all-wise Rama. Tell the story of that hero as you have heard it from Narada. By my mercy you will be able to see every detail of that story, as clearly as a fruit held in the palm of your hand. Therefore, render this sacred and soul-ravishing tale into verse for the good of the world.”

Brahma blessed the sage that his narrative would remain extant for as long as the mountains stood on the face of the earth.

Having finished speaking, Brahma disappeared. Valmiki was filled with wonder. He and his disciples gazed in amazement at Brahma’s seat for some time. Gradually regaining their presence of mind, the sage’s students began reciting the verse he had uttered to the hunter.

The sage then began to meditate on Rama’s pastimes, gradually composing the Ramayana over the coming days.