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Dharmic Short Stories Part-1 *KanyaLal Raina | |
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Dear children, I thought I would start the series with a very simple story that my grand mother Late Tara Devi used to narrate to me while I was a child in India, during the course her many customary spiritual conversations. Her intense sadness while narrating this story and her true yearning to make a change always touched my heart. I trust it will touch yours too and together let us make the change!! One fine morning in the summer month of July, Narad Muni convened a conference of the Heads of all the Celestial departments for an “Activity update” session. Each one of them was required to bring their representatives operating on Earth as well. Accordingly, Mother Saraswati, Head of the Department of Knowledge and Mother Lakshmi heading the Wealth Department as well as other Department Heads of the Deva and Asura faculty assembled promptly along with their respective representatives operating from Earth. The conference started at the exact hour with prayers to Ganesh-ji, as is the custom. Mother Lakshmi’s representative, very lavishly adorned with the finest silk clothes and brilliant gold and diamond jewelry was the first one to proudly announce her arrival “I represent Wealth on earth. There is so much of me all over the earth with some people that they actually do not know how to put me to the best use. Further, people on earth continue to invent ways to multiply me by whatever means available and I am pretty pleased about this”. Next stepped in Mother Saraswati’s representative also dressed very rich and proclaimed. “I represent Knowledge. I am so much in abundance on earth now, that people find mysterious ways to use me. Human race has made rapid advancements in my arena, which sometimes they share among themselves but at times they do not. This causes a lot of conflicts, no doubt. However I am happy that I am prevalent all over earth in some form or other. So boasted “Power” Mother Parvati’s representative, saying “I am reachable for anyone equipped with knowledge and wealth these days and this makes my existence more widespread now than before. Why should I not be happy? Finally came the representative of the Asura department of “Adharma (evil)” and his entry by itself was very spectacular. He was much more richly dressed. He was accompanied by his wife and children adorned in very expensive silks, jewelry and perfume. He haughtily proclaimed thus “My family and I are the richest on earth. We are present anywhere and everywhere including all nooks and corners where Power, Wealth and Knowledge can not dream of gaining entry because I have the ability to penetrate and instantly occupy human minds with my family members”. He challenged the gathering “My name is Dishonesty, my wife is Deception and my children are Temptation, Hatred, Misery, Desire, Selfishness and Jealousy. Now, can anyone on earth claim that they are free of my family members and me? I do not think so. Now, you decide for yourself who is the richest on earth, Ha! Ha! Ha!” he roared with laughter. Everyone at the conference was dumbfounded. The reality was sinking in them as to how corrupt the people on earth have become. But the worst was yet to come. At that moment Narad Muni noticed a shadow moving and hiding behind a huge pillar in the conference hall. So did Lord Vishnu who presided over the conference. Narad Muni: Hello! Is there someone out behind the pillar? Who are you? What do you represent? Do you wish to come forward? Voice from behind the Pillar: Namaste Narad ji: I am a representative from earth as well. But I do not wish to expose myself. Narad Muni: Why? What is the matter? What is stopping you from coming forward? Voice: I am here with my wife and children. We are not dressed appropriately and we are ashamed to come out. Narad Muni ordered some overcoats to be delivered to them and encouraged them to cover themselves and come out. So they did. Everyone was shocked to see this family looking very pale, ill nourished, unclean and obviously dressed in rags. The Head of the family was too weak to speak. Narad Muni offered a drink of milk for him and with great effort he started: Man: Sir! My name is “Dharma” she is my wife “Gratitude”. My children are Honesty, Loyalty, Humility, Modesty and Simplicity. We have no place on earth now. No one welcomes us any more. Even if we find a little space, “Adharma” and his family members who are much more powerful than us creep in and overthrow us. We are not able to fight them at all. So people are afraid to entertain us anymore. To tell you the truth we were chased so much and hunted down by Adharma that we kept running far and further away and we finally dug a little hole for us in one corner of the earth and hid ourselves. We are praying and hoping that Lord Vishnu will one day come down to earth and eliminate Adharma and find little place for us. Do you know when that is going to happen? Dear Children! Do we know when that will happen and Dharma will be re- established? No, none of us know the answer to this question. But, while we wait hoping this would happen, there is a simple task we all can do at our personal level by trying harder not to let Adharma occupy our minds and welcoming Dharma instead. Do you agree with me? If so, let us start trying from this moment on. I pray that the Lord will be on our side in this conflict. | |
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*Kanayalal Raina is a Brampton based writer who contributes regularly to various Canadian publications. He is working as Executive Director at Canada Hindu Heritage Centre in Canada. An automobile Engineer and MBA (Mktg) by profession he is providing consultancy on Project Management, Financing and Marketing. | |
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