Mantralaya-2010
(Earth’s most enigmatic secrets: the Varaha Avatara of Lord Vishnu)
Date : Oct 3, 2024
Background
Dear Devotees : Namaskara.
| Sri MannMoolaRamastu Mannmathe Moolamahasamsthhaana Mantralaya Sri Rayaramathe||
|| OM SRI RAGHAVENDRAAYA NAMAHA||
SATYAMEVA JAYATI NA ANRUTA
An
incident from the Upanishads that reminds us of the effects of gossip
and ill-speaking is described in detail in Mantralaya (2010).
Meaning
A
captivating tale from the Upanishads reveals the intricate workings of
karma, showing how our intentions, words, and actions weave together to
create our destiny. It reminds us that blame doesn’t always rest where
we expect, and that words—often underestimated—can carry immense karmic
weight.
In today’s world, with the pervasive influence of social
media, gossip and blame have found new platforms to thrive. We
encounter people quick to speak ill of others or criticize without
understanding, spreading negativity at every turn. The Upanishads tell
us a beautiful incident that cautions us to express our opinions only
when we are sure of their validity and to avoid gossiping.This ancient
wisdom serves as a timeless reminder: the power of our words can shape
not only our own karmic path but also the lives of those around us.
Here
is the Upanishads story, once upon a time, in a prosperous kingdom
ruled by a wise and kind king, an event unfolded that would forever
alter the way people understood karma and the profound power of words.
The
king was known far and wide, not only for his wisdom in governance but
for his deep compassion towards his subjects. He believed that his duty
extended beyond ruling; he saw his people as part of his extended
family, and their happiness was his own. To express his love and
gratitude, the king would often organize grand feasts, inviting
everyone—from the wealthiest noble to the humblest villager—to partake
in the joy.
One such occasion arose, and the king decided to
host an elaborate banquet at his palace. The atmosphere was filled with
laughter, music, and the scent of delicious food. The king himself
moved among the guests, serving each person with his own hands, smiling
warmly and offering kind words to everyone. His people were touched by
his humility, feeling blessed to receive food directly from the hand of
their beloved ruler.
The guests ate with contentment, feeling
that this food was more than sustenance—it was a blessing. But fate, as
it often does, had other plans for that day.High above the earth, far
from the noise and merriment of the feast, a bird soared across the
sky. In its claws, it held a writhing snake, freshly caught. The bird,
searching for a safe place to consume its meal, flew over the king’s
palace. The snake, desperate to free itself, twisted and thrashed in a
frantic struggle for life. As it fought against the bird’s grasp, a few
drops of venom escaped from its fangs and fell from the sky.
Those
droplets, though tiny, fell with unnerving precision, landing directly
in the food being served at the king’s feast. No one saw it, no one
could have known. The bird had no malice, and the snake was simply
fighting for survival. It was an accident—a play of fate beyond
anyone's control.The guests, unaware of the invisible danger, continued
to eat. However, soon after, tragedy struck. Some guests began to feel
unwell, collapsing one after another. Panic rippled through the crowd
as many fell gravely ill, and some even lost their lives. What began as
a joyous celebration turned into a scene of sorrow and confusion. The
king, devastated, could not understand how such a terrible thing could
happen, especially at a feast meant to bring happiness and unity.When
the souls of those who perished in the feast reached Yamaloka, the
divine abode of Yama, the god of death, it fell upon Chitragupta,
Yama’s trusted scribe, to weigh their deeds and deliver just karmic
consequences. But this case puzzled him deeply. Who was responsible for
the deaths at the feast?
The king had served the food himself, with pure intentions and love. Could he be blamed?
The bird was simply acting on its instinct, catching its prey for survival. Could it be held responsible?
The
snake, in its fear and desperation, had released the venom, but not
with the intent to harm those below. Should it bear the burden?
Chitragupta,
who had always dealt with karma swiftly and decisively, was now at a
loss. This was not a case of deliberate wrongdoing. All parties seemed
to be innocent, caught in a web of circumstance. He pondered deeply,
for this karmic puzzle had no clear resolution.
Meanwhile, on earth
in a quiet corner of the kingdom, an old fruit seller sat near the
entrance of the capital, observing the comings and goings of people.
Two travelers, strangers to the kingdom, approached her, asking for
directions to the king’s palace.
The fruit seller, knowing the
way well, gave them directions. But as they prepared to leave, she
couldn’t resist sharing her opinion. “Be careful,” she warned, her
voice dripping with disdain. “That king is careless. They say he
poisoned his own people. What kind of ruler lets his subjects die at a
feast?”
The travelers, surprised by her words, thanked her and went
on their way. Little did the fruit seller know that her careless gossip
had set something in motion. Her words, though spoken out of bitterness
and ignorance, carried weight—a karmic weight far beyond her
understanding.
Back in Yamaloka, Yama and Chitragupta continued
to deliberate over the mysterious deaths at the feast. They had ruled
out the king, the bird, and the snake, all of whom had acted without
malice. Yet, the karmic balance demanded an account. The deaths had
occurred, and someone must bear the consequences.
It was then
that they became aware of the fruit seller’s careless words. Though she
had no direct role in the event, her gossip, her judgmental speech, and
her unkind thoughts had created a ripple of negativity. She had spread
blame and malice without knowing the full truth, casting aspersions on
a ruler who had only sought to serve his people with love.
In
that moment, Chitragupta saw the solution. The fruit seller’s bitter
words had attracted the bad karma of the incident to herself. She, who
had chosen to spread negativity without understanding the situation,
would now bear the weight of that karma of poisoning people . Though
she had not physically harmed anyone, her speech had woven her into the
web of consequence. The karmic burden of the deaths at the feast
settled upon her shoulders.
This ancient incident from the
Upanishads offers profound insights into the nature of karma and the
interconnectedness of all beings:
Intentions Matter: The king,
bird, and snake were spared from harsh karmic consequences because
their actions, though tragic in outcome, were not driven by harmful
intent. This reminds us that our intentions, even more than our
actions, shape our karma.
Words Carry Weight: The fruit seller,
though uninvolved in the feast, accrued significant negative karma
through her careless and judgmental words. This teaches us that our
speech holds power, and even words spoken lightly can have profound
consequences. Gossip and baseless judgment weigh heavily in the scales
of karma.
Compassion Over Judgment: The fruit seller could have
chosen compassion over judgment, understanding over gossip. Her choice
to spread negativity instead of kindness drew the karmic consequences
to her. The story reminds us to approach situations with empathy,
especially when we do not know the full story.
The Cosmic Web of
Karma: This tale reveals the complex and delicate web of karma that
connects all beings. Every action, thought, and word ripples through
the universe, affecting others in ways we might not foresee. We are all
connected, and what we send into the world—whether love, kindness, or
judgment—inevitably finds its way back to us.
In Bhagavad Gita,
Sri Krishna teachings strongly advocate for mindful speech,
self-control, and truthfulness. Krishna emphasizes the power of words,
the importance of speaking with kindness and purpose, and the spiritual
discipline required to avoid idle talk and negative speech. He reminds
us that everything we do, including how we communicate, affects our
spiritual progress and karmic journey.
Gossiping often involves
speaking ill of others, spreading rumors, or making judgments without
full knowledge. According to Sri Raghavendra Swamy's teachings,
speaking ill of others creates negative karma, which leads to adverse
effects on both the speaker and those involved. Gossip can harm
relationships, create misunderstandings, and lead to an accumulation of
bad karma.
In Kannada there is a proverb "Madidavara Paapa
Adidavara Bayali": "The sin of the doer is blamed on the one who talks
about it without knowing the truth, and that person will bear it."
This
proverb emphasizes the importance of not jumping to conclusions or
gossiping about others without understanding the full context. It
suggests that speaking without knowing the truth not only misrepresents
the situation but also transfers the karmic weight of the wrongdoing to
the person who spreads false information.
This aligns with the
teachings in many spiritual traditions, including those of Sri
Raghavendra Swamy and Sri Krishna, which warn against gossip, slander,
and unnecessary speech, reminding us that our words have profound
consequences. It is said that every word that came out of Sri Hanuman,
Sri Rama, Sita and Sri Krishna and every word from Sri Raghavendra
Swamy had meaning and purpose.
From now on, let’s make a
conscious effort to avoid blaming others or spreading gossip without
knowing the full truth. Many of us work in corporate environments where
perception carries significant weight. If you are in a leadership
position, it's especially important to ensure that you never harm
someone’s career by creating or supporting false narratives. Doing so
not only hurts the person but ultimately backfires on the one spreading
the negativity.
In the corporate world, it's wise to stay away
from toxic, negative people, as their influence brings negative karma.
If you maintain a good heart and pure intentions, God will ensure you
aren’t dragged into their negativity. Remember, in the end, all you
carry with you is your karma—whether it’s positive or negative. So,
enjoy your work every day, enjoy with family and friends, stay true to
the right path, and let your actions reflect your values.
The devotion towards
Sri Raghavendrateertharu is the ultimate truth and is the most simple
and effective way to reach Sri Hari - "NAMBI KETTAVARILLAVO EE
GURUGALA"! “Those who have complete faith in this Guru will never be
disappointed.”
|| BICHALI JAPADAKATTI SRI APPANACHARYA PRIYA MANTRALAYA
SRI RAGHAVENDRATEERTHA GURUBHYO NAMAHA||