Sreepada Sreevallabha Charitaamrutam - 18

Chapter – 18 

 Description about Ravi Das 

Divine auspicious darshan of Sri Sreepada 

I reached Kuruvapuram (Kurungadda) with the brahmin pair.Sri Sreepada Sreevallabha Swamy–Hero of the countless crores of universes, the ancient one, the one without beginning or end, the emperor of the fourteen worlds, the one who assumed sportive incarnation–finished His bath in river Krishna and was walking towards the river bank. Divine rays of lustre beamed from His divine auspicious form. Infinite love and compassion were emanating from His two eyes. He came near me and asked me to pay obeisance to His feet. While I was touching His prosperous feet He sprinkled on my head the holy water from His kamandala(small pot made of wood or earth used by yogis or ascetics). Even without my speaking anything that divine Sree Charana said with exceedingly sweet voice, “My Child! Shankar Bhatt! I attracted you here on account of extreme love for you.” Language is not capable of adequately describing the sweetness of those words, and His boundless ambrosial compassionate looks. He placed His divine hand which has the strength to offer assurance of security to all the worlds, and is endowed with unlimited prowess, on my head. Kundalini power in me at once rose rapidly and rendered me helpless. It was felt as if the entire universe before my eyes disappeared. An electrical fire of infinite strength was burning every nerve and infusing stupor as if thousands of oceans rose terribly trying to submerge me in them. My eyes closed. My heart beat and pulse halted. My mind was rid of all queerness and it became still and stood in a great void. The consciousness in my heart merged with the infinite universal consciousness. At times I was getting an awareness that I was in a state of bliss in an extremely subtle form. At another time even that notion of ‘I’subsided and I was in an ineffable state of divine bliss. In that state when I got the knowledge that crores and crores of universes are created, sustained and liquidated from me, it was felt that ‘I’ was not separate from this universal consciousness. When this ‘I’ was at rest I was in heavenly happiness. All this was very strange to me. Then Sri Sreepada with great love sprinkled water on me from His kamandala. I returned to normal state.Sreevallabha Swamy who is the aadiguru(first guru) of this universe looked at me with a compassionate ambrosial look which relegated the love of thousand mothers into oblivion. He smiled at me very charmingly. Foreigners visiting Sreepada The two brahmins who came with me were not having the courage to speak to Sri Sreepada or touch His divine auspicious Feet. Sri Sreepada glancing at me asked about those two people. I said, “Lord! These two people who came here to have the darshan of divine Sree Charan are also brahmins!” For that, the tranquil handsome one said, “My Child!Those people do not look like brahmins! They appear to be foreigners eating the flesh of cows. The truth can be ascertained by questioning them.” Then those two brahmins confessed that they were not brahmins and that they were mlechhas. They recited ‘Kalmaan’ which is normally read by Muslims. Sri Sreepada revels in sportive plays every moment. I was astonished. Then that great preceptor said, “Only on account of the fortune accruing from the fruits of virtuous deeds performed in many births it becomes possible to recognize the universal Lord Sree Dattatreya moving in disguise under the name of Sreepada Sreevallabha. It is a greater fortune to have that feeling in a steadfast fashion and to have feeling of devotion completely in Him.All deities reside in a cow. A house which is without such a cow is equal to a burial ground. Those who serve cows with care are very much dearer to Me. Cows’ milk gives strength and satisfaction. Brahmins who eat the flesh of a cow deserve punishment. A goat is sacrificed in yagna and yaagai rituals. Not only that sacrificial goat, but many other goats having blood relationship with it will be released from their low births and obtain noble births. They get Brahmin birth very soon. Those who conduct that yagna sacrifice must have sufficient yogic strength and tapobala to impart noble births in this manner to the sacrificial goat. If without having in this manner yoga and tapobala, a yagna is conducted and a goat is sacrificed, the sin of killing a goat would visit upon them. Acts of dharma vary according to places and times. If a great ascetic eats the flesh of a cow, even if he happens to be a mlechha, it turns out to be done with an intent of offering to Parameswara. Thereby it becomes possible for the cow and its blood related ones to get noble births. If it is not like that, great sin will catch them around firmly. That was why as a general regulation, killing of cows was treated as a heinous crime. Krishna searched for a dharma-kshetra suitable for the battle between Kauravas and Paandavas before the commencement of Kurukshetra battle. Arjuna was with Krishna. At one place one farmer was letting in water into his field. That farmer was searching for a rock to place it to arrest the flow of water from going out. In the meantime his son brought food from the house. After finishing his meals the farmer severed the head of his son with a knife and placed it as a barrier to the water flow. The father who was striking with the sword and the son who was struck down with the knife did not undergo any emotions and remained unperturbed when the death blow was dealt. Food is required for the welfare of the society. The only one concern of the cultivator is to grow crop. That cultivator discharged his dharma without any desire for reward. Sree Krishna decided that area as the suitable war theatre or dharma-kshetra. You! Namesake brahmins! For you to eat the flesh of cows is not at all justified. However, on account of previous punya, the strength of prayers of your ancestors, and moreover due to My free compassion, you received the fortune of My darshan. Consider this as a great fortune and a precious fruit of luck. I will not accept your salutations. Don’t touch My feet. It is not possible to sprinkle on you the sacred water from My kamandalu. Immediately leave this place and go wherever you want. I will see that there is no dearth of food and clothes for you. You marry Muslim women and follow mlechha religion. Let the cows killed by you become your children in this life and other ensuing lives. Let them harass you in various ways and live happily by freely enjoying your hard earned money! Let both of you who had the fortune of seeing Me become famous with names as Bade Baba, Abdul Baba and be uplifted by the complete sadguru incarnation. There is a village called Seeladhi in Maharastra. It becomes a Siddha Kshetra in course of time. You get Sai Baba there. My command is inviolable. It cannot be altered like letters on a rock. Go out of this place at once.” Sreepada ordered them like that. Only myself and Sri Sreepada were there. Then a washerman named Ravi Das arrived. He was repeatedly saluting Sri Sreepada. Sreepada did not care about him for sometime. Thereafter Sri Sreepada turned towards him and smiled. I was thinking what might be the reason for that. With charming smile He looked at me with compassion and touched the centre of my eye-brows strongly. Wonder! Wonderful scenes were seen before my mental eye. The acts of grace of Sri Sreepada towards devotees Ravi Das was playing a boat towards Kurungadda. In that boat an erudite vedic scholar was travelling. That pandit said that he should be taken alone in the boat because he was a brahmin and if others get into the boat he will suffer from the sin of contact and touch by untouchables. Ravi Das demanded a higher fare. The pandit said that he was a great scholar and that he was going to Sri Sreepada. He added that the Swamy would give liberal monetary gift on recognizing his scholarship, provided Swamy was Himself a learned one. He promised to pay the boat fare out of that amount. Ravi Das agreed. The boat journey was going on. The pandit noticed during the course of conversation that Ravi Das was not having any knowledge about puraanas and other ancient legends. He remarked“You see! My life is fulfilled. As you have no knowledge of puraanas and legends three-fourth of your life is a waste. Ravi Das kept quiet. The river current was fierce and the water was overflowing. Added to that, a hole appeared in the boat and water was entering into it. Ravi Das asked, “Sir! Do you know swimming?” The pandit replied in the negative. Then Ravi Das said, “I know swimming whereas you cannot swim. Therefore, your life is cent percent waste.” Uttering the name of Sreepada Sreevallabha, Ravi Das was trying to jump into the river. A brilliant divine illumination dazzling the eyes appeared in the middle of the river. Ravi Das thought it was all the magnificence of Sri Sreepada. Water was entering the boat but some unseen hand was throwing out all that water. Both of them approached Sri Sreepada for darshan. Previously when Ravi Das was saluting, Sri Sreepada was rejecting it with utter disdain but, on that day He received the salutation of Ravi Das with a loving smile shining on a placid countenance. He, however, saw the scholar accompanying Ravi Das with complete indifference. The scholar who wanted a scholarly debate stood dumb founded. Sri Sreepada said, “You pandit! You lost discrimination between right and wrong under the influence of pedantic arrogance. You are a great scholar hailing from a noble family but, you amassed sin instead of earning punya. You subjected your dutiful wife to great anguish. You separated forcibly the wife of a washerman from him when they were leading a happy married life. You took her as your concubine. That wife of the washerman who became your concubine under unavoidable circumstances is always cursing you mentally even though she is submitting her body to you. Your wife who is a good brahmin lady is undergoing untold mental agony as her married life is on the rocks. I am observing all these things and so I attracted you here this day. According to your horoscope death is written for you today. I am granting you a life span of three more years at present. You go to your home and change your previous evil conduct. If not, I will leave you to your fate. You are a scholar! There is no doubt. Do you want Me to reward you with money for your scholarship? Or do you want extension of life by three more years? Reply immediately.” The pandit who heard the words of omniscient Sri Sreepada remained speechless like a dumb one. He had a desire in his heart for extension of the life span but, words were not coming out of his mouth. Sri Sreepada Himself declared, “I am extending the duration of your life as per your heart’s desire. The washerwoman who is your concubine shall have to become your wife in the next birth but, you took her as your own in this birth. Dharmas relating to particular birth are restricted to that birth only. You have transgressed that stipulation. In the ensuing birth those washermen couple enjoy regal comforts. You will be born as an impotent one and work as a servant to that washerwoman and suffer the consequences of your past deeds. If you perform some good acts during these three years you will serve that washerwoman without any want for food and clothing. If you indulge in evil acts you serve that washerman and his wife and undergo all sorts of troubles without being able to get compensation commensurate with your labours. Ravi Das who brought you to Me will be credited with all your punya because he brought you when you are due to die. As a result of that punya he can serve Me–an actual incarnation of Datta. You must get out of this holy land at once.”Sri Sreepada commanded the pandit. The pandit left. Ravi Das was washing the clothes of Sri Sreepada, cleaning the ashram premises, and rendering other services. Whenever Sri Sreepada was coming to the river for bath Ravi Das used to prostrate before Him. Sri Sreepada used to accept his salutations with a gracious countenance. Ravi Das remembered the words of his father. His father said that as Sri Sreepada was omnipresent every salutation made to Him in return confers a grand fortune of receiving salutations from hundreds of people. His father also said that this great luck could be obtained only when Sri Sreepada accepts those salutations. Ravi Das was overjoyed because Sri Sreepada accepted his salutations. One day Ravi Das who saw a king indulging in revelry with young damsels in water sports, thought that it would be better if he also takes birth as a king. When Sri Sreepada was going for river bath this matter came up for discussion during the conversation with Him. Sreepada gave a boon to Ravi Das to be born in a Muslim ruler’s family in Vaidhuryanagar. He assured that He would give His darshan again during the incarnation as Nrusimha Saraswati. He looked at Ravi Das with a peculiar smile. Ravi Das died then and there. I underwent amazement and wonder on seeing these wonderful scenes before my mental eyes. When I regained normalcy Sri Sreepada glanced at me and smiled sweetly. How much can we praise Sreegurudev who plays sportive pastimes every moment? In the meantime some ladies came there with their sick husbands. Some parents came there seeking worthy husbands for their daughters. Sreegurudev was distributing bits of turmeric. All people were leaving that place with great happiness. Granting a cup for receiving alms to Vallabhesa by Sri Sreepada In the meanwhile a young brahmin came there. His body was filled with dust. He belonged to Kasyapasa lineage and Aapasthamba Sutra. His name was Vallabheswara Sarma. He came from Pithikapura agrahaaram. Sri Sreepada inquired about the welfare of all His kith and kin in Pithikapuram in a very detailed manner. This was only a pleasing pastime for the omniscient one. Many people brought food preparations for the midday bhiksha. In the meanwhile He extended His divine hands upwards as if He was receiving something. A large silver vessel filled with a sweet preparation called ‘kheer’ was received.Sri Sreepada directed me to distribute it to the disciples who assembled there. The vessel never became empty even though ‘kheer’ was distributed to many people. He ordered that the food preparations brought by His disciples should be thrown into the river Krishna. That work was entrusted to Ravi Das. The prasaad of Swamy was donated even to the creatures in the waters of the river. Sri Sreepada asked Vallabhesa to sit near Him. I sat by the side of Vallabhesa. A Kannada brahmin by name Subbanna Sastry sat beside me. One poor brahmin prayed to Swamy to arrange a good match to his daughter to be married. Then Sri Sreepada said, “Why fear when I am here? Fear exists where sin is there. This Vallabhesa is your son-in-law. Subbanna Sastry will officiate as purohit during the marriage. The forefathers of Vallabhesa are very angry. The curse of ancestors is not good for life. Obsequies, offerings of oblations made with devotion only will reach forefathers. In no other way they will reach them. Therefore, incantations from Garuda Purana should be read prior to reading of marriage mantras. Receive bit of turmeric for an auspicious married life. The prasaad which you received today is a very rare one. Malladi family, Vatsavaayi family and Sri Pynda Venkatappayya Sreshti in Pithikapuram prepared sweet pudding as an offering to Me. I distributed it to you. Those who are troubled by evil spirits such as ghouls and devils will get immediate relief from this prasaad . Those who grope in the misery of penury will have their wealth enhanced after taking this prasaad .” When Sri Sreepada was making this divine conversation tears rolled from His cheeks. Sri Sreepada with a hoarse voice said, “My bond of indebtedness with Malladi, Pynda Venkatappayya Sreshti and Vatsavaayi families transcends time. I melt at their loving devotion. I freely go into their kitchens in a subtle form seeking some thing to eat. Not only those people! I move as a young boy in the houses of those who adore Me with affectionate devotion. The sound of My foot steps always echo in their hearts. No one should stay during nights in Kurungadda without My permission. Ogres and fierce ghosts cry with extreme anguish for liberation. I devour them and grant them new and liberated bodies. Deities, celestials, yakshas, hidden forces, and many elevated souls belonging to the ‘maha padaardha’ (great matter) come here for the chance of My darshan. Maha siddhas,maha yogis and maha purushas engaged in penance from many centuries come here excited with joy for My darshan, sparsan (touch) and conversation.You cross the river happily. My order is to be compulsorily complied with.” That was the command of Sri Sreepada. We crossed the river and reached the village on the river bank. Subbanna Sastry made the bride and bridegroom sit in the house of bride’s father. He was reading mantras. Sastry knows only marriage mantras but he has no knowledge about the mantras of funeral rites and procedures. Moreover, he never heard such funeral mantras ever read after making the bride and bridegroom seated. He never heard or found such mantras. Subbanna sat in the position of the presiding priest after meditating upon Sri Sreepada. Incantations were coming out of his mouth effortlessly. This created wonder in Subbanna! After this activity was completed their marriage was performed with marriage mantras. A turmeric root was tied instead of mangalasutra (the cord as token of marriage, fastened on the neck of the bride). The bride’s father as well as the bridegroom were penniless. Brahmins who came for the marriage abused and left from the marriage venue as the marriage was not conducted strictly according to tradition. Vallabhesa had no parents. Parents of the bride, the bridegroom, priest and myself totalling five only were present besides the bride! Then we went for the darshan of Sri Sreepada along with the newly married couple. Sri Swamy blessed us and made us happy. He instructed us to remain in meditation in His presence for some time. I visualized the future of Vallabhesa as soon as I went in meditation. Vallabhesa was trading in turmeric. He decided to arrange the worship of one thousand brahmins in Kuruvapuram after gaining profit in his business. He earned plenty of money by the grace of Sri Sreepada but, he was postponing the fulfillment of the vow. In the meantime Sri Sreepada disappeared in Kurungadda and remained incognito. The Paadukas of Sri Sreepada only were in Kurungadda. When Vallabhesa was carrying money to Kurungadda four thieves joined him in the guise of travellers and killed him. While he was being beheaded, he remembered Sri Sreepada. Sri Sreepada came in the form of an ascetic with a trident in hand and slayed three thieves. The fourth one submitted that he never committed any theft; that the three thieves met him in the mid-way; and that he colluded with them under the influence of their alluring words. He prayed for protection. The compassionate Sreegurudev granted him assurance and gave some holy ash, commanding him to sprinkle it on the body of Vallabhesa and join his head and torso. From the ambrosial glances of Sreepada, Vallabhesa regained life. Vallabhesa learnt all that happened from the thief. There was no limit for his astonishment and happiness. He was sorry that he could not get the fortune of seeing Sreepada. That thief was happy that he could have the darshan of Sreepada on account of Vallabhesa. Vallabhesa realized his mistake. He had the capacity long back to offer feast to thousand brahmins. In that particular phase of time he had the capacity to easily offer a grand feast of food for even four thousand people. To make amends for his unnecessary delay which resulted in many difficulties, Vallabhesa arranged a grand food festival in Kurungadda for four thousand brahmins. The Corporeal Cosmic Form of Sreepada Sreepada ordered after sometime to open my eyes. Afterwards Sri Sreepada observed, “In My presence no action takes place without a cause.The way of creation is indeed very strange.It is strange that I who is formless should come before you in human form. It is a wonder that an attributeless one like Me should be considered by you as having attributes. I am without limitations and bounds but, it is a matter of surprise that your experience shows Me within limitations and boundaries. All forces are in My hand. I am the one who resides in each and every atom of this vast universe. I am the resolve that binds together one atom with the other! I am the Rudra of the final destruction blasting each and every atom preparing the ground for the process of new creation. I am the ancient phenomenon which teaches you what is jnaana(knowledge) and what is ajnaana (ignorance)! I enjoy by throwing all living creatures in a variety of illusions. I am the one who rushes with a thousand hands to the succour of those who call Me in distress. I am the ancient one who protects them! I am the real ‘I’ who ticks in all creatures as ‘I’ and ‘I! You have to be surprised if omnipresence, omnipotence, and omniscience are not in such a person like Me. What is there for you to be surprised when those aspects are evident and experienced by you?” When Sreegurudev who was a personification of Parabrahma was speaking like that sound of a bell was heard from somewhere. That bell descended near the auspicious feet of Sreepada to the amazement of all the people. After a few seconds it disappeared while all the people were looking at it. Sri Sreepada’s respect for all women as mothers Sri Sreepada averred like this, “This incarnation of Sreepada Sreevallabha is a great incarnation that grants instantaneous results. No avadhoota can obtain complete perfection without remembering My name. He cannot overcome the obstacles to yoga. You! Vallabhesaa! Listen. When your father died in your childhood I know how your four paternal uncles subjected you to many difficulties and turned you a beggar by snatching your property! I also understand that their children also harbour enmity towards you! After death your paternal uncles will be reborn and become thieves. They will plan to plunder your money on your way to Kurungedda. If you remember My name I will immediately appear and kill those three robbers with My trident. I will leave the fourth one because he is not very much guilty. On hearing the words of Sri Sreepada, the wife of Vallabhesa began to shed tears. Then Sreepada said like this, “Mother!I, Sreepada Sreevallabha see in every woman akhanda sowbhaagyavati Sumati Maharani, who gave Me birth. I am always an infant child in the lap of that great mother! Don’t grieve. Preserve the turmeric root which I give you. That will confer all auspiciousness to you. You will live like a sumangali (a pious lady having a husband). My law is unchangeable like a rock edict. It is not possible for any force in this creation to alter it.I want to make eternal the name of My father who is my First Guru who initiated Me into the Gayatri mantra. Therefore, My next incarnation will take the word ‘Narasimha’ from the name of My father with the added appellation ‘Saraswati’ and becomes as ‘Narasimha Saraswati’. I desire to render the form of My grandfather Baapanaarya long lasting. For that purpose, the figure of Narasimha Saraswati resembles exactly My grandfather in all respects.My grandfather is My second Guru. I studied vedic education from him. The bell which you have seen now was once in the house of My grandfather. That will be moving to many countries to bless spiritual aspirants according to My will. That travels beneath the layers of the earth as well on the outer layers of the earth. Shankar Bhatt! The bell will return to Pithikapuram when eighteenth chapter–representing the number of victory–in the Sreepada Sreevallabha Charitaamrutam which is being written by you reaches Pithikapuram. This bell undergoes many changes of shape and measurement and moves according to My Will. A‘great Samsthan’ will be established in the house of My grandfather. I will send to Pithikapuram the bell ringing victory as a mark of My love.” Victory Victory unto Sri Sreepada Sreevallabha!