Prayer

Prayer has had a great part in all our life. But how we pray and what we pray for is most often never a factor. We take it for granted. In most cases we pray just for us, our family and our welfare. Here is a wonderful story I recently read., one I will always cherish and hope those who read it too.

A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small, desert like island. The two survivors, not knowing what else to do, agree that they had no other recourse but to pray to God. However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island.

The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land and he was able to eat it's fruit. The other man's parcel of land remained barren! After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife. The next day, there was a woman who swam to his side of the land. On the other side of the island, again there was nothing! Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food. The next day, like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing! 

Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife could  leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side of the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island. He considered the other man unworthy to receive God's blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered. As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven booming, "Why are you leaving your companion on the island?". The first man answered , "My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them. His prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve anything." The next instant, "You are mistaken!" the voice rebuked him. "He had only one prayer,  which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings.". Confused, the first man asked the voice "Tell me, O God, What did he pray for that I should owe him anything?" And God said, "He prayed that all your prayers be answered."

For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone,  but those of another praying for us.
So, we need to remember to pray for others and when we do have our prayers answered, lets thank those unknown souls  who might also have played a part.

Lets not overlook our own faults!

One day a man complained to the health department about his brothers. "I have  two brothers and we all live in one room. They have too many pets. One has five monkeys, the other has six dogs. It is terrible and there is no air in the room at all. You must please do something about this." The official asked, "Have you got any windows?" to which the man promptly replied, "Yes!" Why don't you open them to let fresh air in?", suggested the official. The second the official finished, the man yelled..."What? And loose all my pigeons!"

When everything goes well in life, we readily take the credits to it. However when our attempts end in failure, we immediately point our fingers in the opposite direction, overlooking our own faults, just like the man in the story!


Life becomes far more liveable when we are true to our innerself. If we can remember that there is no life without struggles and failures and that they are here only to make us stronger individuals we will be able to face it with far more ease. There is no shame in failures, whoever says whatever. The more the failures the more we learn. Ofcourse easier said than done! But we donot have a choice? When we fail, lets cry and brood, who cares, but lets remember not to stop there, lets get up to try it all over again... no matter whether it would fail again or succeed...lets just not give it! Thats not us!

The Point-of-View in Life!

In a small town there lived two brothers. But apart from the fact that they were brothers, they had nothing in common. The elder brother had many bad habits  drugs, alcohol, etc...and was often in and out of jail. He was a criminal by career, a very bad dad, with about two failed marriages.  His brother on the contrary, led a very healthy and peaceful life. He was a bussiness man in a very high position, a very good dad and husband. In his free time he serves his community through physical and financial means.

One day a reporter from a local telivision interviewed both the brothers seperately and asked them the same question..." What is it that made you, who you are today?"

The elder brother replied, "It is all b'cas of my father. He was an alcoholic, beat my mother, often for no reason. He was selfish and showed no love or affection to us. Today I have become just like him!".

The younger brother replied, "Its all b'cas of my father. He was a failure by all means. I took a resolve that I would never be like him. I am so grateful to my dad that he showed me how not to live!".

Both the brothers were troubled by their abusive father. They both had negative input however their output was completely different. Everything depends on our mind! If we want to see good in something or someone we can and if we decide to see bad, we can sure find a lot of that as well. Everything depends on how you look at it. Its all in your point of view!

Attitude in Life!

Once there was a monastery that was very strict. They followed a vow of silence and were allowed to talk just two words every 10 years. There was a new monk who after spending his first tenyears there, went to the head monk. When the head monk asked," Now that you have fiinished your first ten years, what are the two words you would like to speak out?", he immediately said, " Bed.... hard!". Another ten years passed by and he was asked the same question by the head monk for which he replied, "Food stinks!". On finishing the third ten years he went to the head monk with his two words,"I QUIT!" The head monk replied, "Well, I can see why... all you do is complain."

Even in the most suitable circumstances, if our attitude is not correct, we will not find peace of mind! Our own mind is the cause of our suffereing and our own mind is also the cause of our joy.

The True Significance of Onam

Onam, is a traditional festival celebrated by the Hindus in the South Western state of Kerala. It is associated with floral decorations (Pookalam), Good Eats (OnaSadya), boat race (Vallamkali) and a strange story!

Strange Story: - The Mahabali( He was a great King who ruled the land  once upon a time)story associated with Thiruvonam states that Mahabali was a great king in whose rule, the citizens were happy and peace with each other. The Devas were Jealous of Mahabali and they approached Lord Vishnu to curtail his power and Vishnu(God) agreed to malicious intention of Devas and kicked Mahabali underground.

1. If Vishnu yields to Jealousy of Devas, is Vishnu worth to worship?
2. Can a God be partial to someone or some clan?

Clearly this is a fabrication of human mind (Nara stuthi) which contains human elements of Jealousy, enmity, ego, arrogance, dominate with power and annihilate. There is no divinity (holiness) in this story.

Vishnu: - As per Vedas the feet of Lord Vishnu can be reached only by those who had conquered their senses (Indrajit), renounced and sacrificed.

Indrasya Yuj saha,
Tad vishno paramam padam sada pasyanthi soorayaha

Mahabali: - Our tradition states that we acquire nothing through wealth and only sacrifice defines a place for us (Tyagainaike amirthathvam anasuha). Mahabali had performed 99 Yajnams (fire sacrifices).
Yajnam is associated with fasting for several days, giving up our residence(upa vasam), giving up sleep and staying focused on Agni day and night, finally donating to the needy/ poor upon completion and staying de-attached from materialistic pleasures.

King Mahabali, executing 99 Yajnams(fire sacrifices) had acquired supremacy over his senses(Indrajit) and was qualified for more than Indra sadas. He was qualified for the Divine Lotus Feet of the Lord. Therefore the Lord Himself came down  to this qualified (Aruhath) soul.

Typically in Hindu traditions, departed soul integrates with the feet of Lord Vishnu (Vishnu Paadam). Pindam (offerings) to Vishnu Paadam is considered as offering to departed souls.  Vishnu Paadam is the final resting place for a soul and Mahabali acquired it alive through his penance and sacrifice.

In Conclusion:- Thiruvonam is a celebration for conquest of senses giving us a clue on how to reach parama padam.