You are a saint too !
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Valmiki, a well known saint of ancient India wrote the book Ramayana. It is one of the greatest stories enjoyed and loved throughout India and Southeast Asia.
Valmiki actually lived much of his life as a thief. How is it that he became a saint?
The story begins with Narada who was a wandering person and a great devotee of Lord Vishnu - the Preserver in the Hindu group of Gods. Sage Narada crisscrossed the skies chanting the name 'Narayana' (one of the names of Vishnu).
Once, Narada crossed Valmiki's path when Valmiki was a thief. Valmiki stopped the sage and demanded money. Narada said he had no money and Valmiki became furious. He threatened Narada, “I will kill you if you don't give me something valuable.”
Sage Narada had nothing except the simple clothes he wore and the single stringed instrument that he strummed as he sang the praises of Lord Vishnu.
Narada told Valmiki, “The only valuable thing I have is the mantra 'Narayana’. I always repeat it. I can teach you this mantra.”
Valmiki asked, “What will it give me?”
Narada replied, “Chant this mantra and when you die, you will not die alone; the Lord will be with you.”
Valmiki wasn't impressed.
He said, “Useless! In any case I won't die alone. My entire family will join me. I live for them. I steal for them. I have no need for your mantra. Find something valuable to give me or you will die.”
Narada begged for mercy but Valmiki wouldn't budge. Narada finally said, “Please go and ask your family members who among them will walk with you to the gates of death. If even one of them sincerely agrees, you can come back and kill me.”
Narada offered to remain where he was until Valmiki returned. Valmiki proudly went home to his son, whom he dearly loved and who loved him in return. “Son, when death calls me, will you join me?” Valmiki asked.
The son was shocked.
He said, “No, of course not! You are old and it is time for you to go. I have a life. Don't you think you should let me be?”
Valmiki was shattered.
Next, he asked his wife
who would surely be
with him always. He
asked her, "Dear, will
you join me when I die?"
His wife hesitated and
replied tenderly, "If you
go and I go with you, who
will take care of our
children?"
Valmiki then asked his
old parents. They too
refused to go with him.
They wanted to live for
some more years.
In tears, Valmiki went back to Narada. He told him what had happened and cried sadly.
Narada comforted him, "No one and nothing will come with you when you die. None of your relatives, none of your things, nothing will come with you. You will go alone when death calls you. The only thing that can go with you is the name of the Lord."
Valmiki then understood that no one he loved and had stolen for would join him in his death. He alone would have to be responsible for what he became in his life. The moment he had this great understanding, he chose a different path for himself.
Sage Narada initiated him into the 'Narayana' mantra.
When Valmiki uttered the word 'Narayana', he experienced his true blissful nature and entered into a deep meditative state of samadhi and stayed in that state for hundreds of years. During this time, an anthill grew on top of him. In Sanskrit, 'Valmiki' means 'anthill'. He was known by that name ever since.
When he finally emerged from samadhi, Valmiki was no longer a thief but an enlightened sage ..!
DID YOU KNOW ?
God is your unfailing friend at all times in your life. Place your deep faith in him and watch how he watches over you until your last breath.
These words appear in the story. Can you unscramble them?
1. IIVLMAK ___________________ 6. SUNHIV ___________________
2. TILLNATH ___________________ 7. IDHASAM ___________________
3. DAANAR ___________________ 8. NEDIIATTMO ___________________
4. YANNAAAR ___________________ 9. ANYAARMA ___________________
5. TARANM ___________________ 10. DATEIITIN ___________________