ॐ सांई राम
जो जन करे रक्त-दान
पावे सुख, शांति और मान
साईं सवारे उसका जीवन
OFFERINGS TO GOD BRINGS UNLIMITED RETURNS
(By Mr. Amit Gupta)
Shri Krishna Govind Harey Murare, hey Nath Narayan Vasudevaya. Shri Krishna Govind Harey Murare, hey Nath Narayan Vasudevaya.
When the Pandavas were sentenced to 13 year exile in the forest with their wife Draupadi by the Kauravas, Yudhisthir was despondent at his inability to feed the sages and others who accompanied him. Looking at his plight, his priest counselled him to pray to Lord Surya, the Sun God for help. Pleased with the justifiable prayers of Yudhisthir, Lord Surya blessed him and gave him ‘Akshaya Patra.’
Akshaya means limitless and patra means a vessel, a container. Akshaya Patra means an inexhaustible vessel. It is an object from Hindu mythology given to Yudhisthir by Lord Surya. It had a never failing supply of food for the Pandavas every day. The vessel would supply endless quantities of food for each meal for them and the supply would run out only when Draupadi finished eating her meal, usually last.
Once unexpectedly, rishi Durvasa and several of his disciples arrived at the hermitage of Pandavas. There was no food to serve them since Draupadi had already finished eating which made the Pandavas nervous. The Pandavas knew rishi Durvasa could get enraged easily and when angered could even curse them. Durvasa rishi expressed his desire to first take a bath in the river Yamuna situated close by and then partake the food.
As they left, Draupadi prayed intensely to Lord Krishna for help to escape the wrath of the sage. Krishna heard her intent prayers. Providentially, He arrived at their doorstep and Draupadi apprised him of her problem.
Draupadi was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna and would always seek His advice on matters, spiritual and worldly both. She had great veneration and adoration for Krishna and Krishna lovingly called her sakhi or friend. Draupadi was not only Krishna’s friend but also his faithful follower. Seeing no solution to the problem at hand, she pleaded for help and asked Krishna to rescue her and her husbands. How could she arrange for food for so many people in the forest?
As it happened several times earlier, the Pandavas were once again saved by Lord Krishna. He asked Draupadi to get him some food to eat, to which Draupadi replied that all the food for that meal had been consumed. Krishna insisted on eating something atleast. He asked her to bring whatever food was left over for him.
Draupadi was embarrassed and reluctantly got a vessel from the kitchen which had only two grains of rice in it. Krishna happily ate those two grains and smiled mysteriously. He chuckled and told her that he felt full now and then He went his way. Krishna’s eating two grains of rice miraculously satiated the hunger of Durvasa rishi and all his disciples at the river bank. They decided not to go to the Pandavas at all as they were not hungry anymore!
In this way, the pride and glory of the Pandavas was saved and a devotee’s sincere call heard by the Master of the Universe.
The satisfaction of Lord Krishna meant the satisfaction of the whole universe.
When we worship God, we get everything in return in unlimited supply. God protects us, saves us from worries and rescues us from unexpected problems.
When the Pandavas were sentenced to 13 year exile in the forest with their wife Draupadi by the Kauravas, Yudhisthir was despondent at his inability to feed the sages and others who accompanied him. Looking at his plight, his priest counselled him to pray to Lord Surya, the Sun God for help. Pleased with the justifiable prayers of Yudhisthir, Lord Surya blessed him and gave him ‘Akshaya Patra.’
Akshaya means limitless and patra means a vessel, a container. Akshaya Patra means an inexhaustible vessel. It is an object from Hindu mythology given to Yudhisthir by Lord Surya. It had a never failing supply of food for the Pandavas every day. The vessel would supply endless quantities of food for each meal for them and the supply would run out only when Draupadi finished eating her meal, usually last.
Once unexpectedly, rishi Durvasa and several of his disciples arrived at the hermitage of Pandavas. There was no food to serve them since Draupadi had already finished eating which made the Pandavas nervous. The Pandavas knew rishi Durvasa could get enraged easily and when angered could even curse them. Durvasa rishi expressed his desire to first take a bath in the river Yamuna situated close by and then partake the food.
As they left, Draupadi prayed intensely to Lord Krishna for help to escape the wrath of the sage. Krishna heard her intent prayers. Providentially, He arrived at their doorstep and Draupadi apprised him of her problem.
Draupadi was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna and would always seek His advice on matters, spiritual and worldly both. She had great veneration and adoration for Krishna and Krishna lovingly called her sakhi or friend. Draupadi was not only Krishna’s friend but also his faithful follower. Seeing no solution to the problem at hand, she pleaded for help and asked Krishna to rescue her and her husbands. How could she arrange for food for so many people in the forest?
As it happened several times earlier, the Pandavas were once again saved by Lord Krishna. He asked Draupadi to get him some food to eat, to which Draupadi replied that all the food for that meal had been consumed. Krishna insisted on eating something atleast. He asked her to bring whatever food was left over for him.
Draupadi was embarrassed and reluctantly got a vessel from the kitchen which had only two grains of rice in it. Krishna happily ate those two grains and smiled mysteriously. He chuckled and told her that he felt full now and then He went his way. Krishna’s eating two grains of rice miraculously satiated the hunger of Durvasa rishi and all his disciples at the river bank. They decided not to go to the Pandavas at all as they were not hungry anymore!
In this way, the pride and glory of the Pandavas was saved and a devotee’s sincere call heard by the Master of the Universe.
The satisfaction of Lord Krishna meant the satisfaction of the whole universe.
When we worship God, we get everything in return in unlimited supply. God protects us, saves us from worries and rescues us from unexpected problems.