Devotion towards GOD is one of the easiest and yet the most difficult concepts. In our Ve:dic culture, we are taught to practice devotion and worship of GOD, by going to temples and saying a few prayers while offering beautiful flowers; food and water; clothes and gold ornaments to GOD! This is indeed a way to worship HIM. But it is missing an essential offering and God would not accept anything without that! What is that?
Our Tirumala Srinivasa – the GOD of the 7 Hills – Sapthagiri:sha, has shown us the right way to pray and serve HIM.
Once, during the reign of King Thondaman, who ruled the Kingdom of Thondamanadu near the foothills of Tirumala, there lived a Brahmin called Kurma Dvija. Being a pious man, he, one day, wished to go on a pilgrimage to Ka:si. But his wife was pregnant.
So, he approached the King Thondaman and requested his support and care for his wife and kids. The King assured the Bramhin and soon Kurma Dvija left for his long journey.
The King found a suitable place for Kurma Dvija’s family and arranged for their food to last for a while. Soon the King forgot about them! Two years thus passed, when the Brahmin suddenly appeared in the court and asked the King about his wife and children.
The King immediately realized, how he had forgotten about them and sent his commanders to check for them. He found that the wife and the kids have died due to starvation and all that remained was their bones! The King was very upset and terrified and yet he outwardly assured the Brahmin of his family’s safe return. He was so worried, that he quickly decided to seek the refuge of the God of the Hills – Srinivasa!
So, he ran to the temple where Srinivasa lived and talked to HIS devotees in HIS real form. Thondaman narrated the incident and pleaded Srinvasa to give him a solution.
Srinivisa was very disappointed at Thondaman’s lack of responsibility as a King. He admonished the King and said that HE would hereafter not appear to anyone in HIS original moving form, and instead only stay on the Hills as an “Archa Murthy” – not moving; not talking!
And then, Lord, instructed the King to take the bones of the Bramhin’s wife and children and dip them a pond at a specific place. By doing so, the wife and children would come alive! King Thondaman followed Swamy’s words and was relieved to see the Brahmin’s wife and children re-unite with Kurma Dvija!
[Since the bones (asthi) were dipped in the divine pond (saro:varam) to bring the dead back to life, the pond is known as “Asthi Saro:varam” ]
Although King Thondaman was glad to have been blessed and saved by God, he turned very sad that his God, Lord Srinivasa would thence-forth not be moving or talking to him anymore. The King eventually accepted it and started worshipping the Archa Murthy. He used to offer golden flowers to God everyday and prayed intently. Every morning, he would satisfy himself that his flowers were accepted by God when he sees them at the feet of deity.
But, slowly, over time, he grew proud of his devotion and offerings of gold to God. And one day, much to his surprise he found all his gold flowers lay strewn away from God’s Lotus feet and instead there lied some mud flowers at HIS feet! Thondaman suspected the priest of not his duty well and admonished him. But when it started to happen daily,
the King grew very furious at the priest and was filled with rage! At that instant, he heard a voice from Swamy, who said that HE preferred the mud-flowers as they were offered with great love by a potter Bhimanna! The King was asked to visit the potter at his house.
The King was not happy to know that there was a better devotee than him and at the same time he was eager to know how Bhimanna could fare better than him. He immediately left in search of the potter’s house. He soon reached Bhimanna’s house and there he saw that the potter created earthen pots daily, by first making some mud-flowers and offering them with all love and devotion to his clay-Srinivasa. He would end his day, by again making some clay-flowers and offering them to GOD. This seemed to be his routine.
The King was surprised to see the dedication of the potter towards Srinivasa. It was this devotion and love that made GOD accept the flowers of Bhimanna over his! Thondaman realized his mistake and repented for his ego and arrogance. He surrendered to God and to the potter as well.
Lord was happy with Thondaman’s prayers. He blessed them all with HIS Darshan by coming down to the house of Bhimanna in HIS vima:nam, along with HIS consorts. HE ate the food offered by Bhimanna in the Earthen plates. God was immensely pleased with his devotion. He granted Moksha to the potter and all his family members.
Now, we know, the missing element in a prayer. It is our thought. Our love, purity and selflessness in our prayers. That is when GOD responds.
