[Chaturamnaya] Life and Teachings of His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyateertha Mahaswamigal - 4

[S Jayanarayanan via Chaturamnaya]

 (Continued from previous post)

http://svbf.org/journal/vol4no1/Mahasannidhanam.pdf

Heartfelt Concern

Once Srinivasan’s friend did not fare well in the examinations. The boy’s father resolved to punish
his ward. So he ordered his son to bend and he placed a big stone on the lad’s back. The boy
required correction but this was unjustifiable. Unable to bear the load, the boy began weeping.
Srinivasan heard the piteous cries and arrived at the spot. Addressing the father, he said:
You are older than me and wiser, too. Your son is writhing in pain. Please let him rest for
a while. You may place the stone on my back instead and I shall support it from him.
The father was moved by Srinivasan’s heartfelt concern and relieved his son of the burden.
Such was Srinivasan’s compassion that he was ready to take other’s sufferings onto himself.
It also shows his respect towards elders.
Even as a young boy, Srinivasan was extremely considerate. While other children of his age were
playing, he would be helping his mother, performing various domestic chores, such as cleaning
vessels.
Srinivasan was patience personified. There are many who seek to derive pleasure from tormenting
others. So it was that some boys sought to examine his forbearance, and they brought a stick
and began to rain blows on him, one after another. He bore the onslaught without a murmur.
Soon the boys stopped, aghast at the extent of the injury they had inflicted. He won the hearts
with kind words.
As a joke some boys challenged Srinivasan to consume a handful of chilies, which he proceeded
to do without any discomfiture. The boys were astounded. He thus showed them it is possible to be
content with what food one gets. Freedom from attachment was thus innate in him.
The Acharya possessed the eight “atma gunas” in full measure and then some more. His treasure
house of divine virtues included ahimsa and a strong belief in god. Even in those days, he showed
a remarkable trait in his aversion to man’s interference in nature’s delicately balanced ecology.

Faith in God

He was an expert exponent of Puranic stories. He used to narrate these to his friends,
highlighting the moral aspects in them. Thus, even at a young age, not only did Srinivasan
possess unshakable faith in god, but also induced it in others.
With the passage of time, Srinivasan began to regularly express to his friends his desire to
renounce the world. At first his friends found his longing ridiculous but soon realized that
he was firmly resolved. One boy asked him, “What is the use of becoming a sannyasi? By becoming a
king one attains a very high position.”
“Do not think thus,” Srinivasan replied, “What undecaying use is there in becoming a king?
An emperor can enjoy only when he is a the helm of power. This state must come to an end sooner
or later. If, however, I become a sannyasi, I can continually meditate and be without any worries.
There will be a wonderful opportunity to behold God and I shall remain ever protected by him.”
Are we not reminded of Nachiketa, the young lad who went to Yama himself?

(To be continued)
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