[Chaturamnaya] Life and Teachings of His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyateertha Mahaswamigal - 17

[S Jayanarayanan]

(Continued from previous post)





http://svbf.org/journal/vol4no3-4/teachings.pdf





Inexplicable Compassion





His compassion was something that can only be wondered and not explained.




Some years ago an Ayurvedic physician brought the Acharya a rare preparation whose composition he
kept secret. The doctor said that the lotion he had prepared would heal any wound. The quantity
supplied was very small and so was precious.




One day Acharya saw a badly wounded dog. He noticed that someone had hurt it with a knife and that
the wound was very deep. The poor creature whimpered in agony. The Acharya was moved. Immediately,
he ordered that the lotion be applied on the dog. Who indeed would have thought that such a rare
medicine meant for the future use of the pontiff himself, would be given to treat a dog?




The application of the ointment was continued for a couple of days. It was surprising to note that
the wound healed well beyond expectations and that too in a remarkably short period of time.
The dog became completely normal.




Even when traveling he would notice persons or situations needing help. Once, as the Acharya’s car
sped through a city lane he saw a beggar lying prostrate on the ground and having fits. He ordered
the driver to halt the car so that the man’s welfare could be looked into. The driver replied that
such sights were common and more often than not were mere pretences put up by beggars to earn the
sympathy of passers-by and get alms from them. The Acharya refused to budge from his stance and
said, “It matters little whether the man is a fraud or not. I am going to help him.” Accordingly,
the driver halted the car. The Acharya realized that the man had stopped having fits and was feeling
thirsty. So, without a moments thought he picked up his own vessel and asked for the water to be
taken to that man.




In the meantime, another car had stopped and its driver rushed with water to the sick man and gave
it to him before the water vessel sent by the Acharya reached the spot.




When the Acharya resumed his journey he remarked, “How fortunate the other car driver was to be able
to render help! I was not lucky enough to avail of the chance to help the suffering one.”





(To be continued)