Ch - 21 Sri Guru Charitra

The Dead Child Became Alive

The Sanyasi said, `You are mourning in vain. He who has come to birth, in this world has to die. How long can last the foam or a bubble in the water. This body is made of five principles and when they are separated, the body also perishes. Satwa, Rajas and Tamas are the three qualities of those principles. Satwa begets god, Rajas begets human being and Tamas begets demon. Man does good and bad actions and accordingly he gets enjoyment or suffering in the next birth.

Being deluded by affection and agreed, men have pleasures or miseries. They are dependent on the actions of the previous birth. Even Gods and Rishis have to suffer. Only is not grieved at death.

When a female is pregnant, in the beginning the fetus has no shape; but it develops and comes to birth and it is therefore evident that it will perish one day. A body is like a bubble in the water. Some die in childhood, some in youth and some in old age as per actions of the past life. But due to affection, it is said that she is the mother. He is the father, son, wife, friend and so on. 

The body appears to be clean; but it is full of flesh, blood, urine, filth etc.

As one comes to birth one's enjoyment and suffering are destined. No one has won victory over death. One sees treasure in dream but of what use can it be in practical life? You had many lives in different yonis i.e. species e.g. animals, birds, worms, human being etc.; but how many of these can you recollect? If you had been a human being can you tell me whose wife or daughter you had been? If you cannot know this, why do you mourn saying `my son’? You give the corpse to the Brahmins for funeral.'

Hearing the advice of the Sanyasi, the Brahmani said, `You have advised me but I am not satisfied and if the fate is unchangeable, why one should adore God? If iron is not transformed into gold by the touch of Paris (Philosopher's stone) what is its significance? Being unfortunate, I adored Shri Guru. If one has fever, one goes to a physician and seeks relief by his medicine.

Shri Narasimha Saraswati is the incarnation of Trimurti (Three Gods). He blessed us by giving us sons with long lives. How can it be untrue? In the circumstances, why this calamity should befall me? Therefore I have decided to give up my life.'

Hearing her decision, the Sanyasi said, `Shri Guru has blessed you to have sons having long lives and still your son has died, then you should better go to the place of Audumbar with your dead child.'

Being encouraged in this fashion, she tied the body of her son at her back and came to Audumbar. She dashed her head on the Padukas and began to mourn. As the night was approaching the Brahmins again asked for the dead body, but she refused to give. The Brahmins said `the body will emanate foul odor tomorrow and then she will have to give it.' Saying this, they went home. Only the parents remained there. Later on after midnight the parents fell drowsy and got a nap due to exertion.

In her dream she saw a person with vibuthi marks on the body, a wreath of Rudraksha round the neck, a Trishul in the hand and a tiger skin on the body. He said to her, `Why are you blaming me and mourning? What ails your son? Saying so he applied bhasma or vibuthi to the forehead of the son, opened his mouth and blew air into it by his mouth. Thus oxygen was infused in his body. The result was that the boy began to move his limbs and came to life.

At first sight she was frightened. She thought that one sees in one's dream whatever is in one's mind. But as she awoke she found that the boy was making movement and his body was warm. At first she placed the boy away out of fear but the boy sat and asked for something to eat as he was hungry. She took him to her breast. Milk came out profusely from the paps. Then she gave up fear and was delighted. She aroused her husband. Both bowed to the Padukas of Shri Guru and prayed, `Kindly forgive us for our harsh words.' They took rounds of the tree and went for bath.

After bath they washed the blood on the Padukas and worshipped them with great devotion. By this time it was morning. The Brahmins came there again for the funeral, but they were wonderstruck to see the child alive. All were glad to see this miracle and praised the greatness of Shri Guru.