There is a wonderful legend of Lord Rama, i heard as a child, and which has always touched my heart . I am sharing the beautiful story with you today. This is set during the building of Ram setu- the bridge of stones between the tip of kanyakumari and Srilanka, at the time when Rama wanted to go to Srilanka and recue Sita from Ravana’s deceptive captivity . It is said, after watching the Vanar Sena (army of monkeys) working ceaselessly and with so much devotion, Rama also picked up stones manually and threw them in the Ocean for the bridgework. After a while he was tired and sat down on a rock for rest. Unbeknownst to Him, a little Squirrel, who had also been helping timidly by putting interweaving twigs on the setu, had already seated himself on the same rock, with the same purpose of taking a little rest. When Rama arose again, to his utmost surprise he noticed that all this while , he had been accidentally sitting on the little squirrel. Immediately he picked up the Squirrel tenderly and asked ” I have been sitting on you all this while, wasn’t my weight a lot for you?”
“oh yes my Lord it was, the little Squirrel, barely managed to whimper back, he was almost dead.
” Then why didn’t you cry for help?” asked a perplexed and saddened Rama
” Because my Lord, if any other calamity befalls me, I chant Sri Ramji Sri Ramji, but what to do when Sri Ramji Himself fell upon me?” answered the wise little creature.
Sri Ram was astounded with this devotion, and gently caressed the hurt back of the Squirrel with his three fingers; and Lo! Not only was the Squirrel completely restored to health, but three beautiful white stripes also appeared at his back where Rama’s fingers had caressed him.
” Henceforth you and your entire clan shall be remembered for your utmost devotion, the mark of my fingers shall remind all, of your great perseverance” said Rama.
It is said squirrels were all brown before this great episode, and then they got their stripes of honour from God Himself, for the rest of eternity! infact, an extended version says that it was actually a mountain rat who had come down all the way from his mountains to help, and thereafter evolved into a squirrel! at the very touch of God, we evolve!!
The lesson was of course this, that a Complete acceptance of the will of God is the highest devotion!
Jai Sri Ram! Aum Namah Shivaye!
Shail Gulhati
Author of SHIVA, The Ultimate Time Traveller.
Available on amazon https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07HVY1PPS ( India)
and
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HVY1PPS ( USA )
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