Happy Deepavali

Ram Ram
Hare Krishna
Radhe Radhe

Hope all is well.   My hearty Deepavali wishes to all friends.  Sincerely praying at the Feet of our ThakurJi and His Divine Consort - Mata Maha-Laxmi to bless us all with Bhakti and love for the Divine Couple.

Acharyas and Shastras actually say that the Compassion of Sridevi (MataLaxmi) actually by far outdoes the compassion of Thakurji Himself. 

Actually in the Transcendal Loka Sri Vaikutha, it is Sriji herself who is constantly reminding  and pestering the the LORD to bestow HIS DIVINE grace on the Jivas to bring to an end their constant struggle with Birth, Death, old age and disease.

Like a mother, our Laxmi Pirratti is constantly bothered and troubled by our plight.  Subsequently she is constantly reminding Thakurji of our hopelessness.  That is that reason she is often called Karunya-Rupaya.
It is Maha-Laxmi who is the "Source" of the compassion of our Thakurji.  The repository from which our LORD draws the compassion from is very Maha-Laxmi.

There is a very nice message given to us by Ramayana.  We will  notice that whenever and wherever the LORD is with MATA Sita, HE does not Kill Anyone. IT is only when the LORD is NOT with Kishori Mata Sita, then he kills the Asuras.
Shri Rama Killed Tadaka and Subahu before he was wedded.  He killed Khar-Dhushana when he was away from Sitaji.  He kills Ravana when Sitaji was in Ashoka Vatika.  What does this tell us?  It tells us that it is the compassion of Maha-Laxmi herself which keeps us protected from the LORD's Wrath. 

We should always pray to Mata-and Thakurji together. Never alone.  Surpankha wanted only Shri Rama. She was defaced.  Ravana only wanted Mata Sita. He lost his life.  Let us always worship the Divine Lordships together. That is the secret for Happiness.

Deepavali is also special for us because it is the appearance day of our Beloved Swamiji, H H Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji, who, symbolic to Deepavali,  took Birth to light the Lamp of Wisdom in the lives of many.

On this note, lets understand the subtle difference between a GURU and a Sadguru with a small story.

Story of 3 Friends:
3 Friends who hailed from the same Village, walking – Came to this beautiful Green Open Field. Huge COMPOUND WALL. From in there came the sweetest music that they ever heard. Beautiful lights. SIGHT AND SOUND was intoxicating. 3 friend were drawn. Never seen anything like that.

1^st friend – Did not wait for a moment. He ran. Like a piece of Iron being pulled by a magnet. Climbed on the wall. He was totally intoxicated with what he saw. HUGE smile. He held his hands high up in the air and was swaying. Experiencing the greatest joy ever. As the other 2 friends were watching him, he jumped inside and was gone.

2^nd Friend. Same. He is about to Jump and before that he turns back and looks at his 3^rd friend who is standing outside, and tells him that greatest joy we have been looking for all our life is here. Don’t delay. Come and jump in

3^rd Friend. I know exactly where it is now. I am so close. But if I go up this wall and jump in this compound – who will tell my family, my friends, and all the people of the world that the greatest joy lies inside these 4 walls. This gentlemen is really compassionate by nature. He wanted the benefit of everyone. He decides that I will go and see what is there. Feel the Joy. Experience the joy and then come back out to share that joy. Having made up his mind, he goes up the wall as well. He sees, feels, experiences that greatest Bliss, the one that he has been searching for all of our life – In money, in power, in Bondage, in Fame, friends and family. That greatest joy was right there in front of him. What did he do? A compassionate person he was, he decides to go back and tell everyone about this greatest joy. I know where the joy is and I can get back anytime I want. People! You have been searching for this great joy all your life: For this happiness in the wrong places – You thought money, power, friends family, fame was going to give you that. But I have found where exactly that joy is. I am going to show you that road that will lead you there. The road that everyone of you can travel with joy, ease, comfort, confidence and reach that ultimate joy. All of you will be able to travel. I personally will travel with you. I will take you up to that compound and make sure you all enter that joy and I will be the last one to enter.

So he does that. Makes sure everyone reaches. He shows his fellow men. Shows them the route to joy.
Mahatmas or great saints may be categorised in 3 groups. They are all Mahatmas and great saints. And we all bow down before them. But there are these group of Mahatmas who strive to attain this Ultimate joy which lies in self-realisation. And when they get there, they do not turn back – they just dive into that joy and relish

The 2^nd type of Mahatma who also realises that Bhagavan, will turn back and tell us that Friends! The focus of life is here. Here is the supreme joy and we should also reach for it. He gives us that choice. You have to come and get it.

And then comes the 3^rd group of Mahatmas. The one that we are really interested in. Those Mahatmas, those great saints who are really the representatives of GOD, after having realised GOD and seeing him face to face, turn back and look at us with immense love and compassion. They decide to come down and live with us at our level and they show us the way that will take us to the ultimate truth, which is GOD-realisation, the ultimate truth, Liberation to reach the feet of GOD, which is the purpose of life. By saying showing us the way, the important thing is that they show us THAT way that which everyone of us can travel on. That sadhana which is for everyone.

If we call the first 2 Categories of Saints as GURUS, the third Category is actually the SAD-GURU. So Sadguru is that compassionate one who will show the path for all. SADGURU is the one who takes even the last one of us to that end Goal.

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Lets recollect a A Deepavali message sent by Swamiji - in 2007

The service that God entrusted upon my shoulders is to make the whole world sing the glory of His Divine Name!
 
The service that God has entrusted upon your shoulders is to lend them to me!
 
Blessings !
Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji
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TIll the next time we meet in the name of LORD!
ys Deepak

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
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