Thief – A Shiva Bhaktha……..

Once a thief to escape from the mob who were chasing him with an idea of only thrashing him to death, climbed a tree a sat still.

He had climbed Bilva tree and the night was a Shivratri (the night when being awake is the most pious work to do..) . He knew if he climbed down he would be caught. So, he decided to spend the night on the tree.

He knew he would go to sleep and would fall down the tree in sleep if he had nothing to do. So, he started plucking one leaf at a time and started putting it down. Down below the tree was a Shiva Linga. The leaves were put on the Linga all through the night. In the morning, when he felt, there were no villagers near by, he got down slowly. And in front of him stood the Lord – Shiva himself fully pleased with the pooja that he had done the whole night. He said to the thief “Yesterday was a Shivratri and you were wide awake and did abhishekam with the Bilva leaves all through the night. Hence, I am very pleased with you. Ask for anything you want, and I’ll grant that boon to you”.

The thief was more than happy. He fell on Lord’s feet and said “People do Tapas for janmas to get a glimpse of you and you are standing in front of me – just for an act of mine i.e., putting Bilva leaf on the Linga all through the night which was done unknowingly and with the selfish thought of saving myself from my chasers. Lord, you certainly are an Ocean of Love and Compassion. And after seeing you, I don’t have any more desires left.”

Lord Shiva was very pleased and gave him moksha then and there.

Let this story sink in………enjoy it, relish it……….what we are to learn from it? Think…..
 

Till then, happy blogging………