Walk on the Path of Love

ThyagaBrahmam had unswerving love and faith in Rama. Sarabhoji Raja tempted him with a lot of wealth if he agreed to sing his praises, but the mystic composer refused saying, ‘Rama is my priority. I do not need your money’. Someone placed 1000 silver coins in his palanquin without his knowledge, as a contribution to Sri Rama Navami. Blissfully unaware of this, and immersed totally in thoughts of Rama, ThyagaBrahmam carried on with his journey to his hometown. At the stroke of dawn, a few people approached the palanquin and prostrated at the feet of the renowned poet, seeking his forgiveness.

When Thyagaraja sought an explanation, they said, ‘We are thieves, we came to know that someone had placed silver coins in your palanquin and all through the night we tried to lay our hands on it. But you had organized for two young, handsome soldiers armed with bows and arrows to guard you. Watching them do their work so tirelessly brought us back to our senses and filled us with nobility’.

Their extensive description of the ‘two soldiers’ made ThyagaBrahmam realise that they were none other than Rama and Lakshmana who had guarded him through the night, and he sang. ‘You took so much care of me, O Rama, walking through the dense forest unmindful that your Tender Lotus Feet would ache’.

If you love God like Thyagabrahmam did, no matter where you go, how you go or what you do, God will be with you. You have to mellow in love of God. Then you will know what Bliss is.

Just as fire consumes everything that is thrown into it and transforms the thrown object into fire too, so too Divinity transforms everything that comes to it into Divine.