Grief and Attachment
The Episode of Mandapala and Jaritaa (adopted from Bhakti Mala magazine Dec 2013)
There was once a noble person named Mandapala. After many, many years of intense penance Mandapala took the form of a bird to beget progeny (children). A bird named Jaritaa appeared before Mandapala and he started playing with Jaritaa.
Mandapala begot four children with Jaritaa. The four children were given the names Jarataari, Saarisrik, Asthambha mitra and Drona. The four children were like the four holy scriptures (vedas) themselves. They were introvert, enlightened souls and devoid of evil tendencies.
Mandapala was a good friend of Agni (Fire God). He entrusted the responsibility of looking after his children to Jaritaa and returned to his original human form.
When Agni was engulfing the Khandava forest, Jaritaa along with her children were in the middle of the woods. The raging flames were spreading throughout the forest. She knew that she was not capable of safeguarding the children single-handedly. At this time of crisis, her husband too was not there to help. Jaritaa was overwhelmed with grief.
Mandapala, who had traveled far away by then, came to know about the burning of Khandava forest. He knew that it was impossible for him to rush to the spot and rescue his children. He prayed to his friend Agni and requested him to spare the tree which had sheltered Jaritaa and the four children.
Jarittaa knew nothing about all this. She was immersed in great worry as to how to rescue the children. The flames were raging. She looked at the helpless kids and was overcome with grief. Their wings were still very tender. They would never be able to fly high enough to escape the flames. I myself am not capable of carrying them to safety. The fire was fast approaching and the sparks flying in all directions were falling on them.
Jaritaa trembling with fright drew her kids near her and tried to instill courage in them. She made it clear to them that she was helpless and that they were on their own. She looked around hurriedly and said, "There! You see that burrow there? Slip into it and save yourselves from the fire. I will cover the opening with a lump of mud and ensure that you will not feel the heat. Your father has instructed me to safeguard your enlightened souls carefully. How would he have known such a calamity would befall us?"
Seeing her sobbing uncontrollably, Jaratari, the eldest amongst them said, "Mother, fearing the raging fire, you are asking us to get into the burrow of rats. Don't you realize that even the rats will have hidden themselves there to escape the fire? The rats will be hungry. As soon as we get in there, they will eat us at once. If we just stay here, we will succumb to fire. Isn't it better to offer ourselves to Agni than to fall prey to the rats? If Agni (fire) consumes us, we will be assured of a better world hereafter."
Jaratari continued, "There is another possibility too. If we just stay here, who knows what will happen? There may come a great hurricane or torrential rain and the raging fire may subside, and we will survive! When crisis befalls us it is difficult to say what will happen and what will not. Therefore at such times we must keep all options open and act. We should never be certain about a particular outcome and pin all our hopes on it. Therefore, get over your attachment for us and leave this place."
"We may die but you will survive and will be able to beget children once again. What if we survive because of our past good deeds? Then you can return and take care of us as before."
The kids prostrated before their mother. Jaritaa, with a heavy heart and tears in her eyes flew away.
The four noble souls began chanting the Veda mantras and praised the fire God. They sought protection. Agni too remembered the request of his friend Mandapala. He spared the tree which had sheltered those four birds.
After the fire had subsided, their mother Jaritaa returned and they lived happily ever after.
MORAL :
In times of crisis you must not lose hope and be overcome with grief. Remain calm and think carefully of your options, then act.
If one prays to the Almighty or to the Guru during times of crisis, the distress that is about to come will be averted.
