Once upon a time a King by name Sundaravadanan who ruled over the kingdom of Kannapuri. He was great in all respects except that he never believed in God.

One night, he was traveling through his city in disguise. He heard two beggars begging loudly. One was invoking Lord Rama’s grace and the other was invoking the King’s grace.

The King was intrigued and had both the beggars brought to the court. His minister asked the question, “Yesterday, you both were begging. One of you said “Rama’s grace and other said Kings grace. Now what does that mean?”

One who said Rama’s grace replied, “Sir, this whole world is protected by the Lord Rama. He is the one who gives wealth and riches to everyone”.

The minister now spoke to the other beggar. He replied, “Sir, God is invisible. King is the visible God. If he so desires, he can make anyone rich”

That night, the King argued with the minister that one who called on the King was the clever beggar. The minister however disagreed. He said, “However a man may try to help, if the receiver does not have God’s grace it will never reach him.”

The King decided to put “King’s grace” and “Rama’s grace” to test.

The next day a King’s order was announced. “On the Rama Navami day the King will distribute presents to everyone. All can come and receive the presents.”

Accordingly people gathered. The two beggars were also present. The King gave out a new piece of cloth and a pumpkin to everyone. When the “King’ grace” beggar’s turn came up, the King recognized him and whispered something in the minister’s ears. The minister went in and brought a pumpkin. The pumpkin and the cloth were given to the beggar.

After sometime, the King and his minister went around the city in disguise. They noticed that the “Kings’ grace” beggar still begging the same way.

The King summoned the beggar to the court the next day and asked him, “Are you still a beggar despite my presents?” The beggar replied, “King! I sold the pumpkin in the market for 2 silver coins. How can I become rich with that?

The king replied, “You are a fool. That pumpkin had precious jewels and pearls. If you had only cut open the pumpkin you would have become rich.”

After sometime when the King was on his rounds he noticed a rich man in a palanquin. The minister recognized him as “Rama’s grace” beggar.

This man was also summoned to court. The King asked, “Aren’t you the beggar who used to beg in the streets? How did you become so rich?”

This man replied, “King! By the grace of Rama. I was to feed the brahmins on a particular day to bring peace to my dead father. All I could purchase was a pumpkin. But, to my surprise, I found jewels when I cut open the pumpkin. By the grace of Rama I became rich”

The King understood that one truly required God’s grace to prosper in this world.

When Dharmaraja was ruling over Indraprasthanagara, one day a brahmin came to meet him. He met Dharmaraja and after a while he returned back. As the brahmin was going out of the main gate, Bhimasena saw him. He saw the brahmin while going in also but he did not talk to the brahmin because it was usual for several people to come and seek from Dharmaraja what they wanted. But this brahmin was empty and did not appear to have received anything from his elder brother.

So Bhimasena asked him, “Sir, you are returning empty handed. Have you met my brother? Or shall I take you to him?” The brahmin was happy at this courteous enquiry from Bhima. He replied, “Yes, I met your brother. As he did not have with him what I asked immediately now, he asked me to come tomorrow. He promised to keep it ready by tomorrow”

Bhimasena was surprised. His elder brother postponing a good deed till the next day! He thought over for a minute and smiled. He went near the big drum kept at the main gate and started beating the drum thunderously. The drum at the main gate was not usually used. It was meant for special occasions when something very important happened and all had to be immediately informed of it. When the big drum was beaten, it was a summons for all in the palace to stop doing whatever work they might be engaged in and rush to the main gate.

When the drum went on sending loud sounds played by the powerful hand of Bhimasena, Dharmaraja hurried towards the main gate from the court, Draupadi from the kitchen, Arjuna from his weapons, the twins from their studies, all people big and small gathered there. Still Bhimasena did not stop beating the drum. In great ecstasy he was playing with vigour, until Dharmaraja put a hand over his shoulders and said, “Stop it, Bhimasana. All of us are here. Now tell us why you summoned us all here.”

Bhimasena saluted his elder brother and then turned towards the others who gathered there. “I have gathered you all here to make an announcement about the greatest victory obtained by our elder brother here. The victory is so great that all of us should rejoice and celebrate it.”

Dharmaraja was surprised. What victory was Bhima talking of? Today he did not even leave the palace. He asked in bewilderment, “What are you talking, Bhima? I did not have any victory at all.”

Bhima laughed and said, “Let me announce your victory. Hear you all, my brothers and kinsfolk; today our brother conquered the unconquerable death. Who else can have greater victory? When the brahmin asked for some favour, our elder brother promised to keep it ready by tomorrow. Now, our brother is sure that he will be alive till tomorrow.”

As soon as he heard the words of Bhima, Dharmarja understood what his mistake was. He admitted his mistake and said, “Yes Bhima, you were correct to remind me. Postponement of good deeds is very bad. I should not have done so.”

He took the brahmin inside and gave what all he wanted and sent him away fully satisfied.

Long, long ago in Arabia there lived a very pious old man by name Arab, who was a great devotee and lover of God and men. He served all with love in the name of God. All over Arabia his name became renowned for piety and hospitality.

One night when all the servants had gone to sleep and the whole family was fast asleep, someone knocked at the door. Arab was awakened by the loud knocks and opened the door. At the door stood an old unkempt man looking very exhausted and famished. He beseeched, “Can you give me some food, sir? I have been starving for past one week.”

The Arab’s heart melted at the plight of the old man. He invited him in with great love, gave him a seat and went inside. The servants and his family members were working till late in the evening and were all tired. The Arab did not want to disturb them at that late hour to prepare food for the new guest. Instead he himself went into the kitchen, prepared some food quickly and brought it to the hall. He placed it before the old man and said, “Sir, please accept my hospitality in the name of the Lord and bless me. May the Lord’s name be praised!”

The hungry man dragged the plate nearer and at once commenced eating the food, rudely saying, “Thank you for the food. But why in God’s name? Which God is there to be worshipped? It is all nonsense.”

The Arab was stunned. He could not imagine that there could ever be a man who denied God. “Don’t you see sir, how the kind God provided food for you at this late hour from a stranger’s house? Could you have survived had not the loving God sustained you throughout your life?

The old man was busy eating. He replied while greedily swallowing the food, “My dear Sir, why do you speak of God? Did you ever see him? It is your good nature that made you give me this food. I am grateful to you. I am not so silly as to waste my time thinking of a non-existing God.”

This was too much for the Arab. He could no longer contain himself. He burst out in anger, “So you do not believe in God. You feel that you can look after yourself without depending on God. If it is so, get out of my house. There is no place here for atheists.” In anger he took away the plate of food from the old man and pushed him out of the house and closed his door. Burning with indignation, he went to bed, prayed to the Lord and fell asleep.

Then the Lord appeared to the Arab in dream and asked, “Son, why did you push away the poor man before he had his meal? H was very hungry. Why did you not allow him to eat the food in full?

The Arab trembled before the Almighty Lord and said, “Lord, I was prepared to give him more food also if he wanted. But when he denied you again and again it was too much for me to tolerate.”

The Lord smiled and said, “Son, he had been denying Me for the last ninety years. Even then I gave him food twice a day all these years. Could you not tolerate him for one day for My sake?”

The Arab hung his head in shame. Shedding tears from his eyes, he prostrated to the Lord and said, “You are the Lord of Love. I now know how kind you are in tolerating our mistakes and still giving us what we need. My God, in future let me have the same love for all the beings in the world. Let me not be angry with any one for any reason. Please pardon me for this lapse.”

Narayanaashrama is a holy place in the Himalayas. Many sages spent their lives there in meditation. The Pandavas went to this place during their exile.

The sages received them happily and invited them to spend some days there. Yudhisthira accepted their invitation.

One day Draupadi saw a lotus floating in the river. It was a thousand petalled lotus with very sweet fragrance. Draupadi approached Bhima. She showed that flower to him and said, “Can you please get me more of such lotuses? We shall worship the sages with these”. Hearing Draupadi’s simple request, Bhima immediately agreed.

Accordingly he set out in search of that lotus. He walked for long He saw many fragrant flowers but he still did not find the lotus he was searching for. On the way, in a banana grove, Lord Hanuman sat in ecstasy repeating the Lord’s name. He was Bhima’s elder brother. The wild animals ran helter-skelter on hearing the footsteps of Bhima. Hanuman understood that his younger brother was approaching him.

Hanuman decided to have some fun at his brother’s expense.

He spread out his tail and sat blocking Bhima’s path. Bhima came up to him. Hanuman pretended not to know him and asked, “Who are you? And why have you come here?

Bhima replied, “I am Bhima, the son of Kunti”.

Hanuman replied, “You cannot go any farther. This is my place. You can eat some fruits here and depart. Please turn back and do not disturb me.”

Bhima was a little irritated and pressed Hanuman to let him move forward. At this, Hanuman told him, “I am an old monkey. I cannot move. If you can please lift my tail and place it by the side then you can go forward.”

Bhima carelessly pushed the tail with his leg. He could not move the monkey’s tail. He then tried with both his hands. Still he could not move the tail. He put in all his strength and tried. He still did not succeed.

Bhima realized that he was not dealing with an ordinary monkey. He told Hanuman, “Respected Sir, please reveal to me who you are? You must be a great person”.

Hanuman saw that Bhima’s pride was humbled. He revealed himself. “I am Hanuman your elder brother. The pond where you can find your flowers is very near. Go collect the flowers.”

Bhima was happy to have met his brother. He begged his forgiveness and requested Hanuman to show his Visvarupa.

Afters much pleading from Bhima, Hanuman revealed his cosmic form that extended beyond the sky. Bhima bowed to him in reverence and Hanuman blessed him and said, “Bhima! We should show respect to old people. May the Lord help you in your efforts! “

His pride humbled Bhima collected the flowers and returned to Draupadi.

Saint Thyagaraja took birth at Thiruvaarur when Sarabhoja was the king. He lost his parents while still young and he moved to Thiruvaiyaru.

He had deep devotion to Sri Rama from his young age and he even used to write Ramnam on the walls of his house. Seeing his great devotion a monk by name Ramakrishna initiated him into Rama mantra.

Thyagaraja could compose songs spontaneously in praise of Sri Rama. He would sing them melodiously in front of the images of Sri Rama and Sita in his house.

Once a sadhu visited him and asked him to keep his manuscripts while he went to bathe in Cauvery river. He did not return. In his dream, the Sage Narada appeared to him and said that these manuscripts were praises of Sri Rama that he could sing them to his heart’s content. He woke up very happy from his dream.

Thyagaraja believed firmly that he could see his ideal through devotional music. Once the King Saraboja invited him to be his court musician. Thyagaraja refused. He wanted to sing only his Lord’s glories and not any mortal’s.

His bothers were angered at the spoiling of such an easy opportunity to get rich. They felt that all their trouble was due to the image of Sri Rama before which Thyagaraja spent all his time. They conspired and threw the image into Cauvery.

Thyagaraja was desolate at losing his precious Rama and he sat in meditation. The Lord appeared to him in a dream and pointed to where he was on the sandy banks of Cauvery. Thyagaraja woke up and ran to the river and found the image at the exact spot.

Once he went on a pilgrimage to Kovur. A rich man offered him gold coins. The Saint refused but without Thyagaraja’s knowledge he kept the money in the palanquin.

While passing through a forest robbers attacked them. Just then two hunters chased the robbers away and they also disappeared. Thyagaraja wept when he realised that Rama had given his darshan to the robbers but not to him.

He always felt that Rama lived in the image. He longed to see Sri Rama in person. One day, at last, Sri Rama appeared to him and said, “You will reach me in 5 days. Become a sannyasi (monk).” He had the blessed vision of Sri Rama and he left his body in 1847.