Aham vaishVaanaro bhootvaa praaninaam deham aashritah, Praanaapaana samaayuktah pachaamy aanam chaturvidham
(chap.15, verse 14)
I am the fire of digestion in the bodies of all living beings,
I join with the vital forces of Praana and Apaana
(the inward and the outward breath) and digest the four kinds of food.
Baba says, “It is the Lord resident in our bodies as Vaishvaanara, who receives the food, digests it and supplies strength thereby, to the various limbs of the body.”
The four kinds of food are those which are chewed (solid), those which are swallowed (liquid like water), those which are sipped (like milk or fruit juice) and those which are licked (like ice cream).
Swami Chinmayananda tells the story of a pious and benevolent ruler who ruled the Lakshana Kingdom. His Chief Minister, Satyavrita, was also a pious and highly intelligent statesman. Together they brought peace, happiness and prosperity to the kingdom. People loved and respected them.
There used to be satsang in the palace by great saints and sages, poets and pundits. During these sessions, God’s glories were related and the teachings or saints discussed.
In course of time, his young son, who was a modern, educated young man became the King. He could not understand the mystery of God. He thought it was meaningless supersititon and unscientific. But at the same time he was a noble hearted youth and wanted to know the truth before he made his final decision to stop these satsang sessions.
He called his minister, Satyavrita, and told him to give convincing answers to three questions:
- Who is God?
- Where is God?
- What does He do?
The King gave him 41 days to answer the questions. The Minister knew it was a tough job to convince the young King.
Before embarking on this difficult task he prayed to God “Oh Lord! Give me the right power of expression to communicate a glimpse of Your glory to this young man.”
The aged Minister started visiting saints and sages, ashrams and monasteries. But no where could he find an answer that could be convincing enough for the young King. He read the Shastras, Puranas, Upanishads. Time was running out.
Meanwhile his cook was watching his master’s predicament. One night, God revealed the answers to the cook in a dream.
The day arrived. The old Brahmin cook told the Minister that he would answer the questions. He entered the Durbar Hall and said to the King, ”I cannot teach you the science of the Higher Reality unless you accept the position of a disciple.”
The King at once accepted this and they exchanged places.
Now the first question, “Who is God?”
The cook called the attendant and ordered him to bring the black mulching cow from the palace shed. When it was brought he asked the attendant to milk it. The freshly drawn milk was brought to the cook in a golden bowl.
He passed it to the King and said, “ O King, do you see the milk in the bowl?’
“Yes, Sir.”
“What is its colour?”
“Sir, it is pure white.”
“What is the colour of the cow that gave this white milk?”
“Black, Sir”
“What does the cow eat to produce the milk?”
“Grass, Sir.”
“And who converts the green grass eaten by a black cow into white milk? Can your science do this?”
The cook said, “My friends! The Power that converts the green grass eaten by the black cow into white milk, that is God!”
Then he moved to the second question “Where is God?” He asked for a golden plate with a candle and match box to be brought. The door windows of the Darbar Hall were closed. It became pitch dark. The candle was lit. The candle flame dispelled the darkness and spread light.
“Where is the light of the candle, O King?”
“Everywhere, Sir!”
“God is everwhere, as the light of the candle is everywhere in the hall now.”
Then the answer to the last question, “What does He do?”
“Everything happening in the Universe is His doing, executed through various names and forms in the world.”
The young King accepted the truth of these answers with gratitude.