ഏകനാഥൻ

Eknath

Eknath was born in Paithan in Maharashtra State. His father died, when he was born and his mother died, when he was a young lad. His grandparents, being religious and godfearing, brought him up with love and affection. When he was a child, he used to listen to the Ramayana, Bhagavata, and stories from the Puranas with full concentration. Many times, he used to ask subtle and decisive questions.

As he grew up, he felt the need for a Guru. One night, when he was engrossed in listening to the praises of the Lord, he heard a voice telling him to go to Janardanpant in Deogadh for initiation. Accordingly, he started his journey and reached Deogadh. There, he served his Guru very sincerely. The Guru gave him clerical work in his office, which he carried out dutifully.

One day, he found a small mistake in his account. He was short of some money. He sat down to find the mistake and after seven hours of concentration, he found the mistake and he was so overjoyed that he danced around the room and sang loudly. The Guru was awakened. He saw Eknath in a state of ecstasy. He asked the cause of his rejoicing. When the Guru came to know the reason, he thought him fit for initiation. He told him then, “If concentration on worldly accounts has brought you a few pennies, a fraction of the same concentration on God will bring you illumination, so turn your attention from the world, which is transient (ever changing), to God, Who is eternal.” Eknath was initiated by his Guru into spirituality.

After the initiation, he practised penance near the penance-grove of Rishi Markandeya. He meditated on Lord Krishna and had a vision of the Lord. During this time, a snake crept on his body, but it could not bite Eknath. Being in contact with Eknath’s body, the snake lost the power of biting.

With his Guru’s permission, Eknath, after his period of penance, went on a pilgrimage to Vrindavan, Prayag, Badri, and other places. He bathed in the holy river Ganges, Yamuna, and Godavari. He returned from pilgrimage after thirteen years and by the command of his Guru, got married to a girl called Girija. She was helpful in the spiritual progress.

There are a number of inspiring incidents from Eknath’s life. As a young man, Eknath was very sober and tolerant. Nothing would make him angry. One day, a man, who hated Eknath, spat on him 108 times; but Eknath, without losing his patience, went to the Godavari. Finally, the man, who hated him, fell at his feet and begged for forgiveness and showed great repentence.

Eknath had completely conquered the great enemy called anger. When an evil man abused and cursed him for a long time, he didn’t say a word. He remained unconcerned. When the man got tired, he said, “My guest, it seems you are weary after such a long sermon. My wife has prepared some food, please sit with me and eat.” The fellow could not believe the equipoise of the saint. When Girija came to serve food, the man made a last attempt at arousing anger in Eknath. The man jumped on the back of Girija. But, the pious lady merely smiled. Eknath said, “My dear, don’t stand erect. If you do, the child will fall off.” She said, “l know , I know. Our son, when he was a boy, used to play the same game.” You can now imagine how the man must have felt and he cursed himself for his folly and fell prostrate at the feet of the saint and his wife.

Eknath preached to the people in simple and easy Marathi. The learned pandits were very much disappointed, when people did not turn to their discourses. Being intolerant of the popularity of Eknath, they condemned him and criticised him in various ways. Ekanth said only this much, “Nindakas (Critics) are worthy of worship. I bow my head at their feet. They are the ones, who will wash my sins. It is like the Ganges coming home. Can I ever get angry with them? Without them, who will wash my sins?”

He had realised that God is everywhere and in every living being and not only in the temples. When he was going from Prayag to Rameshwaram with holy water from the Ganges, he saw a donkey dying of thirst. He was moved and he emptied the whole vessel into the mouth of the donkey. The donkey survived, but Eknath’s fellow colleagues laughed at him. Eknath merely said, “By giving water to the thirsty donkey, I have earned the merit of doing Abhisheka at Rameshwaram. By this act, I am sure Lord Rama will be pleased.” He made his colleagues realise that God was not only in the temples, but He is also present in all living beings.”

[Illustrations by T. Reshma, Sri Sathya Sai Balvikas Alumina]
[Source: Stories for Children-II, Sri Sathya Sai Books & Publications, PN]