Story of Vinashpuram

Once upon a time, there ruled a King called Dheeraja in the city of Vinashpuram. He had a beautiful queen Manasrani. But, she had one weakness. Alas! She was fickle minded and could not take a decision of her own. She always depended on her ministers Rajodatta and Tamodatta. They were wicked and always misled the Queen. The Kind loved his wife so dearly that he did whatever she wanted and it was she who took decisions for him.

The citizens of the country were very skilful and efficient people. They were entirely at the mercy of the King and the Queen. They were guided by Rajodatta and Tamodatta to do evil deeds. This led the country to a grave disaster. Not only were the people sorrowful, but their surroundings were dismal and gloomy. The whole country was plunged in grief.

However, one day and what a good fortunate day it was! There appeared a wise man in the country named Gurusen. He saw the plight of the people and at once came to know the root cause of the evil. Though the King had a large treasure of wealth, he was always under the impression that he was bankrupt. His Ministers misguided him and he kept levying taxes upon the people and burdening them. In order to pay the King’s dues, the people had to turn to wrong means. What did Gurusen do? He only pointed out to the King the hidden treasure that belonged to him. He only revealed it. It was as if he uncovered the cloth that was put there by the Ministers Rajodatta and Tamodatta. At once the King understood the whole situation. He consulted Gurusen and put both the Ministers in prison. All their activities came to a standstill. Then the King took complete charge over the Queen. He made her obey his commands. At once the citizens were corrected. They already had skills and virtues and great abilities within them. As soon as they got the right guidance, they performed right actions. Soon the city of Vinashpuram became as Avinashpuram – Indestructible. Now no enemy from outside could do any harm to them. The people now were happy and joyful. They also made their surroundings happy and cheerful.

Now replacing the characters in the story with the right symbols –

• The city of Vinashpuram is our Body. The King is the Buddhi or intellect. The Queen represents the Mind – which is unsteady, fickle, indecisive and mighty sometimes.
• The wicked Ministers are the Rajoguna and Tamoguna within us. The citizens are the five sense organs and five organs of action, Karmendriyas and Jnanendriyas. The wise man is the Sadguru or one’s own wisdom. The hidden treasure is the truth and the existence of the Lord within us.

When the Sadguru enters into our life, the night and ignorance end and dawn of auspiciousness begins. He takes us through the various paces; the various sadhanas to arouse the divine consciousness latent within us.

The recital of Suprabhatam, each day, before commencing our daily duties, is one such sadhana. The best results are achieved when we recite it contemplating on the inner significance of each stanza. Our body is the temple of God – the presiding deity of which is our Soul/Atma. The gross body/sthula shareera composed of the ‘Annamaya Kosha’ can be compared to the bricks of mortar building. The subtle body/Sukshma Shareera composed of the ‘Pranamaya Kosha’, ‘Manomaya’ and ‘Vignanamaya Koshas’ can be compared to the prayer hall and the causal body/Karana Shareera/Hridaya composed of the ‘Anandamaya Kosha’ can be compared to the sanctum, sanctorum of the temple. With the 20 Omkars, we cleanse the 20 faculties of the Body Temple and with the 21st Omkar we give a call to our Soul. After this, we start reciting the Suprabhatam contemplating the inner significance of each stanza.

The moment one realizes the Lord’s true existence within one, one feels satisfied and rich. We then know that we are Truth, Goodness and Beauty. We are not wanting in any way. The Intellect rules the Mind and the 10 organs of knowledge and action. All thoughts, words and deeds then are full of virtue and power. When the Mind rules the Intellect – then there is chaos and unhappiness as the Mind is unsteady and over-powered by the Gunas or previous tendencies. It is as if there is a curtain or a veil which hides the precious peace abiding Reality within.

So when we recite the Suprabhatam, we must remember that the Lord is there within each one of us. He is the Powerhouse of Bliss and Happiness. We have to awaken Him i.e., realise our own divinity by sadhana or self-effort. It is the Lord who works (eats, sleeps, enjoys etc.) through the sense organs. Thus we must realise that he is the real Doer of all actions. Until we realise this, we must ask ourselves – if I do this act or say or think in this way, will my Lord Sai like it? How would God Sai act through my body? Will he think in this way or act in this way?

In this way, the child will be guided towards right conduct.

So, each day begins as a New Promise, a further step in the journey towards Him, from I to Him. In this way, we awaken the divinity inherent, in us and then only can we see the same divinity that is in all.

So, step by step we go like pilgrims on to the Inner Shrine – the sanctum sanctorum by feeling His presence constantly

(A tape recorded cassette of Suprabhatam may be played in the class, in order to bring out the beauty of the hymn – the melody and rhythm).