Saved By The Grace of Krishna

I chanced on a wonderful story narrated by AnuSatheesh on Twitter, and thought, “What better way to get back to blogging than by sharing this story with my readers?” So, here goes….

There was once a poor farmer who had somehow acquired a habit of chanting “Krishna, Krishna” at all times. He did not have particularly deep devotion, but just because he felt good chanting this, he continued to do so.

When a famine struck that place, the farmer found himself struggling with no work to do, and no food to eat. He visited an astrologer to find out what the stars had in store for him. Studying the farmer’s horoscope, the astrologer was confused and didn’t know what words of solace to offer the poor man. “Come back next week, and I’ll be able to tell you what to expect,” he said, bidding goodbye to the farmer.

The next week, the farmer was back, and the astrologer was shocked to see him there. “Tell me all that happened with you in the past week,” he demanded.

“On my way back from your house, I was caught in a downpour,” started the farmer. “To shelter from the rain, I stepped into the only structure there – an ancient, dilapidated Krishna temple. Seeing the sad condition of that place, I had the thought that when I get enough money, I’ll arrange for the renovation and Kumbhaabhishekam (consecration ceremony) of this temple. Suddenly, I heard a loud, angry, hissing sound, and as I desperately looked for the source, my eyes fell upon a huge snake in the temple roof. Scared for my life, I rushed out of the temple!”

“What happened after that?” the astrologer asked.

“No sooner had I run out of the temple, than the whole structure collapsed to the ground, and I was left shaking, wondering at my narrow escape!”

The next moment, the astrologer fell at the farmer’s feet.

“What are you doing, Swami?” cried the shocked farmer, hastily stepping back.

“Great indeed is the grace of Krishna, and blessed are you to have His anugraham!”

“How do you know that?” asked the farmer.

“When I saw your horoscope last week, I could make out that your death was near. Building a Krishna temple was the only parihaaram or remedy to avoid it. You were already struggling for your livelihood, how could I tell you this parihaaram? So, I simply told you to return after a week.”

Can we grasp what had happened here?

Krishna came as the snake to protect the farmer from dying in the temple collapse!

Krishna accepted the Kumbhaabhishekam that the farmer performed merely in his mind!

Even though he had no deep devotion, the farmer kept chanting Krishna’s name and this, along with his one moment’s desire to serve Krishna, is what protected him and averted disaster.

If doing something without much involvement can give such rewards, can we even imagine the fruits we can reap, when we chant Krishna’s name and pray to Him with love?