DOES GOD LOVE YOU?

DOES GOD LOVE YOU?

We visit temples and think we love God. We perform religious rituals and imagine we are virtuous and love God. We go on pilgrimages , bathe in holy rivers and think that we he have washed off all our sins because we love and offer worship to God! But even as we do these seemingly pious acts our minds are elsewhere without concentrating on the deity. Our ego does not leave us. It is as if we are on picnic to holy places to spend some pleasant time. We pat on our own back and call ourselves devotees of God! Is this a correct assessment? It cannot be. “ It is not all that important how much you love God; what is more important is how much God loves you!” Declares Bhagawan Sri Satya Sai Baba. It is only when you are dear to God and he runs to you at your call you can call yourself a real devotee!

On an occasion creator Brahma, Indra and other devas visited Vakunta. Indra asked Lord Vishnu who was the Lord’s favorite devotee. The Lord replied that Rantideva, son of Sanskriti was dearest to him. Brahma and others were shocked and surprised at this and thought that they were all belittled in spite of their devotion to the Lord. The Lord explained that the way of Rantideva’s devotion was extraordinary. Not satisfied with the remarks of the Lord, Brahma, Indra and other devas wanted to test king Rantideva’s devotion. Soon famine engulfed the kingdom of the king. Rains became scarce. People suffered without food and water! The king opened up his palace and treasury for the use of his subjects! Seeking the grace of Lord Vishnu, the king decided to fast and meditate on the Lord.He became lean and emaciated after 48 days of fast. His ministers and others persuaded him to break his fast and secured some food and water. The King agreed reluctantly to end his fast.

Just at that moment came a man tottering and requested for some food. Kind and compassionate, the king gave a portion of his food to the man who thanked him and went away! As the king prepared to eat the rest of the food, a man with tattered clothes approached him and and collapsed before him.Rantideva gave him a share of the remaining food and saved him. Surprisingly, a third person came with his dogs and demanded food for him and his dogs! The King gave away the last portion of the food he had and sent the person satisfied. There was now water alone for the king to drink! Rantideva was extremely satisfied that he had helped people in great distress!

Then came a chandala of very low caste and said that he was dying of thirst! Without a second thought, the king gave away the little water he had, to save the life of the man! But he said that he was an untouchable and unfit to get water from the king! King Rantideva said that all are children of God and that he saw Lord Vishnu in him! The moment the king uttered these words, creator Brahma, Indra, Varuna and Yama, the God of death stood before king Rantideva! They were struck at the compassion he showed to the poor and the downtrodden. They wondered at the selfless sacrifice he had made to save the lives of the needy and the deserving!

They now understood how Rantideva was one of the best devotees of Lord Vishnu and why the Lord loved him dearly!The first three people who pleaded for food were devas! The God of death came as a chandala to test whether the King would accept him! God loves only such people who are selfless, kind and compassionate to all living creatures”ekahparatama bahudehavarthi”-  The atma is one but manifests in all creatures in the world! One should see God in every object in the universe! Lord Vishnu granted moksha to Rantideva for his ideal qualities of a true devotee!