Unto that GURU I prostrate!
Who draws us, ever, unto Himself and pours forth love unlike God who blesses only when called!

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Upanishads conclude that everything except ‘Brahman’ is a mere illusion. For the simple reason that we cannot understand it, we cannot deem the Upanishads to be wrong, because we have many standing examples of Mahans who have attained this highest state of ‘Atmaswaroopa’ (Self). Since these Mahans have attained liberation or ‘BrahmaBhava’ (Self-realization) during their lifetime itself, they are called as ‘JivanMuktãs’. The biography of such great Mahans prove to be good examples and a real source of inspiration to all of us.

Srimad Bhãgavatam - Fifth Canto - Jadabharata Charithra

Having realized their very Self to be the non-dual Brahman, Jnãnis (Realized souls) do not identify themselves with their body. A common man cannot understand the state of such a Jnãni. Since they revel in the Absolute (Brahman), they do not nourish their body which is a mere product of Maya (illusion). They embrace all that’s ordained by destiny (Prãrabdha) with indifference. They neither enjoy the comforts that are predestined to be enjoyed by their body nor are they shaken by any discomfiture. Since Jadabharata was in such a state of a jnãni, neither was he disconcerted while he was taken by the hunters as a sacrificial offering to Bhadrakali nor was he overjoyed that his life was spared when Kali took away the lives of the vile hunters. Though this sounds astounding, it is not a matter of surprise in the case of a jnãni. One should be surprised only if a common man, who considers his body to be a source of pleasure, is free from the fear of death. Since Jadabharata was a Jnãni and thus beyond the sensual pleasures enjoyed by the body, he was unperturbed by the incident.

Once a King named Rahugana was traveling in a palanquin to meet the Divine Sage Kapila to receive instruction in Spiritual Knowledge. Since the bearers of the palanquin found it difficult to carry the same, the chief among them asked for another man’s assistance. After duly getting the permission from the King, he looked for another man in that place. At that time he found JadaBharata wandering there. Finding Jadabharata stout, young, muscular and fit to carry a heavy load, they caught hold of him by force and the highly dignified soul bore the palanquin, even though he did not deserve such humiliation.

The gait of Jadabharata did not fall in line with that of others since he jumped at few places and halted all of a sudden at other places. Disturbed thus, the others too could not carry the palanquin smoothly. Seeing the palanquin being irregularly borne, the King got annoyed and reproached everyone. The chief of the bearer submitted, “Lord! This is not due to our negligence. This new man who has been engaged by us does not walk quickly and thus we too are unable to carry the palanquin smoothly. Kindly pardon us!” Perceiving Jadabharata to be stout, young and healthy, Rahugana addressed him teasingly as follows: - “Alas! This man is indeed old and thus seems to lack physical strength.”

To be continued……….

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