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Children! Let us see an incident in the life of Swami Sivananda who had lived in the last century and established a spiritual institution named “Divine Life Society” in Hrishikesh.

In the Sivananda Ashram, there stayed a man named Govindan who was extremely haughty by nature. Nobody could control him. He would idle away his time and pick up quarrels with someone or the other. The other inhabitants of the Ashram feared that he would prove to be a dangerous resident. Thus they pleaded several times to Sivananda that he be removed from the Ashram premises. But the love personified saint Sivananda would reply, “Even if he is as wicked and haughty as you all describe, sending him out of Ashram would prove to be dangerous to the world outside. Moreover, isn’t it my duty to correct him? So let him continue to stay here.”

On the 8th of January 1950, satsang was being held in the Ashram as usual in the presence of Swamiji. All the people present there were immersed in the bliss of satsang. Suddenly, Govindan jumped upon Sivananda from nowhere and attacked him with an axe. Fortunately, he missed the aim and the handle alone hit head of the Swamiji. The disciples caught hold of Govindan and gave him a sound thrashing. But the Swamiji stopped them. Turning towards Govindan, he said, “Hit me as much as it pleases you.” Saying so, he stood there firmly. Moved by emotion, he further addressed his disciples and said, “What is the use of punishing him? Everything happens as per the will of the Supreme Lord. You chant the Rudram daily. Does it not say, “Taskarãnãm pataye namah” (which means ‘I salute Lord Shiva who is the chief of the robbers’)? We must learn to perceive Lord even in wicked and cunning people.” Saying thus, he prostrated at the feet of that wicked fellow!

This incident teaches us the way to interact in the world.

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