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Ravikumar was a middle-aged man working in a firm for quite a long time. There was no progress in his career. His wife always ridiculed him for this. His neighbors also showed their indifference towards him. The heart-broken Ravikumar consulted a pundit for suggestions.

The pundit said, "You get the idol of Sri Rãma from the market. Keep the idol in an airy place in your house and worship this idol. Light incense sticks and while chanting "Om Rãmaya namaha" perform, archanas to the deity with 1008 flowers. In the end, perform ãrthi. If this is done daily for a year, Lord Rãma will fulfill your prayers."

As per the pundit's instructions, Ravikumar brought the idol of Sri Rãma and worshiped with utmost care for more than a year. But his prayers were not fulfilled. Dejected with this, Ravikumar sought yet another pundit for suggestions. The new pundit said, "Sri Rãma's avathar took place a very long time ago. He is an old God. Lord Krishna's avathar took place recently. So install the idol of Lord Krishna and worship it. You will receive surprising rewards."

Ravikumar had placed Lord Rãma's idol on a table near the window pane of his house. He removed this idol and placed Lord Krishna's idol in its place. He started the worship by lighting a few incense sticks. Ravikumar noticed that when the wind blew, the fragrance of the in incense sticks reached the place where Lord Rãmas idol was kept. Ravikumar could not tolerate to see the fragrance of the incense sticks reaching Lord Rãma, who had done nothing to him for the past one year. He placed cotton in the nostrils of Lord Rãma's idol thinking that Lord Rãma would not be able to smell the fragrance. At that instant, Lord Rãma appeared in front of Ravikumar in the human form with a smile on his face and questioned him, " Ravikumar, what is your wish ?" Ravikumar said, "Why is it that you have not given me a darshan all the fifteen months and when I have stopped worshiping you and started worshiping Lord Krishna, you have given me your darshan? Is it because of your jealousy towards Lord Krishna?"

Lord Rãma said, "Son, all these days, you have been considering me as a non-living idol. Only today you have considered me as a living God, with life like you. That is why I have given you my darshan. The moment you placed cotton in my nostrils, thinking that I should not smell the fragrance, you felt that I have life. You felt that I am present here. That is why I have blessed you with my darshan."

So, Children! When we worship, we must feel that the idols and photos of God at our home also have life. They are able to see us performing puja and they accept our offerings.

-Courtesy
Stories For Meditation by
Sri Shãntãnanda Puri Maharãj

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