Rely on the boatman (God who will take you across)

Sometimes, I come across some interesting episodes which kindle the philosopher in me. One day, I read in a news article that around six crores of rupees kept in a wooden box by the erstwhile Nizam in Hyderabad was eaten away by rats! This brought me a smile and I was wondering that the great Nizam could have used the money on charities rather feeding the rats! Such was the craze for money in the entire world. In olden days, when there were no banking systems, people keep their gold coins and money in earthen pots and buried them in the backyard! Yes, they need to secure them against theft. Not only from the real thieves but also from the cunny relatives who reside in the same house. Many a time, even close relatives will plot against the head of the family. They will be waiting with abated breath, our departure to the other world so that they could lay their hands on the concealed wealth! Probably, this may be the reason, why the Nizam kept the currencies in wooden box!

Second reason may be for avoidance of legitimate taxes to Government of India. Before Independence of India, Sardar Vallabai Patel made some harsh decisions to integrate several private regions one with India. Those regions were ruled by feudal kings. After great struggle, all such feudal states were annexed with India with a condition of paying those erstwhile kings, huge amount of Privy Purse as a matter of compensation. Such amounts were stashed in some companies and the unaccounted money was kept in boxes and steel cup boards by the erstwhile kings for future use.

History is replete with many examples, ‘how those kings of feudal states were leading their life? Many kings were used to drinking, gambling and enjoying the company of many women in their palace. Each such king was living with around fifteen to twenty wives both legal and illegal. It is really a mystery how the Nizam was finally laid up with serious stomach disorder and he spent hardly Rs.3/- for his gruel every week. He could not consume anything other than gruel. He was one of the wealthiest men, but fate has ordained that he should eat only gruel. This clearly shows, “the money we hoard is of no value without a healthy body and healthy mind. Even after knowing such truths, people are always after seeking and hoarding wealth in every land.

There was a second episode. One day, a devotee was sitting in the prayer hall of Prasanthi Nilayam, the abode of Sathya Sai Baba! Beautiful bhajan singing was on. The devotee suddenly was apported to some other place and he was witnessing strange sceneries. In that scene, he was witnessing an island which was rich in natural resources. Each of those house hold was possessing even gold bars of various sizes. There was a ‘flood like’ situation and there was only one boat which will take them safely across the turbulent sea. The boatman said, everybody is welcome but do not carry anything. Simply board my boat without any luggage. I will safely take you across! But the residents of the island were not inclined to leave behind the ‘gold bars”. Each man was carrying a bundle of gold bars on their head. The boatman simply kept quiet. This vision enabled the devotee to realize the purport of the scenery. Sathya Saibaba was the boat man and the islanders were the ignorant lot who value wealth over their personal safety. What anyone could do in the above circumstances?

I was ruminating on both the episodes and came to conclusion that wealth or properties won’t accompany us to the other world. If we leave everything and rely on the words of the boatman (Saibaba), he will lead us safely to the other world. The turbulent ocean is depicting the miserable mundane life which is ripe with many problems. Hence surrender everything in the feet of your chosen god and he will take you across the miserable ocean of mundane existence!