THE DAY WHEN BABA TOOK THE POISON
AND SAVED THE UNIVERSE
FROM ITS GHASTLY EFFECT
Namaskar,
This story is about the "Niila Kantha". It is a famous and important story
of deep significance for all Ananda Margiis. And this has been written
about in numerous places. And the main theme is the meaning behind the
name-- "Niila Kantha".
Hence, how has the name come. Why do we call Baba as a "Niila Kantha". What
is the meaning, and how did it happen.
MEANING OF THE NAME
There is a reason behind the name, calling this 12th February as a
Niilakantha Divas. The reason behind that very day as an event, is well
known. As this was the day Baba Himself swallowed the poison while in jail.
But there is also a reason behind the term "Niila Kantha". Why the
name Niila Kantha? That, some persons may not know.
Niila Kantha is a Samskrta term. "Niila" means blue; "Kantha" means throat.
This is the literal meaning of Niila Kantha: Blue throat. And divas means
day. So the entire meaning of Niila Kantha Divas is "blue throat day".
SIGNIFICANT MYTHOLOGICAL STORY
There is one mythological story related with this term "Niila Kantha". To
save the society from the poisonous effect of deadly poison or "Kal Ku't'",
Lord Shiva Himself swallowed, that entire poison.
In that mythological story, the churning of the ocean was arranged. The
ocean took the form of a bowl or mortar, as from 'mortar and pestle'. And
in the ocean one big mountain was placed as pestle, to churn the ocean. And
the mythological cobra Shes' Na'g, was tied as a rope around the mountain.
On one side of the mountain a party of demons were holding one end of the
rope-like cobra. And on the other side of the mountain a party of devatas
were holding the other end of the cobra. --With which to move the mountain
back and forth. These two parties were involved by that way in using the
mountain to churn the ocean. And then various things emerged from the ocean
in the course of churning. One of them was, the deadly poison "Kal Kut'".
And it was so deadly, if it would have remained there. Then with its
natural spreading quality it would have spread all around. And destroyed
everything. So to save the society, Lord Shiva swallowed that.
Although we don't believe on these mythological stories. But there is one
teaching behind this story. For that reason, I wrote this. And the teaching
is that, to save the society, Lord Shiva swallowed the poison and
controlled and digested it. So this is one great thing. Wherein serving the
society even by swallowing poison, this type of meaning is expressed in
this mythological story.
Because of all this inner meaning, Baba chose the term "Niila Kantha". And
He declared 12th February as a "Niila Kantha Divas". There is a literal
meaning and an inner meaning. The literal meaning is blue throat day. The
real inner meaning is, 'digesting poison to save humanity day'.
ADDITION TO THE STORY
Here I will add something further in connection with the story about Lord
Shiva. For that lends also deeper understanding about what occurred with Baba.
Seeing the situation with the deadly poison, Lord Shiva took it upon
Himself to swallow it. Otherwise, that very 'vish' (poison, or "Kal Ku't'")
would have annihilated a huge population. So Lord Shiva saved the society
by swallowing poison. He swallowed it and with His divine play, the poison
remained in Lord Shiva's throat permanently. And with its effect, the
poison created a blue mark all around Lord Shiva's neck. So permanently His
neck became blue. And yet it did not affect anything more than that, on the
body of Lord Shiva. So that's why one of the names of Lord Shiva is "Niila
Kantha". --Blue throat.
So this was the greatness of Lord Shiva that He swallowed the deadly
poison, with the only purpose to save the society from the disastrous
effect of that deadly poison, "Kal Ku't'". Saving the society was the only
motive. Nothing else.
BABA'S EXAMPLE
A similar thing happened, with Baba. We know that Taraka Brahma, when He
descends on this earth as Mahasambhuti. Superficially it looks like He is
human, but in reality, it is not. Because Mahasambhuti cannot be just one
human being, which is full of shortcomings and limitations. So Mahasambhuti
is capable to do anything which He likes.
So it is with Baba. To save the society from the disastrous effect of much
deadly poison or many deadly and destructive weapons He Himself knowingly,
deliberately swallowed the poison. --To save the humanity from the deadly
effect of the poison of the society. And that is what happened symbolically
in the jail. While AMPS was not banned, most of the WTs and Margis were
outside the jail. Then Baba took upon Himself the trouble of the entire
organization. And not only that, the entire society.
PLUS...
Not only demon Indira Gandhi, but all demonic political groups like
communists. Those who were spreading their claws to grip the entire society
in their hold. Like serpents, they do. Because communism was most ghastly
in those days. So these demonic leaders' full attention turned towards
Shrii Shrii Anandamurtijii. By that way, they gave poison in the jail. And
Baba swallowed that.
OTHERWISE...
If Baba would not have done so, Indira Gandhi and communist Russia would
have done more ghastly things and killings. To Ananda Margii and general
society both. And they would have wreaked disaster on the earth. But
because Baba eliminated their negative plan. So everything was controlled
and everyone was saved.
And the outcome we see as later on, everyone saw that Indira Gandhi also
declared martial law in India. And that was not as ghastly as it would have
been. AMPS got banned. But those who are aware about Baba's divine play,
they know this truth that if Baba would not have taken the poison, then
Indira Gandhi would have brought more disaster on the country. Or
communists would have destroyed many more things in the entire globe.
And Indira Gandhi would have poisoned or killed many WTs and Margis. But
she could not do anything. Rather every one of us, those who were in jail,
they saw that Baba controlled the situation. And jail was very comfortable
in many regards. He changed thorns, turned into flowers. All trouble He
took on Himself. And digested everything. To save us.
So those who do not have deeper understanding, they think that Baba was
poisoned in the jail, etc. And those who know the inner truth, and Baba's
way of playing His divine play, they know that by swallowing poison, He
saved the entire society from the deadly effect of various negative things.
These things while remaining in jail, Baba disclosed to many devotees. He
revealed the truth. On that very basis, I wrote here the above section
related with poisoning and saving the society.
CONCLUSION
So this "Niila Kantha" term and "Niilakantha Divas", has deep meaning
behind that. And as we know that "Niila Kantha" means blue throat. And the
'blue throat' appeared because of swallowing the poison. And this name
Niila Kantha was related with Lord Shiva. And a similar thing happened with
Lord Anandamurtiji. That's why one of the names of Lord Anandamurtiji is
also Niila Kantha. Means, on 12 February day, since then Baba became "Niila
Kantha". He swallowed the poison, and saved the earth.
Namaskar,
Vidyasagar
Note 1: REVERENCE TO GURU
Reverence should be given to Guru. In so many places Baba in His teaching
says, "...Trtiiyam' Gurupu'janam". This third point of success is
'reverence to Guru'.
That's why we don't shake hands with Guru or do just simple Namaskar. Or
not even pranam by touching feet. But rather, disciples always give very
high, heartfelt reverence by doing sastaunga pranam. That means, such type
of reverence which cannot be given to anyone else. Sastaunga pranam is only
for Guru, and Guru alone. No one else. So we can see that how much
greatness, Guru has.
That's why we see in Caryacarya 2nd part, the beginning point, Baba has
given very meaningful teaching. That is of one unparalleled type, related
with Guru. Please see--
Baba says, "The one formless, beginningless and infinite Parama Brahma
(Supreme Consciousness) is the only entity to be attained by living beings--
That alone is Jagat Guru (the Supreme preceptor), That alone has revealed
Brahmavidya (intuitional science) to us through the medium of the name and
form of Anandamurtijii. Unit beings must be made to appreciate Its majesty."
(CC II p.1) [point 1a]
And in Ananda Sutram, one sutra Baba has given:
3-9 "Brahmaeva gururekah na'parah"
That means, Guru is Brahma. He is everything.
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Where are we?
Baba says, "For the self-centered there is no place for feelings of mercy,
sympathy or camaraderie. The railway stations and market places are full of
half-clad beggars and lepers desperately stretching out their begging
bowls, earning their livelihood in the only way they know. They are
fortunate if anyone contemptuously flings them a copper coin. The old blind
beggars sitting all day long on the steps of a bridge automatically lift
their bowls whenever anyone walks past. But their hungry pleas fall on deaf
ears. On the other side of society, sumptuous dishes are being prepared to
entertain the rich dignitaries. These contrasts expose the hypocrisy of the
present society." (PNS-7, p. 56)
Note: Unfortunately a similar disparity is also continuing in our AM. When
so-called "big Dadas" visit then their subordinates-- post holding margiis
& Wts-- hover around to please and gratify them. But on the other side
there are countless cases of very poor Wts, yet rarely does anyone ask
about their welfare and needs, even in their sickness and destitute
condition. Indeed, there are innumerable examples around the globe where such WTs died without proper care.
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