ŚHRĪ LAKṢHMAṆA in the Words of ŚHRĪ MĀTĀJĪ

73 minute read

"Tomorrow you come to My house. The kumkum that I['ll] give, with that draw a line outside the door of your māmā's house; this will be like Lakṣhmaṇ Rekhā [line meant to Śhrī Sītā and protect drawn by Śhrī Lakṣhmaṇa around the dwelling He shares with Śhrī Rāma and Śhrī Sītā at Panchavati in the forest of Dandakaranya, now part of Nasik]. As a result of that your māmī will not be able to throw your māmā out of the house. Otherwise, your māmī will kill your māmā, she is a rākṣhasī."
1975-0000 Conversation with Venu Narayan Phaḍake and His Māmā (Marathi), House of Śhrī Mātājī, Gurudev Cooperative Housing Society, Prabhadevi Sea Face, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

"How was Śhrī Lakṣhmaṇa? He only used to see the Feet of Śhrī Sītā.
Keep the eyes low. Gradually all these baddhas will go away spontaneously."
1975-1221 Talk to Sahaja Yogis (Hindi), Apanī aur Dṛuṣhṭi Rakhe (Keep the Attention on Yourself), Gita Mandir Hall, Bharatiya Vidyā Bhavan (3rd floor), 29, Kulapati K.M. Munshi Mārg, Chowpatty, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

"Secondly, the eyes are very important thing, where you have to be careful not to move your eyes very fast anywhere. Try to keep your eyes steady and mostly on the Mother Earth.
You see, you have heard about Lakṣhmaṇa: He never saw the Feet of Sītājī, never. Or never saw Her face. He only saw Her Feet. How can that be? He was always living with Her, He had never seen Her face! He had just seen His [Her] Feet.
So, you can imagine what should be the position.
And for fourteen years He had to lead a complete brahmachārī's life. He just, She was like His mother. He know [knew] She was Ādi Śhakti, but He just saw Her Feet.
That should be our case, in his thing, that we should lead a sanctified married life."
1977-0322 Public Program, Questions and Answers, Gita Mandir Hall, Bharatiya Vidyā Bhavan (3rd floor), 29, Kulapati K.M. Munshi Mārg, Chowpatty, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Version 1:
"Agni is our Brother-in-law (Dīr). That means Lakṣhmaṇa. They move about in the Form of Śheṣhanāg. But their main task is to protect our modesty. They come up to My Feet and no further."
Version 2:
"Agni is My dīra [brother-in-law], means He is Lakṣhmaṇ. He roams around in the Form of Śheṣhanāg. Protecting My chastity is His most important task. He only comes up to My Feet and never beyond it."
1977-1113 Letter to Iṃdirābāī (Marathi), London, UK}

"The gaze should be kept down to the ground.
We have the example of Lakṣhmaṇa. Sītā was His sister-in-law.
Now we do banter and joke with our sister-in-law. Even while talking to Her, He used to look at Her Feet only. Never used to look up. So much respect He must have had.
So the gaze should be at the feet. Do not look in the upward direction. If someone does speak and ask, then look up slowly with great respect and reverence. This movement of the eyes helps in Sahaja Yoga."
1979-0226 Talk to Sahaja Yogis (Marathi), Sahajayogyānshi Hitguj (Benefit Providing Talk with Sahaja Yogis), Pune, Maharashtra, India

"So She was married to him [Rāvaṇa].
And when Rāvaṇa, you see, uh-uh-uh s... was fighting Rāma, She was the Satī and She ... She was a de... devotee of Śhrī Viṣhṇu. And She always used to worship Śhrī Viṣhṇu.
So She threw Her kaṅkaṇ [bracelet of thread used in Pūjās] -- this is the kaṅkaṇ. It's call as kaṅkaṇ, you see. See this one?
[After a Sahaja Yogi says something:] [unclear]. See now.
[After a Sahaja Yogi says something:] Very interesting, very interesting.
[After a Sahaja Yogi says, "Mh-hm,":] Kaṅkaṇ.
[After a Sahaja Yogi says, "Mh,":] You see, not easy to make.
[After a Sahaja Yogi says, "Yeah.":] [unclear].
[After two Sahaja Yogis say something:] You see.
Be careful, [unclear].
[unclear].
[After a Sahaja Yogi says something:] You see? You see, she came out.
So, all these ... uh ... this kaṅkaṇ, you know, She threw it in the air. And Rāma's ... ah-ah-uh arrows were coming, and they would return back to Rāma.
Because Rāma cannot cross beyond the Powers of a Satī also. He has to respect her [a Satī in general].
Because She was the devotee of Rāma, first of all, and of which, you know, that Kālī is the sister of a ... Umā is the sister of ...
[After a Sahaja Yogi says, "Viṣhṇu,":] ... Viṣhṇu. So, you see, how can He kill the whuh ... husband of ...
[After a Sahaja Yogi interrupts, "Sister":] ... the sister?
You see, all of these points are there.
And the kaṅkaṇa was in the air, is projective. Everything failed. You see, nothing would go, even Sudarśhan Chakra wouldn't go that side.
[After a Sahaja Yogi says, "Mh,":] So, Lakṣhmaṇa said, "What are you doing‽ What is it? You are getting back your, all your arrows! Why don't you control your arrows? You see what to do. See there, what is there." He saw this kaṅkaṇa was moving there. He said, "Oh, God! Now, you have it. If this is the thing to work out, then am I useless?" Poor Lakṣhmaṇa was sitting very much in frustration.
Then Yama, the God of Death, he thought: "The time is coming and what is this kaṅkaṇ doing here? You see, so must try to solve this problem." [Sahaja Yogi laughs.]
So, He is the clever one.
He ... he went into the heart of ... uh-uh-uh or He went into the mind of Rāvaṇa, and told him: "Oh, you are not uh the one who is winning the war, it is your wife's anger." And, oh, his ego was challenged. [During laughter:] [unclear], "Kaṅkaṇ [unclear] you see in the air, you see that [unclear] is there. That is the one that is protecting you." Very angry: "What does She mean by challenging my manliness?"
See, so he went down to his palace.
And he saw She ... She was sitting there smiling. She said: "I know you will come back." He said: "What do You mean? I cannot fight the war? You think I live by Your powers? Will You please get ... get back your kaṅkaṇa? It's my order!"
So, as a Satī you have to obey the orders of your husband, you see.
[After a Sahaja Yogi says, "Mh,":] She said, "All right. I will take it back." She took [it] back, you see.
So, [as the Sahaja Yogi laughs:] but you can find out loopholes, you see. That is, that's the [unclear]. [Everyone laughs.]
So, She said, "Now, I've taken back My kaṅkaṇ." All right. Then She sat before Viṣhṇu. She said, "How dare You kill My husband? I will not eat food till he comes back here alive, I will not eat."
Now, Viṣhṇu had a problem. Now what to do? He cannot kill, Rāma being Viṣhṇu, you see. [Another Sahaja Yogi laughs.] He cannot kill Rāvaṇa. Now He said, "What to do?" So He told Lakṣhmaṇa: "It's a big problem!"
So Lakṣhmaṇa informed Yama: "Again the problem has come [same Sahaja Yogi laughs]: She won't eat food till [he laughs again] ... Rā-ah ... Her husband goes back, you know." So Yama said, "I know it's very dangerous, but I have to try this trick otherwise I'm in for trouble. This man has to die, for the time has come." So, Yama said, "It's a very big risk of ... to say this to Satī."
You see: one woman fighting all this [he laughs again], with Her will Power.
"It's all right." He says, "All right. I will manage it."
He took the form of a ... of Rāvaṇa himself. He became, took, started looking like Rāvaṇa.
And He went there, and He stood up in the door. And he said: "Now, see, I have come now." [She] said: "Did you win the war?" She [he] said, "Yes!" She said, "All right." "Now, will You eat Your food?" And the food was lying before Her. And She made a mistake there: She ate the food.
Before your husband has taken the food you are not supposed to eat your food. You see, that's why Indian women will never eat it. [Sahaja Yogi laughs.] Because this gives them power, you see. To be [a] dedicated wife means power.
So, they do not mind, even if their husbands are bad, even if they are rākṣhasas, they are anything: they will be dedicated to their husbands. They'll love them. So that they keep their own powers, and by that they save their husbands' also.
So he stood up there, and [unclear], "You eat Your food."
As soon as She ate the food, you see, uh not even She ate the first morsel, Rāvaṇa's head was cut. And the head fell at the feet of a ...
[After a Sahaja Yogi says, "Mh-hm,":] ... Mandodarī.
And then, you know, he, Yama came in his own form. And She cursed him that, "You will be a dog in the next life." And He became a dog, in the next life. He has to become that.
So they are so powerful.
But this I'm telling you about someone who was uh uh sort of a Sahaja Sāmarthya [Spontaneous Power], [unclear].
[After a Sahaja Yogi interrupts, "Which dog was this, Mother?":] Hah?
[After the Sahaja Yogi says, "Which dog? This wasn't the dog which accompanied Yudhiṣhṭhira,":] Of course!
[Overlapping with a Sahaja Yogi]: Who else?
Yes!
[After a Sahaja Yogi laughs and says, "That's the Yudhiṣhṭhira who released Yama from this,":] You see, actually, it is uh, Rāv... after Rāma, you see, whatever curses and everything went carried on during the time of Kṛiṣhṇa.
[After a Sahaja Yogi says, "Acchā,":] So he is the same dog!
[After a Sahaja Yogi says, "Mh,":] The one who followed Yudhiṣhṭhira, you see.
[After a Sahaja Yogi says, "Mh-hm,":] Near ... Dharmarāja means ...
So, this uh ... this story, She ... tells you about Mandodarī, who was of's Kālī, Umā, She was Pārvatī Śhakti, so is different."
1979-0528 Talk to Sahaja Yogis, Seminar, Day 2, Session 2, Āśhram, 8, Hamilton Road, Dollis Hill, London NW10 1NX, UK

Now, you all should understand that when we talk about religion then it is more within than external.
There are many examples for it. You can take example of Śhrī Rāma. There was an old lady without teeth, living in jungle, without taking bath. She brought the berries for Śhrī Rāma by tasting it that if they are sweet or sour and offered them to Śhrī Rāma. In Maharashtra they are very particular about this that they will not eat of it is eaten by others. Will you eat those berries? But Śhrī Rāma enjoyed them with love! He told to Sītā that, "I will not give you even one, I will eat them all. I never got such taste ever." Then that old lady said that I have more and they are broken by my teeth. Lakṣhmaṇa became very angry seeing all this. Then Sītājī said that, "It is true that even I have not tasted such berries ever in My life. Give Me more and also to My brother-in-law." It is described so beautifully."
1979-0924 Talk to Sahaja Yogis (Marathi), Kuṇḍalinī, Śhrī Śhivaśhakti and Śhrī Viṣhṇuśhakti, Navarātri Celebrations (3rd Day), Amar Hind Mandal, West Dadar, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

"There are two nice stories about giving: is one about Rāma and one about Kṛiṣhṇa.
But uh I don't know if I have told you about Rāma stories when the Śhabarī, an old aboriginal woman, who was there and she gave ... is a kind of a fruit [ber -- ziziphus mauritiana] like berries, after testing them with her teeth, to Rām. Every, every fruit she took out, tested it nicely. I mean, ate them, in the sense that she pierced them with her teeth to see [if] they were sour or not. And then they kept them collected in a bunch, I mean in a basket.
And when He came, you see, she took them to Rāma.
And she said to Him, you see -- I mean first she talked to all the leaves and all the trees and everyone that, 'Give me the best fruits, all right? He's coming now. And I've adored Him, I have prayed for Him, now He's coming, so you give me the best fruit.' And then she collected all those things. And she was waiting for Him to come.
When He came, she washed His Feet and made Him sit down. And then she offered this fruit. She said,:"Every fruit I have tested! So, You can eat all of them, because they are not at all sour." Oh Rāma took that immediately. he tarted eating: "What a nice thing! Really I've never eaten such good fruits! Never in My life I have had such good fruits! What taste! Immense... Immensely delicious!" And Lakṣhmaṇa, the brother, was getting very angry with her, that, 'What is this?' In ... in India it is regarded [as] uttishtha [forbidden]. You see, [if] somebody has eaten something, except for [when] that person is a Saint you are not supposed to eat that.
And this lady [laughing:] had done all that, to eating and [unclear]. And He was enjoying it!
So, He told His wife, Sītā, He said: "Oh, I cannot give You anything out of this. If You want to have more You should ask her to get some more. But I will never share anything!" So, Sītā says, "No-no-no-no. Little bit let Me also enjoy. What is this? You are going to enjoy everything, is not good. After all I am Your ardhāṅgini [principal half], I am Your half ... half-personality so You cannot eat the whole. You have to give Me little bit." Then She took some. And She started [unclear]. She tells Her brother-in-law, She says, you see, "I've never eaten really such nice fruits! But I'm not going to give You anything! Even if You ask for it, I sm not going to give You. You can ask Your brother." His brother said, "No! I've shared with You but why should I share with Him? You can share with Him, why should I share?" [Laughter.] "This is so great!"
You see?
And She was praising and praising. Then Lakṣhmaṇ said, "All right, let Me also have a little." [Some laughter.] So She says, "All right! I will give You only few." Rāma said, "All right, first You give, then I will see how much I can give." So She counted and gave Him. He ate. He said, "Really, there's something. Something I don't know, it's like Amṛut Phal."
Amṛut Phal means a ... Amṛut is uh-uh-uh ... the Fruit of Nectar, you see,.
"I just cannot imagine what a taste is!" He asked Rāma, "After all, You cannot be that selfish. You are My elder brother, You have to share Your things with Me. Better give Me some."
And they started, you see, quarreling about it. [It] is such a beautiful description in the Rāmāyaṇa, of Śhabarī ... 'Śhabarī ke ber', 'The ... The bers of Śhabarī'.
This is one of the thing[s] [stories]."
1980-0704 Talk to Sahaja Yogis, The Joy of Life, Advice on Marriage, Wedding of Tony (Cooley) Paniotou, Hesta Szpiro's Mother's House, Abbey Lodge, London, UK

Śhrī Mātājī: Where?
Sahaja Yogi: Where is he residing, in the ...?
Śhrī Mātājī: [Showing the stomach:] In the stomach.
Sahaja Yogi: [unclear].
Śhrī Mātājī: That is the Bhūr Bhuvaḥ Swāhā. Swāhā it is. The food, the [unclear] that takes away all your ... it swallows everything.
Sahaja Yogi: Swāhā?
Śhrī Mātājī: Swā-hā. Swāhā is ...
Sahaja Yogi: [Overlapping:] What does it mean. Mother?
Śhrī Mātājī: You see, Bhūr Bhuvaḥ Swāhā. Is the essence of Agni is Swāhā.
Sahaja Yogi: The essence of Agni?
Another Sahaja Yogi: Fire.
Sahaja Yogi: Mh-hm.
Śhrī Mātājī: Swāhā means ...
Sahaja Yogi: Mh-hm.
Śhrī Mātājī: ... swallowing power, or the burning power, all that burns is Swāhā, within you.
Sahaja Yogi: That's why we are doing this ...
Śhrī Mātājī: Swāhā.
Sahaja Yogi: ... Swāhā.
Another Sahaja Yogi: Ah-ha!
Śhrī Mātājī: Bhūr means this Mother Earth. Then Bhūr Bhuvaḥ. Bhuvaḥ is all that is created, Bhuvaḥ. Is all this universe that is created. Swāhā is the power to burn, you see, power of Fire.
Sahaja Yogi: Disintegrate.
Śhrī Mātājī: All that which ir is burning, which burns down.
Is in the stomach! This power to burn.
Another Sahaja Yogi: So is He an aspect of Lord Viṣhṇu?
Śhrī Mātājī: Hah?
Sahaja Yogi: [Slower:] Is He an aspect of Lord Viṣhṇu?
Śhrī Mātājī: Viṣhṇu's aspect, His brother, His brother Lakṣhmaṇa.
Sahaja Yogi: Agni?
Another Sahaja Yogi: [unclear].
Previous Sahaja Yogi: Ah-ha!
The other Sahaja Yogi: [unclear].
Śhrī Mātājī: [unclear Must be] the one.
And He is ... is the one who ... actually is the ... like a serpent, you know, with [unclear] in the stomach. He stays there always to Viṣhṇu resides. [As a Sahaja Yogi says something:] And that's His brother role, Śheṣha.
Another Sahaja Yogi: Śheṣha.
Another Sahaja Yogi: [unclear].
Śhrī Mātājī: That's Agni.
He was Arjuṇa. In His next life, with Kṛiṣhṇa, ...
Another Sahaja Yogi: [interrupts]: [unclear] Arjuna.
Śhrī Mātājī: ... He was Arjuṇa.
Another Sahaja Yogi: His brother ...
Śhrī Mātājī: Śheṣha is the snake, ...</fomt?
Another Sahaja Yogi: [interrupts]: [unclear].
Śhrī Mātājī: ... representing the Agni in the stomach, you see. When you have any problem, then you get that kind of a pain, you know, that's ...
Another Sahaja Yogi: Ah-ha.
1981-1212 Conversation with Sahaja Yogis, House, 48 Brompton Square, Knightsbridge, London, UK (date not sure)

"The man should have his honor. Just like a woman cherishes her dignity, men should also have that.
Look at a man like Lakṣhmaṇ. How He used to walk with lowered eyes! He did not see anything above His sister-in-law's Feet.
So discard these beastly instincts and maintain you honor."
1982-0119 Śhrī Ādi Śhakti Pūjā (Marathi), Love Is the Main Thing, Pune, Maharashtra, India

"Now He had two brothers, very interesting. I mean he had other brothers also, but Bharat and another was Lakṣhmaṇa. These were two brothers were with Him.
Now they show the two sides of a human being.
One was Lakṣhmaṇa, and He was that fiery type, you see. He couldn't bear anybody misbehaving towards Rāma. He couldn't bear anybody talking in a very mundane type to Śhrī Rāma. And He used to get so angry with all these people, that He would just come out like a big thunderbolt on anybody who tried to say anything about Śhrī Rām.
Even Paraśhurāma who was, there, a contemporary Incarnation of Śhrī Rāma Himself was Paraśhurāma. Is a very interesting story about that.
But, He could not bear Paraśhurāma in any way [gap]
... He is the Śheṣha as they call it: the ... the serpent which sleeps in the Bhavasāgara, on which Śhrī Viṣhṇu rests. The same Śheṣha had taken birth as Śhrī Lakṣhmaṇa.
......
So, this is what it is, that He sleeps on the Śheṣha.
And Śheṣha is the one who is sometimes expressed in Sahaja Yogis, I have seen, as anger, when you try to be non protocolish or when you try to be funny or ... uh-uh-uh you don't behave yourself. That's the Śheṣha in them.
That is also sometimes needed! You have to be a Śheṣha sometimes because otherwise people will start misbehaving and by that they will be harmed. Not that I will be harmed, but they will be harmed. So that kind of temperament is also needed.
But the other one [temperament], is very interesting, is that of Bharata, the brother. He sowed [saw] how Śhrī Rāma bestowed the kingdom to Him because of His mother's uh-uh-uh agitation. And he didn't know what to do.
So, because she ... he went back to Rāma, and he said that, "You take back your kingdom. I don't want anything. You are the one who should govern. Why should I have it?" So, Rāma said, "All right, you ... you ... you just be there in charge of the kingdom. I have to obey My father, I have to obey My mother because I have given them a promise."
So Śhrī Māt ... Śhrī ... Śhrī Rāma's another great quality was once given a promise, is to be kept.
This is another quality we have to have that, if you have promised anything, you have to keep it up. If you have said, "I will do this," you must do it. You should not find out excuses to avoid it. Is a[n] absolutely an anti-God activity to avoid doing things that you have promised. Yoh... Your Deities will never be happy! You must see that, whatever you have promised you must do.
Now, when Bharata was sent back by Him, he said, "All right, give Me your uh-uh-uh sandals, which I'll take there, and I'll use them as if that's the symbol of You being there."
And he put those sandals on the throne and he ruled that kingdom and looked after -- Bharata.
Though he was .... uh when he was going to see Rāma, then Lakṣhmaṇa saw him coming, and he said, "Look at this! He's coming here to invade You now! He has thrown You out of the kingdom, and now he's coming to invade You."
So this is also, I have seen, among Sahaja Yogis, is there. That the Sahaja Yogis, who are like Śheṣha, cannot see also the goodness of other Sahaja Yogis who are very good people, extremely sacrificing, nice people, but their intentions are not understood, are misunderstood, which is a very sad thing. You must see the intentions of another type of people also, who may not be so hot tempered, may not be so much angry, but their intentions are very good.
They have come actually to ask for the sandals of Śhrī Rām.
So among this two type of people, I have seen [that] there is always a bit [of a] misunderstanding going on. So both the types of people should try to understand, that, 'We both are needed for Sahaja Yoga.'
I cannot only do with one type of people. We have to have both type[s] of people who leek ... look after both the styles of the thing.
But, when you are dealing with others, one should go as one."
1982-0402 Śhrī Rāma Pūjā (Rāma Navamī Day), Āśhram, 44 Chelsham Road, Clapham, London, UK

Śhrī Mātājī: And the ... he's such a dirty man, that he said, "Even it was that relationship between the Mother of Christ and Christ Himself." Then he said about Muhammad Sāhab same. He said the same about uh-uh-uh, you see, Rāma and Sītā and Lakṣhmaṇa.
[During translation:] What? Yeah.
Sahaja Yoginī: He also pretends to be higher than Christ.
Śhrī Mātājī: And that, I don't know that he pretends or not, but he wants to bring down everyone saying that, 'They were sexually infected people.' And he said that uh , "Maria Magdalena was a keep of uh ... Christ."
Just imagine. Last filth. Doesn't matter."
1982-0425 Conversation with Sahaja Yogis, Apartment of Ruth Lederberger, Via Giuseppe Mercalli, 46, Rome, Italy

"And Hanumāna, on His side, say for example when Lakṣhmaṇa was sick, and Ra-ah ... He had to get some medicine from one big uh-uh-uh mountain, uh-uh-uh-uh He brought the whole mountain, you see. [Some laughter.] Because He said, "I have no time to find it," you see, "so better find it now," and brought the whole mountain. [Laughter, smiles.]"
1982-0822 Śhrī Gaṇeśha Pūjā, House of Charles and Magda Mathys, Chemin des Moulins-de-Drize 5, Troinex (6 kms S of Geneva), Gèneve, Switzerland

"So, we are in a very holy place, because as you know Sītā lived here for so many years and Śhrī Rāma's was also with Her, and also Śhrī Lakṣhmaṇa. So, it is obvious that this is a big come of .. we can say a ... quite a big meeting place of various holy things that happened during the different periods of Maharashtra."
1983-0118 Śhrī Gaṇeśha Pūjā (Vināyaka Chaturthī Day), House of Dr. Ramesh Adinath Saṃghavī, B.N-1, Sapt Shrung, Krishnanagar Housing Society, Saharanpur Road, Nasik, Maharashtra, India

"Small cherries given by Śhabarī to Rām, Rām ate with such love, appreciating it to Sītā. Lakṣhmaṇ became angry. Sītājī told Him, "Brother-in-law, please try these berries. I have never eaten such berries in life." Trusting His sister-in-law, He tried one and He found it heavenly. They enjoyed the cherry Śhabarī gave Them even though she had tasted each of them prior to offering Them because she tasted each with love to ensure that only the sweet ones are offered.
[Is] the innocent offering to God."
1983-0504 Public Program (Hindi), Sane Gurujī Vidyālaya (English Medium) School, Bhikoba Waman Pathare Mārg, Near Dadar Catering College, Shivaji Park, West Dadar, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

"You know the story of Śhabarī. She was a very simple woman, an old lady with very few teeth.
When Rāma was coming, she said, "What should I give to Śhrī Rām?"
All right, she went round and round. There were, in the forest, some small, little what we call berries, ber, and she thought, 'It may not be sweet for my Rām. How will I give Him?" So, she picked them up, she used to test them with her teeth. One tooth she used to pierce in it and see if it is sweet. And then she would collect those. And those who were bad she threw away.
When Śhrī Rām came, she said, "Śhrī Rām, I couldn't get anything but these for You. Will You have it?"
Now, Śhrī Rāma, being an Incarnation, knew the depth of the love of this lady. He took it up in His hand. He knew that this is given by great love of a great heart.
So, she says: "This I have tested each one of them. Don't have any doubts. I have tested in every one of them, they are all very sweet. You can have them." So: He puts it in the mouth, tells His wife, "I have never eaten such beautiful fruits, such great fruits, before."
I mean, it's such a simple fruit, you see.
Sītājī, His wife, being an Incarnation Herself, She said: "You must give Me some. After all, I am Your ardhāṅgi[ni]."
Is a half, better half. [Laughter.]
But Lakṣhmaṇa was getting angry. He said, "Who is this old woman sitting here and giving such?"
Uh-uh-uh we, we don't eat things, you see, eaten by others. We call it tustha, is a uttiṣhṭa, means, if the one who has eaten something is never given. And to Rāma?
So, He get, was very angry, fuming with temper. So She takes it in Her hand, and She tells Her brother-in-law: "Oh, this is the best I've had, oh my brother-in-law. I have never had such beautiful fruits." Now He gets tempted. And He says: "Really? [Laughter.] Can I have some?" She said, "No! It's only for Me and My husband! [Laughter.] You better ask her." So She asks-s-s ... He asks Śhabarī, "Can you give Me some, please?" The whole temper fizzles out. And then He sees the beauty of that fruit because it is done with love.
So this is what it is: love which you have should be expanded."
1985-0310 Śhrī Devī Pūjā, Sahaja Yoga Is Our Aim, Is Our Dharma, Is Our Being and One Has to Be All the Time Ascending (You Are Stationed in the Center in Your Spirit), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

"When Rāma incarnated, you sent Lakṣhmaṇa for His support. When Kṛiṣhṇa incarnated, you sent Arjuna as His instrument. But you sent Me all alone with nobody to help. It does not matter, the love of My children is enough for Me to accomplish My mission, and I shall not leave this Earth till My last child is saved."
1985-0328 Quote on Greeting the Himalayas (Her father), Dharmaśhālā, Himachal Pradesh, India

"You see, you know that where Śhrī Rāma and Śhrī Sītā and Lakṣhmaṇa all lived there in Nasik."
1985-0804 Śhrī Gaṇeśha Pūjā, The Vehicle We Have Is Our Chastity, Brighton Friends Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton, East Sussex, UK

[Śhrī Mātājī says Nasik is a "Tapa Bhūmi" meaning it is a land for tapas, meaning penance. Śhrī Rāma, Śhrī Sītā and Śhrī Lakṣhmaṇa came and lived here for many years. They walked barefoot on this land, so this is very special land that is been vibrated by them. Nasik is the place where Śhrī Lakṣhmaṇa cut off the nose of a demonic character, the sister of Rāvaṇa called Śhūrpaṇakhā.]
1985-1216 Comments on Nasik, Balcony, House, Nasik, Maharashtra, India

"Now, you have to notice on the streets of Maharashtra -- just now I was coming by train -- I saw no mens [men], there were [was] nobody who were interested in women, no women were interested in men, some men were hugging each other, walking around more very innocently. I mean, the whole thing was that life-ph-ph is innocence.
And that is what it was here when this rākṣhasa's wi... sister, Śhūrpaṇakhā.Mbr> So nowadays if there is any woman in India who behaves like that, tries to entice men, is called as Śhūrpaṇakhā.
So this woman came and tried to entice Śhrī Rāma.
Imagine! What audacity! [Some laughter.]
So Śhrī Rāma being saṅkochī, means He was a man full of grace, He told her, "See now, what's the use of running after Me? I have already got a beautiful wife. So why do you run after Me? Better try My brother who has no wife."
Because He knew Him [laughter, laughs]. Becuase He knew that His brother is a ... Śheṣhanāga, 'He is the serpent on which ... very big serpent called Śheṣhanāg, Śheṣha. And He is a hot tempered fellow, and He will just know how to deal with this woman, I can't manage this show.' Because He would not ill-treat a woman! It was too much for Him. Though, she was Śhūrpaṇakhā, and not only that, but she was also a woman.
So-o-o, when He went ... No! He ... He asked her: that, "You go and see Him."
Lakṣhmaṇa was sitting outside.
Lakṣhmaṇa had taken a vow to be a brahmachārī, elibate man, with fourteen years penance. Though He was a married man. This He had to do for that's the only way He could kill another demon, whose name was Meghanād, who had run away with His daughter, called as Sulochanā. It's a long story. [Laughter.]
So make it short, this fellow went to this brahmachārī, Lakṣhmaṇa, though He had a wife in Ayodhyā, who is leading a life of a brahmachārī.
Is very common in India. I mean if your wife is away, you just think about her, and you are in separation, still you enjoy your wife thinking about her! And thinking about the good things she has done to you.
But if she has done all the time bad things you don't want to think about her [laughter], and then all these demonic things start."
1985-1217 Pūjā (English + Marathi + English), Right Type of Conduct and The Establishment of Our Dharma Is Very Important, House of Dr. Ramesh Adinath Saṃghavī, B.N-1, Sapt Shrung, Krishnanagar Housing Society, Saharanpur Road, Nasik, Maharashtra, India

"Śhabarī aboriginal woman gave the berries to Śhrī Rām to eat and He highly praised them. Did He not have anything else to eat? It shows how rich Śhabarī was. Śhrī Rām, Śhrī Sītā and Śhrī Lakṣhmaṇ came as her guests and respecting her wishes ate those berries that she had tasted [it is never done in India]."
1986-1101 Diwālī Pūjā (Hindi + Marathi) (Diwālī Day), Puṣhpa Maṅgal Karyalaya, Mote Mangal Karyalay Road, Sheth Narayan Das Dugad Chowk, Bibwewadi, Pune, Maharashtra, India

"So now, we have here one of the most ancient places, called Nasik.
I think you must have heard about what happened when Śhrī Rāma and Sītā were staying here, why this place was called as Nasik. But I'll tell you in short.
This is the place where Śhrī Rāma and Sītā and Lakṣhmaṇa were staying, and the sister of Rāvaṇa, because Rāvaṇa's some of the empires, a part of the empire was very close to this place. She came down to entice Śhrī Rāma. So Śhrī Rāma smiled at her. He said that: "Is not possible with Me because I have a very nice wife," in His own sweet ways, as He is known for His ... uh-uh-uh ... formal's, formal is not the word but for He's sweet formalities, as we call saṅkocha. He said, "You better try your hand at My brother," because He knew His brother is a terrific fellow. [Laughter, laughs.]
So, this, this is all rākṣhasī: is a quality of rākṣhasas. That the women who are rākṣhasinis try to entice men. Men who are rākṣhasas tries [try[]] to entice woman. Is a quality of rākṣhasas, not of human beings. And of course not of Devas.
So this rākṣhasini wanted to try her luck. With her ego she went down to Lakṣhmaṇa, and she told Him that: "You are now ... uh-uh-uh living without Your wife for fourteen years, and the this fourteen years are going to be very heavy for You, so, I think You better marry me. I am a good lady, why don't You marry me? Sss-so-o-o, He, she said, "I have got a beautiful nose, I have got beautiful eyes, I am very beautiful," [laughter starts, smiles] ...
Ah-ah-oah must be artificial, I'm sure. [Laughter, laughs.] Or might have been to some sort of a Beauty Parlor or something [as laughter starts, laughing:] is there. [Laughs.]
God knows what she must have tried, but she was trying to impress.
And the fellow was getting infuriated at it. He could not see, you see that, 'Look at this lady coming and trying to challenge My chastity.' And He got ultimately very angry. He told her, "You get out from here. I have nothing to do with you. You are useless. Don't try all these tricks with Me." But she would not go. She was so enchanted by Him and she, her ego was hurt. She said, "Now, this not." Not to accept any defeat. She went on.
Then He got very angry and He cut her nose, of which she was very proud that, "I have [a] beautiful nose." He cut her nose.
And nose represents ego. See when people have ego, you see, their noses go like that. [Laughter, laughs.]
Like we have, you must have seen when while coming from Lonavala, they said, "Duke's nose." Because such a big nose they start, must, it cannot be any Englishman's nose. It must be the Duke of some place, otherwise cannot be such a big nose, you see. So the Indians call it as, 'Duke's nose'.
So, the big nose, such a big nose she had. So He cut her nose, showing that: He tried to destroy her ego of her beauty.
Is very significant. Very significant that ... this Lakṣhmaṇa resides in the stomach, we can say, on the right side. He looks after our right side which is the liver, which gives us the ego part. And it is He only who destroys it. So He is the big destroyer of our ego. Is significant, that He destroyed the ego of this woman [Śhūrpaṇakhā]. That she could [not anymore] endi... entice anyone by cutting her nose.
Nose is a word call nāsikā in Sanskrit language. That's why this place was named, after that cutting of the nose, as Nasik."
......
And that is the thing in a place like this where Sītā had to suffer so much, where uh-uh ... Lakṣhmaṇa had to do all these ugly things. It was a terrible thing that happened in Nasik.
And then, if you get in that background, like in a drama, you see, you show a climax and then an anticlimax like that, yesterday I felt that the drama is complete now. I was really very much satisfied with what happened last night: the oneness with which we sang, the oneness we felt, and the oneness we had about ourselves.
We are Universal Beings! We do not belong to any country. We do not belong to any caste, community or so-called religions. We are all universal people. We have no such bondages, which keep us separate from each other.
All this love, all this affection. and all this is going to transform this horrible world into the right path, into the righteous path, into the path of benevolence.
So Nasik has done something good to Me.
Last time I had tears in My ... eyes and you have taken a Photograph of this Sāndra Karuṇā. And today I have got the feeling of great joy within Myself.
May God bless you all!
Thank you!
1986-1223 Pūjā, About Ego, House of Dr. Ramesh Adinath Saṃghavī, B.N-1, Sapt Shrung, Krishnanagar Housing Society, Saharanpur Road, Nasik, Maharashtra, India

"You go further with His life, see, He went and uh into the village where a very old woman, who was-ss belonging to the primitive class of Bhīls, had very few teeth, and brought, she brought some uh ... some fruits, little fruits we call as ber. And she brought and gave it to Him, that's-ss, "Śhrī Rām, You see, I have got these for You. I don't have anything else. And these, I have tested all of them."
Actually in India, if you put in the mouth it is uttiṣhṭa: nobody will touch it.
But she says, "I have tasted all of them by piercing my teeth into it, and I have seen that theh [they] none of them are sour." Is Śhrī Rāma didn't like sour fruits, she knew, "S-so none of them are sour, and You can have them."
I mean, in a way, if it is done to somebody in the West, they will hit you hard! [Laughter.]
Immediately Śhrī Rāma rushed forward and took the uh bers from her hand, kissed her hands, said, "All right, all right, I'm going to have them!" With such enthusiasm He ate them. So Lakṣhmaṇa was little angry [as laughter starts:] at that lady: "Whas [what's] this going on?" S-so, Sītājī said, "Oh, do You like them very much?" He said, "Yes, but I'm not going to give You anything." She said, "No! I am your half body, You have to give Me." So, He gave some to Sītājī. So Sītājī ate. She, "Yeah! What a thing! It's like Nectar of Heaven I am eating." So Lakṣhmaṇa felt very jealous. [Laughter, laughs.] He said: "Sister-in-law, can I not have a little of it?" He [She] said, "No! I can't give You. You ask Your brother. I'm not going to give You. I have a very little share. Why don't You ask Your brother?" So, He goes to His brother, He said, "Can I have some more?" So, Śh... Śhrī Rāma smiled and gave Him that ber which was eaten or touched or was pierced by the teeth of a primitive woman, who is actually an outcast according to the Brahminic laws of India.
The sweetness of Śhrī Rāma, the way He used to make people feel comfortable.
......
See the softness of Śhrī Rāma goes to the extremes where I call the saṅkocha, the formality, the formal. But did you see English language? formal is not the word: saṅkoch.
He was once, uh-uh-uh ... when He was fighting Śh... Rāvaṇa, He was taking out with His arrow his ten heads one after another. And if He took out one, then took out the second, the first one would come back. So because he had a kind of a blessing that nobody can kill him by hitting him on his head. LakṣhmaṇSo Lakṣhmaṇa says, "You know for definite that this Rāvaṇa cannot be killed by hitting on his head, so why don't You hit him in his heart?" So He said: "The reason is this. That just now in his heart is Mahālakṣhmī, the Śhs... Śhītā [Sītā]. Sītā is sitting in his heart. And how can I hit him on his heart? Because She's there, She might be hurt." "So whas [what's] the use of hitting on the head?" He said. He said, "Because, once I start hitting him on the head fast, his attention will go there. As soon as his attention will go into his head, then I can hit him on his heart."[Some laughter.]
See the saṅkoch! See the saṅkoch, the way He talked.
......
Now this man had to give up His wife. In this contrast you can see the wave rising and falling of a personality. The ... the society in which He lived, the state which He ruled, had an objection for a wife who huh had lived with Rāvaṇa. And the public started talking about it. So, as a good king, He just, as a good king, He just decided that His wife should be left forever.
LakṣhmaṇAnd then He sent Her on a beautiful uh chariot with His uh-uh-uh-uh prime minister and His brother, Lakṣhmaṇa, who took Her down and left Her, told Her, "This is what has happened," and that: "Śhrī Rāma has asked Her [Me] to take You down to the āśhram of Vālmīki." As a result of that She got very uuh upset. And She said -- She was Ādi Śhakti so She ... She doesn't had to bother -- She said, "You just leave Me here."
Very self-respecting person. She didn't say, 'No, no, no, no, I'll come to Him,' or, 'I'll sue Him. I'll go in the courts, get all His money. How dare He throw Me out!' Nothing of the kind.
That's the grace of a woman.
Graciously, She said, "All right. Now, You have listened to Your brother, I'm Your sister-in-law, elder to You, now You obey Me. And I tell You, as Your sister-in-law, that You can now go, leave Me here alone, and I don't want You to go any further with Me to deport Me with somebody."
And She was pregnant.
Here if it happens, of course, horrible things can happen, but in India if such a thing happens, the wife will kill herself or she won't be able to bear it.
I think both things are just the same, an escape. If there's no aggression, then there is recession.
But She said, "No! I have to give birth to these two children. I can look after Myself, all right. Graciously He's done it, I have nothing. And please tell Him not to worry about Me." And She told Śhrī Rāma ... Śhrī Lakṣhmaṇa that, "All right, You look after Him, that's all I want." And She told the chief minister, the mantri, that: "You must uh look after the kingdom."
See the dignity, see the balance, see the character, the personality of Śhrī Rām! He was called as Maryādā Puruṣhottama, and look at His wife! She was equal to Him in every way.
......
Now here the contrast is also, that Hanumāna had Navadhā, Navadhā uh-uh-u Siddhis, Navadhā Siddhis, Nine Siddhis: the Aṇima, Garima, Raguma [Laghima], and all sorts of things, that He could become small, He could become big, He could ... it so many things He had.
Despite all these siddhis and the amount the [of] power He had, that Śhrī Rāma once asked Him that, "My s... My uh-uh-uh brother now, uh Lakṣhmaṇa, is being hit and He's very sick. I mean, He's just dying! So You go and get a particular kind of a sañjīvanī, a kind of a[n] herb, is which I want to rub on His head."
So He went there, and He found He couldn't find it.
So He brought the whole of the mountain on His hand, and [laughing:] gave it to Rāma, "Now You select! I don't know, I can't find it." [Soft laughter.]
That is the Hanumāna Śhakti! And with all that power, He was such a humble person and such a dedicated person."
1987-1004 Śhrī Rāma Pūjā (Dussehra Day), Maryādā Puruṣhottama and Message of Sītā's Life (Very Great Achievement Within Ourselves), Centre International, Les Avants, Vaud, Switzerland

"We have come to a place which we call as Brahmapuri here, called, perhaps, maybe because here Śhrī Rāmadāsa, the Guru of Śhivajī Mahārās [Mahārāj], in these deep waters found the statue of Śhrī Rāma, Sītā, Lakṣhmaṇa and Hanumāna together."
1988-1220 Pūjā (English + Marathi), Garden, little House, Brahmapuri, Maharashtra, India

"It's a ... Raṃgāpūr [Aṃgāpūr] has a-uh-uh very special feature about it. You see, Śhrī Rām[a]dās Swāmī, the ... the-uh-uh Master of, the Guru of uh Śhivajī found the statue of uh ... Śhrī Rāma, Sītā and Lakṣhmaṇa uh in this uh-uh-uh ... uh-uh-uh river, at this point, in the Kṛiṣhṇa River. And the-uh-uh this-ss was such a remarkable thing, the ... they didn't know how the statue has come there. So it was taken to a place called Chāphaḷ where they put it.
Now Śhrī Rām[a]dās Swāmī had created lots of Hanumānas out of the Mother Earth, lot of Hanumānas out of the Mother Earth, and ..."
1989-1229 Talk to Sahaja Yogis (English + Marathi + English), after the Public Program with an Aggression, Aṃgāpūr (near Brahmapuri), Maharashtra, India

"As you know about the old lady Śhabarī, she collected some berries and tasted each one of them with teeth. When Rāma came, she said, "Please eat, because You don't like sour things. I have tasted all of them, and the sweet ones I have kept for You." But Lakṣhmaṇa, who was the other kind, was very angry, that, 'How dare this low caste woman offer Rāma in such a manner!' Whereas Śhrī Rāma had tears in His eyes and started eating and said, "I have never eaten such tasty and sweet berries." Sītājī understood the whole thing and said, "May I have some?" When Sītājī ate them She described them as Amṛuta. Then Lakṣhmaṇa asked for some but Sītājī said, "No, you can't have any as You were so angry." After pleading with, He also ate some and found them sweet.
So the Proof of Love is the greatest joy."
1990-0213 Śhrī Mahiṣhāsuramardinī Pūjā, House, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

"So the ... Hanumāna, you see, He is the one who is always anxious to do the work of Śhrī Rāma, always. If Śhrī Rāma says, 'All right, you go and get the ...,' uh He told Him the, "Go and get the-mhh-mh sañjīvanī," is the kind of a uh-uh-uh herb that was needed to bring Lakṣhmaṇa to life, He went there and He brought the whole mountain with Him, "Now, better have it." Is like that sort of a person, you see. So, He brought the -- that's, that's childlike behavior of His.
And the discrimination in this is that, 'That, Śhrī ... if Śhrī Rāma has asked for, whatever He asked for I'll do it.'
So, is a relationship of a, I would say, like a guru and śhiṣhya. But even more than that: that the śhiṣhya is just like a sssss... subservient servant, absolutely surrendered to God. Absolutely surrendered to God.
And His main thing is surrender."
1990-0831 Śhrī Hanumāna Pūjā, Electromagnetic Force, Schloss Schwetzingen, Schloß Mittelbau, Schwetzingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

"So the Love of God Almighty you already know, you have the knowledge. And whatever you wish to know you can know. Wherever He turns His attention, the attention will know what it is. He knows all this on your chakras, and also He knows how to correct these chakras. And the procedure is so beautiful, gentle and delicate, that to understand it we should have a heart. Unless we have a heart, we cannot understand that action of the Paramātma.
Like the berries of Śhabarī. Śhabarī belonged to a simple class called Bhīls. Bhīls are among the lowest strata of the caste system. She was old, and her teeth were missing. She just had about three or four teeth in her mouth. When Śhrī Rām came to that area, she collected some berries, and pierced each one with her teeth, to taste if they were sweet, because she could not offer sour fruits to Him. That is why she selected each one carefully.
When she offered them to Śhrī Rām, He got a glimpse of her love in it. He knew. He recognized that this was an offering of love. He accepted the whole lot, and began to eat them, one by one. He said, "I have never eaten such tasty berries before. They are pure Amṛut. His wife, who was verily the Devī, saw this and said, "Really? Then give Me also some." He said, "No! I am not giving any to anyone. These are for Me." Just see the mirth. Such a way of expressing His love. His wife said, "Look. I am Your other half, and You will have to share half with Me!" In the name of dharma He agreed, and gave Her some. Just two or three. Not more. She ate them, and She said, "What wonderful berries these are! I have never eaten this kind before."
Normally, no one eats something that has been half eaten by someone else. But the half-eaten berries of this tribal woman, were eaten by both of Them. Lakṣhmaṇ was reacting, and got angry. He thought, 'What discourteous behavior is this! Such a great Incarnation is standing before us, and this woman has come with her half-eaten berries, and is actually feeding it to Him! And They seem to be eating and enjoying them.' And He got into a temper.
But when Sītājī exclaimed that She had never eaten such tasty berries, He got a little tempted. He pleaded, "Please give me also a few. Please give." She said, "No. I will not give." Then He said, "All right, please forgive me. But please give me a few." So, Sītājī relented, and gave Him two or three. No sooner He ate the berries, His anger came down. He became absolutely cool.
So in which way this loving banter, these waves of love, these small, small things are used by Paramātma to raise the level of a human being. It is only by these waves of love that a human being can be raised by Paramātma. This is how He tries to raise them. No other. Only God knows the different ways of setting right human beings."
1991-0304 Public Program (Hindi), Prema Hī Paramātmā (Love is Divine), Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

"In Pure Conduct first quality is love and affection.
When Śhrī Sītā was with Her husband in jungle She never complaint about Her husband that, 'He has no money, He doesn't buy things for me,' instead She said, "If He lives in jungle I will be with Him, whatever He eats I will eat the same." She used to feed Her husband, Her brother-in-law Lakṣhmaṇa and then eat the food."
1991-0325 Śhrī Rāma Pūjā (Hindi) (the day after Rāma Navamī Day), If You Believe in Śhrī Rāma Follow His Ideal (Our Nature Can Change because He Is Our Ideal and You All Become Ideals for this World), Kolkata, West Bengal, India

"And when the generosity is done innocently, you are not even aware of what you are doing. You just enjoy your generosity, and you don't bother as to see what is the reaction of the another person is.
We have in our Śhāstras description of such people.
Like Śhrī Rām, He went into the forest, and there was a very old lady of a ... uh-uh-uh what you call ... tribal, of a tribal area, very old. Only she had two teeth left.
[After the trsnslator says, "Yes," and translates:] Her name was Śhabarī.
And the ... she came before Śhrī Rām, and offered Him some ... ah-ha-ha plums you can say, the ber. ......
And she very innocently told Him, "See, all these I have tested with my teeth. And those who were sour, I have thrown away because You don't like sour ones. But they are all sweet."
Normally, in India, people don't eat anything uh-uh-uh which has been touched by another mouth, you see.
So, Śhrī Rāma says, "Oh, I see. You've done this work, so, please, may I have all these?" But His brother Lakṣhmaṇa was angry, 'What is this lady? She has no manners!' So, when she started putting this ber into the mouth of Śhrī Rāma, He was getting even worse. So, she said: "See how carefully I have uh done this testing, and you are enjoying. Ah, otherwise You would not have enjoyed them." And here, Shrī ... Lakṣhmaṇa was getting angry, very angry. So, Śh... Śhrī Rāma says: "Oh! What wonderful fruits! I have never eaten such fruits in My lifetime!" So, His wife Sītā, she said, "Why don't You give Me some?" He said, "No, no! These are for Me! I can't give You." So Sītājī said that: "After all, I am uh-uh-uh He... Your wife, and You have to share everything with Me." He said, "All right. As a matter of right I am giving You." So He gave those ber, those fruits, to Her. So Sītā said, "What? This is just like Ambros[i]a. Such beautiful fruits I have never eaten!" So She tells Her brother-in-law: "See, what fruits! These are heavenly fruits!" So He got tempted. So, Lakṣhmaṇa said: "Give Me some to taste also." So, Sītājī said: "No-no-no-no! I am not going to share. Uh after all, I have got it with great difficulty from Your mother [brother], I am not going to share." So, Śhrī Rāma said, "All right. Give Her ... give Him something, [unclear it's all right]." So this innocent old lady says: "No, I have some more! I can give Him. You can have Your share. I have some more, I can give Him." And she gave it to Lakṣhmaṇa. He started eating and He really enjoyed. So much He enjoyed! He said, "My God, I have never eaten such beautiful fruits." "
1994-0911 Śhrī Gaṇeśha Pūjā, Innocence and Love, Moscow, Russia

"All of Them have shown in Their life.
Śhrī Rāma eating ... uh-uh-uh the ... berries which were ... was touched by a very, very old ... uh-uh-uh-uh-uh ... [As someone says, "Aboriginal":] ... aboriginal Bhilini [Bhilni] lady, enjoying it very much. There was ... description is beautiful that: He's, was enjoying it, and the ... Śh[rī] Lakṣhmaṇa didn't like it. "What is this? She has eaten it and now she is giving to You." She says, "See, I ... have tasted all of them because I know You don't like sour things. So they are not sour. You can have it." Lakṣhmaṇa was angry.</fon> So, S-S-Sītājī says: "All right, let Me also have some of this." "Is no-no-no! These are the best, I won't give You!" "Let me have, I am Your wife, You see, must give Me." So He gave Her some. She said, "I've never eaten such nice berries!"
See.
So Lakṣhmaṇa says, "Then give Me also. Sister-in-law, please give some." "No-no, now I am not going to give You. Because You are so much angry because she had tasted it. I won't give You!" He said, "Please give Me." And She gives Him. And He really says that, "These are fruits from the Heavens!"
The whole thing shows it is love. The Divine is Love. The whole thing is of's ... expression of Divine Love."
1994-0928 Indian and Iranian Public Program (English + Hindi + English), Sequoia Athletic Club, 7530 Orangethorpe Avenue, Buena Park (33 kms SW of Los Angeles), CA, U.S.A.

"There are so many examples to show!
For example, Śhrī Rāma ate the fruits from an old lady who had eaten them before to see that they are not sour.
In India if somebody eats something, you'll never eat that. But look at Śhrī Rām.
And then He tells His wife, "Oh! What fruits! Ihave never eaten like that." But the brother was angry! So brother says: "Why should she give you such fruits‽ Is not proper." So the wife says, "Please give Me some. After all I am your wife." Then she eats something, and says, "Wow-woh! What fruits!" Now the brother, Lakṣhmaṇa says: "Sister-in-law, give Me also little bit." Says, "No! You were so angry, I will not give You."
The whole story shows the love, the compassion, the oneness, because of love."
1994-0929 Public Program, Think about Your Benevolence, Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, 1700 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA, U.S.A.

"Śhrī Rāma met a tribal woman, perhaps you must have seen a Bhilni, tribal person.
These people belong to Madhya Pradesh and are very ignorant people.
Śhrī Rāma ate, that kind of an old women already tasted berries. He not only ate them, but also described them and gave them to His wife saying, "You also eat them, they are so tasty." Lakṣhmaṇjī also agreed to eat them."
1994-1130 Public Program (Hindi), Paise ke Pīche Dauṛ (The Race after Money), Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

"In this way, there was no casteism before.
I am going to give you proof for this.
When Śhrī Rām went to jungle, Śhabarī an old woman who had very few teeth, tasted each piece of berry on her tooth, gave these to Śhrī Rām. So, Śhrī Rām said: "Oh! How sweet and nice these are!" He took berries and started eating. He said, "This is Amṛut fruit, how beautiful!" His wife said, "I should also get some share as I am Your better half."
But Lakṣhmaṇjī was getting very angry that this old lady is touching the berries to her teeth and feeding [Him]. And she was Bhilni, meaning Śhūdra.
Then His wife Sītājī said, "How nice these berries are!" Then Lakṣhmaṇjī said, "Give Me some too." "Why shall I give? You are getting angry?" He said, "Please give Me some." After eating some, He said, "These are just like Amṛut fruit."
This is an example of Śhrī Rāmachandrajī, it proves that He did not believe in Śhūdra, etc."
1995-0422 TV Broadcast (Hindi), Sahaj Yog Se Lābh (Benefits of Sahaja Yoga), Part 4, Dūradarśhan Television Network, New Delhi, India

"We have [a] story like that.
She told Śhrī Rām that she was an old woman from a-eh-eh-eh u-uh-uh downtrodden s-s-society, that "I have eaten every ... I have touched every uh-uh ber with my teeth, you see, and s... found out that there's none of them are uh-uh-uh sour."
[After the translator first says, "Sour," and second translates:] In India, nobody eats uh-uh-h anything which is touched uh-uh by mouth, on any food, is regarded uttiṣhṭa, is a something wrong.
But Śhrī Rām immediately took! He said: "Oh-oh, how sweet of you to have done this f... testing for Me." But His brother was very angry. He didn't like it, Lakṣhmaṇa. Śhrī Rāma ate, He said, "I've never eaten such beautiful bers." So, His wife Sītā said, "Give Me also little bit, I am Your half-f-f thing. You should give Me." So, when Śhrī Rāma gave Her, She ate, She said, "Oh, My goodness! What a beautiful fruit this one is." So Lakṣhmaṇa said, "Why not give Me?" He asked His sister-in-law: "Give Me also," He [Śhrī Rāma] said, "No! Because you were so angry." But She gave it to Lakṣhmaṇa, and Lakṣhmaṇa said: "I have never eaten such beautiful fruits."
What was in that ber was nothing but giving sense of this old lady. She didn't have anything to give, she was poor lady, so she did all this just to give to Śhrī Rām.
So the sharing, of your things, is an extremely joy-giving thing."
1996-0716 Śhrī Lakṣhmī Pūjā, Lakṣhmī Principle and We Have to Live like One Family, Moscow, Russia

"To uphold the maryādās of the throne He renounced Śhrī Sītājī (who was very dear to Him), simply because people doubted Her despite her crossing the fire (Agni Parīkṣhā). Śhrī Sītājī Herself also left Śhrī Rāma, in a way in the end after bringing up Her children nicely; who had acquired all vidyās and had mastered the Art of Archery, so much so that they defeated their own uncle Śhrī Lakṣhmaṇa and ultimately Śhrī Rāma had to come to fight with them to free the horse of 'Aśhvamedh Yagñya'. But Śhrī Sītājī who stood on 'dharma', intervened and averted the fight between the father and the sons."
1998-0405 Śhrī Rāma Pūjā (Rāma Navamī), House, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

"So, the third, bhakti part, also comes after Self-realization.
Now in the bhakti, you see, there is no ... 'What is the value is?', and, 'How much you paid for it?', and, 'How you bought it?', is not important.
For that an a great example is of Śhrī Rāma when He ... He went in the jungles. There was a[n] old lady from the scheduled's class, means she was uh-uh-uh ... one of the Bhilini [Bhilni] as they call it a -- these people live in the jungles. So she brought some berries, and offered it to Śhrī Rām. And she said that: "I have tasted all of them, and they are not sour. All of them I have tasted."
Now, after tasting something in India, people call it, it's a ... become not to be eaten. I mean a ... we cannot eat ... taste something and give it to somebody else. Is not done, according to Indian culture.
But Śhrī Rāma took it. He took it, He said, "What? Beautiful fruits, I've never eaten such fruit!" So, Lakṣhmaṇa got very angry! He said, "You, stupid woman, you have eaten these fruits and that's what you are giving to Śhrī Rām! Why did [you] do that?" So, Sītā was watching. So she asked Him, "Why don't you give Me some of these fruits?" He gave. She said, "My God! What nice fruits these are! I have never eaten such good fruits." So then Lakṣhmaṇa also His temper came down, and He said: "Can You not give Me some?" She said, "Why? You were so angry, why should I give You?" So ultimately, She gaves [gives] Him that fruit.
So what did He see in those fruits? Was the love: the love of this old lady living in the forest, her love which was important."
1998-0816 Śhrī Kṛiṣhṇa Pūjā, Witness Without Reaction and Allow the Power to Act, Hangar (now Nirmal Temple), Albera Ligure, Alessandria, Italy

"When He went into the village, and He found there was an old woman. And this old woman had all her teeth out practically. And she was from the aboriginal. And sheenk [she] gave Him some ... uh-uh-uh ... we call them ber, is something like uh-uh ...
......
Is a ... kind of a fruit, small fruits.
And the ... she said, "See, I have tasted all of them. And all of them are very sweet, because You should not have something which is not sweet. So I have tasted them with my tooth: I have put my tooth on to them and I have tasted it. So please have them."
Immediately He took it. But His brother Lakṣhmaṇa got very angry, that it's very inauspicious in India, if you have put something in the mouth, and then you want to give to somebody is something uttiṣhṭa, is not to be done. Ha-ha-ha but Śhrī Rāma said: "I've never eaten such beautiful fruits. They are the most beautiful fruits I have eaten." So His wife says: "Also give Me some after all. I am Your half this thing, You must give Me." So Śhrī Rāma gave Her some. She said, "Wow! What a thing it is! Is tremendous!" She ate it! And then the Lakṣhmaṇa says: "Give Me also, sister-in-law." She said, "Just now You were saying all kinds of things against this lady, why do you want to have it?" He said, "Now please forgive Me, give Me."
So, see, it shows that Śhrī Rāma could see her love, her vibrations in those fruits that she had offered. And He could appreciate to that extent that He gave it to His wife and the wife also joined hands with Him.
This is what it is: that whatever you do, you do it with love. If you do it with love, you will be able to make it auspicious.
But if there's no love, you are just doing for some purpose, then it is useless.
So this is what is there for giving.
Giving to the ... person like Śhrī Rām, and to such a Great Incarnation, she just thought of her love, and she gave it to Him.
In the same way, you have to be very simple, simple-hearted, and then you will know what is the best to be done."
1998-1025 Diwālī Pūjā (6th day after Diwālī Day), Expression of Love, Pal Sports Complex, Novi Ligure, Alessandria, Italy

"Śhrī Rāma has many special qualities. He was very powerful and a perfect archer. You might have heard about what He did in Sītā Swayaṃwara.
The same Śhrī Rāma killed the Rāvaṇa when He came to it.
Tulasīdās has described His bow very very beautifully.
Śhrī Rāma was aiming at Rāvaṇa's head with His arrow. Out of ten head's of Rāvaṇa one will fall down, but again it will assume its place. Lakṣhmaṇa suggested Śhrī Rāma to shoot an arrow in the heart of Rāvaṇa, without which he will not die. "Hit him in the heart."
Śhrī Rāma was a very humble person.
Though He was very powerful yet He said to Lakṣhmaṇa that, "Rāvaṇa has placed My Sītā in his heart, therefore, I cannot hit him in the heart. Again and again when I chop off his heads, his attention will be diverted from the heart. Only then shall I shoot him in the heart."
What an example of the love of a husband for His Wife! Ocean of Power, how He was full of love!"
1999-0331 Śhrī Hanumāna Pūjā (Hindi), Krishna Sundar Garden, Amit Gaikwad Mala, Erandwane, Mhatre Bridge, Pune, Maharashtra, India

"So, at that time, Śhrī Rāma's mother-in-law, I should say, who was the wife of Daśharatha, she said ... she used to s... she's r... like a big uh-uh-uh ... Sādhunī, and she said that: "From today, two marriages are not allowed, only one."
So among Hindus there's only one marriage. They don't have two marriages. And regard it as a very sinful to have another woman, according to Indian culture. There are some people who do it, but is wrong. Is not Indian.
The father-in-law passed the law, because he has, he suffered -- he had two wives. And one of them tried to send Śhrī Rām to the jungle. She was so cruel, because she wanted her son to become the king. And, as it was the mistake of the father, that he had promish... promised that he will give her a boon [two boons], because she had saved him in war. And so now, she asked him to send Śhrī Rām to the vanavas [vanam], to the-uh jungle. By-ee-eeh second one [boon], she asked to give the kingdom to her son, who was Lakṣhmaṇa.
But when Lakṣhmaṇa came He didn't want. He said, "I don't want to take Śhrī Rāma's ... uah-uah-uah seat because it is His right."
So he went to Śhrī Rām, in the jungle, requested Him: "To You must come! You must come to Ayodhyā, to the capital city, and You should be crowned." Śhrī Rām said, "I can't do it. I have to fulfill My father's wish."
But, at that moment, the father said that, "In India nobody will have second marriage." Because of two wives the whole family suffered! So, him ... he said, "Only we can have one wife, and no two wives."
Very surprising, that even till today, in India they believe that you should have only one wife.
But uh-uh-uh what you find in another countries, that people may not have another wife, but they have affairs and they do not respect their wives. This is very sad! And the this makes the country suffering. Because if the women are treated like that, the women suffer, and if the mother suffers the children suffer.
So he made a law: that, 'Nobody will marry twice.' "
2007-1021 Navarātri Pūjā (Dussehra Day), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

"Later on Śhrī Rāma who was one of the Incarnations on this Earth, showed in his own life that he respected people for their aptitude. For example when Śhrī Rāma was exiled and went to a forest, he met there a poor old woman called Śhabarī who was of tribal caste. She offered some berries to Śhrī Rāma with great affection and devotion. She said: "Please eat them because they are not at all sour. I have already tasted them." The food or fruits tasted by somebody else are not to be eaten (uttiṣhṭa). If someone has bitten off even a part of a fruit, that fruit is no longer pure and cannot be offered to another person, certainly not to an Incarnation. But Śhrī Rāma was greatly moved by the love of the old lady. He accepted the berries with much joy and ate them. He praised their taste and gave some to his wife, Sītā. His brother Lakṣhmaṇ, felt rather jealous and asked for some berries for himself. There are many incidents where Śhrī Rām gets very friendly with people who were not of very high castes. Also his own Rāmāyaṇa, his life story, was written by a fisherman who was a dacoit. This fisherman was transformed into a Saint by another heavenly minstrel called Nārada. Of course an ordinary fisherman who was also a dacoit had such respect for Śhrī Rāma that he wrote this beautiful epic, the Rāmāyaṇa."
1995-0929 Meta Modern Era, Chapter 6: Religions

Jay Śhrī Mātājī!