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Amma speaks on pournami day (09.07.2006)In a village there were two loving brothers who lived in unison. They will go together for anything and every thing. There were no secrets between them. One will not do any thing without the knowledge of another. One day a god man came to that village. On hearing the arrival of the god man, all the people in the village went to him and received his blessings. The two brothers also wanted to get his blessings and they were waiting while the god man was busy in delivering a sermon. He was talking about how a person can be delivered of all his sins and attain the heavenly aboard. How ever sinful he may be, whether knowingly or unknowingly, if he utters the name of Sri Narayani only once at his death bed, he will be saved. After the speech, the two brothers known their unity also went , received the blessings and started back home. While on the way, the elder one asks the younger one what he thinks about the speech of the god man. The younger one replies that he is of the opinion that instead of worshiping God daily, it will be enough if we surrender God at the end of our lives. The elder one acknowledges the same by saying that the god man gave a good idea. We are spending hours and money daily to worship God. Instead , in spite of our paramount misdeeds and sins, it will be enough to if we call upon Ambal only once at the death bed. We are spending one hour daily for Pooja. But as the Swamiji says we can call upon Ambal at the last minute before our death and we could spend this daily one hour in some thing else like doing business or enjoy the company of our children. Thus decided the brothers and stopped their daily Pooja from that day onwards. Years passed by and both of them grew older and older and reached a stage of very old age. It is quite natural that as birth there will be death also. Finally the last day came for both of them. The last second is approaching. They both felt happy and decided to be ready to call upon Ambal. Since they did every thing together in all through their life, they also thought death will also come for both of them at one and the same time. So saying they came out of the house and stood at the road side.  
Normally a bus will come at that time carrying passengers and on that particular day the break failed in the bus. These two are standing on the road side nears their house. Usually the bus will stop at the spot where they are standing and the driver will spend some time with them talking and then proceed. But on that fateful day, the break failed and the bus dashed against the waiting brothers. On receiving a fatal hit who will say ‘Narayani’? Nobody. Instead, the will shout ‘Iyyo’. Any one on getting a fatal hit will shout with all, kinds of abuses. So, the both died and all the hell dwellers came and took them to hell. The brothers felt so sorry that they were not able to call the name of Ambal at their last minute since the bus driver had finished their lives all of a sudden. They spent their remaining time of their Jenma in the hell. They were born again, lived with piety and at the end went to heaven. What to we understand from this story? See, you have all come to this Yagam in hundreds and thousands. You would have invited many others also to Malaikodi because a large scale Yagam is being conducted. Many would have said that time has not yet come to me. Some others will say, “I will come only if I am invited”. In that case Amma has to write letters inviting all to come and take part in the Yagam. Some others will say , “It is not essential for me”. Like wise there are many such responses.A man thinks that it is enough if he approaches God at the time of trouble and problems. True. If one appeals to Ambal during the time of trouble and distress all that will vanish leaving no sign. But is it possible to think about Ambal at the time of distree? No. Impossible. How many people will call upon Narayana when suffering with pain? Nobody. Instead he will shout with all kinds of abuses. There were devotees of Lord Perumal called Alwars. One such Chief Alwar had said. “ I have called upon you now itself for the sake of my last minute. Because I am not sure whether at my last moment I will have the wisdom, knowledge or feeling to call upon you. That is why I call upon you r name now itself. Though it is true that my last minute will come and I have to call upon you, there is no guarantee for it’s possibility”. We may decide to call upon Ambal at times of distress. But during the time of suffering the mind will be worried about the pain only. So, if we do daily Pooja and daily prayer the reward of such an act will come to our help at our last minute when we are in pain and unable to call upon Ambal. For example if a seed is sown now, it will grow into a tree and will yield fruit only after 20 years or so. In the same way our daily prayers and poojas with devotion today will certainly come to our rescue at our final moments. So there is no hard and fast rule that we have to go to temple only on Fridays or we have to search for God only in times of difficulty or we have to celebrate festivals once in a year. If a celebration is scheduled to a particular day in a year, some unexpected happenings may interfere and cancel the whole programme. So, now itself when we are physically and mentally healthy, we have to pronounce the name of Ambal and earn the divine virtues. In the last minute when one feels at the tail end of his life to call upon Ambal is not going to be possible. Instead of waiting for that remote second we must feel that today is the auspicious day; today we have that strength and today I have the mind to worship. We must do all good as much as possible; think of Ambal as much as possible to day itself. Now ,we don’t have worries. It is easy to think of Ambal now. Only when we face difficulties, we find it hard to call upon Ambal. The present thought of Ambal will come to our rescue at the time of need without giving any trouble. Always think that today is a good day. Today is an auspicious day for undertaking a good deed. Tomorrow is not definite. If we come to know that today there is some kumbabishekam and we must contribute some thing, we must do it today itself because the money and mind we posses today may not be with us tomorrow. Every thing is changing. 
The world rotates so fast. But when we have got a chance today to do some thing good we must do it right then. Without waiting for the day and the time to come, it is wiser to do it today itself. On this auspicious day please bear one thing in mind. If you come across a chance, please utilize it immediately because the chance will not wait for us. It will be just passing on. Hence every day morning make a habit of lighting the lamp in the house and call the name of Ambal may be just for 10 minutes. Not necessarily at home, if you do well and good, but do it where you go and during what ever you doing; while going to office or while carrying out your duties. Devotion is not some you get by asking. It is spontaneous the reward of which will come in the right time, give a helping hand and remove all the problems. So, on this gracious day I bless that all the life beings in all the worlds be happy and comfortable. |