meaningful story on cleanliness is next to godliness
Answers
Long ago there used to live an obedient shishya of the great Paila maharshi. His name was Udanka. Udanka, due to his obedience, learnt quickly his lessons. After completing his Vidyaabhyaasam, before leaving the Guru-aashramam, Udanka requested his Guru to take Guru-dakshina. Paila maharshi replied “you being a shishya of me is itself enough. It is difficult to get good shishyas like you. Please go on”. Upon many times being requested by Udanka, finally Paila maharshi said “do the work that your Guru-patni tells you and then leave”.
He approached Guru-patni, did Yathaa-vidhi namaskaaram, with Vinayam, asked her to give him some work. She asked him to get the kundalas of the country’s Mahaaraani for a Vratam. Udanka immediately set out for it. On the way he sees a radiant brightly glowing God coming on a huge Vrushabham. He does the required namaskars to him and the God gives him goomayam. He eats the goomayam, takes leave from the God and continues his journey to meet Poushya, the king of the country. Poushya was a very great king, ruled his subjects as his own kids and made dharma walk on its four legs.
Poushya welcomed Udanka and offered him a warm welcome when he arrived at his courtyard. Udanka tells the reason for his arrival and immediately the kings granted him permission to collect the kundalas. He asked udanka to go to the queen’s palace and collect them from her personally. Udanka went into the palace and searched for the queen everywhere. Failing to find her returns to poushya informing that he could not find the queen. Poushya hesitantly says “O great Brahmana! How can I say that you are not clean? My queen is a Pativrata and hence only people who are clean can see her”. Udanka recalls why he was not in a clean state and realizes that in the hurry to finish gurupatni’s task, he forgot to wash his hands, feet and mouth and do aachamanam, after eating the gomayam. He immediately washes and does aachamanam and goes back to see the queen and sees her in her palace.
Story will be continued later in some other contexts. So will Udanka be able to complete his gurupatni’s task? who was the God? Keep reading for answers ….:)
Morals in the Story:
It is very basic and important to always be clean.
The mahima of pativratas is immense. It seems even the trimurtis do not have power to go against the will of a pativrata.
Once upon a time there was a boy named Roy, he was very good at sports in school and used to play for school team. Roy’ s mother was very proud of him but she was only worried about one habit of his - staying dirty. Even though after reminding several tines, Roy never bothered to brush teeth twice, take bath and wear clean clothes. He just used to pick whatever he saw first and wear it, even though he had worn it yesterday and played in it.
Today was a big day for Roy as cricket team selection committe was coming to select team for state level from their school. Roy had practised late yesterday so got up a bit late in the morning. As soon as he got up he rushed to school in the same clothes he was practising yesterday and had slept. He did not even update his mother just ran out of the house rushing to school. His mother kept calling from behind but he did not listen.
He reached on time to join the line that was made to pick the teams. Roy’s turn came and as scheduled like others he started giving his introduction explaining his experience around cricket he had played. Roy’s sports teacher started praising him infront of selection committe. Roy was really feeling proud and sure that he will be selected. The committe was moving selected students in the right and others to left, they moved Roy to the left. He was shocked and could not believe the decision.
Storming towards the committe he questioned, “There is a mistake, i am the best in team here sir!”
One of the members calmly replied,” Person who does not respect the importance of the game to dress according to it cannot be part of our team. Cricket is a gentleman’s game and a gentleman is always clean and presentable”.
Roy stood there speechless, learning the lesson for his life.
THAT CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS