Griha or Guha

Discourse of Sathya Sai Baba, Prashanthi Nilayam, 8 February 1963
Published by Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust
Web posted at Jan 13, 2001

The Deekshith spoke about the glory of the Lord and the other Pandiths gave you detailed accounts of the experiences of ideal men who struggled to arrive at the truth. Every one must be interested in knowing about these, for, all should have an idea to strive for, a goal to be reached. Otherwise, life is reduced to aimless wandering. For saplings to grow, soil is essential; for ideals to get implanted, knowledge of the struggles and successes of saints and sages is essential. These experiences are not uniform; each Saadhaka has a different story to tell, depending upon his equipment and enthusiasm. So, the vision and the glory are different, though all are divine. The mansion of India's glory is built of charming stones, each block being the hardy Thapas of some sage or other. No one sage can be neglected, for if his attainment is ignored, the wall of the mansion would be so much the weaker.

Take the case of Agasthya, for example. I mention him because some one gave out his name, while addressing you. He is called "potborn," but, remember, he and Vashishttha were both children of Mithra-Varuna and were both born from the same pot! He put an end to the evil deeds of the ferocious giants, Ilvala and Vaathaapi, by just three words, "Vaathaapi jeerno bhava." He made the high-peaked Vindhya bow his head and become low; that is why he is known by the name, Agasthya! That is to say, he taught humility to the proudest in the land.

The Home must resound to the name of God

Agasthya is also reported to have drunk off the ocean all in one sip. That is to say, he dried up the ocean of Samsaara, with its waves of grief and joy, prosperity and adversity, success and failure. It is not any Sidhi, this feat; it is a parable explaining that though he was a Grihastha (a married man) with a son who recited the Vedhas as soon as he saw light, he had conquered all attachments of the world. Be attached only to the ideal - that is the sign of the sage.

Kabeer was weaving a Peethaambara (yellow silk garment) for the Lord, for his Raama. He had to work the loom alone, by hand. He recited 'Raama, Raama, Raama,' and went on weaving ceaselessly. The cloth had become twenty yards long, but, Kabeer did not stop; his Thapas continued unabated; the Peethaambara was becoming longer. The Aanandha of the craft, devotion to his Lord, was enough food and drink for his sustenance. When he gave it to the temple priest for clothing the idol of Raama, the Peethaambara was just the length and breadth, not a finger breadth more! Such men are the mainsprings of the joy that spiritual persons fill themselves with in India.

The Griha (home) must resound to the name of Govindha; otherwise, it is just a Guha (a cave), where wild animals dwell. The body needs a house, but, the body is itself a house; in that house too, the name of Govindha must be heard. Or else, it is a Ghata (a mud pot), not a man's body.

Offer God the fragrant Leaf of Bhakthi

An insidious disease is now rampant among most people, namely, unbelief. It sets fire to the tiny shoots of faith and reduces life into cinders and ashes. You have no criterion to judge, yet you pretend to judge. Doubt, anger, poison and illness - all these have to be scotched before they grow. Repeat the Raamanaama, whether you have faith or not; that will itself induce faith; that will itself create the evidence on which faith can be built.

There was a fisherman once, who spread his net over a lake and sat watching, for robbers might drag away his catch. He sat on a tree; and for getting clearer vision all round, he plucked leaves and pulled off branches. It was a Bilva tree! The day was Magha Krishna Chathurdhasi, Shivaraathri day. Mahaashivaraathri (great night of emergence of Shiva's radiant form), in fact. And, right under the tree, where Bilva leaves fell, there was a Shivalinga! For want of food, he starved the night and so, he got the merit of a vigil and of a fast! His wife too ardently waited for him in his hut; just when she was about to eat her supper a dog peeped in; she felt it was very hungry and so she followed it with a plate of food and fed it, in a spirit of Puuja. She too kept vigil. In the morning, he went to the temple and prayed that he may merge in God; his wife prayed that he may be spared for her sake; but God had both of them merged in Him.

You attach importance to quantity; but, the Lord considers only quality. He does not calculate how many measures of "sweet rice" you offered, but, how many sweet words you uttered, how much sweetness you added in your thoughts. Offer Him the fragrant leaf of Bhakthi, the flowers of your emotions and impulses, freed from the pests of lust, anger, etc.; give him fruits grown in the orchard of your mind, sour or sweet, juicy or dry, bitter or sugary.

Your Homes must be immersed in highest Shaanthi

Once you decide that the orchard in your mind is His, all fruits will be sweet; that Sharanaagathi (seeking refuge for protection) will render all fruits acceptable to the Lord and so, they cannot be bitter. And, for water, what can be purer and more precious than your tears, shed, not in grief, mind you, but, in rapture at the chance to serve the Lord and to walk along the path that leads to Him!

All who aspire to be Bhakthas must eschew Raaga and Dhwesha (attachment and aversion). You need not be proud when you are able to sing better or if your Puuja room is better decorated. There must be a steady improvement in your habits and attitudes; otherwise, Saadhana is a vain pastime. This place as well as your homes when you return must be Prashaantha - immersed in the highest Shaanthi (peace) - undisturbed by any streak of hatred or malice, pride or envy. No Puuja, Thapas, no Vratha can equal the efficacy of obedience, obedience to Aajna (the command), given for your liberation.