People
have lost lives and homes, but it has been heartening to see
how neighbors, friends and strangers came to the rescue of
those in need.
I
am told that the Hyatt Hotel near Santa Cruz opened their
doors to all… people were sleeping in the 5-Star’s
ballrooms and on their carpets. My daughter whose office is
across the hotel, sent sandwiches and food to as many people
as she was able to… Volunteers distributed biscuits and tea
to those stranded… Dabbawalas waded in water and ensured
that their customers received their meal… A bus load of
school children in Sion were cared for for 24 hours by a group
of pavement dwellers, when the bus was flooded.
If
the spirit of the Bombay-walla had been absent, the city would
have perished.
These
are trials that come to people’s lives and if you act
kindly, in others’ time of need, God reciprocates… He will
then not close the doors of heaven to you and ensure that you
are loved and that you always have a warm meal…
Do
send up at least a prayer for those who have lost so much…
A
Reader Responds:
Dear
Shakun
It was not just the brave people of Mumbai who rose to the
occasion, even the stray dogs showed their spirit.
A leading newspaper dated 29th July carried the story of a
lady who was walking down a river like road, she realized she
was being followed by a stray dog who refused to go away, she
then realized the dog was acting as a guide showing her
portions of the road she could walk on without going under. It
would run ahead of her, cock its head back and wait till she
came ahead and then set off again. It did this till she
reached home and then ran off without waiting to be thanked!
R
The
Lord comes in many forms
Where
does God reside? Everywhere.
During
the 14 years exile of Sri Rama, the latter asked Sage Valmiki
where He should reside in the forest.
Sage
Valmiki replied: “Tell me where you are not present in the
forest and I shall tell you where to reside”
For
Draupadi God came in the form of a cloth, for Prahlada
He came from a pillar.
Tulsidas
says: “Meet everyone with affection, one never knows in what
form the Lord appears!
I
have heard that once Shirdi Sai Baba promised to visit a
devotees home and partake lunch with them.
The
hosts waited and waited but no sign of Sai Baba…
When
the devotees affectionately chided Baba for making them wait
in vain, Baba replied: ‘But I came and you turned me away!”
Upon
thinking hard, the hosts remembered turning away a stray dog
who had come looking for a meal!
Another
revelation that has come to light during these trying times is
that there is NO COMMUNAL DISHARMONY IN MUMBAI AND THE NATURAL
HUMAN INSTINCT OF LOVE AND COMPASSION IS WELL AND THRIVING..
Manoj
R Nair reports in a leading newspaper:
While
the government machinery simply dissolved in the flood waters,
groups of citizens were the first to reach out to those
trapped in nature’s fury.
…Muslim
social groups housed and fed those who were marooned…Sikh
women turned out huge meals in the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara
at Chembur…The city’s richest shrine, the Sidhi Vinaayak
Temple has announced that it will spend Rs one crore on relief
work…Churches became major centers of succour, especially
the Holy Cross Church in worst hit Kurla, where parishioners
did not stop cooking for 10 days…
Joan
Baez writes:
Don't
tell me of love everlasting and other sad dreams, I don't want
to hear.
Just
tell me of passionate strangers who rescue each other from a
lifetime of cares.
Walkeshwar
The
most prominent Walkeshwar temple dates back to the 9th
Century.
The
name 'Walkeshwar' owes its name to 'Valu ka Ishwar' meaning
'Idol made of sand'
It
is believed that Lord Ram sent Laxman to Benares to get a
Shivalinga to constructed at this site. Before it could
be brought, Sri Ram had an alternative one made from sand.
Later the Shivalinga was found at the site where Raj Bhavan
now stands. Today if you will see the shivalinga carefully,
you will see a hammer dent-the British accidentally broke a
part of it before moving it to the current site.
(Courtesy
Downtown plus, Sanaya Pavri & Eisha Sarkar)
On
a lighter vein (From the internet)
Bombay
has no bombs and is a harbour not a bay.
Churchgate has neither a church nor a gate. It is a
railway station.
There is no darkness in Andheri.
Lalbaag is neither red nor a garden.
No king ever stayed at Kings Circle.
Nor did Queen Victoria stay at Victoria Terminus.
Nor is there any princess at Princess Street.
Lower Parel is at the same level as Parel
There are no marines or sailors at Marine Lines.
Breach Candy is not a sweetmeat market.
There are no Iron smiths at Lohar chawl.
But it is true that you may get fleeced at Chor Bazaar!
Only
in Bombay, you would get Chinese Dosa and Jain
Chicken
Read:
Discovering Nisargadatta Maharaj
