The story of Haththiram Bhavaji.

This story explains the fruits of piety. Let's move to the story.
Once Haththiram Bhavaji, a hermit who retired from normal life for  a long period came to Thiruppathi from the northern [part of India. The quietude of the place atttracted him so much and he decided to stay there itself. He built a hermitage there and began dwelling in it.He had his shower in the holy river Pushkarini and worshipped Vengadesapperumaal, who dwelled in the peak of Thiruppathi hills and soon Haththiram Bhavaji became a devotee of that lord.He engrossed his thoughts with his swami and mumbled "see there my loving god, there appear my loving god's holy feet and so on ans so forth. But the village people couldn't understand his piety and considered him to be va mad one.Sometimes he sat in front of dice games and imagined that his swami was in front of him. Sometimes he told "swami it's your turn" and imagined that swami was playing with him. But alas the next moment he realized that swami was not with him and it's only a visionary and his face became dull and gloomy with sadness.

Days were passing like this. One day there heard a booming sound in his hermitage. The very next moment a nice fragrance and a shimmering light spread on each and every corner of the hermitage. There stood his swami among the flickering lights. Bhavaji couldn't believe his eyes and indeed his happiness was inexplicable.He shouted in a great glee "govinda, seenivasa, perumale and the possible synonyms of his name. He prostrated himself on swami's feet and got the blessings of swami. Swami was gladdened so much by his devotee's piety and and suggested that they could play dice as he wished and added that he has to go quickly. Bhavahji said "why not swami" and took swami into the hermitage and offered a clean place to sit on. Bhavaji only sat in front of the games but his concentration was not in the game but in swami. When swami noticed this he mischievously asked "why Bhavaji, wont you play the games". Only then Bhavaji returned from his reverie and began to play the game.  Swami appreciated his piety and returned to the temple. Thus swami came to Bhavaji's home everyday, played with Bhavaji and returned to his temple.

One day while they were playing swami said "Bhavaji, I can hear some sounds outside. May be some visitors for you. Why don't you go and invite them into your hermitage.Bhavaji said why not swami and went outside to receive his visitor. But he could't find any one there. While he was pondering who could be the visitor swami removed his garland and as soon as Bhavaji returned swami left immediately saying he has some urgent matters to attend to. After swami went a fair distance only Bhavaji noticed that swami left his wreath there and thought he could there and thought that he could have forgotten that. He waited till late that night thinking swami will return to collect his garland but he didn't. Bhavaji thought that without swami's appearance won't be complete and perfect. So without delaying further he went to the temple in order to return swami's garland. Simultaneously at the temple the people found that the garland was missing in swami's idol and they talked among themselves very fussily who could have stolen it. Just at that moment when Bhaavaji came to that place with the garland all the people screamed " He is the thief, catch him immediately". So every one got hold of him at once, tied him and thrashed him severely. Bhavaji shouted in grievance that swami is his favourite person and how could he steal his belongings. But no one listened to him except the high-priest ,who adviced them to listen to him. When they asked for the explanation he said that swami has visited his hermitage and played dice with him and went away without remembering to collect the garland. The next moment there was a roaring of laughter in the crowd and they scoffed him that swami has nothing to attend to so that he visited his hermitage and played dice with him. Bhavaaji pleaded them to believe him at which the high priest said "well, we're going to imprison you, load the prison with sugar canes. You should finish off all the sugar canes before the dawn. If what you say is true your swami will help you in this critical situation. But if we find that you've cheated us you'll be punished very severely" and they went away. Bhavaji prayed with drenching eyes "swami, I haven't made any mistake. If I'm guilty free you'll help me. I have spartan faith in you". He prayed and prayed till late at night and fell asleep exhausted. Immediately after swami masqueraded himself as a white elephant, entered the prison, ate the whole load of sugar canes an a split second and pulverized the the doors of the prison and went out. On hearing these sounds the high priest and all the others awoke and gathered  there to see what has happened. They talked among themselves that who has entered the doors when the doors are locked and so on and so forth in great astonishment. Finally they said that bhavaji's swami could be the only person who could have come here and eaten all the sugar canes to rescue him. They repented that they've insulted Bhavaji without remorse and decided to apologize Bhavaji for what they've done.  On hearing all these sounds Bhavaji himself awoke from his sleep and asked what was the matter. Immediately they encircled him, explained the whole story and begged their pardon for all the harsh words they've spoken unwantedly. Bhavaji couldn't believe his eyes, his eyes streamed with tears and with drenching eyes said piously,"swami, did you come here for the sake of me, how can I express my gratitude to you, oh! govinda, perumale......... He went on thanking and praising swami. Now no one spoke a word of refusal and every one revered him as a great devotee of swami. Thus Bhavaji stayed in Thiruppathi and worshipped swami very piously and eventually mingled with swami.

Bhavji's story is great example that whoever worship god with extreme piety will eventually mingle with god.

I have a great craving to interpret Scriptures into modern English. Here's scrap of interpretation extracted from Ramayana. The situation is prince Rama is banished from the city of Ayodhya along with Seetha and Lakhmana. They, before crossing a river had to stay in Kuhan's cave whom they met in the wood. The conversation among them.

Kuhan:- Oh! honorable great prince of Ayodhya! I bid a welcome to my premises for this is the wood in my control. Oh! please have holy shower in the river and meanwhile I'll arrange the dinner for all.

Rama:- Oh! comrade Kuhan. I'm so much enthralled by thy welcome and my heart fills with delirium and from this moment itself I've three siblings: Lakshmana, Bharatha ,Chaththrukkan and Kuhan.

Kuhan:- Why waste words.Am I deserve to be one of thy siblings. Instead I revere and worship lord Rama as my great god.

Rama:- Aye! Kuhan. Don't give way to clan system. Here under the sun we're offspring of one mother.(embracing Kuhan)

Kuhan:- (after their bath) Please do feel at home. Oh! prince Rama. Please have the pure honey which I've collected from the wood exclusively for you. Please have a full belly dinner. I'm here to serve all thy wishes.

Rama:-We've had enough of delicious dinner filled with pure love.(winking at Kuhan). I express my gratitude to my loving Kuhan and may the almighty always be with my loving sibling.
(Lakshmana prepares a bed made of grasses to lord Rama and Seetha, the heavenly daughter of mother earth) and every one goes to sleep.

This may not be so very nice but I'll practice myself and improve a little bit.
Om Sri Sai Ram!!!