KRISHNA’s NAMES GIVE RELIEF FOR GHOSTS – STORY
There was one brahmana who was vidagdha-pandita, very proficient in Vedas. He was a very greedy person.
Once he and all of his brahmana friends unknowingly ate some foodstuffs which had been offered to the bhutas , pretas and ghosts.
When they died there was judgment in the court of Yamaraj as to what their next birth would be.
Yamaraj said, “They will be born as ghosts.”
A ghost has no gross body, only a subtle body. To remain in a ghost body is very painful. If someone gets a gross body, he gets some relief. Therefore ghosts sometimes enter into others’ gross bodies to get some relief.
The pandit brahmana asked, “What is our fault? What wrong did we do that we will get this birth?”
Yamaraj said, “You have not performed your assigned duty properly. You are a brahmana, but you are so greedy that you ate food offered to ghosts. A brahmana cannot do this. Your dharma is Vedic dharma, but you have violated the principle of dharma.”
The brahmanas became humble, offered their obeisances and asked, “How can we get released from this ghost birth?”
You will all stay in a desert as ghosts. One day a wandering vasinava-sadhu will come there. If you render service to him and get his blessings, then you will be released from this bhuta-yoni, ghost species of life.
They remained as ghosts for many, many years in the desert.
Also read: Chant Lord’s Names and get protected – Story
One day all of a sudden, a wandering vaisnava appeared there very thirsty and hungry. The brahmana, who had now a ghost form, immediately understood and became a tree.
A ghost can assume any form , so he became a tree to give cool shade to the vaisnava-sadhu. The other ghosts assumed the bodies of human beings.
They went to him, offered obeisances, and asked, “How can we serve you?”
The vaisnava said, “I am very hungry and thirsty. Please give me some food and drink.”
Immediately the leader of the ghost party, that vidagdha-brahmana, brought some nice cold water and some fruits and roots. A ghost can also materialize things. If one can utilize them in service, they can do nice service. Othrewise, they will create all sorts of disturbances.
The vaisnava uttered the name of Vishnu, performed kirtana, offered the fruits and roots to Visnu, and then ate them. He gave his remnants to the ghosts.
The vaisnava was very pleased with their service. Ghosts can only smell. They cannot eat. As soon as they smelled the remnants of that vaisnava, they received very nice demi-god bodies. Then they offered obeisances to that vaisnava.
The vaisnava became amazed, “What is this, he asked?”
Then they told him everything.
Read this story also: NARADA, HANUMAN AND A MAN WHO CHANTED AT TOILET – STORY
Moral of the story:
This is a story to understand how one gets the reactions of his karma.
One’s karma-phala cannot be destroyed.
However in Bhagavd-gita (18.66), Krishna says:
sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah
Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender to Me. I shall deliver you from sinful reactions. Do not fear.
Those who are intelligent and bhagyavan, fortunate, and who understand, “I am krsna-dasa,” they come for the association of sadhus and take shelter at the lotus feet of Krishna and under the guidance of a sadhu-guru..
Their karma is then destroyed. Otherwise, it cannot be destroyed.
Only Krishna can destroy one’s karma-phala.
One must surrender unto the lotus feet of Krishna because only Krishna can destroy one’s karma-phala. No one else can do so.
Karmani nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam – The Supreme Lord burns up all the accumulated karma of those engaged in His loving service.
So please chant everyday:
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA Krishna Krishna Hare Hare!
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!