Good Soul

There are many temples in India that have historic significance. Temples in south India were built by kings like Cholas, Cheras and Pandians. Every temple that was built in ancient days had its own significance. However due to several reasons many such temples are in a bad shape now.

We all know to work hard, do things that give us pleasure and work towards well being of our family members. But there are very few of us who work for a cause that helps the society and the betterment of people. I know one such person who has worked on several projects related to building demolished temples. For the past few years, I have been visiting a temple that was built by D uncle. More than D uncle, we know his wife very well. Besides religious occasions, there is nothing much that I know about them. But one such occasion is enough to know good people. Aunty is extremely involved and very dedicated in taking care of the temple. She is very down to earth and is also selfless. She has great respect for our family. My sister and I have sung songs several times in the temple. Without her, we would not have had an opportunity to sing during important occasions in the temple.

There is a reason why I am writing this. Recently D uncle expired due to illness. It was on a Thursday when I got to know this. Thursday is an auspicious day for turban master and that is the day when D uncle expired. I was wondering the fact that although a person does so many good things, still he faces a painful death. Sometimes god is so merciless because he treats everybody the same way. I heard from my parents that P aunty was strong enough to face this but the respect I had for P aunty made me cry thinking about her. That also reminded my grandfather’s demise during the same time few years back that faced a painful death. For a long time I was not convinced about the death that good souls face.

I was recollecting the stories that I have read in the past from satcharithram. Turban master as I lovingly call him thatha explains a story that talks about a person’s death.
It was a dark night and a person frustrated in his life, tries to commit suicide. When he decides to jump into a well, someone comes and saves him. Thatha tells this person in his dream that every one have to live their life until the time they are destined to face the death. No one has the right to kill oneself and that is considered as sin. Although a person does several good deeds in his janma, still he experiences bad things in life due to karma.
(Karma is a Sanskrit word that means action.)
The more he does good deeds, it reduces the papa karma. One has to completely work hard and negate the papa karma such that he doesn’t have to live a new janma. Janma and karma are basics of Hinduism and also requires interest in spirituality to understand to some extent.

Every story that hemadpanth narrates in satcharithram has a deep meaning to it and has answered many of my questions. Mostly they also had a hidden scientific justification and that increased my faith in thatha. Well, there is a huge difference between belief and faith. Hemadpanth also says every devotee has a reason why he is brought into this world. Thatha with his simple principles makes his devotees live a rich and meaningful life.

I am convinced D uncle was brought into this world to do several good deeds and everybody who has interacted with him will remember him forever. Our dear temple will talk about this great soul forever.