Rama is Raised from the Dead

Dadi: "Beta, have you ever heard that in our tradition, great saints can do things that seem impossible? Tonight, let me tell you about a man who was brought back from death itself."

Guddu: "From death? Like a ghost story, Dadi?"

Dadi: "No, no, not a ghost story at all! This is a true story from the life of Lahiri Mahasaya, one of India's greatest yogis. It was told by his disciple Sri Yukteswar, who witnessed it himself."

Guddu: "What happened?"

Dadi: "Sri Yukteswar had a dear friend named Rama. Now, Rama was a shy and quiet man who loved his guru Lahiri Mahasaya very much. But because he was so shy, he would only visit the guru late at night or very early in the morning, when no one else was around."

Guddu: "Why was he so shy?"

Dadi: "Some people are like that, beta. They feel God's presence more deeply in silence and solitude. Anyway, one day Rama fell terribly ill with Asiatic cholera - a very dangerous disease in those days."

Guddu: "Did doctors come to help him?"

Dadi: "Yes, two doctors attended to him. But despite their best efforts, Rama kept getting worse and worse. Sri Yukteswar was worried sick about his friend, so he rushed to Lahiri Mahasaya."

Guddu: "What did the guru say?"

Dadi: "Lahiri Mahasaya smiled calmly and said, "The doctors are conscientious men. I am sure Rama will be well.""

Guddu: "Oh good! So Rama got better?"

Dadi: "That's where the story takes a turn, beta. Rama died. His heart stopped. His body grew cold. He was gone since noon the previous day."

Guddu: "But Dadi, the guru said he would be well!"

Dadi: "Exactly! Sri Yukteswar was confused and heartbroken. He returned to his guru and said, "Rama has died. What happened to your words?""

Guddu: "What did Lahiri Mahasaya do?"

Dadi: "The guru gave him a strange instruction. He said, "Go to the nearby lamp, take some crude castor oil, and put seven drops into Rama's mouth.""

Guddu: "But he was already dead! What good would oil do?"

Dadi: "That's exactly what Sri Yukteswar said! "He has been dead since yesterday noon. Of what use is oil now?" But a disciple must trust his guru. So Sri Yukteswar went back to his friend's body."

Guddu: "And then?"

Dadi: "He carefully placed one drop of oil into Rama's mouth. Then two. Then three, four, five, six... and when he placed the seventh drop, Rama's whole body shivered violently. His eyes opened!"

Guddu: "He came back to life?!"

Dadi: "Yes, beta! Rama sat up, confused. And do you know what he said? He said, "I saw Lahiri Mahasaya in a blaze of brilliant light. He commanded me to arise. And here I am.""

Guddu: "That's amazing! The oil must have had some magic power!"

Dadi: "That's what you might think. But later, Lahiri Mahasaya explained the truth. The oil had no magic at all. It was just ordinary lamp oil."

Guddu: "Then how did Rama come back?"

Dadi: "The guru said, "The oil was merely a symbol to awaken Sri Yukteswar's faith." You see, when I said Rama would be well, that became truth. The universe had to make it happen - even if it meant curing him of death itself!"

Guddu: "So it was faith that did it?"

Dadi: "Faith and the guru's blessing, yes. Lahiri Mahasaya taught that the divine power - what we call Paramatman - can heal anything, even death. But we need faith to open the door to that power."

Guddu: "Dadi, do you think miracles like that can still happen today?"

Dadi: "I believe God's power is the same yesterday, today, and forever. But here's the deeper lesson, beta. In our daily lives, we often give up too soon. We say "it's impossible" or "it's too late." But for the divine, nothing is impossible and it's never too late."

Guddu: "So we should never give up hope?"

Dadi: "Never. When your teacher says you can do better in school, believe it. When your parents say you can overcome a bad habit, trust them. Words spoken with love and faith have power. Sri Yukteswar learned that his guru's words were not empty promises - they were certainties."

Guddu: "I want to have that kind of faith, Dadi."

Dadi: "Then start small. When someone who loves you says you can do something, believe them. That belief opens doors you never knew existed. That's what Rama's story teaches us - that love and faith together can conquer even death."