Forgiveness & Redemption

Viduras wife Vidurani became famous when Krishna visited Hastinapura and chose to stay at their humble home rather than Duryodhanas palace. Overwhelmed by devotion, Vidurani mistakenly offered Krishna banana peels instead of fruit, which Krishna lovingly accepted, valuing her devotion over material perfection.

After defeating Ravana, Rama sought to atone for killing a Brahmin (Ravana was learned in Vedas). When Hanuman, sent to Mount Kailash for a Shiva lingam, was delayed past the auspicious hour, Sita made a lingam from sand. When Hanuman returned disappointed, Rama decreed his lingam would be worshipped first. The temple houses both lingams.

Daksha Prajapati gave his 27 daughters (the Nakshatras) to Chandra, who favored only Rohini and neglected the others. Enraged, Daksha cursed Chandra to lose his radiance. Chandra performed intense penance using the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra. Shiva modified the curse: Chandra would wax and wane for 15 days perpetually. Grateful, Chandra built the first Jyotirlinga temple here.

Prince Parshvanatha through divine perception saw a snake couple trapped inside burning wood during a Brahmins fire sacrifice. Despite protests, he had the wood split open, revealing the dying snake. He recited the Namokar Mantra for the snake, who was reborn as divine serpent-god Dharanendra. This act created a karmic bond that would later save Parshvanathas life.

During Parshvanathas intense meditation, his enemy Kamath (reborn as rain-god Meghmali) attacked with storms and floods seeking revenge from nine previous lives. Dharanendra, whom Parshvanatha had saved in the fire, appeared and placed a lotus beneath the meditating saint, then spread his many hoods to shelter him. Parshvanatha remained in perfect equanimity.

Ramanuja traveled eighteen times to receive the sacred eight-syllable mantra from his guru who extracted promises of secrecy. Upon receiving it, Ramanuja immediately climbed to the temple tower and shouted the mantra to all people below. When confronted, he replied: I will gladly suffer hell if millions can be saved. His guru, moved by such compassion, blessed him.

Gorakhnath demonstrated mastery over life and death multiple times. He once destroyed and then restored the two sons of Matsyendranath to prove a spiritual point. In another instance, a disciple who had taken the form of a stag was shot by King Bhartari. Gorakhnath simply cast earth upon the body, and the disciple returned to life.

The leper Vasudeva, whose body was covered with worms, would carefully replace any worm that fell. When he missed meeting the Lord, he fainted in grief. Mahaprabhu returned and embraced him, instantly curing his leprosy and transforming him into a beautiful devotee.

The notorious criminals Jagai and Madhai had committed every sin. When Madhai struck Nityananda Prabhu with a pot, drawing blood, Chaitanya summoned His Sudarshana chakra. But Nityananda intervened, reminding the Lord of His mission to deliver sinners through love. Both brothers became great devotees.

The 16th-century Marathi poet-saint practiced social equality by sharing meals with the untouchables. His commentaries on Hindu scriptures and abhangas made spiritual wisdom accessible to common people.

When Raghunatha Dasa approached Nityananda Prabhu seeking His mercy to join Chaitanya, the Lord playfully punished him by ordering him to feed all the devotees yogurt and chipped rice. This became the famous Panihati Chida-dahi Festival still celebrated today.

Though Chaitanya initially refused to meet the King, Sarvabhauma arranged for Prataparudra to approach disguised as a common person during Rathayatra. When the King recited verses about Krishnas rasa dance, Chaitanya embraced him in ecstasy.

When the young Bhujyu was abandoned at sea by his father or evil companions, the divine twin physicians Ashvins rescued him using flying ships with one hundred oars, three chariots, and six horses with one hundred feet, bringing him safely home.

Queen Veeravati, pampered by her seven brothers, observes Karva Chauth fast but breaks it prematurely after being tricked into thinking the moon had risen. Her husband dies, but through Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvatis grace, she observes the fast correctly and her husband is revived.

A cruel hunter named Rurudruha unknowingly observes Shivratri while hiding in a Bilva tree. His dropped leaves fell on a Shiva Linga below, and his involuntary fasting completed the vrat. Lord Shiva appeared, removed his evil thoughts, and blessed him.

Guru Arjan Dev founded Indias first dedicated home for lepers near the sacred pool of Tarn Taran Sahib. He personally cared for the lepers by providing them medicines, clothing, food, and encouraging them to bathe in the healing waters.

After blessing Bhai Kanhaiya for his impartial service on the battlefield, Guru Gobind Singh asked him to establish the Sevapanthi order dedicated to humanitarian service. This order, founded over 100 years before the Red Cross, institutionalized serving all humans without discrimination.

A mother of seven sons accidentally killed a mongooses cubs while digging soil. The mongoose cursed her, causing all seven sons to die. An elderly neighbor advised her to worship Ahoi Mata on Ashtami. The goddess blessed her and all her sons returned alive.

Sri Yukteswar grants Yogananda the long-sought experience of cosmic consciousness by striking gently on his chest. His soul streams out like fluid light, embracing the circumambient atoms, perceiving all of creation as one.

When poisonous serpent Kaliya polluted the Yamuna, young Krishna dove in. Kaliya attacked but Krishna expanded his body, freed himself, and danced on the serpents hoods until Kaliya surrendered and promised to leave.