Ramana Maharshi stories

1. Sati Devi - Sweet of Speech

Sati Devi , The wife of Siva and the daughter of Daksha, gave up her life as she was insulted by her father during the yajna performed by him. She was subsequently born to Himavan and Menaka as Parvati. She wanted only Lord Siva as her husband, and to achieve that purpose she set out for doing tapas.

Menaka, while trying to prevent her from doing so said, “U (no), Ma (give up).” That is how she got the name of Uma.

Finding Menaka’s dissuasion of no use, Himavan took her to
the tapovana (hermitage) where Siva was staying in the form of
Dakshinamurthy and said, “This little child of mine wants to
do tapas. Please allow her to be under your care.”

Seeing Parvati, Siva said, “Why tapas at this tender age? Why not go home with father?” Parvati replied, “No, I won’t go.”

Parameswara tried to dissuade her skilfully by saying, “I have conquered prakriti (nature) and so could concentrate on this tapas. If you are to be here you will be exposed to the ravages of prakriti. So please go back.”

Parvati was equally skilful, so she said, “Oh Lord! You say you have conquered prakriti. Without some relationship with prakriti how could you do tapas? You have just spoken. How could you do that without prakriti? How could you walk? Without your knowing it, prakriti is occupying your heart. If it is not for the sake of argument, if you are really above the influence of prakriti, why are you afraid of my staying here?”

Siva was pleased with this and said, “Ingithagna! (you who are skilled in thought reading), Madhurvachani! (you who are sweet of speech) stay on!” and sent Himavan home.

2. Tapo Bhrashta (Fallen from the state of tapas)

Nakkirar was doing tapas on the bank of a tirtha. A leaf fell down from the tree; half the leaf touched the water and the other half touched the ground.

Suddenly the water half became a fish and the land-half became a bird. Each of them was united to the other by the leaf and struggled to go into its own element.

Nakkirar was watching it in wonder and suddenly a spirit came down from above and carried him away to a cave where there were already 999 captives, all of whom were tapo bhrashtas.

Devotee: “Was Nakkirar a tapo bhrashta?”
Bhagavan: “Yes. While engaged in contemplation, why did he fall from contemplation and take to watching the mysterious happening in front of him? Nakkirar composed Tirumurukatruppadai and obtained the release of all the thousand prisoners.”