Vaishnavi
went deep into the forest and immersed
herself in intense Tapasaya.
After some time she attained
a very high level of spirituality
and word spread around that a sage
of great accomplishment was residing
in the forest. Soon
people began to trickle into the
forest in order to meet her and
seek her intervention in resolving
their mundane problems.
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Ram
entering Vaishnavi's Ashram
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When
the flow of people coming into the forest
to meet her became unending, Vaishnavi decided
to leave the forest and go to some other
place where she could continue her Tapasaya
undisturbed.
One night, Vaishnavi quietly left her Ashram
in the forest and went to a far off place
along the sea in the general area of modern
day Rameshwaram. There, away from prying
eyes, she once again immersed herself in
Tapasaya. The objective behind her
intense devotion was her desire to merge
her being in Vishnu. Some time later she
realised through her spiritual attainments
that Vishnu had been incarnated on earth
and was living as Ram. Vaishnavi was very
happy because she felt that now she would
be able to fulfil her desire of merging
in Vishnu very soon.
Meanwhile,
Ram was sent to the forest for fourteen
years by his father under the influence
of his favourite wife Kaikayee. During
this period, Ravana, the Asura king of
Lanka, abducted Ram's wife, Sita, and
carried her away to Lanka. Ram mobilised
an army in order to wage war upon Ravan
and rescue his wife. He decided to launch
his campaign from the place known in the
present day as Rameshwaram. While Ram
was preparing for war, his advisors suggested
to him that he should propitiate all the
gods and goddesses and also seek the blessings
of the holy men and women living nearby
before starting his campaign so that he
could be victorious in the war. Ram agreed.
During the course of this activity, Ram
learnt that there was a very spiritually
advanced Sadhavi who resided nearby
and thought that it would be appropriate
to seek her blessings too. Ram accordingly
went to the Ashram of Vaishnavi
in order to seek her blessings.
Vaishnavi was immersed in her prayers
when Ram went to meet her. When she opened
her eyes and found Ram standing in front
of her, she immediately recognised him.
Ram asked her to bless his proposed campaign
against Ravan so that he could be victorious
in the war that lay ahead. Vaishnavi happily
told him that all her good wishes were
already with him because she had decided
to merge herself in him a long time ago.
When Ram appeared surprised on hearing
Vaishnavi, She laughed and said, "I know
who you are Ram. You are Vishnu's incarnation
and have come to the World to rid it of
the evil that is personified by Ravan.
That is your aim and I bless you for it.
However, my aim is different. It is to
merge myself in you so that I can become
one with the Supreme Creator." When
Ram still feigned ignorance, Vaishnavi
said, "Ram, you have no choice but to
accept me because I have been praying
very hard for a long time for this". When
Ram found that Vaishnavi could not be
dissuaded from the stand she had taken,
he left after promising that he would
return to her Ashram after the end of
the war and if she was successful in recognising
him, he would consider her wish. After
Ram left the Ashram, Vaishnavi once again
busied herself in her prayers.
Ram defeated Ravan and rescued Sita. After
the war was over, Ram remembered his promise
to Vaishnavi. So he decided to visit her
Ashram once again. This time Ram went
to her Ashram disguised as an old man.
Vaishnavi was unable to recognise him.
While leaving her Ashram Ram revealed
himself to Vaishnavi and said that since
she had been unable to recognise him,
he was freed from his promise to her.
When Vaishnavi realised the enormity of
her lapse she was inconsolable with grief.
Ram then gently told her, "Vaishnavi,
you have not yet attained the spiritual
level that is required before you can
merge your being into Vishnu. You still
have a long way to go. However, do not
lose heart. Continue your Tapasya. In
time you will be rewarded. If you are
able to keep up with your Tapasya then
in my incarnation as Kalki during Kaliyug,
I shall accept you as my Shakti. Ram then
urged her to go to the northern region
of India and set up her Ashram at the
base of the Trikuta mountain. The peculiarity
of this mountain he said, was that it
had three peaks and each peak was shaped
like a hut or Kutia. Therefore, its three
peaks looked like three huts or three
Kutias. Ram added, "Vaishnavi
you will have no difficulty in recognising
the place. Go there and immerse yourself
in contemplating upon me. When the time
is opportune, I shall come and accept
you and allow you to merge into me. Meanwhile,
as you keep on advancing spiritually,
mankind will learn about you. They will
then start coming to your abode to seek
your blessings and favours. Be kind. Bless
them. Grant them their wishes. Your presence
on the Trikuta mountain will, over a period
of time, render the place so holy that
people will elevate it to the status of
a Tirath sthan and a constant stream of
humanity will flow to your abode. Do not
get vexed with this never ending flow
of people. Remember, that each one of
them contains a spark of me. Thus they
will in reality be I who will be worshipping
you constantly. Be generous and help them
over come their frailties so that gradually
they are able to raise themselves high
enough in the wheel of life and death
and attain Moksha. Always
remember that you are already blessed.
So, it is they who need your help and
forbearance. As you grant more and more
boons, your fame will spread far and wide
till a stage will arrive when the entire
world will come to you and pay obeisance.
That is the time I shall come and accept
you. So, do not waver. Remain steadfast
and worship me. I bless you." So saying,
Ram left.
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