Friday, August 14, 2009

LIMIT FOR TOLERANCE


LIMIT FOR TOLERANCE

Bidhi-mata had two sons – the Sun and the Moon. Like all mothers, Bidhi-mata loved her sons more dearly than her own life. She put up with hundreds of sufferings but saw to it that her sons didn’t have to suffer any discomfort, any pain or hurt. If they went out of her sight even for a while, she would get anxious; light went out of her life as it were. And as they appeared in front of her, she was filled with joy.

Once, god almighty, the Creator of the Universe, asked Bidhi-mata if she had any wish. She said she would like both her sons to become immortal, they should never die. What else could a mother wish for?

They grew up. The Sun was hot-tempered; he couldn’t tolerate anyone telling him to do something; he was quick to pick up a row and ever ready to annoy others. He started irritating his mother also.

One day, his mother sent him to a feast. The Moon was not well that day. The sun was expected to bring his mother’s and brother’s share of the feast also. While returning from the feast, he got suddenly worked up – "Am I someone’s servant to carry things for him or her?" Saying this he threw away the plate and returned home very late, at a time when both his mother and brother had gone to sleep on hungry stomach.

Now the Sun started behaving like this every day – irritating his mother and torturing his brother. The moon was cool-tempered and afraid of his brother, unable to stand up to him. The moment the Sun appeared before him, he would turn pale.

One day, the mother asked the Sun, "Son, it is very hot today and I’ve got prickly heat on my back. Will you rub my back a little?"

The Sun said, "All right."

And he got hold of a prickly broom and scratched his mother’s back with it so hard that her skin almost came off. The mother cried in pain but in the meanwhile her back started bleeding.

Just then the Moon came in. He saw his mother’s condition and immediately brought some ghee and applied it slowly and softly to his mother’s back. He took a hand fan and fanned her with it. His mother felt some relief in the back and also in her heart.

The mother cursed the Sun – "You’ll always continue to burn in the same way as you made my back burn." And she blessed the Moon, "The way you’ve soothed me, you’ll always remain cool and comforting, and you’ll change your form each day."

They say that from that day, the Sun became extremely hot and the Moon cool, soothing and comforting to one and all.

Even for a mother, there is a limit for tolerance. And parents’ curse or blessing can mar or make children’s life.