Celestial music played as Gandharvas and Demigods descended into prithviloka (planet earth). Pushkarni was the keeper of holy waters in heavens. Because of his temperament he took birth as a brahmin, even as a human he did not loose his pious qualities. He prayed, helped others and gave away anything excess to the poor. Life remained blissful even in human form till his very old age.
Devi watching him from above was concerned that maya is not affecting Pushkarni, how will he complete his experience and learning cycle. Sri Narayana smiled and asked her to watch patiently.
A few days later drought hit the village, people went hungry for weeks, animals died, fields were parched. Brahmin lost his wife and children to the drought. For the first time he was out on the street begging, people whom he helped all his life ignored and humiliated him, some men angry and helpless attacked him and vented out their frustration on him. He could no longer walk straight after the merciless beating he had to move on the ground like an animal. He had lost everyone he loved, his gentleness did not help him to fend for himself. Mauled, hurt and angry now, he experienced rage. An emotion that he had never known before. He hid in the forest and joined a group of hyenas, he scavenged on the dead and sometimes joined them in the hunt. He was transformed into an animal.
In the next birth he became a wood cutter because of his previous life's influence he had a violent animal like streak in him. To satisfy that urge he killed and hacked several innocent people.Ultimately
villagers discovered his secret and hacked him to death.
In his next birth the streak of raw violence was satiated by the wrestling. He was born as a strong boy and was raised to become a wrestler. He took out his inner violence through the act of wrestling. Winning over opponents introduced a new emotion in him, It was ego. He experienced ego fulfillment in that life.
His violence took form of incessant anger, in his next birth as a temple priest he constantly yelled at his subordinates. Discriminated against the under privileged. His venomous words were legendary, people avoided him because they feared his verbal wrath.
When most of the anger he accumulated in his first birth was vented out he was born as a wise guy. He was calmer but his intelligence fuelled his ego. People went to him for advice but his ego difficult to manage.He was the most well read person in the city, respected by all, but his marriage failed, his wife left him because of his over inflated ego that made him treat her like a menial servant not worthy of his love.
And the cycle continued for several lifetimes, Pushkarni's soul grew weary of the repeated experiences of violence, anger, ego and control. It was then that he was born as a little girl to a cloth merchant. She was a vivacious little being, a source of joy to everyone around.
When she was 7 years old an enlightened bhikshu was passing by, she offered him water and fruits. When he blessed her he saw how a pious soul got caught in the web of maya and has been circling in it for centuries. He felt pity for the little girl and gave her the gift of love and compassion so the soul can reform itself and rise back to its place in heaven.The gift attracted people to her she offered healing and nurturing, but it also attracted beings whom the same souls had harassed, killed, mauled and hurt in previous lives.They all wanted resolution.
Poor girl was burdened by these beings wrath and resentment, but she chose compassion and love as her tool. Harder they pressed on her in both physical and non physical form more she persevered, with time most of the debts were payed off. The experience made her more aware and wiser. Her essence exuded pure love and ecstasy of the divine. The ordeal had polished off the grime and dirt that settled on her beings and she sparkled like a diamond again.
Devi now invited her to ascend back into the heaven as the experience and the lesson was complete.
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