Mahaan Eknath’s Compassion

Excerpts from Baba's speech
 

There was once a Mahaan named Eknath.  In those days, when one had to go on a pilgrimage from Kasi to Rameshwaram, he would have to walk 2000 miles carrying water from the Ganges in his Kavadi.  That is to say, they would take water from Kasi, bring it to Rameshwaram and perform ‘Abishekam’ for Lord Siva with the water.  On their return, they would take soil from Rameshwaram and offer it to the Ganges river.  This is called ‘Sheythiraadanam’. 

Once when Ekanath had undertaken such a pilgrimage, and was nearing Ramanathapuram, the hot sand was burning his feet.  Five more miles to go before he would reach Rameshwaram.  Then he sees a donkey having fainted on the sand with its tongue parched due to thirst.  Eknath feels pity on seeing the plight of the donkey.  He takes the water he had been carrying in his Kavadi and offers it to the donkey.  The other pilgrimages who had come with him rebuked, ‘O Sinner!  You have offered the holy water of the Ganges that was meant for ‘Abishekam’ to Lord Siva for a donkey!  We expel you from our group!’  Ekanath replied, ‘The Lord whom I worship, Ramanathesan, has come in the form of a donkey five miles before our destination and has accepted the water I have brought for Him, is the way I think of it.’  That thought, that gesture is Spirituality.