ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya
DRUVA TARA - NORTH STAR
A long long time ago there lived a king named King Uttanapada who had two Queens Suniti and Suruchi. Queen Suniti was older than Suruchi and was a kind, generous and loving Queen. She had one son Dhruva.
Queen Suruchi, the younger Queen, was beautiful but vain and selfish. She was jealous of Suniti. She had a son too, named Uttam. Queen Suruchi wanted her son to be the favourite of the King. She would always keep Uttam close to the King, while she made sure that Suniti and Dhruva were kept far away. She demanded that Queen Suniti and her son be moved from the main palace and live separately. The King was so besotted with the beauty of his young wife that he gave in to all her demands. So sadly Queen Suniti and Dhruva moved to a house away from the palace.
Once they had moved out of the palace Dhruva, who loved his father, missed him very much. One day when he was longing to see his father he decided to walk to the palace and meet his father. When he got to the palace Dhruva saw Uttam sitting happily on the Kings lap. Dhruva realising that his father must have completed his royal duties and was therefore free to spend time with his family, ran up to his father and climbed onto his lap too. Immediately, Queen Suruchi turned angrily toward him and said, “how dare you sit on the Kings lap. Only the Kings son, the Prince, has that privilege. Get off now!” Terrified young Dhruva looked towards his father for comfort and for the permission to sit on his lap. But King Uttanapada said nothing and Queen Suruchi pulled the boy roughly off from the Kings lap. Dhruva’s beautiful, large eyes filled with tears. He hung his head and ran quickly out of the palace back home to his mother.
Once in his small house, Dhruva cried bitterly and asked his mother, “why does father only love Uttam? Why doesn’t he love me?” His mother turned her face away from her son to prevent him from seeing her eyes well up with tears. Bravely wiping her eyes she hugged her son tightly and kissed him on his forehead but there was nothing she could say to relieve his sadness. She had no words to comfort Dhruva.
Suniti had always taught Dhurva to pray. She had told him many stories about the greatness of God and how God would always be there to protect him and give him all that he needed. Dhruva who had grown up believing that God could make all problems disappear said to his mother, “you have always told me that God helps those who are good. I will go now to find God and ask him to get my fathers to love me.” Saying this, he turned and started to walk towards the forest. His mother pleaded with him to come back but the little boy was determined to find God and ran into the deep forest.
Dhruva kept walking even though he was getting very tired. The sun had set and it was getting dark when Dhruva met the holy sage Narada. Narada was surprised to see a five year old boy walking alone unafraid in the forest so he stopped and asked Dhruva, “who are you my son and why are you on your own in the forest? Are you lost? May I take you back to your family?”
Dhruva replied, “I am Dhruva and I’m on my way to meet God. I want to ask God why my father doesn’t love me or allow me to sit on his lap.”
Narada told Dhruva about the dangers of being in the forest, of the wild animals that could eat him but Dhruva was unafraid and determined to keep walking through the forest till he found God. Narada realised that the young boy could not be persuaded to return home. He was very impressed that such a young boy would go through all these hardships in search of God. Narada taught Dhruva how to survive in the forest and told him to chant “Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya”, in order to please Lord Vishnu. He then directed Dhruva to the river banks where the boy could get water and berries to eat and then Narada carried on on his journey.
Dhruva was now on his own and as Sage Narada had told him he kept chanting, “Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya’’. For the first few days Dhruva ate some fruit and water when he was hungry or thirsty. After a while he went so deep into his prayers that he stopped eating food and only drank a few sips of water through the day. It was not long before Dhruva no longer needed even water and was surviving on just the air he breathed, so deep was his prayers and meditation. Days turned to months and yet Dhruva never stopped chanting, “Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya.” His eyes tightly shut the young boy kept calling to Lord Vishnu and Vishnu hearing the continuous prayers of the child was so pleased with Dhurva's valiant efforts that he appeared before Dhruva.
Even with his eyes closed Dhruva could see Lord Vishnu. But just to make sure that he was not dreaming he said to the Lord, “before I open my eyes Lord I want to make sure that this is not just a dream and that it is truly you, Lord Vishnu, that stands before me. Lord since my mother told me that you are everywhere please come into my mind so I can see you within me.” And the Lord did just that. Then Dhruva opened his eyes and there before him stood the great and glorious Lord Vishnu. The little boy just gaped in amazement at Lord Vishnu. Seeing Lord Vishnu, little Dhruva was so spellbound that he forgot all about why he had wanted to meet God. In fact Dhruva no longer wanted anything more now that he had seen Lord Vishnu. In his astonishment Dhruva was left speechless in wonderment. Vishnu sensing Dhruva’s difficulty Lightly tapped his conch shell on the boys head and all of a sudden great words in praise of Lord Vishnu flowed from Dhruva’s mouth.
Though after seeing Lord Vishnu in all His glory Dhruva wanted nothing more, the Lord had heard his prayers and said, “your father and your whole family will love you. You will be crowned King and rule for a very long time. You will be a great King, just and kind, and the beloved of all your people. After your life on this earth you will remain as the dazzlingly and constant star in the sky, the Dhurva tara. All the planets will revolve around you and the whole world will look to you for directions and you will guide them at night. After completing His blessing Lord Vishu vanished.
Dhruva decide to return home and as he turned into the familiar path leading to his little house where he had lived with his mother, there, waiting for him was not just his loving mother but the King, himself and Queen Suruchi, Utaam and all the people of the kingdom. His father the King rushed towards him embraced him and lifted him in the air with joy. There was great rejoicing in the kingdom on his return. Later he was crowned King and ruled wisely and well for many years. When he left the earth he rose to the heavens and there, Dhruva took his place in the skies and looks down on us and guides us even today.
Tonight once the sun sets look up into the dark sky and you will see Dhruva shining brightly down at you and know that Dhruva will always be there for you every single night.
LIFE LESSONS
1. Remember God always helps those who are good.
2. Never be jealousy or greedy because it will only keep you unhappy. God will always give you what is best for you. Trust in Him.
3. Love everyone.
4. If you want to succeed remember to be strong and determined and don’t give up.
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