We are given the gift of life, a healthy body and nature provides us with all necessities of life. With our intelligence and work, we have succeeded in making our lives far more comfortable than before and have everything we need. Yet we are always discontent. We seek more and more. Today the amenities and comforts we enjoy are far superior to those enjoyed by the Kings of yore. Yet we are unhappy and discontent.
The soul moves through 8, 40,000 life forms –from the single celled creature, insect, fish, bird, and animal and finally evolves to the body of man. After getting body of man, it is our primary duty to recognise the soul within us and our connection to universe and God. But we are caught up in the endless cycles of desires and fulfilment and are rarely content and happy. We never know when grace descends on us and we are given the gift of human body and its wealth. And we never know when we are going to lose this precious gift by our own ugly discontent, greed and other vices. The story of this insect is the story of our lives:
Once, Lord Shiva and Maa Parvathi, were moving across the Universe, when the gaze of the Mother fell on the desert region of earth. Her keen sight picked up a pathetic scene. An insect was dragging itself across the hot sands. It has three broken legs and the other three legs had been cut off from its body. It was vibrating with pain and the heat of the sands was scorching it. Maa Parvati was moved by its condition. She asked Lord Shiva why it was suffering this way. The Lord replied that it was reaping the fruits of its karma. The Mother could not bear to see its pain anymore. She requested the Lord to transform it into a man. The Lord refused saying that it was not evolved enough and that man generally misused anything given to him. The Mother kept begging Him, so He transformed the three legged insect into a man. That man stood bewildered in the heat of the desert. The Mother requested Lord to create a house for the man to dwell and also provide it with enough stock of food supplies, bed, clothing and furniture for a comfortable living. Lo and behold, a good home and all necessary furniture, food and clothes were made ready and the man was stood in his new home. He had a huge smile and walked around all the rooms inspecting the things. The Lord had provided great quality stuff and surely anyone would be happy with it.
After the man finished inspecting the entire home, the smile was wiped off his face and he looked very unhappy. The Mother was also unhappy looking at him. She told the Lord – Let us go and ask him what else he wants and give it to him. Let him be happy. The Lord replied: You are playing a game you do not understand. There is no point in asking and giving this man anything more. He has been given so much – a new healthy human body, a new life and a new home filled with so many things. Yet he is discontent and unhappy. He should have been left in the desert to undergo his karma and finish it. But due to the repeated pleadings of the Mother, They both appeared in front of the man. The Mother said: You were an insect with three broken legs and three legs cut off. We gave you a human form and this lovely home and all these things. Why are you unhappy? What else do you want? Ask, and the Lord will grant you all your wishes.
The man looked around and said: O Lord, you gave me a good home and great furniture and food in the kitchen cupboards. But who will clean my home and keep it tidy? Who will cook my food and wash the vessels? Who will tend to the garden? Please leave Maa Parvathi here. She can be my cook, cleaner and gardener. Then my wants will be complete for now!
The Mother was furious. She turned to the Lord and said: You were right. This man does not deserve anything. Turn him back into that insect again with broken legs and let him suffer his karma! And the man became an insect again with three broken legs suffering in the hot sands of the desert.
A mighty lesson indeed to us to be content with our lot in life! We should work hard, strive for more but be content with what we get. We never know when grace descends and we are given this human body with the all the wonderful gifts of health intelligence, senses reasoning etc. We also don’t know, when due to our discontentment and ingratitude, we may turn back into a three legged insect broiling in the desert!
