Morning darshan of Sri Bhagavan by the rock

The cubs got up extra early today. Waking up Junior rhino was not an easy task because rhinos are deep sleepers by nature. Being big and strong they have no reason to get up at the sound of a twig snapping, or a leaf moving. And when the rhino has wolved down a truck load of idlis and guzzled a few buckets of spicy sambar then sleep can be even deeper. So say the textbooks. But the textbooks don't know how delicious sleep can be when cuddled up with FOUR lion cubs (one actually a leopard cub, but why bother with details).

Om was very excited about having an early morning darshan of Bhagavan Ramana. He was explaining to Junior that this was a darshan very few knew of. Mum had told him a year or two ago about a devotee of Bhagavan who used to have a darshan of Bhagavan from her house down below. She could see Bhagavan brushing his teeth each morning. When Bhagavan came to know of this, He would make it a point to stand there for half an hour every morning so that that devotee could have her darshan without having to climb the hill.

Arunacub added that Bhagavan loved His devotees a lot and would go to great lengths to see that devotees were not let down or denied darshan.

Mum Lioness listened to these incidents from a distance with a smile on her face thanking Bhagavan for claiming her cubs at such an early age. She was preparing dosas for the cubs to leave at Bhagavan's cave so Bhagavan and his attendants might have a tasty bite.

Mum wrapped the hot tiffin in a towel and tied it around Junior's neck. The cubs and Junior scampered off towards Bhagavan's cave. They had completely forgotten about last night's fight over Junior's horns poking them.
For the twentieth time, Om cub told Junior the story of the african rhino who had come on a pram and had Bhagavan's darshan. Junior kept asking whether it could have been him. Tiru and Aruna kept assuring Junior that it must have been him, which made him happy. Om cub kept saying that he seriously wondered whether Junior could have ever fitted in a pram, it just was unrealistic.
Spotty said they could ask Bhagavan.

Junior walking with cubs underfoot

Like this they jumped and bounced their way to the cave where Bhagavan was.
Junior wanted to know what "Virupaksha" meant. One cub said some saint by that name must have lived there. Tiru said it could have to do with a bird since pakshi in sanskrit meant a bird. Junior was very impressed with Tiru's expertise in Sanskrit. When did you learn Sanskrit, he asked. Tiru said it just came naturally to him.

The cubs and Junior took a downward path so as not to disturb anyone at the cave. They then went around the cave a bit scouting out for a clearing from where they could have a darshan. Spotty spotted a nice clearing, but when they got there, they found that the rock was not visible.

We don't have much time, Tiru was saying impatiently. Junior was trying to keep pace with the cubs. Getting through the undergrowth was not easy for him. At one stage, Aruna stepped on something hard and heard an "OUCH! Can't you see where you are stepping???"

He looked down and saw an angry tortoise. But the tortoise turned his face and looked up. They followed his gaze and to their complete surprise saw Bhagavan sitting by the rock. "Careful", Om said to the others, there are many more animals here. Animals of all kinds had gathered in this spot to have a darshan of Bhagavan. There was a deer, a dog, a snake, a monkey, and several others, but there was no time to do an inventory. Everyone had their eyes turned to Bhagavan.

So the cubs realized that, unknown to all (except for Bhagavan), a large part of the forest (if not all) used to gather in the mornings to have Bhagavan's darshan.

There really was not enough space for a rhino, even a baby one to stand in this small clearing. Om cub had a brilliant idea. All four cubs clambered onto Junior, this way space was saved and they got a better view.
Some others also complained that they would like a better view and a squirrel and a monkey got onto Junior. Soon there were more people sitting on Junior, than on the ground.

In the morning sun, Bhagavan's face shone -- no it blazed! Bhagavan's golden face catching the early rays of the sun!

All the animals watched in silence, as though the universe consisted only of Bhagavan, and nothing else!

After a long time, someone came up to Bhagavan and Bhagavan turned and went in.

Today Bhagavan's face had a brighter glow than ever before, said Spotty. The cubs agreed. The animals were refusing to get off Junior's back. They were clamouring for a ride. Then the monkey noticed the bag around Junior's neck and the wonderful aroma coming out of it.
"That's for Bhagavan.", said Junior protectively.
The monkey and other animals were crestfallen.

Sri Bhagavan will take care of all of us!

"But you can have some!", added Tiru, "But you must come with us to the cave."
"Bhagavan will bless it, and then it will be distributed equally to all.", explained Arunacub.
Most animals were pleased to hear this. But Junior asked, will it be distributed in proportion to tummy size? What's enough for a tortoise or squirrel may not be enough for me!

"We will have to leave that to Bhagavan.", said Om cub. "Whatever happens, he will see that we are all satisfied with it."