Once, Lord Indra got upset with the farmers. He announced there will be no rain for 12 years so the farmers won’t be able to produce crops.

Farmers begged for clemency from Lord Indra, who then said, rain will be possible only if Lord Shiva plays his damru (small two-headed drum). But he secretly requested Lord Shiva not to agree to these farmers. When the farmers reached Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva repeated he will play the Damru only after 12 years. 

The disappointed farmers then decided to wait until then. 

But one out of those farmers regularly was digging, treating & putting manure in the soil and sowing the seeds even though crops were not emerging.

The other farmers who were relaxing at home were mocking at him. After 3 years, all farmers asked the working farmer why he was wasting his time and energy despite knowing that rain was expected only after 12 years.

His replied, he was aware of it but he still continued to work to keep up the practise of working in the farm and producing crop so that when rain comes, he is prepared to work lest he might forget the process of working.

Listening to these words of the farmer, Goddess Parvati praised his version before Lord Shiva & reminded the Lord “You may also forget to play the damru after 12 years!”

The innocent Lord Shiva just tried to play the damru, to check if he could….and hearing the sound of the damru immediately the rain started and the farmer who was regularly working in the field got his crop emerged immediately while others were disappointed.

Similarly, I need to check/change where do I fit in? I wake up in the morning, perform morning chores. For whom do I brush my teeth? Am I doing the dentist a favour? Do I reach office early before official working hours or step in during the hustle and bustle? In the Godly University, the lessons I learn, the work I choose to do according to my habit patterns, the way I look at each person I meet, am I using the crystal clear golden glass or a tainted mystified one?

My reasons for reaching office before official working hours are for me to establish myself emotionally, walk up and down to get myself a glass of water or a bottle at my desk, to log into the system, spread some smiles and cheer as colleague’s step in. My reason for reaching early are beyond what others do or think. My internal compass directs me.

Before I choose any action, I check the intention. Is it what I’d do even when no one’s watching? Is my decision to reach office before time a proactive choice? Time is the litmus test. If the action continues through months independent of reactions, well! I’ve stood the test of time!

By Payal Jethra