To Forgive is Divine

J P VASWANI





Rishi Brighu wondered who, among the Holy Trinity of Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu, could be regarded as the greatest.Perhaps the one who showed the greatest degree of forgiveness? Reaching Brahma's abode, Brighu simply ignored him, and did not even acknowledge his presence. Brahma was incensed. Enraged, he rose to pronounce a terrible curse on the sage. He was restrained by his divine consort Saraswati who said, “Please bear with Brighu this once.There must be a reason for his strange behaviour.“Brahma relented, and Sage Brighu left for Mt Kailash, the abode of Shiva. “Look at you!“ laughed Brighu scornfully to Shiva who was in meditation.“Your body is smeared with ash and you are garlanded by snakes! You must be mad!“ Shiva would have hurled his trishul at Brighu but Parvati held him back, saying, “Let him go, just once!“ Brighu next went to Vaikunth, where Vishnu was yoganidra. Emboldened that Vishnu was asleep, Brighu kicked him in the chest, and shouted, “How can you go off to sleep, when you have to sustain life in this world?“ The moment he opened his eyes, Vishnu clutched the feet of the sage.
“Forgive me, O Holy one!“ He pleaded. “Your foot must surely have been hurt by the hardness of my chest! How can I soothe the pain that I have inadvertently caused to you -one of my greatest devotees?
You have taken a child's liberty with your Father. Your footprint shall remain imprinted on my chest, for ages to come.“