Material world is full of suffering. We, who are spiritual living entity, have been living in this house of misery since time immemorial. Although we are originally form spiritual world which is full of happiness, eternity and knowledge we have lost our consciousness and have adapted in this material world . As a soul we have a unique ability to adapt ourselves to any
situation, however unpleasant it might be.Once Indra, the king of
heaven, committed some grievous mistake and as a result he was cursed by
sage Narada to take birth on earthly planet as a hog. So, Indra became a
hog and started living on earth. In due course of time he grew, got
married and became the proud father of dozens of piglets. He even became
the leader of the hog clan. Seeing his friends and family gave him deep
pleasure. Meanwhile he forgot that he was the king of heaven.
Along with the uninterrupted course and speed of time the duration of curse was nearing to end. Indra was not returning back. Since the throne of the heavenly kingdom could not be empty for a long time so the situation became too serious. Narad remembered that Indra was living the life of hog for long time and maintaining his family. Finally Narada personally decided to come and take Indra back. Indra was enjoying his hoggish life – playing with his wife and piglets, joking with his friends and enjoying the stool. Narada felt too bad for the king of the heaven, he immediately approached Indra and reminded him of his heavenly designation. Indra wasn’t impressed. He argued with Narada, “I am happy here with my friends and family members. My wife, my cute piglets all are dependent on me. If I leave then who will care for them.”
Narada was shocked to hear that Indra was ready to forget the heavenly comfort and was contended to live as a hog. Out of compassion he severed his head and dragged him out of the wretched life which Indra thought was blissful.
From this story we can know the real condition of conditioned souls in this material world. Even Indra didn't care for heavenly pleasure when Narada remined him of his heavenly designation. He was too much attached to his hellish lifestyle and didn't care for his heavely designation. Similarly all of us in this illusory world try to adapt in this world even when self realized soul ( devotees ) remind us of spiritual world where we originally belong to. We say that we are happy with this life and have to look after family members and so on. This illusory material energy is too powerful; it forces us to believe that the life which we are leading is permanent and more enjoyable than anything else. This is why we do not take the words of the scriptures seriously when it asks us to abandon our materialistic life and focus on spiritual salvation. Let us not follow the footsteps of Indra and try relishing hoggish pleasure instead we should heed the advice of sages and scriptures and make a determined endeavour towards our spiritual destination.
Along with the uninterrupted course and speed of time the duration of curse was nearing to end. Indra was not returning back. Since the throne of the heavenly kingdom could not be empty for a long time so the situation became too serious. Narad remembered that Indra was living the life of hog for long time and maintaining his family. Finally Narada personally decided to come and take Indra back. Indra was enjoying his hoggish life – playing with his wife and piglets, joking with his friends and enjoying the stool. Narada felt too bad for the king of the heaven, he immediately approached Indra and reminded him of his heavenly designation. Indra wasn’t impressed. He argued with Narada, “I am happy here with my friends and family members. My wife, my cute piglets all are dependent on me. If I leave then who will care for them.”
Narada was shocked to hear that Indra was ready to forget the heavenly comfort and was contended to live as a hog. Out of compassion he severed his head and dragged him out of the wretched life which Indra thought was blissful.
From this story we can know the real condition of conditioned souls in this material world. Even Indra didn't care for heavenly pleasure when Narada remined him of his heavenly designation. He was too much attached to his hellish lifestyle and didn't care for his heavely designation. Similarly all of us in this illusory world try to adapt in this world even when self realized soul ( devotees ) remind us of spiritual world where we originally belong to. We say that we are happy with this life and have to look after family members and so on. This illusory material energy is too powerful; it forces us to believe that the life which we are leading is permanent and more enjoyable than anything else. This is why we do not take the words of the scriptures seriously when it asks us to abandon our materialistic life and focus on spiritual salvation. Let us not follow the footsteps of Indra and try relishing hoggish pleasure instead we should heed the advice of sages and scriptures and make a determined endeavour towards our spiritual destination.
