THE EPISODES OF KALA & HASTI

The Lord granted it. Accordingly, the serpent was worshipping the Lord at Kalahasti, offering gems every day with great regularity and steadfastness. It knew its past life and was aware of its aspiration - Sayujyamukti also.

Just at this time, a huge elephant was worshipping the Siva linga here every day with a devotion unequalled in fervour and periodicity. And its past too was something fascinating. In the past life, it was a brahmin well-versed in sastras and won a name for austerity. He was poor in health. And wealth too. To add fuel to fire, as it were, he was sick always. When prevailed upon by some rich to waking up one whole night on Sivaratri doing pujas, he did, tempted by a prize; he then availed the darsan of the Lord during the Deepakainkarya - the ritual of waving of oil lamps before the Lord. As ill-luck would have it, he died seeing the ritual bitten by a snake. That mercenary act of officiating as priest for others and keeping awake the whole night, according to scriptures tantamount to selling of dharma. 

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