| Discourses On Gita By Acharya Vinoba Bhave |
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| Discourses On Gita |
| CONTEMPLATION OF THE DIVINE GLORY |
| 19. So, too, with the serpent.
People are much afraid of the snake. But the snake is, in its stern regard for
cleanliness, like a Brahmin. How clean! How beautiful! It cannot bear dirt. You may come
across any number of dirty Brahmins but have you ever seen a dirty snake? It is like a rishi living in
solitude. Pure, bright and lovely, it shines like a garland; why fear it?
Our ancestors laid down ways of worshipping it. You may, if you like,
say that Hinduism is full of all sorts of superstitions, but worship of the
snake is an integral part of it.
In my childhood I used to draw with turmeric the figure of a snake for my mother to worship. I would tell my mother, "But there are nice pictures for sale in the shop, mother." She would answer, "That's no good. We want none of that. Only the figure drawn by my child is good enough." And to it worship would be offered. Is this madness? But think a little. In the month of shravan (July-August), it comes to us as a guest. In the rainy season, the poor creature's house is filled with water. What could it do then? This rishi, who lives in some remote and lonely spot, comes and lies down under the gable or between the logs, wishing not to give us trouble. It takes up very little room. But we run after it with a stick. When at his need a guest comes to our house, is this the way to welcome him? It is said to Saint Francis that, when he saw a snake in the forest, he would welcome it lovingly by saying, "Come, brother, come!" And the snake would play in his lap and crawl up and down his body. |
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