Work is Worship

The Supreme Soul from Whom has this whole of universe originated & because of Whom is it existing, by worshipping Him with ones day-to-day jobs & activities, one can attain the supreme state.

(Shrimad Bhagvad Geeta: 18.46)

Anybody, may be a very affluent or a poor person, can reach the ultimate state of suprem bliss, by offering the flowers of daily chores to the omnipresent God. There is a well named 'Pisajhari Kuan' in the middle of the road going from Munger to Bhagalpur in Bihar, India. A 13 year old girl called 'Shyamo' got married. Her husband died a year after her marriage. She became a widow at the young age of 14. Shyamo thought that it is not wise to become an escapist, materialistic & lazy. She made her parents understand her feelings & she started leading a pious & pure life. Shyamo's parents were very poor. She used to get up early in the morning & earn some money by making flour using grind-stone. Then, she used to take her bath and pray to God & sing praises of His holy name. After that she used to again sit down to make thread using the spin-wheel. If somebody wanted to get food prepared, then she used to do that also. The whole day she used to keep herself busy working with full sincerity & diligence. As a result she used to get sound sleep in the night & easily she was able to concentrate for the short duration she used to pray. As this routine continued, one day Shyamo observed that all those who travel on Munger-Bhagalpur road feel very thirsty. Not only did she earn her living by making flour, thread & cooking, but she also donated all her life-long savings to construct a well for the travellers. Even today that 'Pakka Kuan' (constructed well) located on the Munger-Bhagalpur road denotes Shyamo's sacrifice, austerity, goodwill and dedication & zeal towards work. No matter how adverse the circumstances be, if one continues to work diligently without losing faith & hope, then his duties take the form of worship. The peace & contentment experienced by a devotee or a Yogi, the same happiness & peace is evolved in the heart of the one who does his duties with the aim of pleasing God. Even though Shyamo became a widow at a very young age, she did not let her life get misled, dedicatedly she did her jobs practising self-control, purity in action & pleasing behaviour. That is the reason that even if her body is not existing in this world, but the songs of her good qualities are still being sung... I wish the people entangled in fighting & creating tension for others get some inspiration from her! If we let the river of self-less services flow in our family & society, then the world would be so great!