In a grand temple dedicated to Lord Nārāyaṇa, the annual abhisheka ceremony—the ritual bathing of the deity—was being held. The temple was beautifully decorated, devotees had gathered in large numbers, and the air was filled with mantras, incense, flowers, and the chanting of the holy names.
On that auspicious day, golden pots filled with sacred water—mixed with milk, honey, ghee, sandalwood, and fragrant herbs—were arranged around the altar. Learned brāhmaṇas began pouring these on the deity as part of the abhiṣeka, while conch shells blew and ślokas were recited glorifying the Lord.
High above in the temple ceiling, a small lizard had been hiding in a crevice. It had lived there unnoticed, surviving on insects and scraps for many years. But during the intense vibration of kīrtana and the pouring of water, the lizard lost its grip, fell from the ceiling, and landed directly into one of the sacred abhiṣeka vessels.
Before anyone could notice or remove it, the contents of the vessel—including the lizard—were poured onto the deity along with the other ceremonial offerings. The lizard touched the divine form of the Lord, bathing His body along with the sacred liquids.
Moments later, the lizard died—its body having fallen from a great height and been overwhelmed by the flow of the ceremony.
But something miraculous occurred.
In the middle of the crowd, a sudden divine light appeared, and Viṣṇudūtas descended from the heavens, their forms glowing with spiritual radiance. They gently addressed the stunned devotees:
“This creature was once a sinful soul, cursed to live as a lizard due to past offenses. But by the touch of the sacred abhiṣeka water and direct contact with the body of the Lord, all sins have been burned away. The soul is now liberated.”
The soul of the lizard emerged, now in a divine and effulgent form, and was escorted by the Viṣṇudūtas to Vaikuṇṭha, the eternal abode of Lord Nārāyaṇa.
The crowd was filled with awe and reverence. From that day forward, the temple priests and devotees took even greater care to honor every aspect of the deity’s worship, understanding that even accidental contact with the Lord or His paraphernalia grants the highest benediction.
Lessons from This Story:
- The body of the Lord, His deity form, and all items used in His worship are completely spiritual and transformative.
- Even an animal can attain mokṣa by touching the Lord, especially during sacred ceremonies like abhisheka.
- The Lord accepts all souls who come into contact with Him, even by accident, and grants them liberation.
- As stated in śāstra: “viṣṇor ārādhanaṁ puṁsāṁ…” – Worship of Lord Viṣṇu purifies all beings, even those who simply witness or touch His form.
