An Ancient Temple in the Mountains
At the edge of a mountain village, nestled between cliffs and streams, there stood an ancient temple of Lord Viṣṇu. Time had weathered the stones, moss had crept over the steps, but the deity inside remained resplendent—bathed daily, adorned with flowers, and served with love by a lone priest who had inherited this sacred duty from his ancestors.
Pilgrims occasionally visited, but most worship was done in solitude. The temple was quiet, peaceful, and filled with the fragrance of tulasī and sandalwood.
The Lizard’s Shelter in the Wall
Within a crack in the temple wall, a lizard had made its home. Each day, unnoticed by any human, it emerged to crawl along the walls or bask in the warmth of the sun filtering through the temple windows. But what it didn’t know was that it was daily absorbing the sound of mantras, the sight of the Lord, and the vibrations of sacred rituals.
The lizard remained in the temple for many years, never leaving its stone dwelling, always returning to its little crevice after wandering about the altar area or clinging to the arch above the deity.
A Surprising Liberation
One day, the lizard died quietly, nestled in the warmth of its usual spot in the temple wall.
That very night, the priest had a dream. In it, he saw celestial beings descending into the temple, their forms glowing like suns, gently lifting a small radiant soul and offering obeisances to the deity.
One of the Viṣṇudūtas turned to the priest in the dream and said:
“This living being, though in the form of a lizard, has dwelled in the Lord’s temple, where kīrtana, ārati, and worship are constantly performed. By remaining in this sacred space, it has received the full benefit of temple association. It is now freed from all previous karma and has attained Vaikuṇṭha.”
The priest awoke overwhelmed, tears flowing from his eyes, amazed by the mercy of the Supreme Lord.
Lessons to Be Learned:
- Living in or near a temple, even without conscious worship, brings immense spiritual benefit.
- The atmosphere of a temple—filled with sound, devotion, and purity—can cleanse the hearts of all souls, even those in animal bodies.
- The Lord’s mercy and glance fall on all who reside in His abode, even unnoticed beings.
- As Lord Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gītā (6.40): “na hi kalyāṇa-kṛt kaścid durgatiṁ tāta gacchati”
“One who does good, My friend, is never overcome by evil.”
Origin of the Story: Padma Purāṇa – Stories section revealing the hidden blessings received by those who live in proximity to the Lord’s temple and worship.
