A Temple Hidden in the Forest
In a remote area of South India, surrounded by dense forest and flowering vines, stood an old temple dedicated to Lord Nārāyaṇa. The temple had long been forgotten by society, its priests having left due to lack of resources and fear of wild animals. Yet the deity of the Lord, though neglected externally, remained present in full divine potency.
Years passed, and the jungle grew thicker. Birds nested in the sanctum, vines wrapped around the pillars, and wild animals freely roamed the grounds. Yet within the sanctum, the murti of the Lord still bore His eternal smile—waiting to bestow mercy on anyone who approached Him.
A Snake’s Unexpected Visit
One day, a large black snake, searching for a cool shelter, slithered into the broken gate of the temple. Unaware of the divine energy within, the serpent slowly glided over the worn stone floor and made its way straight to the sanctum, where the deity stood silently on the altar.
There, in the cooling darkness, the snake paused.
Its Eyes Met the Eyes of the Lord.
For a moment, the serpent lifted its hood and looked straight at the deity. The snake, though in an ignorant body, was momentarily stunned by the divine beauty of the Lord’s form. It remained there for some time, motionless, until finally it curled up and died—perhaps from exhaustion, perhaps from some past karma.
Divine Liberation Through Darśana
At that very moment, the skies rumbled gently, and Viṣṇudūtas descended. They entered the ruined temple and approached the lifeless body of the snake.
“This being,” they declared, “though born in a snake’s form, has received the darśana of the Supreme Lord’s deity. That vision, even for a moment, is enough to destroy the karma of millions of lives. Now this soul is free and shall ascend to the Lord’s eternal abode.”
They lifted the soul of the serpent, which had now assumed a divine form. In an instant, the being who once crawled in ignorance was now flying in divine light, bound for Vaikuṇṭha.
Lessons to Be Learned:
- Darśana of the deity is powerful—even a momentary glance at the form of the Lord can liberate the soul.
- The deity of the Lord is not material—He is fully spiritual and can bestow mercy upon anyone who comes before Him, even unintentionally.
- The Lord never abandons His form, even if no one is externally serving Him.
- As stated in Padma Purāṇa: “ārādhanānāṁ sarveṣāṁ viṣṇor ārādhanaṁ param / tasmat parataraṁ devi tadīyānāṁ samarcanam”
“Of all forms of worship, the worship of Lord Viṣṇu is supreme. But even greater is the worship of His devotees and His form (deity).”
Origin of the Story: Padma Purāṇa – Stories section glorifying the liberating power of the Lord’s deity form (arcā-vigraha), even upon animals.
