A Temple Brightened by Simple Devotion
In a modest temple situated in a small village, Lord Viṣṇu was worshipped daily by a sincere and impoverished priest. Although he had no wealth, he offered his love, tulasī leaves, and ghee lamps with great devotion. Every evening, after completing his simple ārati, the priest would light a ghee lamp and place it before the deity.
The flickering lamp glowed in front of the Lord, creating a beautiful golden hue that seemed to make the murti smile.
The Night Visit of a Hungry Mouse
One night, after the temple had been locked, a mouse emerged from a crack in the floor and began to sniff around. It was hungry and looking for crumbs. The glow of the ghee lamp caught its attention. Intrigued, the mouse crawled toward the altar. It had no understanding of the deity or the lamp. All it saw was the cotton wick floating in ghee, which smelled edible.
As the mouse leapt toward the lamp, it accidentally knocked over the wick, which momentarily caused the flame to flare brightly—illuminating the deity’s face even more.
The mouse, however, fell into the flame and died instantly.
Celestial Observers and Divine Reward
At that very moment, Viṣṇudūtas appeared, their forms glowing with divine effulgence. They gently lifted the soul of the mouse and said:
“Though this being was ignorant, its actions caused a ghee lamp to burn more brightly in front of the Lord’s deity. By this accidental act of service, it has become free from all sinful reactions. It will now attain Vaikuṇṭha, the abode of Lord Viṣṇu.”
The soul of the mouse, now transformed into a shining spiritual being, was carried to the Lord’s eternal realm.
Lessons to Be Learned:
- Even unintentional service to the Lord is powerful enough to destroy sinful karma and bestow liberation.
- Lighting a lamp before the deity, or helping such a lamp shine brighter, is considered a great act of devotion.
- The Lord is pleased even with the simplest offering, especially when done innocently and sincerely—even by accident.
- As declared in Padma Purāṇa: “naivedyaṁ naiva pūjāṁ vā śakti-hīnasya yat kṛtam / dṛṣṭaṁ vā yadi vā spṛṣṭaṁ śuddhiṁ nayati tat kṣaṇāt”
“Even if one is incapable, the act of seeing or touching what has been offered to the Lord purifies one instantly.”
Origin of the Story: Padma Purāṇa – Stories section glorifying even the accidental acts of service to the Lord, emphasizing His all-merciful nature.
