A Devotee’s Daily Worship
In a peaceful village adorned with blooming gardens and temple spires, there lived a humble brāhmaṇa, deeply devoted to Lord Rāma. Though his home was modest, his heart was rich with bhakti. Day and night, his lips vibrated with the sweet name “Rāma, Rāma,” and his home resounded with the sacred sound of the holy name.
A Parrot in the Presence of Devotion
This brāhmaṇa kept a parrot in a cage near his place of worship. The parrot, though an ordinary bird, would sit quietly and attentively as the brāhmaṇa chanted the name of the Lord. In the beginning, he merely listened. But over time, something miraculous occurred. The sound of the Lord’s name entered the bird’s heart.
The Bird Begins to Chant
Before long, the parrot began to imitate the sound he heard daily. “Rāma, Rāma,” he repeated, again and again, with growing enthusiasm. Even when the brāhmaṇa paused or left the house, the bird’s chanting continued—sweet, rhythmic, and pure. He would flap his wings with joy, chanting “Rāma! Rāma!” as though intoxicated by divine nectar.
The Parrot Becomes a Village Attraction
Soon, the villagers came to know of this extraordinary bird. People would stop outside the brāhmaṇa’s home just to hear the parrot chant. They marveled at his devotion and affectionately began calling him “the Rāma bird.” Children, elders, and even traveling pilgrims would pause to listen, their hearts softened by the bird’s innocent kīrtana.
The Final Days of the Parrot
Years passed peacefully. One day, the parrot grew weak with age and stopped eating. The brāhmaṇa, full of love, cared for him gently, remaining by his side and chanting “Rāma, Rāma” as always. The parrot, now breathing his last, struggled to keep his voice steady, but even in his weakened state, he softly uttered, “Rāma… Rāma…” until his final breath.
The Arrival of the Viṣṇudūtas
At that sacred moment, the skies seemed to open. From the higher realms descended the Viṣṇudūtas—divine messengers of Lord Viṣṇu. They were radiant like the sun, adorned in yellow garments, holding lotus flowers, and smiling with compassion. The brāhmaṇa, though astonished, could see them clearly with his spiritual vision.
The Liberation of the Parrot
The Viṣṇudūtas declared, “This parrot has chanted the Lord’s name constantly. Though born as a bird, he glorified the Lord with sincerity. And at the time of death, he remembered Rāma. Such a soul is freed from all karma. We have come to bring him to Vaikuṇṭha, the eternal abode of the Lord.”
The soul of the parrot emerged from its body, glowing with spiritual effulgence. With great honor and celebration, the Viṣṇudūtas carried him to the transcendental world, where Lord Rāma eternally resides with His devotees.
The Brāhmaṇa’s Tears of Joy
The brāhmaṇa, though bereft of his companion, was overwhelmed with bliss. He fell to the ground, weeping tears of gratitude, and glorified the holy name with folded hands: “O Nāma-prabhu! Your mercy knows no bounds! Even a caged bird has soared to Vaikuṇṭha through Your power!”
Lessons to Be Learned
- The holy name of the Lord is supremely powerful. Even a bird who chants with sincerity can attain liberation.
- The Lord’s name is beyond all social, bodily, or intellectual limitations—it purifies whoever sincerely chants it.
- Mere association with a devotee can awaken bhakti, even in an animal.
- As declared in the scriptures: “nāma-aparādha yuktānāṁ, nāmānyeva haranty agham”
“Even those who chant the name with offenses are gradually purified by the name itself.”
(Padma Purāṇa)
