by Madhu Chanda das
In a grand temple dedicated to Lord Viṣṇu, regular worship was performed with great splendor. Brāhmaṇas recited Vedic hymns, beautiful garlands were offered, lamps were lit, and incense filled the air. The deity of the Lord stood magnificently adorned, shining with divine effulgence, receiving worship from hundreds of devotees daily.
Among all those worshippers, there lived a small spider near the altar of the Lord. No one paid attention to it; it was insignificant, unnoticed, and voiceless. But within the spider’s tiny heart burned a desire—to somehow serve the Supreme Lord who stood on the altar.
One day, as the temple priests finished decorating the altar with fresh flowers, the spider noticed that dust particles from the ceiling and air would occasionally fall onto the Lord’s form or ornaments. The spider thought, “How can I tolerate this? My Lord must not be disturbed by dust!”
From that day, the spider began to weave thin, delicate webs above the deity, intentionally creating a covering that would prevent dust from falling on the Lord. Though others may have thought the web was ugly or unclean, the spider’s intent was pure devotion and protection.
For many days, it continued this service. Eventually, a temple cleaner, noticing the web above the deity, removed it with a broom. The spider was killed in the process.
But that moment became the turning point of eternity.
As soon as the spider died, Viṣṇudūtas descended and spoke gently, “This soul offered its life in the service of the Lord. Though small and without knowledge, it offered protection to the Lord with love and intention. That seva is accepted. We now carry this soul to Vaikuṇṭha.”
The spider’s soul emerged from the crushed body in a brilliant form, glowing with spiritual light, and ascended to the spiritual realm to serve the Lord eternally.
Lessons from This Story:
- Even the smallest act, when done with pure intention for the Lord, is accepted as supreme service.
- The Lord does not see the size of the offering, but the devotion behind it.
- A spider’s web, offered with love, was more pleasing to the Lord than the most ornate garlands offered with pride.
- This story reminds us that sincerity in bhakti is more powerful than status, knowledge, or ritual perfection.
- As Kṛṣṇa says in the Gītā (9.26): “patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati…”
“If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit, or water—I accept it.”
