By: Seetha ‘Priya’
The Master of all creation can best answer that. But the understanding is that the Supreme One loved us so much that He willed us into existence. All creation is an outpouring of His love. The entity we call God is pure love. We are an expression of His infinite love. The selfsame love is manifest in every aspect, in every atom of the universe. As a part of Him, we too, in essence, are simply love.
According to the Vedas, the Supreme felt a need to manifest in the world. Thus, was born the idea of creation. Born of God’s love, we are heirs to His legacy. Why not live life magnanimously like our divine parent? Everything God created, fills us with awe, is vast and larger than life. Yet, we fail to grasp the lesson.
At some point, we all question ourselves: ‘What is the purpose of my life?’ The answer is simple, but we complicate everything. We imagine it to be something so deep and far-fetched that we may discover it only at the tail end of our life. For instance, moksha post-death! Instead, all you need to do is recite Vishnu Sahasranama, live in the present; live with love, joy, bliss, and awareness. That’s purposeful living.
The Fifteenth shloka of Vishnu Sahasranama is –
Lokdhyakshaha Suradhyakshaho Dharmadhyakshah Kritakritaha
Chaturatma Chaturvyhah Chaturdamstrscha Chaturbhujah;
Lord Vishnu is the Lord of the worlds (Lokdhyakshaha), Lord of Devas (Suradhyaksha), Cognizer of Dharma (Dharmadhyaksha) is also the Doer and the Non-Doer (Kritakritaha). He is skillful and charming (Chaturatma). Has four-fold arrangement to run the world (Chaturvyhah). He is a Destroyer having four teeth (Chaturdamstra) and a Creator with four arms (Chaturbhuja)
The Sixteenth Shloka of Vishnu Sahasranama is-
Bhrajishnur Bhojanam Bhokta Sahishnuhr Jagadadijaha
Anagho Vijayo Jeta Viswayonir Punarvasuhu;
The Radiant (Bhrajishnu) Lord Vishnu is the food Himself (Bhojanam), the enjoyer (Bhokta,) and the Endurer (Sahishnu), and happens to be the first-born in the universe (Jagadadija). He is sinless (Anagha), successful (Vijaya), transcending all (Jeta), source of the universe (Viswayoni), and the one who creates and lives in the universe (Punarvasu)
As we drive from Bengaluru to Tiruchirapalli and dozens of small villages and hamlets during 
summer holidays, the ‘Sumaithangi’ is a common sight, usually placed in the shade of a tamarind tree, providing succor to yatris from the sweltering heat. At first glance, to a stranger, the two vertical granite stone columns holding up one horizontal stone slab would look like a crude version of the gateway to a Japanese Shinto shrine. While the Shinto Gateway called Torii symbolizes the transition from the mundane to the sublime and sacred, the simple Sumaithangi – Tamil for ‘load bearer’ – is designed to let the pilgrim and farmer unburden themselves of their baggage during their long journey by foot and rest their weary muscles.
This was also my platform for explaining two shlokas of Vishnu Sahasranama to my wife on the concept of ‘Love Supreme’ from a lifeless object. Interestingly, there seems to be a possible etymological link between the Japanese Torii which means bird perch, and the Indian Torana, which translates as the gateway, usually ornate and meant to be welcoming of visitors. Perhaps it denotes the point of taking flight from the known to the unknown, as birds are wont to do, as they perch a while before taking off. Most sacred gateways in the countries of Southeast Asia could be traced to the Indian Torana concept, perhaps transmitted along with Buddhist philosophy that went from India to the Far East.
We would generally stop at one of these spots to take a lunch break when the tall, large, stainless steel tiffin carrier with its many containers would be taken out and food served on banana leaves – lemon rice, idli, tamarind rice, curd rice, pickles, and pappadams. The vessels were all lined up on the sumaithangi after wiping it down with a wet cloth. Once done, the empty containers would go back into the boot of the car, and the sumaithangi was wiped clean, and we would be on our way.
I knew the significance and utility of the sumaithangi, that it was meant for travelers to unburden themselves as they took a break. What a wonderful concept, I thought to myself, trying to correlate the empty tiffin carrier with emptying the mind of burdens. We also recited Vishnu Sahasranama and felt why cannot we have a virtual sumaithangi to unburden ourselves of all our worries, fears, and anxieties? We may or may not pick them up again, but even if we did, the load would be better organized with some reflection and perspective. Some burdens may disappear forever, and the journey forward is rendered less difficult. Your sumaithangi could be our God Lord Sainath, a dear friend or relative, who listens to us with empathy and understanding. In Christianity, the confession box and priest serve as sumaithangi to believers. Or you could just pour your heart out to a stone.
Lord Sainath has advised us to see him in all living and inanimate objects. It is not uncommon to liken the stone to a load bearer, something that is resilient and patient, much like the Patience Stone known as Syngue Sabour in Afghan lore. The Patience Stone is believed to ‘absorb the plight of those who confide in it’ similar to what happens when we recite Vishnu Sahasranama. Tamil homegrown wisdom advises troubled souls to find a secluded place and pour out all fears and worries into an empty pot, then smash it to pieces, a kind of catharsis that is pacific and healing rather than yelling at those you think are responsible for your plight. It is eco-friendly, too!
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