His Holiness Acharya Sudhanshu ji Maharaj

According to Hindu philosophy, whatever is in your mind in your end of life moments makes the passing on easier. So the wife is pouring some holy water on the tongue of her dying husband and telling him to recite God’s name. The sages have prayed, “O God please grant me such strength so that when it is time to leave the world, it neither utters the name of any worldly things nor of any relations – may I chant only your name and be one with you My God.”

Recite His Name: But yet, many a times, the opposite is exactly what happens. An old man who was always seen with his rosary beads all his life, could not do so towards his end. God only knows which sin committed by him became an obstacle in his way, just before the time of his death, that he was unable to recite the Lord’s name in the end. Seeing this many others start crying out of fear that what will become of them. The mind does not concentrate. You will
observe that when the body becomes weak, you are unable to sit even when you want to and the tongue stammers when you want to chant the name of God. In that condition even if you try hard, your body will not remain stable. Even in that condition, whilst getting up or sitting down or moving around, do keep chanting His name.

So, the wife wants that her husband should chant the name of God whereas his children want him to tell them about monetary matters. They tell their mother not to confuse their father with useless talks and to let them listen to what he wishes to say to them. The strange thing is that when a person dies, the first thing that is done is to search his pockets. But do you know what goes along with him? ‘Much I earned in this world, gold, diamonds and pearls, Yet I go empty-handed, Alas! My coffin has no pocket.’ People would search his pockets and children look out for keys. The beautiful rings and bangles that he or she is wearing will be taken off. And the ones who are removing are none else, but your own near and dear ones. In fact, today the situation is that as soon as a person faints in a hospital, the family members immediately remove his wrist watch and jewellery. They pretend to cry but also work wonders in order to confiscate his wealth. Someone would think that they are crying for the dead, but materialistic things are dearer to them than the departing soul. Strange is this world!

It is a Materialistic Relationship: Everyone told the mother to step back. One of the sons who was cleverer than the others rushed and fetched a doctor and said to him, “Doctor, my father wants to say something but his tongue is getting stuck. Please give him such an injection so that he is able to speak what he wants to. He should get some strength to speak.” Sure enough, the doctor gave him an injection. He revived a little but the doctor told him that he will not be able to survive for long. Despite knowing that he won’t survive for long, everyone expectantly stood
around him. The father spoke, “Where is the eldest son?” and the eldest son came forward and while massaging his father’s feet said, “I am here, father.” He then called for the middle and youngest ones and they also came near him. Then he asked for Ramu, the servant, and he also came running expecting the good master to give him something too before dying. Now, all of them were standing around very attentively thinking that now they will be told something about some monetary matters. The man on the death-bed suddenly shouted, “You useless people! All of you are standing here, is there anyone at the shop or not?”

Day in and day out, the shop was all that he used to think about, how could he think of anything else but the same now? But the one who always keeps God in mind even while running a shop and dealing with customers, sees the image of God in money as well as in the customers that he
deals with. And the place that he sits in to earn his daily bread and butter, he looks upon that place as a temple of God, His Grace, and also God’s own workshop.

Such a person will see God in everything. He is never away from God. He does not think of materialistic things. The fact is that a person, who is greatly attached to this world, finds it difficult to leave it at the time of death. It is painful. Therefore a Hindu sage prays – “Mrityuma Amritam Gamaye” – ‘Keep me away from death and take me towards immortality so that I can deserve to sit in Your lap’.