Post No. 15,480
Date uploaded in Kumbakonam, India – 10 March 2026
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What is the distance between you and the God?
S. Nagarajan
Narada is a great sage. He is devoted to Lord Narayana who is the protector of Universe according to the Hindu religion.
All the scriptures says that Narayana resides at Vaikunda, a sacred place in the sky.
Once Narada went to Vaikunda, where Narayana is supposed to be dwells.
But to his surprise Narada did not see the Lord, there!
He started searching the Lord.
At that time one devotee came in front of him.
He asked Narada, “oh! Great sage, wherefrom you are coming?”
Narada replied to him that he is coming from Vaikunda. He also said that he did not see the Lord at Vaikunda and in search of him he is wandering:’
The devotee laughed at him.
“Oh! Great sage! You do not know where he is. He is at a calling distance,” said the devotee.
Narada was wonderstruck.
He told the devotee that he is not able to understand the meaning of his words.
The devotee said, “It is simple. He is at a distance to hear your call. When the elephant Gajendra called “Oh, the Origin of everything”, he heard that call and immediately came to the elephant’s rescue.
Actually, the elephant’s leg was grabbed by a crocodile in a river and at any moment it may be dragged into the river.
Similarly, the Pandavas Queen Draupadi called him, “Oh, my lord who is dwelling in my heart. Pl come and rescue me. The wretched Gaurav Dussasana is stripping my sari.”
On hearing Draupadi’s call he came immediately to her rescue and started supplying numerous saris.
Telling all these things the devotee asked Narada, “I hope now you understand where he would be. Go and find him in devotees’ assembly.
Narada accordingly found the Lord in a large gathering where devotees were chanting His name.
Narada finding the Lord there prostrated before Him.
Narada told the Lord that he is coming from Vaikund in search of him.
The Lord laughed at him and said the famous reply.
“I am not residing at Vaikunda nor at the yogi’s heart. Wherever my devotees are chanting my name, oh, Narada, you may find me there.
Narada understood the power of the devotion.
God is in your heart and that is the distance between you and the God!
**
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