Hazir Swaroop Sai Sadhram Saheb once narrated a precious spiritual discourse and shared a sacred story.
He explained that there was once a Brahmin who was an astrologer also and had no children. He was a deeply devoted worshipper of Lord Shiva.
One day, a great saint blessed him, and by that blessing he was blessed with a son. When the Brahmin examined his son’s birth chart and destiny, he discovered that the beloved child who had come into his life after so many prayers, worships, and efforts was destined to live for only five years. After that, the child would no longer remain alive.
Seeing this, the Brahmin was filled with shock and sorrow. He realized that this was the result of karmas from past births — perhaps at some time he had caused someone pain and tears, and now his own son would one day leave him grieving in the same way. Yet, being a wise astrologer, he accepted the Divine Law and destiny. At the same time, he resolved that for whatever span of life his son had, he would raise him in the purest and most noble environment.
He began keeping his son connected to the worship of Lord Shiva, temple prayers, and devotion to God. The Brahmin filled his son’s heart so deeply with Shiva bhakti that the child remained absorbed in the temple day and night, serving and worshipping Lord Shiva. Whenever saints and holy men passed through the temple, the child would bow at their feet, seek their blessings, and lovingly serve them.
In this way, two or three years passed.
Four years went by, and the fifth year was nearing its end. The Brahmin became increasingly troubled, for he knew that the time was approaching when his son would leave this world.
One day, by Divine Grace, the four Kumaras who are the eternally detached and desireless yogis who chose the path of lifelong celibacy in pursuit of Divine Knowledge arrived there . Their names were Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana, and Sanatkumara. They are often depicted as disciples in the Dakshinamurthy form of Lord Shiva.
As was his habit, the Brahmin’s young son went and offered full prostrations before all four saints. The four saints blessed the child, saying:
“Chiranjeevi Bhavo” — “May you live long and remain blessed with eternal life.”
When the child’s father heard this, he humbly said to the saints, “Whatever you speak always comes true. But please tell me this that my son’s lifespan is written as only five years. Then how will he become chiranjeevi?”
The four saints asked when exactly the child’s five years would be completed. The Brahmin told them the date. The saints then said that on that day all four of them would come to the temple and take care of everything. They instructed the father and son that on that day they should not allow their minds to wander outside the temple even for a moment. Instead, with complete concentration and one pointed devotion, they should remain immersed in worship, prayer, and service to God.
The Brahmin and his son were already great devotees of Lord Shiva, so on that day they did exactly as instructed. The four saints came and stood guarding the four entrances of the temple.
Hazir Swaroop Sai Sadhram Saheb then explained that whenever someone is in a temple or deeply engaged in the worship of God at the final moment of their life, it is not Yamraj who comes for them but Dharamraj himself arrives to receive them.
Here too, Dharamraj arrived to take the child. He requested the saints to allow him to enter the temple, but the saints refused. Dharamraj said, “The child’s lifespan is now complete. According to the Divine Decree, he must be taken.”
The saints replied, “Then call upon the Creator Himself.”
When the Divine Ordainer arrived and saw the four eternal saints standing guard at the four doors and preventing Dharamraj from entering, it was said, “Giving life and taking life rests in the hands of Lord Shiva. Let Lord Shiva now be invoked, and He Himself will decide this matter.”
Everyone prayed to Lord Shiva, and Lord Shiva manifested there and listened to the entire matter.
Lord Shiva then said:
“Five years are complete only for those for whom five years truly pass. How have this child’s five years been completed?”
He explained that when He merely blinks His eyes, the lifespan of Brahma comes to an end and a great cosmic dissolution takes place. That cycle itself spans nearly fourteen billion years, for seven billion years the universe exists, and for seven billion years it remains dissolved.
If fourteen billion years pass within a single blink of Lord Shiva’s eyes, then how could these mere five years be considered complete?
Thus, Markandeya became immortal and remains a witness to every cosmic dissolution, holding the knowledge of each great cycle of creation and destruction. He became Chiranjeevi, eternally living.
Hazir Swaroop Sai Sadhram Saheb then concluded by saying:
“The blessings of saints can transform destiny itself. We should strive to make ourselves worthy of their blessings.”
