The Story of Gadhi

Sage Vasishtha

O Rama, this cycle of birth and death is an interminable one; this maya ceases only by the mastery of one's own heart (mind), not otherwise.

In this world there is a region known as Kosala. In it there was a brahmana known as Gadhi. He was very leaned and the very embodiment of dharma. Right from his very childhood he was filled with the spirit of renunciation and dispassion. Once this brahmana went away to the forest in order to practise austerity. Desiring to behold Vishnu, he entered the water of a river and there began to recite various mantras, which soon completely purified his being. After a period of eight months, Lord Vishnu appeared there and said to him: "Ask of me the boon of your choice."

The Brahmana said: Lord, I wish to behold your own illusory power (maya) which deludes all beings and keeps them in ignorance.

Lord Vishnu said: You will behold my maya and then you will at once abandon the illusory perception of objects.

After Vishnu disappeared, Gadhi rose from the water. He was highly pleased. For several days thereafter he engaged himself in various holy activities, constantly immersed in the bliss which had resulted from his vision of lord Vishnu.

One day, he went to the river for his bath, still meditating upon the words of Vishnu. While he immersed himself in the water, he beheld himself dead and mourned by all. His body had fallen and his face had become pale and lifeless. He saw himself surrounded by many relatives who were all weeping and wailing aloud; they were inconsolably grief-stricken. His wife was shedding tears as if a dam had been breached and she had caught hold of his feet. His mother, beside herself with grief, had caught hold of his face and was weeping bitter tears and crying aloud. He was surrounded by a number of grief-stricken relatives. 

He saw himself lying silent, as if asleep or in deep meditation; he was taking a long rest, as it were. He listened to all the weeping and wailing of the relative and wondered 'what does all this mean?'; he was curious about the nature of friendship and relationship. Soon the relatives carried his body away to the crematorium. After the performance of the funeral rites, they placed the body on the funeral pyre. They set the pyre alight and soon the body of Gadhi was consumed by the fire.

Continued Here