Sutishna was a student of sage Agastya. He was a devoted student and learnt the art of living from sage Agastya. When he completed his education, he asked sage Agastya what gurudakshina he should offer to him. Sage Agastya asked Sutishna to help him see the Almighty God. Sutishna kept his teacher’s desire in his mind and made an ashram for himself in Dandaka forest. He had heard that Rama, the incarnation of Vishnu, would pass through Dandaka forest during his exile. So he waited there worshipping and singing in praise of God. One day, he heard that Rama had arrived in Dandaka. Sutishna was very excited and overjoyed. Rama was smilingly observing him from behind a tree. He was so absorbed in the vision of Vishnu that when Rama approached and called him, he did not hear him at first. Rama was very much pleased at the true devotion of Sutishna. After Sutishna’s meditation was over, when he opened his eyes, he found Rama, Sita, and Laxman standing before him. He was overjoyed to see them and fell at their feet. He took them to his teacher Agastya’s ashram and fulfilled his promise and his teacher’s desire.
SUTISHNA’S GURUDAKSHINA
