A short thread on being a "Bhakt" and the power & importance of devotion and why one should wear it as badge of honor for being called a Bhakt. This is the story of Vibhishan! #LessonsFromRamayana

This happened, when 3 brothers Ravan, Kuber & Vibhishan did lot of penance. Lord Bramha happy with the penance granted each a wish. Ravan asked for power, Kuber for wealth & Vibhishan asked for Bhakti or devotion. Since that time, Vibhishan followed his heart & prayed to Rama

Ravana went on to become the king & one of the powerful beings on the planet. Vibhishan was one of his advisors. When Ravana kidnaps Maa Sita, Vibhishan advises him to give her back to Lord Rama & also ask for his forgiveness. And this angers Ravana.

Vibhishan is insulted in the court when he warns Ravana of the consequences of a war on Lanka. Dejected he leaves the court. But his patriotism for his country is still alive. He realises that the war will bring more damage to the country & it's citizen.

Vibhishan goes to his mother for the advise. She further tells him that he needs to see the best interest of the countrymen, hence going to Lord Ram is the right solution. Vibhishan still goes one last time to Ravana who goes on to be even more mad at him.

Finally without any choice left, Vibhishan goes to Lord Rama. His sole intention being protecting the countrymen from the doomed war. His devotion to Lord Rama was Supreme. Clearly because of the boon that was bestowed upon him by Lord Brahma.

He exemplified there was nothing wrong in his approach because he went on to the opposite side with sole intention of saving the country, though he took the ordeal of being called a traitor and other issues like lack of trust as well.

But it was the devotion towards something higher that made him immortal. Hence when someone calls you a Bhakt or a devotee even in the most condescending, nasty manner, IMO it would be a badge of honour because your intention & goal is for the highest & everyone's good.

So it's wrong to address Vibhishan as a traitor or someone who had burnt the house. He had warned Ravana of the horror, of all the consequences & damage the war would bring to many innocent lives. IMO, Vibhishan did something that was right & necessary FOR THAT TIME.