3 Tales Of Unsurpassed Loyalty and Devotion

After the initiation into the rephrased Cosmic MahaMantra, Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu, Prasanthi Nilayam reverberated for a brief period with the Mantra Samastha Jeevah Sukhino Bhavantu, tenderly touching each being individually, thus covering the entire Srushti, Creation. Is not our Beloved Master Supreme all-encompassing, that He represents The Oneness of entire creation. Bhagawan during His sojourn on Earth did love all creatures, explicitly demonstrating for the world around the supreme significance of the Cosmic MahaMantra, Samastha Jeevah Sukhino Bhavantu! An article by avid animal lover, Late Ms Mercini Sheratt from the United Kingdom, penned a few years ago. 

“Learn lessons from every living being, everything that you find around you.  Learn faithfulness and gratitude from the dog, patience and fortitude from the donkey, perseverance from the spider, farsightedness from the ant, and monogamy from the owl.”  – Sri Sathya Sai

Since the beginning of man’s friendship with dogs, there must have been simply millions of tales of doggy devotion.  Anyone who has loved and cared for a dog will know how much love and adoration a dog can have for his human owner. They live for their human companions and many dogs will even die to protect those they love.  The following stories, although only the tip of the iceberg, demonstrate the depth of this love.

In Edinburgh in Scotland, there is a statue of a dog called Greyfriars Bobby. The people of Edinburgh made a statue for Bobby after he died because he was so faithful to his master and lived on his master’s grave for fourteen years after his master’s death until he, too, died.

What happened was this: Bobby was a lonely stray dog and because he had nothing to eat, he had to try and find food every day.  Most of the time, people treated him cruelly. One day, an old shepherd befriended him and from that day on, he fed little Bobby. They became best friends and were always together. Finally, his master died and Bobby was heartbroken. For the next fourteen years, he stayed by his master’s grave both day and night, in all weathers, whether it was boiling or freezing, only leaving once a day to beg for some food. Nothing and no one could make Bobby leave his master’s graveside. Even the gravediggers who kicked him and threw stones at him when they dug the grave could not make him stay away. Sometimes children came to play with him but after playing for a little while, he always went back to his master’s last resting place. The local people were so moved by his love, loyalty and devotion that they built a small shelter for him next to the grave.

Also, because he touched the hearts of so many people, when he died in 1872, they built a statue for him in Edinburgh with a large drinking fountain for dogs! Today, you can still see Bobby’s collar and dinner bowl in Huntley’s Museum in Edinburgh.

How many human beings would be so very loyal?  The following story adapted from ‘Peaceful Kingdom: Random Acts of Kindness by Animals’ by Stephanie Laland shows how a dog will literally risk its own life to protect the ones it loves.

On August 29th, 79 AD, an enormous volcano erupted in Pompeii. It happened so suddenly that no one had any warning. Most people died in the eruption and their bodies were not found until almost nineteen centuries later. At that time, archaeologists discovered about 2000 skeletons. One body told a very moving story. It was the body of a dog which was stretched out protectively over the body of a small child. The faithful dog was trying to protect the child from harm even until its own last breath. The archaeologists were even more moved and amazed when they read the inscription on the dog’s collar. The inscription on the collar stated how the dog had saved the child’s father, Severinus, three times, once from drowning, once from thieves and once from a wolf.  Finally, its dying gift was to try and save the child it loved.

“For He makes us aware that the God we adore, the God we love, the God we live by, is in every other being as LOVE. Thus Love expands and encompasses all creation.” – Sri Sathya Sai

I knew a little dog well once that, because of sad circumstances, had to be given away to another person. Luckily that person and the little dog fell in love with each other at first sight and the little dog had a happy home. In spite of being tiny, she soon became the ruler of the roost, and the roost included some very big dogs indeed… but they knew who was boss… tiny Dolly. Despite being very happy and loved with her new mistress, she still showed the most enormous loyalty to her previous owner. Whenever he came to visit her… when it was time to go, she would leap onto his shoulder as she always had done, as if to say: “Well, come on, let’s go… I’m coming back home with you” but it could never be. That is not all. For several years, at the end of the afternoon, Dolly would go down to the bottom of the drive and wait and wait and wait… it was the time that her previous owner used to come back home from work. After long and patient waiting, when he did not appear, she would finally give up and go back inside with a loud, sad sigh. No matter how disappointed she must have felt, she kept up her patient vigil for a long time.

3 Tales Of Unsurpassed Loyalty and Devotion – A Sacred Lesson Of Faith And Surrender

3 Tales Of Unsurpassed Loyalty and Devotion is a beautiful spiritual theme that reminds us how pure love for God can rise above fear, difficulty, comfort, and personal desire. Loyalty in devotion does not mean blind attachment. It means steady faith, sincere love, and complete trust in the Divine, even when life becomes uncertain.

True devotion is not proved only during joyful moments. It is tested when the path becomes difficult, when prayers seem delayed, and when the mind is tempted to doubt. A loyal devotee does not leave God when life becomes hard. Instead, he holds on more deeply, knowing that divine grace is always working for the soul’s highest good.

3 Tales Of Unsurpassed Loyalty and Devotion teaches that the first tale is the devotion of Hanuman to Lord Rama. Hanuman did not serve Rama for reward, position, or praise. His entire life was dedicated to the Lord’s mission. Whether crossing the ocean, searching for Sita, facing danger, or carrying the Sanjeevani mountain, Hanuman acted with courage because his heart belonged completely to Rama.

Hanuman’s loyalty came from humility. Though he had immense strength, wisdom, and power, he never claimed greatness for himself. He always said that everything was by Rama’s grace. This is the mark of true devotion. The greater the devotee, the smaller the ego becomes. Service becomes joyful when it is offered without pride.

3 Tales Of Unsurpassed Loyalty and Devotion also brings to mind the love of Sabari. She waited patiently for Lord Rama for many years, keeping faith in her guru’s word. She did not know the exact day Rama would come, but she lived every day in readiness. Her hut was simple, her life was humble, but her heart was filled with pure devotion.

Sabari’s story teaches patience and inner purity. She did not become tired of waiting, nor did she complain that the Lord was delayed. She cleaned the path, prepared fruits, and kept her heart full of love. When Rama finally arrived, He accepted her offering because it was filled with devotion. God values the feeling behind the offering more than the outer richness.

The third tale can be seen in the life of a sincere Sai devotee who remains faithful through joy and sorrow. Such a devotee may face illness, loss, criticism, or loneliness, yet continues to remember Swami with love. Faith becomes the devotee’s shelter, prayer becomes strength, and service becomes the way to remain close to the Divine.

3 Tales Of Unsurpassed Loyalty and Devotion becomes meaningful when we understand that devotion is not measured by grand words alone. It is measured by daily conduct. Do we remember God when things go wrong? Do we remain truthful when falsehood looks easier? Do we serve when no one praises us? Do we forgive when ego wants revenge?

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba often reminded devotees to love all, serve all, and help ever, hurt never. These words show that loyalty to God must become loyalty to goodness. A devotee cannot claim love for God while hurting others, speaking harshly, or living selfishly. True devotion must purify thought, word, and deed.

Loyalty also means trusting divine timing. Many devotees become restless when prayers are not answered immediately. But God knows what to give, when to give, and how to give. Sometimes the Lord gives strength instead of relief, wisdom instead of comfort, and patience instead of quick success. A loyal heart accepts this with faith.

3 Tales Of Unsurpassed Loyalty and Devotion finally teaches that surrender is the highest expression of love. Hanuman surrendered his strength, Sabari surrendered her waiting, and the sincere devotee surrenders every worry, duty, and result to God. Such surrender does not make life weak. It makes the heart peaceful, courageous, and steady.

Devotion must also become service. When we help the needy, comfort the sorrowful, guide children, care for the sick, or speak kindly, we are serving God in living form. Loyalty to the Divine is shown by loyalty to His creation. A heart that truly loves God becomes compassionate toward all beings.

Every seeker can learn from these sacred examples. We may not have Hanuman’s strength or Sabari’s patience, but we can begin with small acts of faith. We can pray daily, speak gently, control anger, serve humbly, and remember God during both happiness and difficulty. These small steps slowly deepen devotion.

In the end, 3 Tales Of Unsurpassed Loyalty and Devotion is a call to live with faith, humility, patience, and surrender. It reminds us that the greatest devotees are not those who only speak about love, but those who live it through service, trust, and purity. When loyalty to God becomes the center of life, every action becomes sacred and every moment becomes blessed with divine grace.

See Me in a dog also… D O G – dog will lead you to God – G-O-D