WHY SHAMMI TREE LEAVES EXCAHNGED ON VIJAYA DASAMI ?

This is the story of KAUTSA MUNI.

When he was a young boy, KAUTSA MUNI was sent to RISHI VARTANTU for higher education.

KAUTSA being a brilliant student soon learnt all the 14 Vidyas from RISHI VARTANTU and became expert in all the sciences.

On completion of his education, KAUTSA, now a MUNI…..KAUTSA MUNI expressed his desire to give his RISHI VARTANTU, his guru, GURU DAKSHINA.

RISHI VARTANTU was having none of it and rejected the offering saying “You learnt all the vidyas with utmost faith, implement them, that itself will be my GURU DAKSHINA”

But, KAUTSA MUNI was adamant on giving Dakshina as he felt that otherwise the knowledge he learnt will not bear any fruit.

On seeing his disciple’s insistence, annoyed and unhappy RISHI VARTANTU reluctantly agreed and knew that KAUTSA MUNI was from a extremely poor background, deliberately asked KAUTSA MUNI to bring 14 CRORES of GOLD COINS (1 CRORE for each of the 14 Vidyas) with the condition that all the coins must be from the SAME PLACE.

KAUTSA MUNI was stumped and didn’t have a clue how to get such a huge number of GOLD COINS that too from a single place.

After meeting many learned persons, he felt that meeting KING RAGHU of Ayodhya (LORD RAMA’s ancestor) would get him his desired GOLD COINS.

KING RAGHU was famous for his generosity.

KING RAGHU welcomed KAUTSA MUNI warmly and washed his feet with water filled in CLAY POT.

Seeing this, KAUTSA hesitantly informs KING RAGHU “Rajan, I had come here to ask you for 14 CRORES of GOLD COINS to pay GURU DAKSHINA to RISHI VARTANTU, but seeing that you don’t even have a GOLD POT to wash a Rishi’s feet, I better move”

KING RAGHU had just spent his entire treasury on doing the VISWAJIT YAGNA and didn’t have any money but the KING  didn’t want a Brahmin to leave empty handed. He requested 2 days time from KAUTSA to arrange for the GOLD COINS.

After deep thought, KING RAGHU felt that attacking KUBERA, the king of Wealth was the best way to get the required 14 CRORE GOLD COIN.

Accordingly, On advise of KAUTSA MUNI, the King RAGHU decided that the war would be fought on SHUDH NAVAMI of Ashwin Masa (9^th day of Dasara).

But, KUBERA realizing the strength and bravery of KING RAGHU himself came down to earth, and told KING RAGHU “Raja, I have filled the SHAMMI tree (BANNI tree) on the outskirts of AYADHYA with GOLD COINS. Take as many as you want”.

KING RAGHU handed over all the Gold coins to KAUTSA MUNI. 

KAUTSA MUNI then went and offered all the GOLD COINS to his guru RISHI VARTANTU.

RISHI VARTANTU found that KAUTSA had bought far more extra GOLD COINS than the 14 CRORE asked for.
He returned all the extra coins to KAUTSA MUNI. 

In turn, KAUTSA MUNI returned all the extra coins to KING RAGHU.

KING RAGHU didn’t want to take back what was given in charity and hence he went back to the SHAMMI TREE on the outskirts of AYODHYA and kept  all the remaining GOLD COINS under the same tree. 

The people of AYODHYA after the VIJAYA DASHMI pooja went to this SHAMMI tree, worshipped it and exchanged GOLD COINS amongst themselves.

The tradition continues to this day.
People on the VIJAYA DASHAMI day worship the SHAMMI tree and exchange the leaves of the tree symbolizing the exchange of GOLD COINS and express happiness.

HIDDEN MEANING :
Share what you have.

Exchange leaves, hearts and be happy.

King Raghu had become virtually penniless after VISHWAJIT YAGNA but still he did not keep anything for himself but kept the GOLD COINS returned by KAUTSA MUNI back into the SHAMMI TREE

Hard Bargain

Sparkling Jewels...

A merchant on a casual jaunt through a market, came across a fine specimen of a camel for sale.

The merchant and the camel seller, both skilled negotiators, struck a hard bargain.

The camel seller pleased with his skill of worming out what he felt was a very good price, parted with his camel and the merchant chuffed that he had struck a fantastic bargain, proudly walked home with the latest addition to his large livestock.

On arriving home, the merchant called to his servant to come and help him take out the camel's saddle. The unwieldy heavily padded saddle being too difficult for the servant to manage on his own.

Hidden under the saddle, the servant found a small velvet pouch which on opening he discovered to be filled with precious jewels!!

The servant was overexcited!!!

"Master you bought a camel.....but see what came FREE along with it!!!"

The merchant was astonished as he looked at the jewels in his servants' palm. They were of extraordinary quality sparkling and twinkling in the sunlight.

"I bought the camel" he said, "not the jewels. I must return them to the camel seller immediately."

The servant was aghast.....his master was really foolish. "Master.....no one will know."

But the merchant headed right back to the market and handed over the velvet pouch back to the camel seller.

The camel seller was very happy, " I had forgotten that I hid these jewels in the saddle for safe keeping."

"Here, choose one of the jewels for yourself, as a reward."

The merchant said "I paid a fair price for the camel and the camel only, so NO thank you, I do not need any reward."
But as much as the merchant refused, the camel seller insisted.

Finally the merchant said, sheepishly smiling, " Actually when I decided to bring the pouch back to you, I already took two of the most precious jewels and kept them for myself."

At this confession the camel seller was a bit flabbergasted and quickly emptied the pouch to count the jewels. However he was very confused.

"All my jewels are here. What jewels did you keep?

"The two most precious" said the camel seller.

"My INTEGRITY and my SELF-RESPECT."

Thanks to dear respected Friend TULSI SUKHIJA