In the month of June, on one fine day, it was raining. It was a light, fresh and gentle rain. All the animals started dancing and singing in the summer rain. The fresh raindrops were sweetly perfumed with the fragrance of wildflowers and foliage. The hot and steamy summer day had suddenly turned into a refreshing wet morning. The chimps and baboons chattered in excitement on trees, and frogs croaked in waters. Slowly, the jungle was turning into an enormous pool of water.
In the giant cave was the elephant`s abode. The elephant was deep in meditation while it was pouring heavily outside. The wise elephant saw a strange vision in its mental eye and silently murmured without opening its eyes. The white sage elephant stood up from its meditation and came out at the cave`s opening and saw deep into the dark clouds above, and pools of water below, and started warning animals of the dangers ahead.
The animals were in habit of ridiculing sage elephant for pretending to be too wise and intelligent. The animals were happy dancing and singing in rains and thought, "Sage elephant has gone old and crazy and asks everyone to travel north." The elephant started towards north without bothering about the heavy rain and started singing its favorite song,
"I AM free from fear and doubt
Casting want and misery out
Knowing now all good supply
Ever comes from realms on high
I AM the hand of God's own fortune
Flooding forth the treasures of light
Now receiving full abundance
To supply each need of life."
It rained and rained and there seemed no end to it. It was pouring heavily and this torrential rain had slowly flooded every part of forest and fertile regions in the jungle. The flood resulting from the heavy rains spread wide destruction all around. The animals perched themselves on whatever places they could hold and place themselves. When the water receded, the animals were left with no option but to flee and thus happened a mass exodus. The jungle witnessed wide-scale starvation, disease, and death.
The council of the jungle: lion, cheetah, zebra, giraffe were worried. They could not do anything except helplessly witness the withering and dying flora and fauna. They were powerless in front of this natural calamity. The counsels held prayer meetings asking the Goddess for help in these trying times. During the prayers, the king lion had a vision in which a voice was saying, "Travel North."
Guided by the vision, all the animals started traveling north and saw a strange, large, and fearsome creature. It was a deadly creature that no one had seen before and all the animals were stunned. The wondered about where it had come from. The lion king was already exhausted because of the flood and its ravages and thought that it was some new trouble. Still, the lion managed to find courage, and challenged this strange creature. The king said, "Oh! Big animal! Why do you dare to enter this jungle during these troubled times? I order you to go away!" The big strange animal had a strong and loud voice which echoed throughout the jungle, "Oh frail animals of this troubled jungle, you cannot fight me with your weak bones and tired bodies. I am the envoy of the Goddess. I am here to help, not to fight."
Exhausted and frustrated by floods and devastation, the animals had no other option but to listen to this strange creature. The strange creature said, "The Goddess of the jungle has sent you story and commandments." So, it began with the story.
"Once upon a time, there were two baby falcons, pets at the royal palace. While one falcon used to fly high in the sky, the other remained happily perched on the branch of the tree in the royal garden. The king tried all the tricks suggested by experts to make this second falcon fly but to no avail.
One day a woodcutter arrived at the royal garden to trim the overgrown trees. As the king was walking in his garden, he was surprised and ecstatic to see both falcons flying high in the deep blue sky. He was intrigued to see the second baby falcon fly so high. As he was thinking about what had made the baby falcon fly. He saw that the tree on which second baby falcon used to perch happily had been chopped down."
The strange creature said, "Like the woodcutter, the Goddess has chopped the tree of Royal Garden, now all you have to do is fly high and sing. It is a good omen for you." The animals understood, but they were not convinced with the story. The strange creature knew the agony of animals and it said, "I will also give you commandments from the Goddess and you have to follow it or you will all perish." The animals listened with fear to this strange creature.
It said, "Bring more order and discipline in your jungle. Throw confusion, fear, and chaos away from the jungle. Always remember that turbulence passes away as it is just test of your collective strength."
It further continued, "Fear nothing, judge nothing and nag nothing, appreciate every single moment. Find reasons for celebration and create more space for celebrations in life."
The animals were not able to understand what the strange creature was talking about. Still, they listened with rapt attention and interest as they saw a great light and hope in the sky above. The strange creature finally rose from its seat, "Oh creatures of the jungle, I have faith in you. I know your greatest potential of expressing highest and ultimate good. The Goddess wants all of you to celebrate life with joy. "
Slowly, but steadily the animals began working with courage and followed all the instructions of the Goddess. Soon the jungle returned to its former self. With hope and faith, happiness and health started flourishing in the jungle.
The lion was happy that the strange animal had vanished. The other animals wondered about the sage elephant, as he no longer seemed to nag them. While the sage elephant thought, "Nobody is ready to listen to the normal advice, but everybody listens to strange creatures and dramatic advice." The sage elephant was happy and sang its favorite song of abundance, "I AM free from fear and doubt, Casting want and misery out"