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53. Navakara Enlivens a Sparrow
Jitendra Nanji Chheda (Rayanavala)- Ghatkoper
It was a morning of ease on a Sunday. All were relaxed. The chirping of the sparrows from the balcony added joy to enthusiasm. Then it was that a sparrow entered our drawing-room, it struck against the fan and fell down wounded in less than a second. The sparrow was badly injured on its eyes and the head. Its breathing was obstructed. And we became witnesses to its pathetic struggle against death. Very soon we prepared a small bed of cotton and placed the poor bird on it. We began to say prayers for its life. All commenced the Japa of the Navakara Mantra. After some three Navakaras were recited the sparrow came to life. Our enthusiasm was doubled and the Japa continued. After a few minutes the sparrow moved a little. We placed a few pieces of corn before it and continued with our Japa. After about fortyfive minutes the wings of the sparrows fluttered and it flew away.
After a few days we felt that the same sparrow sat in our window and continued with her chirping as if thanking us.
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