Q: Swamiji, there are many stories like those of Prahlad and Meera. Can we believe them? Did they really happen?
You see, these stories should not be analyzed on the basis of whether they happened or not. It does not mean that if it did not occur in reality, we should not go deep into the message. Let us not get diverted by all that. Let us not analyze from the intellect. Let us appreciate the message of the story. Then it will not matter whether they happened or not.
Be very clear, all such things should be absorbed. The message should be absorbed. By analyzing when it happened, how it happened, whether it happened, we miss the truth. Whether they happened in 'fact' is a question historians must answer. You should be aware of the message, the truth.
Truth is different from fact. Whenever we say something, it is a fact. If someone asks the time, you say 10:30. When you say that, you do not say the truth. It is a fact. It is 10:30 here; however it is 12:30 somewhere else in the world. These are facts.
So when we listen to stories, look for the truth, not for factual details. In the story of Prahlad, let us absorb the truth of devotion. See the depth of devotion. We should internalize with what feeling Prahlad prayed to Vishnu. What were the underlying emotions behind his devotion? Complete surrender, complete trust and complete gratitude.
All great masters have expressed their experiences through stories and parables. Jesus and Buddha and many great masters have parables incorporated as part of their religion's scriptures. As experiences of these great masters, these stories are absolutely true. There is no doubt about it.
The Hindu Purāṇas, the great epics, are not merely historical facts. They are a combination of historical events and shifts in human consciousness. Their relevance is greater as shifts in consciousness; they serve as guideposts for us to learn and follow.
As I explained in the introduction, Mahabharata is not about the fight between two warring related clans. That is a mere historical occurrence. What is important is its metaphorical significance as the fight between one's good and bad saṁskāras. What is relevant is the understanding that comes about as a result of studying and understanding this epic in terms of what saṁskāras are and how they can be eliminated.
Similarly in the stories of Prahlad, Meera and countless others, there are great truths embedded metaphorically. Once we understand these truths and apply them to our lives, we can make a significant difference in the way we live.