Sadashiv Brahmendral was a Mahaatmaa. There are lots of "Pramaan" (proofs) in his life for his "A-Dwait Anubhooti" (experience of oneness). Once, while still a young boy, he was not able to get food when he was hungry. His mother told him that it would take some time. He thought, "Of what use is this home where one cannot get a morsel of food when hungry?" and he left home. Hunger brought about a great change in his life. We also suffer lots of sorrows in our lives. But, no change seems to occur in us.

Maharshi Ramana's father's death brought about a transformation in his life.

Buddha was a prince who had a beautiful wife and a newborn child. But, the scene of an old man, death and disease led him out of the comfortable palace to a forsaken 'Bodhi' tree and he 'Realized' the Truth. We also see such scenes of old age, death and sickness but it does not create any impact on us.

Pattinathar was a famous Minister in the court of the King in Kaveripoompattinam. He was a rich merchant, too. He sent his young son across the sea on trade. On its return journey the ship was caught up in a storm and there was danger for his son losing his life. The father prayed fervently for the safe return of his son, but, when the son returned he asked him what he had earned out of his business trip abroad.

The young son showed a needle with a hole that could not be threaded. The enraged father beat up his son. The young son asked his father - "Father, What was your prayer to the Lord last night when I was caught up in the storm? Did you not pray that you did not seek any wealth but only my life? But, now you are angry with me. Know that even this needle that cannot be threaded will not accompany you when you leave this world!" These words were a slap on Pattinathar's face. At once he left his home, his wealth, his post, to seek God.

In Sundaramoorthi Nayanaar's life, it is found that the Lord stopped his marriage and took him unto Himself. Thus, God takes each unto Himself in different ways.
Purandaradasa, a filthy rich but a miser, at the age of 30 gave up everything in a moment to seek God.

On one stormy night Tulasee Daas Jee went to join his wife who was on a visit to her parental home. His shocked wife who was spiritually evolved through the Jap of Raam Naam points out to him, "Do you know how you have reached this place in this stormy night? No boatman has had the courage to bring you across the flooded Gangaa. You have ridden on a dead body taking it to be a block of wood! You have taken hold of the most poisonous snake mistaking it to be a rope hanging from the tree and jumped over the wall to enter this house. This is because of your desire for this bag of flesh and bone. If only you had even one percent of this earnestness (that you possess to see this bag of bone and flesh) to see Lord Raam, you would have seen Him long back. Have you ever felt this deep restlessness to see God?"

These words of his wife rang in his ears the whole night as he lay down to sleep that night. In the morning it took him away to Kaashee Kshetra. We find that he sacrificed everything (Sarv Sang Parityaag) after that incident and wrote Raamaayan.

REFLECTION
Some words or incidents seem to have been the reason for making them into a Mahaan (Gtreat) Purush. Such incidents seem to occur only at God's Will, otherwise most people pass such situations but it never occur to their minds that this world is a Maayaa and we should leave it.