FURTHER RESULTS OF WORSHIP-III Doctrine of Devotion

The One Stages, further up in Devotion:

The devout reader would like to have a further sketch of the nature and the works of devotion at this stage . So, we may refer to Sri Adi Sankaracharaya who, describes what Bhakti is as the

i) seeds of the or plant are re-grasped by the parent tree,

ii) parent magnetic block attracts needles one behind another,

iii) Chaste wife clasps her husband,

iv) tendril (creeper) clings to the adjoining tree and mounts upward and  upward,

v) waters of the rivers are for ever drawn downward and downward, till they reach the ocean and get inextricably and indistinguishably lost in it,

similarly the heart of the devotee longs after the Divine feet of Pasupati, God Siva to be ever there. This is called Bhakti.

 Each illustration takes bhakti one stage further up.

I. Ankolam – even vegetables is to get back to the original source and get reabsorbed in it. Similarly, we are parts/ sparks from God, must reach the original source of all creation, namely, God.

II. Magnetic stone -a string of even seven needles might be found attached one behind another to a big magnet. Similarly every growing bhakta tends to attract others and impart his devotion to them; and through them to others ad infinitum.

III. Chaste wife longs for her husband, and even his slightest absence for even a short period makes her full of unrest, (EVEN now, wife calling husband frequently and asking Where are you? When are you coming? etc.). Similarly  The Bhagavata treats all devotees as females, Gopis, and the only male in the Universe is Krishna.

iv) The creeper– go further and further upward and upward till the top of the tree is reached, to get more light from the Sun, more of air and more of freedom and safety from animals. Similarly, devotee tends to mount up higher and higher in his spiritual levels to achieve nobler and nobler objects; and to transform himself into more and more of the like-ness of God, till he reaches full Sarupyam, Sameepyam and Sayujyam (Bliss)

v)  Rivers – The waters of the rivers were originally part of the ocean, and after being held up in the form of water vapour, cloud and rain, they take the shape of a river. Similarly Purnalaya is the end of the devotion and that is obtained by the Jivas surrendering themselves, that is, making Atma-nivedana, which is the ninth mode mentioned in the Navavidha bhakti.

That is both devotion and also absorption. After that there is nothing further to reach. Thus the various stages, attitudes, and relations of a bhakta can be very well dwelt upon and learnt by studying the above illustrations and applying them to oneself.

Loving bhaktas/ Important Devotees:

The Names of a number of loving bhaktas; so that they may ever remain in one’s heart and show how bhakti achieves its ends. The end of bhakti is not achieved by the offer of money to God  or by mere learning or by age or beauty of a person, God does not want any of these. “God wants only your heart, that is, your self”,

As ,

1. For the hunter Kannappa, what Achara or religious course of  conduct had he?

2. For Dhruva, what was his age? (At the age of 5, God appeared before him. Also His name is given to Pole Star)

3. For the elephant Gajendra, what education or degrees and titles had he?

4. Had Vidura (favourite of Krishna) any qualification in respect of caste? He was the  son of a slave dancing girl.

5. For the king of Yadavas called Ugrasena, who was favoured by Krishna what  manliness had he? He was a great coward

6. For Kubja also was favoured by Krishna, had she any great beauty? She was  deformed in person.

9. For Sudhama, known as Kuchela ( favoured by Krishna), had he any wealth?

God is pleased by bhakti/Devotion alone and bhakti can capture Him. This contains the essence of the doctrine of bhakti or devotion