Gyaneshwari -Sant Gyaneshwar
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Chapter-17
Three Kinds of Faith
4. Sattva-type of men worship gods; the rajas-type worship gnomes and demons; and tamas-type worship ghosts and hosts of spirits. The mind of those whose body is moulded in the sattvic faith, is usually inclined towards heaven. They study all lores, perform select sacrifices and go to heaven. O great warrior, those whose body is moulded in the rajas faith, worship the gnomes and demons who roam in the sky. Now I shall tell you about persons whose bodies are moulded in the tamas. They are corrupt souls, very harsh and cruel. They kill beings and worship with their flesh and blood, ghosts, spirits etc. in the cemeteries (76-80). Such persons, who are formed from the essence of tamas quality are the very homes of tamasic faith. These are the three kinds of faith and I am telling them to you with the sole object that you should conserve only the sattvic faith and discard the other two faiths. He who preserves this sattvic faith, has no apprehension about the attainment of liberation. He may not have studied the Brahmasutras or the scriptures or become acquainted with the Vedanta doctrines (81-85), but it he follows the footsteps of those who have comprehended the meaning of the Vedas and the Smritis and who, by their exemplary conduct, have become worthy of being adored by the whole world, he wins the same place as they do. If a person succeeds with great effort in lighting a lamp, and another without effort lights his lamp on the former, does he get cheated in respect of the light? If a person builds a mansion at a great cost, would not another person derive the same comfort if he lives in that house? If a tank is built by a person, will it satisfy the thirst of the builder only and not of others? When food is cooked in the house, does it give satisfaction only to the cook and none else (86-90)? Does the river Godavari become holy Ganga only to sage Gautama, who brought it to the earth and a brook for others? Therefore, he who follows in good faith, those who act according to the precepts of scriptures, more assiduously than himself, becomes liberated, even though he is ignorant. |
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