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Chapter 7
PRAPATTI OR SURRENDER TO GOD
34. Bhakti For Gains Too Has Value
10. Women take a number of vows with an idea of accumulating merit so that they can have God’s grace after death. This may be a silly idea, but they do undergo hardships willingly for that purpose. Great men are born in families with such tradition of piety and devotion. Swami Ramtirtha was a descendent of Tulsidas, the great scholar and poet. He was well-versed in the Persian language, but had no knowledge of Sanskrit. Someone commented, “You are a descendent of Tulsidas; how is it that you do not know Sanskrit?” This comment went straight to Ramtirtha’s heart. Reminder of ancestry had a powerful effect. It impelled Ramtirtha to take up the study of Sanskrit. We should not, therefore, make fun of the women’s ways of bhakti. Children born in families where tradition of bhakti is built up have a rare brilliance. That is why the Lord says, “Even if my bhakta is desirous of some gains, I shall make his faith steadfast. I shall not create confusion in his mind. If he earnestly prays for the cure of his disease, I shall cure it, supporting his will to health. Whatever may bring him to Me, I shall lovingly encourage him.” When the child prince Dhruva was pushed aside from his father’s lap by his step-mother, his mother asked him to seek from the Lord a place from which nobody could push him aside. Dhruva started penance in all earnestness. Pleased with his penance, the Lord granted him a permanent abode from which he could never be dislodged.[1] The mind may not be desireless; so what? To whom you approach, to whom you pray is important. It is important to have inclination to beseech the Lord for something rather than prostrating before the world. 11. Whatever be the ground, do enter the temple of bhakti. Your entry into it will mark a new beginning. Even if the desires are initially there, they will eventually fade away. In khadi exhibitions the organisers urge people, “Please come and just have a look at the fine specimens of khadi available now.” People visit the exhibition, get impressed and start thinking about wearing khadi. Similar is the case with bhakti. Once you enter the temple of bhakti, you will discover its power and beauty for yourself. When Dharmaraj reached the gate of heaven, there was only a dog with him. All of his brothers—Bheema, Arjuna etc.—had fallen by the wayside[2]. Dharmaraj was told at the entrance, “You are welcome; but not the dog.” Dharmaraj said, “If my dog is not allowed to enter, I too will not enter.” Even a despised creature like a dog is superior to those who have inflated egos, if it is faithful and serves with total devotion. The dog proved to be superior even to Bheema and Arjuna. Even an insect that moves towards God is greater than the worthies who have not turned towards Him. In the Shiva temples, there are images of Nandi, the bull. Everybody bows before the Nandi also. It is not an ordinary bull; it is the Lord’s bull sitting in front of Him. Hence it is superior to the most intelligent amongst men. Even an idiot with God in his heart deserves respect and adoration from the whole world. |
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References and Context
- ↑ Dhruva, according to this mythological story, became the pole-star which is still shining in the sky.
- ↑ Dharmaraj or Yudhishthir was the eldest among the Pandavas. After the great Mahabharata war, Pandavas ruled for a few years and then proceeded to heaven. Lord Yama joined them on the way in the form of a dog. During the journey, other Pandava brothers and queen Draupadi died on the way, as they were not fit to enter heaven.