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Effective way to reach God

CHENNAI SEPT. 3 . Devotion to God, sincere and heartfelt, has been the simplest, most effective way to reach Him. While the paths of wisdom, knowledge and performance of one's duties also help a person to attain this goal, faith and devotion form the cornerstone of every mortal's ultimate endeavour. The Upanishads tell us that whatever we pray we will experience.

The Supreme Lord is ever ready to respond to a devotee's strident call at the defining moment. Scriptures mention about many such instances — one of those is Rukmini's message to Lord Krishna. Desperate to escape the mismatch with Sisupala, She sends a message to Him, addressing Him as the beautiful Nrisimha and exhorts the Lord not to abandon Her, but marry Her.

Sri M. V. Ananthapadmanabhan said in his discourse that Kurathazhwan also records His pristine beauty and wonders at it. One finds such tributes even in the Vishnu Sahasranama. Just as how a mixture of milk and sugar enhances the taste so too do devotees feel doubly happy with Lord Nrisimha's splendid form, which dims the lustre of even the stars and the moon.

Adi Sankara considered himself to be a bee hovering around Lord Nrisimha, who is superior to all others. Lord Siva Himself sang His paeans in the Mantra Raja Pada Stotram. In it the supremacy of the Lord who split the pillar and emerged in full glory is firmly established.

But the experience of Prahlada is unparalleled. When asked, "Where is God?" the boy-devotee countered the challenge with "Where is He not? He is present even in your words." Such fervour and piety resulted in the spontaneous manifestation of Vishnu as Nrisimha, whose ferocious demeanour notwithstanding, He is an epitome of grace and beauty to His devotees.

With both Lords Rama and Srinivasa propitiating Him, the Lord in lion form is held to be Supreme. With the Goddess reposing on His lap, He is the ultimate dispenser of justice. With the Goddess beside Him, He is tempered with mercy. At the height of His ferocity, Prahlada says, "Devotees do not change their nature — they are full of faults and tend to commit sin — then why do You change Your nature which is one of benediction?" The Lord's anger subsides and His eyes are full of love and kindness.

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