The Hindu : Hallmarks of a devotee

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 30, 2003

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Hallmarks of a devotee

CHENNAI OCT. 30 . One of the verses in a famous (religious) contribution by an illustrious torch-bearer of Hinduism says that a "little study of the Bhagavad Gita, drinking a drop of the holy river Ganga and even a casual worship of the Lord (Murari) will save a devotee from a debate with death". These words should not be taken literally. A person should digest the great Sermon of the Lord in its entirety, what more, he should live as pointed out therein. If not at one stroke, he can muster a little of it daily and try to achieve perfection. Likewise, to taste a drop is to impress an aspirant about the devotion he should develop. No doubt an elaborate description of the hallmarks of a devotee is contained in the Gita, but by stages he can become a true devotee. For instance he should at least try to stop hating others and behave with humility.

The Acharya, Sri Sankara, in his hymn, Bhaja Govindam, besides referring to the above, mentions about service to the Lord; it may be in any form. By such an attitude, he will become a totally changed person. He can get liberated from worldly shackles by worshipping Murari, with devotion, at least now and then, adds the Acharya, who in his hymn of 37 verses, tells us to curb desires, cultivate contentment and remain disciplined, all of which are not impossible to achieve.

In a lecture, Srimathi Sunanda emphasised the need for acquiring knowledge to find out the "Truth" and "Reality" as stressed by Sankara in his poem. The individual should desist from harbouring desires, lead a contented life, remain disciplined and carry out his duty without expectations. A nightingale sings not expecting an audience nor a rose waits for its master to produce more fragrance than what it does normally. The company of the pious roots out attachment. Devoid of this, delusion goes when the mind becomes steady. Sankara points out that the sorrows faced by a person will cease of their own accord once he gets the knowledge of his own "Self".

Another aspect on which the Acharya lays stress is that pleasure and riches of worldly life are delusive appearances. Why harbour expectations and regret when they are not fulfilled? A person must understand the purpose of life, viz., "to discover the Truth that lies within him." Time loots everything but yet desire does not leave a man. In another verse, the Acharya refers to the hold of desires on men, even when they turn old. "You will be liberated if you worship Govinda with devotion", the verse adds.

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