The Hindu : Miscellaneous / Religion : The power of submission

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Oct 16, 2004

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

The power of submission

CHENNAI, OCT. 16. It would appear that what we want and what we seek are two different things. Scholars say that under such circumstances, detachment is but pretence and there is no way one can reach one's ultimate goal. During his daily ablutions at the Kolladam river, Saint Ramanuja came across an old woman who daily beseeched Lord Ranganatha, "Take me unto Your feet." Marvelling at the old woman's determination, the Vaishnavite preceptor decided to help her. Accordingly he went to her house offering to help her. "If you want to attain liberation at once there is a way and I can guide you." However, it transpired that the woman was unaware of the ramifications of her prayer. Only when one's faculties are fully aligned and one is ready instinctively to be rid off this life for no other reason but to reach God will there be salvation.

Only through devotion and total surrender can we receive the Supreme Being's benediction, said Sri Asuri Madhavachari in his discourse. We contravene all his covenants. We still have not stopped sinning. How do our sins vanish? Only through the power of total surrender to the Lord. This is a four-step programme.

The first stage is reached when we genuinely aspire to reach God, beseeching His forgiveness for our gross errors. The next step is to refrain from indulging in further acts that are non-virtuous in nature. The attempts made at atoning for past misdeeds is the third step. Finally, when atonement is complete one's sins are erased by the Supreme Being.

God is intolerant only of those who harm His true devotees. Anjaneya carried Sri Rama on his shoulders so that the latter may be better positioned to wage a war on Ravana. When He realised that Anjaneya's chest was riddled with the arrows meant for Him, His ire was fully aroused.

When the poisonous Kalia infested the waters of a river, Krishna saved all by dancing on its hood and subjugating it.It is only the ignorant who can think of binding Him who is beyond everything. Yet, He is easily attainable. When Kalia and his entire family surrendered to Krishna, He exhibited boundless mercy.

There are only two pre-requisites for total surrender — one should not possess even a modicum of ego; one should also have total faith in His Omniscience. There is no other qualification required, nor is surrender the preserve of a select few, a philosophy whose enduring symbol is saint Ramanuja.

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