Miscellaneous - Religion   

The ultimate goal

CHENNAI: The eventual goal of existence is to get out of the shackles of worldly life and seek God's feet through sheer individual effort. Realised souls and sages consider knowledge of the Supreme One that provides spiritual richness as the most ennobling since this alone helps one to see the world and its fleeting nature in proper perspective.

The Bhagavata Purana describes the practice of severe austerities by the many sages (who had been created by Brahma for propagation of the human race). Among them, Sage Kardama's rigorous penance was fruitful when he beheld Lord Narayana who appeared before him. Overwhelmed by the divine vision, the sage extolled the lotus feet of the Lord as the "vessel that takes one across the ocean of mundane existence", said Sri B. Sundarkumar in a lecture. It is only those deluded under the sway of Maya who worship His feet with a view to attaining trivial and worldly accomplishments, which however the Lord is ever willing to yield. But one should learn to aspire and wish for the greatest happiness, the release from the worldly cycle, and worship Him with that aim, for He alone is the ultimate refuge for all and capable of granting this goal. The Lord foretold that the sage would marry Devahuti, daughter of Swayambhuva Manu, and promised him that He would be born as his tenth child after nine daughters to instruct the Sankhya system of philosophy.

The effulgence of the frail sage that shone like an unpolished gem (despite his hermit's garb and unkempt appearance) was due to the austerity of his penance. His wife Devahuti is hailed as equally austere who matches her husband's penance by her dedicated service.

The ideal manner of penance is reflected in their way of life that they followed in the hermitage on the banks of the (mythical) river Saraswathi. Theirs was a wholehearted service to God that they undertook willingly, considering it a great opportunity and their good fortune.

An individual's spiritual prosperity depends on the commendable virtues he has consciously learned to cultivate. But one should guard against the tendency of virtue to turn vicious, when one becomes discontented, or one falls a prey to one's ego.

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