Miscellaneous - Religion   

Advantage of devotion

CHENNAI : The Nayanmars, Azhwars and the Dasas spearheaded the Bhakti movement in South India, and their mission spread over centuries was one of spiritual resurgence in which temple worship took centre stage. Scriptural texts offer the choice of two paths for one fortunate to be born as a human being in this world: Pravrtti (engagement in worldly life— Karma) and Nivrtti (spiritual pursuit through path of knowledge— Jnana). Where does Bhakti figure in this scheme?

In his discourse, Sengalipuram Sri B. Damodara Dikshitar said Bhakti was subsumed under Karma. Karma yoga involves performing one's duties according to scriptural guidelines to attain purity of mind necessary for pursuing Jnana yoga through scriptural study to realise God; Bhakti yoga encompasses Karma in that it becomes an inner mental process wherein all actions become loving devotion to God for His own sake. In the process the devotee's actions cease to bind him and he overcomes his ego. With the passage of time commitment to duties has waned due to lack of involvement and lethargy, and also due to the fact that action done as duty does not sustain interest because it tends to become mechanical.

So Bhakti scores over Karma yoga as love of God creates a reciprocal relationship, which sustains the interest of the spiritual seeker from the stage he adopts devotion as a means to realise God till it matures into an end in itself — loving devotion to God for His own sake. Another advantage of following the path of devotion is that God condones the lapses of His devotee whereas the transgressions in Karma yoga will not be overlooked. Worship of a deity in homes and in temples instead of the formless aspect of the Supreme Being creates an immediate rapport, which enables devotion to take root till it becomes consummate. Hence Bhakti is the means best suited to the majority of laypeople.

The lives of these mystics and saints as described in hagiological literature offer insight into the dynamics of devotion and divine grace that transformed them into exceptional devotees. Those who have composed works on the lives of these saints have done so not only for the sake of documentation but also with the intention of inspiring spiritual seekers to take to the path of devotion.

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