Miscellaneous - Religion   

Pinnacle of devotion

CHENNAI: The unique two-way flow that characterises the quality of Bhakti has been the strong support and foundation for spiritual development. Divine grace readily manifests itself in the truly devout in whom service to the Lord is uppermost.

Sri Goda Venkateswara Sastrigal in a lecture on Sivanandalahari said that in this hymn of 100 verses in praise of Lord Siva, Adi Sankara provides an insight into the infinite variety of ways in which the Lord has readily responded to sincere devotion. Such instances easily kindle and inspire devotion in the common man.

For instance, the devotion of the hunter Kannappan (an eminent devotee in the galaxy of Nayanmars of the Saivaite hagiology) asserts in unequivocal terms that sincerity is the touchstone of devotion, more than knowledge of the Sastras or the practice of the ordained disciplines of worship. This hunter displayed extreme devotion to the Siva Lingam atop a hill that he had discovered amidst the thick forests during one of his hunting sprees.

He used to offer worship to this Lingam in the only way known to him — offering meat that he had cooked and tasted to check its worthiness for the Lord, and bringing water for ablution in his own mouth. The very unconventionality shocked the temple priest who was steeped in tradition.

Sensing the disapproval of the priest, and also to indicate the essence of devotion, the Lord directed the priest to watch the hunter perform worship unseen. What was unfolded was an astonishing display of devotion.

During the worship, the hunter noticed blood oozing out of an eye in the Lingam. Immediately he plucked his own eye and placed it on the Lingam to stall the blood flow. Very soon the second eye also started to bleed and now the hunter decided to take out his other eye.

It was when he placed his foot near the second eye to locate the right spot, since he was about to gorge his other eye as well, that Lord Siva appeared and blessed him.

Admiration for this intense love and shame at his own doubts humbled the priest who wondered whether he himself would have offered his eye so spontaneously.

Sastras can help one to become proficient in arguments and knowledge. But devotion is a bhava that one has to cultivate and establish with the divine.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

CARTOONSCAPE
The Hindu Crossword 8568
Solution to Puzzle 8567
Pinnacle of devotion
dated April 4, 1956: PM cites China's example
dated April 4, 1956: Rajaji's caution
Weather

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu