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Acme of devotion

CHENNAI : Devotion has a unique distinction in the spiritual tradition in that it is both a means to realise God and an end in itself. When devotion is practised as a way to liberation it is still in the nascent stage but as it eventually blossoms into loving adoration of God the devotee stops thinking of his welfare and yearns only for Him. It is such a devotee that the Almighty feels beholden to. It is recounted that when Narada asked God where He resided, the Lord replied that He did not stay in His transcendental abode, Vaikunta, or in the Yogi's heart, or in the orb of the Sun but dwelt where His devotees sung His glory.

In his discourse, Sri A. V. Rangachariar said the Mundaka Upanishad declared that the Supreme Being resided in every being. The pinnacle of devotion is seen in the hymns of the Azhwars who address the Lord as their very life and ambrosia, giving up all worldly ties. Such all-consuming love of God may be difficult for laypeople but this is the ideal a sincere seeker should aspire for. The Srivaishnava preceptors have described three distinct stages of devotion — Parabhakti, Parajnana and Paramabhakti. This also offers the insight that in the evolved levels the difference between devotion and knowledge becomes indistinguishable. In the song of the cowherd maidens addressed to Lord Krishna (the Gopika Gita) they reiterate that even a second of separation from Him seemed like an eon to them.

The characteristics of devotion have also been widely documented in the scriptural texts. The Vedas refer to the eternal beings in the divine abode who are always in the company of the Lord and perform service to Him. Such unalloyed devotion to God for His own sake has been likened to the steady flow of oil (constant).

But, how many seekers of liberation develop such unalloyed devotion and realise the desired goal? Certainly not many. Hence for the majority of spiritual seekers who are not equipped to realise God by adopting devotion, surrender to God (Saranagati, Prapatti) has been recommended. Saranagati is of two types. In the first type the other three means to liberation namely, Karma, Bhakti and Jnana, are practised as subsidiary to surrender. The other type is to give up all other means and take refuge in God by adopting Him as the means to liberation.

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