Miscellaneous - Religion   

Rooted in sincerity

CHENNAI : The criteria to determine the nature of Bhakti in individuals — chanting of mantras or prayers, following symbols of spiritual worship or engaging in worship — may be indicative of one's religious/spiritual habits, but cannot guarantee that the individual practises true Bhakti. The hall mark of true devotion is genuineness and is best understood in the Bhava of the devout who have been steadfast, sincere, unflinching and devoted to the Lord at all times and all costs, even when their life is at stake, said Dr. Sudha Seshaiyan in a lecture.

To get initiated into the Bhakti Bhava is not easy for the ordinary individual since it is a matter of total devotion based on the strong foundation of sincerity alone. This Bhava is rooted in the understanding that God is the eternal source of all and impels one to worship Him always, with determined resoluteness. Prahlada's devotion is unmatched and enthralling and establishes that one who is devoted to the Lord in toto is never let down by Him.

His strong faith and devotion did not waver even when his very life was at risk. He did not succumb to peer pressure and stood firm and alone holding on to the name of Lord Narayana when all others were forced to hail his father. So great was his conviction in the truth of the Lord he trusted that all the life threatening ordeals ordered by his own father did not harm him at all.

The intense devotion experienced by the child Prahlada had been inculcated and nourished even while he was in the womb. He fearlessly taught his young classmates the excellence of devotion.

The oft-featured nine forms of Bhakti that Prahlada spoke about — listening to the stories of God, singing His name and glory, recalling His exploits, serving Him, worship of His form, prostrating at His feet, offering service to Him, befriending Him and dedicating one's heart and soul to Him — is a valuable formula that can be adopted to cultivate devotion to the Lord.

Though it is suggested that one gets involved in external acts of love towards God, such as offer of worship with leaf, flower, fruit or a little water, it is the inward longing for God that is the touchstone in this regard.

Bhakti Bhava is nourished when devotion and knowledge go together.

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