Miscellaneous - Religion   

Total detachment

CHENNAI : The manifestations of the Supreme Being in the world from time to time are undertaken with specific purpose, though generally, they are to reinstate Dharma whenever there is threat to it. The major incarnations are different from His other descents in scope and duration. One such is the birth of the Lord as Kapila to teach the philosophical system of Sankhya in which He fulfilled the boon He gave to Sage Kardama as the fruit of his penance that He would be born as his son, and also to teach the truth for the sake of humanity.

As promised when he was born to Kardama and Devahuti after they had nine daughters, they were ecstatic for having been chosen to be His parents. Kardama felt he had discharged his duties and took leave of Kapila with the words, "Acquitted of the debt I owed to my father (Brahma, who had commanded me to marry and beget children), and having gained all my desires through You, I now take leave of You, the Lord of all created beings. Treading the path of recluses, I will roam at will, free from sorrow, contemplating on You in my heart."

In his discourse, Sengalipuram Sri B. Damodara Dikshitar said Kardama's detachment was so total that he could take leave of Kapila without allowing his affection for his son to cloud his mind. Kapila blessed him that he would attain immortality, "Beholding Me in your heart through your intellect, you will be freed from all sorrow and attain the fearless state of final beatitude." The Lord also promised him that He would teach Self-knowledge to His mother Devahuti.

She was a woman of self-control for Devahuti had served her husband for a lifetime when he was doing penance without allowing her desire for progeny to mar his spiritual practice. It was as a result of their spiritual stature that the Lord was born to them as their son and graced them with spiritual knowledge according to their predilection. While Kardama, who was an adept in knowledge, became Self-realised as soon as Kapila blessed him, in the case of Devahuti He waited for the right time. That she was also mature enough not to be blinded by attachment to her son was clear when she approached Kapila one day and expressed her desire to be rid of her ignorance. Kapila then expounded the truth to His mother.

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