Miscellaneous - Religion   

Intercession of grace

CHENNAI: The rationale behind individuals getting drawn into awareness of God's greatness is mysterious. It may be sorrow or success that might broaden one's horizon to look beyond the mundane existence and see the handwork of God in all aspects of creation. Spiritual experience is abstract and personal, demanding total love and surrender to God.

The paradox of spiritual journey is the realisation that the destination is within oneself and this is the underlying theme of Thiruvachagam, that charts Saint Manikkavasakar's devotional progress, said Sri T. V. Venkataraman in a lecture. When the soul gets entangled with the body, it forgets its moorings and fails to recognise its true affiliation with the Supreme Consciousness. To understand that bodily connection is false and temporary is the main thrust of devotion.

The saint's spiritual experience typifies the descent of God's grace. With gratitude and absolute honesty the hymns proclaim his vibrant involvement with a most compassionate God.

The process of enlightenment takes place in his consciousness and there is a sequential improvement in the understanding of God. At the appropriate time, God frees the soul from the tangles of worldly illusions and not only draws it into His fold, but absolves it of past karma as well. It is then that the awareness of the all-pervading Brahman enables the soul to experience It.

Throwing the spotlight on his ego and vanity that had given him a false impression about his capacity to sing God's glory, the saint realises that God's greatness is not only beyond the capability of the spoken or written word, but also outside the reach of human thought, and but for His grace none could sing His glory.

It is in such moments of awareness that the poet sees the Lord as the very nectar, capable of giving bliss, and as the very essence of parental concern eager to take care of all created beings.

True devotees melt with mellowed hearts at the mention or thought of the Lord's name. In matters of spiritual experience, there is no beginning or end.

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