Miscellaneous - Religion   

Importance of service

CHENNAI: The lives of the devout reveal the rare joy that is derived when rendering devoted service to the Lord and His devotees. The service thus offered willingly and lovingly gives the Bhagavatas their identity. The spirit and attitude that is behind their worship is due to their awareness of their soul's relationship with the Supreme Being. They cherish their belongingness to Him and make use of every opportunity to serve their Master at all times. The Lord in turn holds such Bhagavatas in great esteem and will not brook any disrespect to them.

In a discourse on Vedanta Desika's "Paduka Sahasram" a hymn of 1000 verses in praise of Lord Ranganatha's sandals, Sri M. V. Anantapadmanabhachariyar pointed out that the constant and devotional service of the Lord's sandals illustrates the Sesha/Seshi Bhava that is central to the Vaishnavite tradition. This Bhava indicates the relation between the Lord and the individual soul as that between a master and a servant and the consequent willingness of the individual soul to serve Him. It is believed that the bliss of Moksha (liberation) is the soul's uninterrupted service to the Supreme Being in His abode.

In the soul's quest for liberation, it has to recognise the truth of its nature as belonging to God and that the temporary association with the body and the world is a valuable opportunity for it to strive and get back to its moorings with the divine nature.

This unbreakable relationship with the Lord is the soul's only valid bond, no matter how many births or forms the soul may be destined to take. When thus this privileged allegiance is cherished, the desire to serve the Lord gains predominance. The opportunity to be able to dedicate oneself to His service is considered the most blessed and fortunate advantage, apart from being associated with none other than the highest being.

Believed to be an incarnation of the Adisesha on whom the Lord reclines, Lakshmana's willing service to Lord Rama is characterised by total love and commitment. Lakshmana's exclusive and personal service to Lord Rama is extolled as unparalleled.

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