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Exemplary devotion

CHENNAI : It is human nature to relegate the pursuit of the spiritual goal for attaining liberation from rebirths to old age, as there is a general belief that one will be able to devote time for this only after fulfilling all worldly responsibilities. But this is far from the reality on the ground. First, there is no guarantee that one's life will follow a structured course wherein one will find the time and energy to execute the goals one has set for oneself or about one's lifespan. Besides, a layperson cannot decide what is the right age for this.

In his discourse, Sengalipuram Sri B.Damodara Dikshitar said the child-devotee Prahlada while teaching his friends had reasoned out that one should develop devotion to God from young age. He pointed out that even if one were to live a hundred years, half of it would be wasted in sleep. Out of the remaining 50 years, 20 years are spent in childhood and youth given to ignorance and play, and another 20 years pass in helplessness in old age when the body is in the grip of senility and failing health. The rest of his life man remains attached to his family and worldly preoccupations that he does not even realise that his life is ebbing away. It is apparent then that an individual who is serious must earnestly start the spiritual quest from young age when he does not have worries and responsibilities and the mind is also untouched by sensual attractions, which are counterproductive to spiritual progress.

Prahlada then advised the boys to practise devotion, "which can be accomplished by serving one's preceptor, and by offering to him with devotion all that is got by one through the fellowship of pious devotees and worship of God; through reverence of stories of the Lord; by celebrating His virtues and exploits; through contemplation on His lotus feet and through the sight and worship of His images." When the children started chanting `Narayana' their preceptor was terrified that Hiranyakasipu's wrath would be upon him and reported the matter to him immediately. It was in order to substantiate the utterance of a sterling devotee like Prahlada that the Lord then manifested as Narasimha.

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