Miscellaneous - Religion   

Hymn that liberates

CHENNAI: The Mahabharata reveals several aspects and features of dharma, throwing up doubts over many nagging issues that seem to defy any precise solution. That the complexities inhering in dharma can never be fully realised and are to be analysed and reflected upon at all times is reinforced often.

Dharma is described as the ethical basis of life and includes a variety of dos and don'ts that have to be caught, internalised and practised in one's life, pointed out Sri Neela Bala Sarma in a lecture on Vishnu Sahasranama.

This hymn is found in the Mahabharata and the context is at the end of the war when a confused Yudhishtira approached Bhishma, the great devotee of Lord Krishna, who was lying in the bed of arrows awaiting the sacred moment to reach the Lord's feet. Yudhishtira, who was well known for his moral integrity, righteousness and valour, was plagued with doubts and sought enlightenment from Bhishma. Yudhishtira's confusion, similar to Arjuna's before the war, is symbolic of mankind's doubts in spiritual and ethical matters. In the guise of instructing Arjuna to fight the war and clearing his confusion, Lord Krishna gave mankind the scriptural essence in the form of Bhagavad Gita. It was now Bhishma's turn to clarify Yudhishtira's questions. Which dharma is so great that there is none greater? Who is the greatest Lord in the entire universe who is the one refuge for all and who alone can confer auspiciousness, peace and prosperity to those who seek these? By worshipping which God can beings attain salvation from the bondage of life?

The Supreme Being is the one Vishnu who has neither beginning nor end. He is the Lord of the universe. Chanting this hymn that glorifies the Supreme Being is a sure way to overcome the sorrows of the world. The hymn has the power to confer all auspicious benefits along with liberation. As the devotee gains knowledge of the omniscience, omnipresence and omnipotence of the Lord through chanting the thousand names extolling His unique and auspicious qualities there is an automatic accession of Vedanta Jnana. Chanting the hymn (Japa) is the path of karma; from this one is led to the path of Jnana that gives liberation.

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