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Path of Bhakti

CHENNAI : Sage Vyasa, who is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is credited with the task of organising the contents of the Vedas into four sections, and composing the Puranas with the specific purpose of enabling the common folk understand the essence of the esoteric Vedas. Vyasa also wrote the valuable Itihasa Mahabharata wherein is found the Bhagavad Gita and the Vishnu Sahasranama. Yet the sage felt dissatisfied and Sage Narada probing the cause of this, pointed out that while Vyasa had elaborately talked of dharma in these works, he had not clearly shown the way (Sadhana) by which one could reach God. Vyasa needed to extol God's auspicious qualities to enable people be aware of them. They then can stay devoted to Him and strive to reach Him. On Narada's promptings, Vyasa then wrote the Bhagavata Purana.

The Puranas are thus doubly valuable, for apart from the essential truth of life that their stories convey, it is possible to obtain the fruits of reciting Vedic mantras by merely reading or listening to the Puranas, said Sri S. B. Kalyanarama Bhattachariar in a lecture on Narayaneeyam. Since the meaning of Vedic mantras is inherent in the chanting/reciting of them, specialised training in utterance, pronunciation, tone, tune, etc., is required. Failing to adhere to the Bhava of the chants indicated in these features can distort the fruits of chanting while none of these demands apply to a reading of the Puranas.

The Bhagavata Purana contains details of the various incarnations of the Supreme Being while describing the events and lifetimes of devotees, disciples, and the sages who were drawn towards Bhakti. The inspiring accounts in this sacred text engenders Bhakti towards the Lord and develops spiritual enlightenment by helping to renounce worldly attractions.

The Narayaneeyam of Narayana Bhattatiri contains the essence of the Bhagavata Purana. While this hymn conveys the summary of the narratives of the Purana, it also highlights its philosophical and devotional teachings, and celebrates the path of Bhakti as the means and end of liberation.

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