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Nature of devotion religion

CHENNAI: The Bhagavata Purana is as much a work of devotion (Bhakti) highlighting the glory of God as it is a delineation of the lives of devotees. The term “Bhagavata” indicates devotion and the Purana’s logical development shows that devotion to the Lord will lead to Self-knowledge (Jnana) and thereby liberation from bondage. It is natural to wonder whether there is place for Bhakti in the philosophy of Advaita, which expounds the identity of the Self (Atman) and the Absolute (Brahman).

In his discourse, Sri C.L.Ramakrishnan said the staunch Advaitin Madhusudana Saraswati who composed the seminal work on devotion, the Bhagavad Bhakti Rasayanam, had shown how intrinsic devotion was to Advaita. True devotion is defined as that which is resolute, and the mind of such a devotee engages in the Almighty incessantly like a steady flow of oil. The Narayaneeyam, which is a condensation of the Bhagavata Purana, defines devotion in the words of the Lord in His manifestation as Kapila to His mother Devahuti, “Supreme devotion, in which the mind always flows in an uninterrupted stream towards Me, like the Ganga (towards the sea) arises by your listening to narrations of My innumerable excellences and My sportive activities, and by your chanting My name. That devotion alone can conquer the cycle of birth and death (arising out of ignorance).” The Purana sums up finally that the loud chanting of the Divine name is the most efficacious and easiest way to wipe out all sins and that respectful salutation to God alleviates all suffering.

Eight practices are summed up by the Narayaneeyam as conducive to liberation, and among them the Divine name’s efficacy is such that it is enough even if one listens to it. Devotion to God does not sprout in the heart by loving remembrance of His glory alone. Sage Suka explained to King Pareekshit that Sisupala remembered Krishna because of enmity, Kamsa through fear, the Gopis with love, the Pandavas through friendship and sages like him with devotion. But, ultimately all attained beatitude as the quality of emotion is to make the mind nurture it intently, and when the Lord is the object of any emotion, He transmutes it into devotion.

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