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Significance of worship

CHENNAI: In the Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna makes it clear that no being can remain inert without being engaged in some kind of action. The Lord explains the compelling power of action that binds itself to the very nature of living, since breathing, sleeping, eating, thinking, etc., are natural to all human beings. When caught in worldly existence with the onus of performing actions of various kinds according to each individual’s needs while impelled to interact with others as well, one necessarily faces the responsibility of maintaining oneself physically, emotionally and intellectually. In addition, if one hopes to aim at the ultimate goal, liberation, one has to strive to escape rebirth and this is possible only when we are able to extricate ourselves from the consequences of our actions, good and evil alike.

In a lecture, Sri V. Abhiramasundaram drew attention to the fact that when engaged in daily activities, whether leading an austere life or that of a householder, the dilution of one’s purity, both external and internal, is inevitable though one may not do anything intentionally to incur this impurity. Just as a vehicle that is used daily needs periodic cleaning and oiling of its internal parts for smooth running, our body mind complex suffers the usual wear and tear caused by use and time, in addition to becoming sullied through accumulation of impurities.

The impact of external influences gives rise to desire, anger, greed, arrogance, delusion, jealousy, etc., affecting the purity of one’s thought, word and deed. As a means to be rid of the impurities that are accumulated in the course of one’s existence, scriptures suggest various methods of worship such as puja, chanting of God’s names, etc.

The sacred hymn "Lalita Sahasranamam" containing the thousand names of the Divine Mother Goddess Lalita describes the absolute supremacy of the Goddess while each name also contains the esoteric efficacy of mantras. It is believed that the worship of the Goddess in the forms of Mahasaraswati, Mahalakshmi and Mahakali during the festival of Navarathri is capable of conferring blessings and fulfilling wishes, while also helping to safeguard one’s inner purity.

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