Miscellaneous - Religion   

Desire to seek God

CHENNAI: The glory of the Supreme Being is celebrated in the Vedas, but tremendous effort, scholarship and expert guidance are necessary to understand the full import of the Vedas. As an aid to surmount this difficulty, mankind has received the invaluable gift of Azhwars’ hymns wherein Vedic truths are represented in simple Tamil in a manner that even the common folk can relate to.

According to Panchratra Agama, the Supreme Being is manifest in the aspects of Para and Vyuha (transcendental world) Vibhava (divine incarnations), Antaryami (indwelling spirit in every aspect of creation) and Archa (deities in temples) and Andal alludes to all these divine forms to bring forth His unique and extraordinary qualities, said Sri K. B. Devarajan in a discourse.

Since the truth of the Supreme Being and of the Jivatma’s relationship with Him is clearly expressed not as an intellectual argument but as a personal experience these hymns easily inspire many towards efforts at salvation. The expression of intense feelings of love and regard to Him demonstrates that it is easy to approach Him through Bhakti. The philosophical import of Andal’s Tiruppavai rests on the fervent appeal to the Jivatmas to get involved in the worship of God. Andal advocates the practice of surrender (Saranagati).

Realised souls and Acharyas, who know the true nature of the Atma and of its everlasting relationship with the Supreme Being, long to remain at His service for ever, and offer Saranagati to Him.

In the case of those who have yet to become realised (the ignorant), the surrender is rooted in their helplessness and inability to strive for salvation and hence they seek His feet with unflinching faith.

The very desire to seek God is an indication of the greatest wealth a Jivatma can possess. That is why Lakshmana is described as endowed with wealth (Lakshmi Sampanna) when he chose to do service to Lord Rama in the forest.

Likewise Vibhishana is termed as Sriman (one with wealth) when he seeks Lord Rama after being thrown out of Ravana’s court, shorn of family, friends and wealth.

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