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Pinnacle of devotion

CHENNAI: Birth as a human being is the result of Karma acquired by one’s actions in previous lives. Vedanta Desika in a hymn says that man is fettered by two chains — gold (Punya as a result of meritorious deeds) and iron (Papa, the result of bad actions) — in his last moments and both have to be snapped to be released from bondage.

In his discourse, Sri M.V. Ananthapadmanabhachariar said just as a horse shook off all the dust that clung to its body after it rolled in sand to recoup from the exhaustion of running long distances, so also could a devotee get rid of his Karma of several births by surrendering (Saranagati, Prapatti) to the Lord. It has been reiterated by the mystics, Azhwars, and preceptors that the Almighty grants liberation and also gives Himself to one who surrenders to Him. Perhaps the most inspiring instance of the Lord making Himself totally accessible to His devotees is the case of the cowherd maidens (Gopis). From the time Krishna came to Nandagopa’s household He became the cynosure of all eyes in Gokul and, His fun and frolics only endeared Him more to them all. His accessibility (Saulabhya) to the Gopis was His way of recompensing their unalloyed love for Him, for it is attested in the Bhagavata Purana that the Lord transforms all emotions towards the Lord into devotion to Him, which ultimately paves the way for liberation.

Once when Krishna was sporting with the Gopis on the bank of Yamuna, the Lord perceived that they had become conceited because of the privilege of being His companions, and so in order to curb their pride once and for all, and shower His grace on them, He disappeared.

Their agony of separation from the Lord only heightened their love (Prema) and the Gopis started reliving their experiences. They recalled Krishna’s divine deeds (Lila), some imitated Him, while others sang His praises unabashedly as they went searching for Him. What a blessing indeed says the Bhagavata Purana (related by a sage like Suka, who is renowned as a man of wisdom, to Pareekshit) that the Gopis exulted in such spontaneous abandon of divine ecstasy, which even sages and devotees aspire for!

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