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Man’s birthright

CHENNAI: Liberation from rebirths is figuratively described in the scriptural texts as “homecoming” and it is the birthright of every bonded soul. The homeward-bound soul is said to follow the path of light and received with great joy, and escorted by the eternal souls to the Lord’s transcendental abode. It is a great rejoicing and in the language of the mystics, “the return of the prodigal”, who having separated from the Lord and lost his way, has now reformed. The devotee after realising his eternal relationship with God seeks union with Him, never to return to this world of bondage. But, how is one to believe such scriptural statements for it is said that those who attained reunion with God never return to state this experience.

In his discourse, Velukkudi Sri V. Krishnan said there was an exception to this in that Nammazhwar was returned to this world by the compassionate Lord for the sake of humanity. In the closing decades of his hymn, Tiruvaymozhi, Nammazhwar ecstatically describes the soul’s journey to the divine abode (Archiradi marga) and how all the worlds celebrate this reunion: “Clouds in the sky played horns like heralds, waves in the ocean clapped and danced. The seven continents stood with gifts to see the devotee of eternally-praised Narayana homeward bound… Bards stood on either side and sang ‘Hail!’ and said, ‘This way to Vaikunta…’ All the way the celestials made resting points. The Moon and the Sun lighted the path… As the devotee entered the portals, the bards were filled with joy… as entering Vaikunta is every man’s birthright… Vedic seers praising their fortune, washed the devotee’s feet… The devotee then stood face to face before the Lord in His jewelled abode in everlasting joy.”

The reason why this mystic has vividly portrayed the soul’s onward journey is to enable a devotee to contemplate in anticipation of this beatific state everyday so that the hope of attaining reunion with God is sustained while being tossed about by the vicissitudes of life. One can take a leaf from Akrura’s book. When Kamsa sent him to bring Krishna to Mathura this great devotee started imagining his meeting with the Lord from the moment he set out for Gokul.

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