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Seeking refuge in God

CHENNAI: While the paths of Karma, Jnana and Bhakti are detailed with clarity and precision in the Bhagavad Gita, the Lord makes it clear that every effort at God realisation becomes fruitful only when the spirit of devotion is the driving force. Sage Sukha, while narrating the Bhagavata Purana to Parikshit vouches for its power to confer peace and inspire Bhakti as it extols the greatness of the Supreme Being. Parikshit was cursed to die in seven days for an inadvertent misdeed; but he was blessed to attain salvation by listening to the narration before he died.

All the preceptors in the tradition have nurtured the path of devotion and highlighted the unique bond that is built between the devotee and the Lord. Devotion requires single mindedness, sincerity and genuine longing to be with the Lord with no trace of ego or pride. In a lecture on Sivanandalahari, Sri B. Damodhara Dikshitar drew attention to the different facets of Bhakti Bhava that Adi Sankara has captured in this hymn. The devotional strain invokes the compassion of the Lord even as the references to the many ways in which He had revealed Himself to the truly devout stirs the quality of humility that is essential in the devout. The devotee has no other refuge other than the Lord and the plea to the Lord is to accept his devotion and forgive the faults.

There are primarily three classes of people who seek the Lord — those who are realised souls (Mukthas), those who aspire to renounce the worldly pulls (Mumukshus) and those who are completely steeped in worldly attractions. The realised soul always longs to be with the Lord and cannot bear even the briefest of separation. Those who are yet to realise God seek His grace to overcome the desires for worldly attainments. The worldly minded also seek the Lord for material benefits. The Lord grants the wishes of His seekers according to their deserts.

True happiness is the everlasting bliss that transcends all that can be bought with money and wealth. Wealth may guarantee a life of luxury but certainly not happiness. A strong spiritual inclination can overcome the worldly pulls and slowly the Jivatma finds meaning in life only when engaged in seeking God.

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