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Essence of devotion

CHENNAI: The unique bond of Bhakti between the Lord and His devotees is celebrated in the Puranas and the Itihasas. As stated in the Bhagavad Gita, the Lord approaches a devotee according to his/her conception and approach towards Him. What matters is the authentic Bhakti Bhava that is manifested.

The Bhagavata Purana highlights the uniqueness, spiritual authenticity and adequacy of the different forms of personal relationship that exists between individuals and the Supreme Being, pointed out Srimati Jaya Srinivasan in a lecture. Bhakti Bhava takes root in one who is able to continuously think of the Lord at all times and see Him in all aspects of creation.

In clarifying the logic behind the salvation attained by Kamsa, who was in great dread of Lord Krishna ever since he heard the prophecy about his death at the hands of Devaki’s eighth son, it is explained that this mortal fear made him see the child always and everywhere. Though it was fear and animosity motivating his thoughts, the evil effect of these were overcome when the thoughts were focussed on God at all times.

The crucial test of devotion is constant focus on God at all times. This is not easy to attain and great devotees humbly acknowledge God’s grace as being responsible in nurturing this Bhava in them. Since one has to think of God always, one needs God’s help to control and redirect the mind towards Him.

But by one-pointed love towards Lord Krishna the simple minded and unlettered Gopikas were able to attain oneness with the Lord. The Lord Himself says, “They never learnt the Vedas, they never served any teacher, they practised no austerity, but by mere association with Me, they attained to Me.”

Narayana Bhattadri pleads to the Lord to help him cut off all attachments to worldly life and instil in him the true and sincere devotion that is unalloyed and wholesome. Only such devotion can prompt us to surrender all actions and the fruits of these acts as well to Him. This is the only means to salvation. In Sivanandalahari, Adi Sankara defines the essence of devotion as the state when the mind is drawn towards God always just as iron is attracted to the magnet or the river seeks the sea.

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