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Quality of Bhakti

CHENNAI: The path of the devout is shown to be the most successful in leading to salvation and scriptures and sacred texts reinforce the indispensable effect of God’s grace in instilling pure and unshakable faith in Him. It is not easy for human beings to understand the extent of God’s grace as long as they are under the dragnet of the sense of I and Mine. This sense of ego confirms the false belief in individuals that they function on their own right alone, masking the truth of God’s presence that animates and sustains the entire universe. The quality of Bhakti is explained in the simplest of manner by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita, even as He reveals His penchant for those who remain devoted to Him, said Sri N. Veezhinathan in a lecture.

The principle of surrender is the crux of this relationship between the Lord and His devotee. The Lord assures that to those who worship Him, meditate on Him alone, and who constantly are steeped in His thoughts, He brings attainment of what they do not have (Yoga) and preservation of what they have attained (Kshema). The Lord promises total protection of His devotees at all times and at all costs. He makes it clear that the sincerity in acts of worship rather than the acts themselves are what matters. Even a leaf, a flower, a fruit or a drop of water is acceptable to God when offered with true devotion.

Kuchela’s devotion to Lord Krishna is exemplary and is extolled in the Bhagavata Purana. He went to see the Lord, his boyhood friend, at Dwaraka with some beaten rice, and with specific instructions from his wife to seek some monetary help from Him. Kuchela had always remained indifferent to worldly attainments and he only looked forward to the joy of seeing the Lord. The Lord knew Kuchela’s mind clearly and blessed his family with prosperity. The newly acquired riches might have more than fulfilled the family’s needs but made no impact in Kuchela whose thoughts were with the Supreme Lord.

Vidura is another example of a true devotee who had realised the Supreme nature of Lord Krishna. The Lord chose to partake the humble food at his place rather than the affluent spread offered by Duryodhana.

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