Miscellaneous - Religion   

Efface the ego

CHENNAI: A hurdle that besets even an evolved spiritual seeker is his ego. Ego stands in between man and God, and so all spiritual practices are designed to pulverise the ego so that it is rooted out totally. As ego manifests as possessiveness and attachment towards one’s kith and kin and possessions, it becomes evident that as long as the ego is not obliterated it is not possible to go nearer God.

In his Harikatha, Kalyanapuram Sri R.Aravamudachariar said it could be seen from the example of the Gopis that ego raised its head even in the minds of matchless devotees. Their unalloyed love for Lord Krishna was total that sages like Suka and Akrura hailed their devotion. From the time Vasudeva brought Him to Nandagopa’s household their lives were transformed by becoming totally centred round Him. Krishna’s endless frolics and divine deeds only enhanced their love and devotion for Him. The Lord reciprocated their devotion by showering His grace on them during the Rasakrida (divine sport) by making each Gopi feel that she was specially blessed.

The Gopis abandoned their hearths and homes and rushed to Krishna’s side when they heard the sweet notes of His flute on the night He decided to bless them for their devotion. But, seeing them at that hour on the banks of the Yamuna He reminded them that they had forsaken their duty. The Gopis expressed their devotion and prayed to Him to accept their service without turning them away. Krishna obliged and during the divine sport He found that the Gopis had become proud and started thinking that they were superior to others as He had singled them out for such special favour. In order to efface even the slightest trace of ego, Krishna then disappeared from their midst.

Immediately the ecstatic mood turned into one of despondency and the Gopis searched for Him pathetically enquiring even the trees and creepers where the Lord was and recounting His deeds. Their loving devotion heightened by separation, the Gopis finally beseeched Him with tears streaming from their eyes (Gopika Gita) till the Lord answered their prayer by appearing once again before them.

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