About Us Contact Us Help


Archives

Contribute

 

Divine Knowledge Of Vedas And Vedic Scriptures - III

Siddheshvari Devi / Neelu Sharma
05/14/2008

As part of the enlightening series of discourses on Divine Knowledge of Vedas and Vedic Scriptures organized by Neelu Sharma at the Sarva Dev Mandir in Oxford, MA, Siddeshvari Devi Ji discussed Devotion and the Significance of Bhajans and Keertans (Part III).

Devotion

Vedas and Vedic scriptures proclaim that it is only by practicing devotion that the mind can be purified, and that it is only devotion that leads one to God.  Though scriptures seem to suggest other paths, yet the other paths need devotion to take one to his ultimate devotion.  In the words of Gaurang Mahaprabhu, “Karm, Gyan and Yog seek the grace of Bhakti.”

Lord Krishna says in the Gita, “Whether you wish to know Me, see Me, or merge into Me, you must practice exclusive devotion to Me.”

Adi Shankaracharya says, “Liberation is not possible without devotion.”

Bhagvan Kapil instructs His mother Devahuti, “Mother!  The greatest achievement of a human is to fix his mind on God through the practice of devotion.”  (Bhagvatam, 3.25.44)

Definitions of Devotion

•    Devotion is that which gives the nectar of God to drink.
•    Devotion is that which destroys ignorance.
•    Devotion means service of God.
•    Devotion means loving meditation on the Personal Form of God.

How To Practice Devotion

•    Devotion to God must be free of all desires; a devotee must practice selfless love for God.  Generally people approach God with all sorts of desires.  Someone desires a child; another desires money; still another wants good health or name and fame.  When Prahlad was asked by Lord Narsingh, “What is it that you desire,” he answered, “I desire to be free from all desires.”  

•    The mind has to be involved in the practice of devotion.  Simply waving the ‘arti’ in front of God, doing ritualistic puja with hands, letting the prayer beads slip through the fingers, is not enough.  

When the mind meditates on God, it becomes purified.  Countless sins of the past are burnt in the fire of devotion.  


Devotion to Radha and Krishna

God is with name and form, as well as without name and form, so say the Vedas.  However, as Lord Krishna tells Arjun, “It is extremely difficult for embodied beings to meditate on My impersonal form.”  (Gita, 12.5)  The Ramayan says, “Walking on the path of impersonalism is like walking on the sharp edge of a sword.”  

It is easy for us to become enamoured with the world, since we can see, hear, taste, touch and smell the world.  We interact with people, and therefore, the world is very interesting to the mind. To facilitate devotion, God appears in the world from time to time so that people of the world may fall in love with Him more easily.

There is a unique bliss in the form of God as Krishna.  We can relate to Shri Krishna as Master, Friend, Child and Beloved.  All types of relationships can be formed with Krishna, since He performs pastimes that encourage us to relate to Him in every way possible.

Child Krishna says to Yashoda, “Maiya!  I listened to Durvasa Muni’s lecture and the great sage said that our body is made of dirt.  If this is so, then why do you stop me from eating dirt?”  Yashoda says, “If you eat dirt, there will be trees growing in your tummy, and the branches of these trees will come out of your eyes, nose and mouth.  Then your friends will climb on those branches and shake them.  Then you will be in a lot of pain.  This is why you should never eat dirt.”  

A Gopi laments for Krishna, “O beloved Shyamsundar!  Everywhere I look I see only You.  You left us and went away to Mathura.  You promised to return to us in a few days, but it has been years and you have not come back.  My mind says that I should put an end to this life, but the intellect says, “No, you have no right to do so, since everything you possess belongs to the Beloved.”

Radha Rani is non-different from Shri Krishna.  In Brahmvaivart Puran, Radha says, “In My male form I am known as Krishna, the one who delights the hearts of the gopis.”  Radha and Krishna are one.  One Brahm assumes two forms so that loving pastimes may be performed.  

Many people misunderstand who Radha is.  She is not simply a gopi; She is Bhagvati Herself.  Her partial manifestations are Mahalakshmi and Parvati.  She is the Divine Mother just as Krishna is the Divine Father.  Together They grace the surrendered souls.


Bhajans & Keertans

Chanting of the holy name is not a recent practice.  Rigved speaks of it, which proves it is an eternal method of devotion.  “O Lord!  I always chant Your glorious name.”  (Rigved)

Skand Puran says, “In Kaliyug, the only method of realizing God is by chanting the holy name.  There is no other way; there is no other way; there is no other way.”  The Ramayan says, “In Kaliyug the only means of God-realization is by chanting the names and glories of God.”

Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj has composed 1,008 devotional songs that are contained in the scripture ‘Prem Ras Madira’ (Nectar of Divine Love).  Hundreds of keertans have also been composed by Him, and He has set these to haunting melodies that melt the heart and put tears in the eyes.

One such example follows:

Apnapan Rakhana Mere Ghanshyam
My Shyamsunder!  Always look upon me as Yours.

Ghari ghari pala pala naam tiharo, rate meri rasana
My sole desire is to sing Your glories each and every moment!

Lali Laal dou dai garabhahee, hamare hiye basana
Dwell in my heart, o Radha and Krishna, with arms around one another.

Bhav hindore dari hiye me, jhulaun nita jhulana
I will rock You both gently on the swing of loving feelings in my heart.

Dai upahaar haar ansuvan ko, bana loo tujhe apana
By presenting to You a garland of tears, I will make You mine for ever.

Kaisehun kari ‘Kripalu’ prabhu apano, purvao mama sapana

Says Shri  ‘Kripalu’, “O Shyamsunder!  No matter how, please make this dream of mine come true.”



Bookmark and Share |
You may also access this article through our web-site http://www.lokvani.com/







Home | About Us | Contact Us | Copyrights Help