'Bhakti'
(Sri Sri Swamiji in Tamizh Madhuramurali, September, 1996)

“ Only Bhakti is ‘rasa roopa’ (pleasurable)!

Bhakti has to be practiced as a ‘sadhana’ (spiritual practice) to begin with.
It is true, indeed, that Nãma japa, kirtan, puja performed without involvement of the mind is useless; but how is involvement born? This is not a matter that comes about either on its own or suddenly. That which arises suddenly might disappear just as suddenly. Therefore, just as we bathe, wear clothes, eat food, etc. whether our manas is involved in it or not, so too, should we do a certain amount of Nãma japa, pãrayana, kirtana, vandanam every day. If we practice this ceaselessly we would find that gradually involvement comes about and thus one feels moved (‘urukkam’) and one-pointedness born.

Due to incessant sadhana the vãsanãs of the mind reduce, sattvic thoughts increase and one feels stirred (‘urukkam’). When Rajasic and Tamasic vãsanãs of the mind are destroyed and divine sattvic vãsanãs hold sway only then one sees several visions in his dhyana. In the Bhãgavatam, Prahlad mentions nine types of Bhakti sadhanas viz. Sravanam (listening to Lord’s Lilas), Kirtanam (Singing the Lord’s praises), Smaranam (remembering the Lord) Pãda sevanam (serving the Lotus Feet), Archanam (offering of flowers to the Lord), Vandanam (prostrating to the Lord), Dãsyam (attitude of a servant towards the Lord), Sakhyam (attitude of a friend towards the Lord) and Ãtma nivedanam (surrender).

It is enough if we take up any one of these sadhanãs. King Parikshit on learning of his imminent death due to the curse of a Rishi’s son did not pay heed to the various advices offered by many for ‘sãpa vimochana’ (counter measure for escape from the curse).
A man of discrimination (‘vivekam’), he knew that one who has been born has to die some day. Birth and death cannot be avoided. One knows not whom, when and how death would strike. Many are the persons who desire to live in the world yet die young. Those grown old and invalid requiring others’ support for everything await death. But, it (death) does not come to them, as they desire. There are some who, not desiring to live or not having the mental strength to fight life’s battle, commit suicide. Therefore, Parikshit feeling that it was indeed his good fortune that he knew about death going to strike him a week from then listened (‘Sravanam’) to Srimad Bhãgavatam as ‘saptãha’ (for seven days) from Sukãchãrya, a Mahatma, and attained ‘sat gati’ (Blessed state [the Lord’s Lotus Feet]). Hence, Parikshit is verily the proof for attainment of Bhagavãn through mere ‘sravanam’ (listening).

Many a Sadhu is concerned over the state of our Country today. Finding that bluff, cheating, bribery, violence, etc. have seeped into everything many persons ask with concern, “What is the end to this?”
I say, “Do not worry. Bhagavãn will never forsake Bhãrata desa (India). Very soon a Maha Purusha will come and set everything right.”
But, they do not believe my words because no signs to this effect are visible. This is the reason for their doubt.

When a man and a woman marry and beget a child soon after it is deemed as a natural occurence. If this is said to be the blessing of God the mind does not accept it. But, suppose the couple do not beget a child even after many years of marriage; various medications, treatments, homas, ‘prayaschitta’ (penitence), ‘parihãra’ (atonements) have not been successful and they still yearn for a child. At this time they go to pay respects to a Mahatma. He blesses them, gives them a fruit and asks them to eat it. At this juncture do we not comprehend the grace of God?

Likewise, do not feel concerned that there are no signs of our Country transforming for the better. Nothing is beyond the realm of God’s shakti (power). Certainly such a Maha Purusha is going to emerge. He would make the impossible possible! Why do I write this? When we look into the past history we find that Bharata desa has met situations worse than what is prevailing now. It was at such a time that Samarta Ramadas was born. He was born in Mãrgazhi (Tamizh month [Dec-January]) in star Moola. He appeared as the very incarnation (‘amsa’) of Hanuman. It was only through the power of his tapas (‘tapo bala’) that Chatrapati Shivaji set Bharata desa right.

What tapas did Samarta Ramdas do? All that he knew was, “Om Sriram Jayaram Jaya Jayaram!” He had attained ‘siddhi’ by doing several crores of japa of this Mantra alone.
He was one who had attained ‘siddhi’ through incessant ‘smaranam’ or japa of one Nãma (Name of the Lord). Even today there are several Mahans like him who have attained ‘phala’ (fruit) through the sadhana of Nãma japa alone.

A Bhakta by name of Yoga paramãnanda lived in Pandaripura. Every day he would go to the banks of the Chandrabãga river, chant the slokas of the Gita and at the end of each sloka would utter, ‘Srimate Pãndurangãya Namah’ and prostrate with all the parts of his body touching the ground. In this manner he did ‘vandana bhakti’ (devotion through prostration) every day.

Once it was raining heavily in Pandaripura. Yoga Paramãnanda’s place of living was but a humble hut. Due to the rains all the places inside Paramãnanda’s house was wet. There was just one place in the corner that did not leak. He stayed in that corner. Just at that time a man selling costly shawls passed by on the street. He moved to the shelter of Yoga Paramãnanda’s hut to escape from the rains. He was worried over his business being affected as a result of the costly shawls getting wet in the rains. Seeing this, Yoga Paramãnanda offered him the corner dry place and himself moved out getting wet in the rains. The rains stopped after a time. The seller of shawls started from there to attend to his business. Before leaving, shedding tears over the compassion of Yoga Paramãnanda, he offered a beautiful costly shawl to him with all affection.

Yoga Paramãnanda wore the shawl and as usual reached the banks of Chandrabhãga river. All his thoughts were now fixed on the beautiful costly shawl. He was worried that in prostration whence all the parts of his body would touch the ground this beautiful shawl would get dirty. On returning home he was worried that his ‘vandana bhakti’ had been affected due to this shawl. He threw the shawl away and angry with himself he harnessed two oxen to a plough and tied himself to it. As the oxen moved he was pulled up and down the ground filled with stones, thorns, gutter water.

At that time Pãnduranga appeared there and released him. He consoled him with many words, “Through the ‘vandana bhakti’ that you have been doing all these days you have surrendered your body, things and spirit to ME. I am unable to bear such sufferings being inflicted on this body that is verily Mine.”

Therefore, from amongst the nine kinds of Bhakti sadhanas Yoga Paramãnanda was one who had attained Bhagavãn through the Bhakti sadhana of ‘vandanam’. "

NOTE: Any discrepancy/lapse in the translated version of the Upanyasam is the sole responsibility of the person/s who translated the work from Tamizh into English.

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