Guest guest Posted January 26, 2003 Report Share Posted January 26, 2003 · Sub : “ NISHKAMYA BHAKTI “ “Bhakti” can be defined as a total dedication or devotion or to set apart or religious earnestness or religious exercises for a purpose or with out a purpose to the God. For an ever wanting average human beings generally the purposes are materialistic in nature or may be a prayer for a particular favour from GOD, in which case it may be termed as a Khamya Bhakti, to get a desired result. While there is nothing wrong to ask the Supreme for a favour , the pit fall is that the wanting person himself, does not know what he truly needs , due to constant change in his thinking. (which is only Constant) Therefore it is best that one should aim and cultivate to do the Prayers for the Prayer’s sake without any expectation and leave it to HER, as Iswara knows what Best to give/not to give. To a greater extent Iswara has already awarded us the fruits of our KARMIC actions through Her divine Karmic Laws. Such a devotion may be called a Nishkamya Bhakti . This would lead us to a state of “PRASADA BHUDDHI” as we would be receptive and GLADLY accept all the problems as we enjoy the pleasures of our lives. This is symbolically done in our temples when we receive as prasadam, may be a leaf or flower or water or a Laddu or even a great feast. The philosophy behind this is that We should accept all the different prasads with equal respect anything which comes from God with out giving relative importance to a Laddu over a leaf or water and that is what we do also. This also explains that good and bad are from the supreme coming as prasad and is of equal in nature. When one cultivates such a prasada budddhi the Chitta becomes clear through constant prayers and the person starts getting the grace of God to understand the true nature of one self as per the claim of our Maha Vakyas like “ AHAM BRAHMASMI, TATAVAMASI,PRAG GYANAM BRAHMA,AYAMATMA BRAHAMA “. What ” Kanchi MAHA Perival “ says about devotion. HE says that all religious tradition have one purpose, to elevate the man by freeing him from the cares and worries. A human being has worries that are not shared by other creatures. So all the faiths speak in one voice that one will be rid of his cares if he goes for refuge to the Great Power which rules all the activities. Bhakti or devotion is a feature common to all the schools of thought such as advaita,Dvaita,Vishistadvaita,Saiva siddanta,Christianity,Islam etc. While the Jnanis have laid stress on inquiry into Self as a means Of liberation or moksha ,the followers themselves celebrate theses Jnanis so much that one may conclude that Bhakti is an in born characteristic of man and is an organic part of him. Bhakti in the advaita system implies adopting an attitude of non difference between the worshipper and the worshipped and the devotee must look upon himself as not different from Iswara. But a question arises that the devotee who worships the omnipotent and the omniscient has only a limited strength and knowledge and how can both be the same. But the question also arises “ does God regard as being different from himself ! If the creation is different from that of the created the next logical question is Who created God. If we think on these lines it will become clear that the one and only PARAMATMAN exists in various forms like the water in a spoon or pond or in an ocean which is the same everywhere. But the realisation of this non dualistic truth is through a quest which must culminate in actual experience got with the grace of Iswara. Even in the initial stages when we feel that Iswara and his devotee are separate, we must try to cultivate the awareness even if it is to a small degree that the Paramatman who appears as Iswawara is the same as paramatman that has become “us”. Our love for the Lord will be more intense in such an approach. After all ,is there anything or anyone we love more than ourselves. The more devotion or the Bhakti we show in response to our devotion She will deign to reveal Her true nature to us. Countless are the attributes of Iswara that bespeak his surpassing beauty and auspicious qualities and a devotee find constant delight in contemplating. In our Sanatana Dharma alone among all religions it reveals the one and only godhead in many different forms suited to to ones mental make up and is thus helped to come closer to the lord with his true love and devotion. These different forms are not the creation of anyone’s imagination. The Paramatman has revealed himself in these forms to great men and they had close contact so to speak with the deities so revealed. Such great men whom we call as the“ RISHIES” being the Mantra Drishtas have given us the Beeja Mantras to accomplish this and also have prescribed the manner in which the divine forms, whose vision they have had, are to be adored. Some of the Namavali of lalitha Sahasranama dealing with Bhakti. · Bhakta sowbhagya Dayini The Devi who gives all prosperity to Her devotees as her nature itself is sowbhagyam. · Bhakta manasa hamsika The Devi who floats like a Hamsa in the mind’s of the Bhakta which is like a lake. The “ka” also denotes that she is not visible to a non-bhakta. · Bhakta Nidhihi She who is like a an inexhaustible treasure to a devotee and she who grants all the four purusharthas to a devotee. · Bhakta chitta kaki Ghana Ghana When the peacocks see the the dark clouds approaching them, they instantaneously become happy and dance merrily. Like wise the bhaktas are compared to a peacock and Devi to the clouds meaning that the bhaktas become immensely happy on seeing Devi and immediately reach the Samadhi status . · Bhakti Priya For a serious Devi devotee doing the upasana gets Her Grace. There are two types of bhakti known as MUKYA and SAMANYAM (KOWNI). The former denotes anuraga - the state of mind immersed in devi. In Narada Bhakti Sutra the nature of a TRUE DEVOTEE is described as one who is EGO LESS, totally contented without any selfishness and forgetting oneself as he is always mentally attached to the Godhead. · Bhakti Ghamya She reveals Her self through the Upasana to a bhakta. · Bhakti Vashya She can be only controlled through the Bhakti and nothing other than Bhakti is relevant to Her. In our scriptures it is worth reading in this context the episodes of Kannappa Nayanar,Dhurva Charithram,Gajendra Moksham,Prahalada charitram,Sabari Moksham, Kuchela upakyana. In contrast we can also compare how the manmatha was burnt when his misguided bhakti was aimed at Shiva. Devi also takes the true Bhakti ignoring the weaknesses of the devotee. I think this is a great consolation for a devotee like me. · Bhaktimat kalpa Latika Devi is compared to the Kalpaka flag which gives everything ( like the Kamadhenu ) which the devotee wants. Another meaning is even when the devotee lacks pari poorna bhakti SHE would make the bhakti to grow ,develop and mature . another meaning is She is like the KASTURI creeper to a devotee which gives out a very sweet smell and immense satisfaction. The Bhakti has been discussed in other scriptures also. Some of which ; In Brahma Sutram ( chap3 -2-24), in Bhagvat Gita (chap 11 -54),santokya Upanishad (Chap 2-23-2),in Chandilya sutra,in Nithya tantra,in Jaimini sutra,in Vivka Chudamani (32 & 33 sloka),in Sivananda Lahari (sloka 61) in Lalitha Trishati and so on. In viveka chudamani Adi sankara says that the most important equipment to attain the “MOKSHA” or the self realisation is through Bhakti with the help of which there is a continuous contemplation of the Self with the Supreme. In the Sivananda Lahari the Bagavat pada says about the lakshana of bhakti compared to a magnetic needle which always positions itself to a particular direction,like a river which orients to the sea,like a Kodi Maram (flag post),like a chaste woman , a Bhakta’s mind is ever attuned to the SUPREME. Therefore the True Secret to attain the “BHOGA AND MOKSHA” is to contemplate through a “nishkamya bhakti “ on LALITHA PARA BATTARIKA with all the weaknesses one possess by virtue of his earlier karmic deeds. SHE knows what is good and bad for the devotee and let us accept as PRASAD whatever SHE gives us. GANAPATHY = = VIJAYA srilakshmi alagharu <salagharu wrote: om sri ganeshaya namaha >i think if any woman sincerely chants lailtha sahasranama >daily with Nishkamya bhakti bhava , such a devotee would be >prosperous with out even asking HER as devi is "Bhoga -- >Moksha Dayini". in your above text you have written about nishkamya bhakti bhava. could you explain more about this. whenever i offer my prayers to god, my mind wanders a lot thinking about the things i need to do for the day. i try very hard and with little success. i guess i need more discipline. can you also tell what should be the manner in which a bhakta prays, ie some people say that while offering prayers one must not expect anything in return. with regards and prayers, srilakshmi ALAGHARU regards ganapathy "T.S.Ramachandran" <tsramachandraniyer wrote:Dear Brothers, I read the messages about the chanting of Durga Suktam by women. I would like to know whether women (ladies of Brahmin community) can chant Sri Suktham just like LS, Mahalakshmi Ashtakam etc, as one panditji of Durga Mandir advised to chant SriSuktham for prosperity. Please direct us to the right path. Ohm Mathre Namah: Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus. AUM shrImAtre namaH AUM namaH shivAya AUM namaH shivAbhyAm Archives : http://www.ambaa.org/ (Edited) : /messages// Contact : help Ganapathy --- Vijaya " Jai Bhavani " - - - - " Jai Sri Lalitha Maha Maha Tripura Sundari " " Sarvam Shakti Mayam Jagathu " Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now AUM shrImAtre namaH AUM namaH shivAya AUM namaH shivAbhyAm Archives : http://www.ambaa.org/ (Edited) : /messages// Contact : help Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now Ganapathy --- Vijaya " Jai Bhavani " - - - - " Jai Sri Lalitha Maha Maha Tripura Sundari " " Sarvam Shakti Mayam Jagathu " Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. 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Guest guest Posted January 26, 2003 Report Share Posted January 26, 2003 thank you, thank you! for this divine post sree Vijaya ganapathy. It brought tears to my eyes. (ananda kaneer- tears of joy and ecstasy) ! YES, we must accept whatever Devi gives us. That is the hallmark of a superior devotee. In fact, in devi mahatmiyam, the concluding phrase in chapter 13. is " do as you please." Here, the devotee requests the devi to do as she pleases which means Devi is in charge not the devotee! a true seeker does not even ask for liberation or mukthi. In fact, the only thing a real bhakta asks devi is 'let me not forget thee'. this is the bhava of the superior devotee. thank you vijaya, once again! please keep posting such devotional posts. om sreematre namaha! , ganapathy vijaya <srividya101> wrote: > > > · Sub : " NISHKAMYA BHAKTI " > > > > "Bhakti" can be defined as a total dedication or devotion or to set apart or religious earnestness or religious exercises for a purpose or with out a purpose to the God. > > For an ever wanting average human beings generally the purposes are materialistic in nature or may be a prayer for a particular favour from GOD, in which case it may be termed as a Khamya Bhakti, to get a desired result. While there is nothing wrong to ask the Supreme for a favour , the pit fall is that the wanting person himself, does not know what he truly needs , due to constant change in his thinking. (which is only Constant) Therefore it is best that one should aim and cultivate to do the Prayers for the Prayer's sake without any expectation and leave it to HER, as Iswara knows what Best to give/not to give. To a greater extent Iswara has already awarded us the fruits of our KARMIC actions through Her divine Karmic Laws. > > Such a devotion may be called a Nishkamya Bhakti . This would lead us to a state of "PRASADA BHUDDHI" as we would be receptive and GLADLY accept all the problems as we enjoy the pleasures of our lives. This is symbolically done in our temples when we receive as prasadam, may be a leaf or flower or water or a Laddu or even a great feast. The philosophy behind this is that We should accept all the different prasads with equal respect anything which comes from God with out giving relative importance to a Laddu over a leaf or water and that is what we do also. This also explains that good and bad are from the supreme coming as prasad and is of equal in nature. When one cultivates such a prasada budddhi the Chitta becomes clear through constant prayers and the person starts getting the grace of God to understand the true nature of one self as per the claim of our Maha Vakyas like " AHAM BRAHMASMI, TATAVAMASI,PRAG GYANAM BRAHMA,AYAMATMA BRAHAMA ". > What " Kanchi MAHA Perival " says about devotion. > > > HE says that all religious tradition have one purpose, to elevate the man by freeing him from the cares and worries. A human being has worries that are not shared by other creatures. So all the faiths speak in one voice that one will be rid of his cares if he goes for refuge to the Great Power which rules all the activities. Bhakti or devotion is a feature common to all the schools of thought such as advaita,Dvaita,Vishistadvaita,Saiva siddanta,Christianity,Islam etc. > > While the Jnanis have laid stress on inquiry into Self as a means Of liberation or moksha ,the followers themselves celebrate theses Jnanis so much that one may conclude that Bhakti is an in born characteristic of man and is an organic part of him. > > Bhakti in the advaita system implies adopting an attitude of non difference between the worshipper and the worshipped and the devotee must look upon himself as not different from Iswara. But a question arises that the devotee who worships the omnipotent and the omniscient has only a limited strength and knowledge and how can both be the same. But the question also arises " does God regard as being different from himself ! If the creation is different from that of the created the next logical question is Who created God. If we think on these lines it will become clear that the one and only PARAMATMAN exists in various forms like the water in a spoon or pond or in an ocean which is the same everywhere. But the realisation of this non dualistic truth is through a quest which must culminate in actual experience got with the grace of Iswara. > > Even in the initial stages when we feel that Iswara and his devotee are separate, we must try to cultivate the awareness even if it is to a small degree that the Paramatman who appears as Iswawara is the same as paramatman that has become "us". Our love for the Lord will be more intense in such an approach. After all ,is there anything or anyone we love more than ourselves. The more devotion or the Bhakti we show in response to our devotion She will deign to reveal Her true nature to us. Countless are the attributes of Iswara that bespeak his surpassing beauty and auspicious qualities and a devotee find constant delight in contemplating. > > > > In our Sanatana Dharma alone among all religions it reveals the one and only godhead in many different forms suited to to ones mental make up and is thus helped to come closer to the lord with his true love and devotion. These different forms are not the creation of anyone's imagination. The Paramatman has revealed himself in these forms to great men and they had close contact so to speak with the deities so revealed. Such great men whom we call as the" RISHIES" being the Mantra Drishtas have given us the Beeja Mantras to accomplish this and also have prescribed the manner in which the divine forms, whose vision they have had, are to be adored. > Some of the Namavali of lalitha Sahasranama dealing with Bhakti. > > > · Bhakta sowbhagya Dayini > > > > The Devi who gives all prosperity to Her devotees as her nature itself is sowbhagyam. > > · Bhakta manasa hamsika > > > > The Devi who floats like a Hamsa in the mind's of the Bhakta which is like a lake. > > The "ka" also denotes that she is not visible to a non-bhakta. > > · Bhakta Nidhihi > > > > She who is like a an inexhaustible treasure to a devotee and she who grants all the four purusharthas to a devotee. > > · Bhakta chitta kaki Ghana Ghana > > > > When the peacocks see the the dark clouds approaching them, they instantaneously become happy and dance merrily. Like wise the bhaktas are compared to a peacock and Devi to the clouds meaning that the bhaktas become immensely happy on seeing Devi and immediately reach the Samadhi status . > > · Bhakti Priya > > > > For a serious Devi devotee doing the upasana gets Her Grace. > > There are two types of bhakti known as MUKYA and SAMANYAM (KOWNI). The former denotes anuraga - the state of mind immersed in devi. > > In Narada Bhakti Sutra the nature of a TRUE DEVOTEE is described as one who is EGO LESS, totally contented without any selfishness and forgetting oneself as he is always mentally attached to the Godhead. > > · Bhakti Ghamya > > > > She reveals Her self through the Upasana to a bhakta. > > · Bhakti Vashya > > > > She can be only controlled through the Bhakti and nothing other than Bhakti is relevant to Her. > > In our scriptures it is worth reading in this context the episodes of Kannappa Nayanar,Dhurva Charithram,Gajendra Moksham,Prahalada charitram,Sabari Moksham, Kuchela upakyana. In contrast we can also compare how the manmatha was burnt when his misguided bhakti was aimed at Shiva. > Devi also takes the true Bhakti ignoring the weaknesses of the devotee. > I think this is a great consolation for a devotee like me. > > · Bhaktimat kalpa Latika > > > > Devi is compared to the Kalpaka flag which gives everything ( like the Kamadhenu ) which the devotee wants. Another meaning is even when the devotee lacks pari poorna bhakti SHE would make the bhakti to grow ,develop and mature . another meaning is She is like the KASTURI creeper to a devotee which gives out a very sweet smell and immense satisfaction. > The Bhakti has been discussed in other scriptures also. Some of which ; > In Brahma Sutram ( chap3 -2-24), in Bhagvat Gita (chap 11 - 54),santokya Upanishad (Chap 2-23-2),in Chandilya sutra,in Nithya tantra,in Jaimini sutra,in Vivka Chudamani (32 & 33 sloka),in Sivananda Lahari (sloka 61) in Lalitha Trishati and so on. > > In viveka chudamani Adi sankara says that the most important equipment to attain the "MOKSHA" or the self realisation is through Bhakti with the help of which there is a continuous contemplation of the Self with the Supreme. In the Sivananda Lahari the Bagavat pada says about the lakshana of bhakti compared to a magnetic needle which always positions itself to a particular direction,like a river which orients to the sea,like a Kodi Maram (flag post),like a chaste woman , a Bhakta's mind is ever attuned to the SUPREME. > > Therefore the True Secret to attain the "BHOGA AND MOKSHA" is to contemplate through a "nishkamya bhakti " on LALITHA PARA BATTARIKA with all the weaknesses one possess by virtue of his earlier karmic deeds. SHE knows what is good and bad for the devotee and let us accept as PRASAD whatever SHE gives us. > > > > GANAPATHY = = VIJAYA > > srilakshmi alagharu <salagharu> wrote: > om sri ganeshaya namaha > > > >i think if any woman sincerely chants lailtha sahasranama >daily with Nishkamya bhakti bhava , such a devotee would be >prosperous with out even asking HER as devi is "Bhoga -- >Moksha Dayini". > > > in your above text you have written about nishkamya bhakti bhava. could you explain more about this. > > whenever i offer my prayers to god, my mind wanders a lot thinking about the things i need to do for the day. i try very hard and with little success. i guess i need more discipline. > > can you also tell what should be the manner in which a bhakta prays, ie some people say that while offering prayers one must not expect anything in return. > > with regards and prayers, > > srilakshmi ALAGHARU > > regards > ganapathy > "T.S.Ramachandran" <tsramachandraniyer> wrote:Dear Brothers, > > I read the messages about the chanting of Durga Suktam > by women. I would like to know whether women (ladies > of Brahmin community) can chant Sri Suktham just like > LS, Mahalakshmi Ashtakam etc, as one panditji of Durga > Mandir advised to chant SriSuktham for prosperity. > > Please direct us to the right path. > > Ohm Mathre Namah: > > > > > Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. > http://mailplus. > > > Sponsor > > AUM shrImAtre namaH > AUM namaH shivAya > AUM namaH shivAbhyAm > > Archives : http://www.ambaa.org/ (Edited) > : /messages// > > Contact : help@a... > > Terms of Service. > > > > Ganapathy --- Vijaya > > " Jai Bhavani " - - - - " Jai Sri Lalitha Maha Maha Tripura Sundari " > > " Sarvam Shakti Mayam Jagathu " > > > > > > Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now > > > > > > > Sponsor > > > > AUM shrImAtre namaH > AUM namaH shivAya > AUM namaH shivAbhyAm > > Archives : http://www.ambaa.org/ (Edited) > : /messages// > > Contact : help@a... > > Terms of Service. > > > > > > > Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now > > > Ganapathy --- Vijaya > > " Jai Bhavani " - - - - " Jai Sri Lalitha Maha Maha Tripura Sundari " > > " Sarvam Shakti Mayam Jagathu " > > > > > > Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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