Divinities

[Guest guest]

Revered members of the Bhakti group:

 

At this time when we are discussing various divinities in the

Hindu pantheon, the following famous episode from MahAbhAratA might

provide a useful analogy.

 

Drona wanted to demonstrate the one-pointedness and concentration of

Arjuna to the rest of the Pandava/Kaurava (PK) clan. The eye of a

dummy bird placed on a tree was set as a target. As each member

of the PK group took their position, Drona wanted each one to

explain what the person saw on the tree apart from the target. We

all know that with the exception of Arjuna all others saw a host

of other things on the tree (including the tree itself!).

 

Clearly, this episode demonstrates the necessity of single-minded

devotion to our target and our target only. Focusing on other

things, however important they are, will serve as a distraction.

However, we can also see that in order to be able to focus our mind

on the target alone, it is not necessary to cut the tree and all the

other things and throw them away. In fact, this might result in us

losing the target.

 

In my humble opinion, the wielder of the bow (Arjuna) is

each and everyone of us, the arrow is our mind/heart, and the target

is Sriman Naaraayanaa's feet.

 

adiyEn,

govind rengarajan