Article sent from The Hindu on indiaserver.com

[Guest guest]

=============================================================

This article is emailed to you by Ram Chandran ( rchandran )

=============================================================

Source: The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com)

 

Devotion merits divine grace

 

CHENNAI, NOV. 25. It is imperative that after being privileged to

be born as a human being, a person should deliberate on the goal

of life in the world. If he does not make efforts to evolve

spiritually which is the object of human birth then a rare

opportunity is lost and there is no guarantee that such a chance

will come again. So a wise person does not fritter his energy in

the pursuit of material ends as he is bound to enjoy all that is

his due according to his previous deeds.

 

When the purpose of life is understood then the aspirant must

orient all his actions towards realising the spiritual end which

involves upholding certain values as outlined in the scriptures.

Hurdles and distractions are bound to be there and it is very

easy to slip and hence it is very important to be focussed on the

goal all the time. Lord Krishna has reiterated the importance of

striving ceaselessly without giving up till the end is realised.

Self-control and diligence necessary to realise the spiritual

goal have been exemplified by the Lord Himself during His

incarnations in human form.

 

In his discourse, Sengalipuram Sri N.Babu Dikshitar said that the

unlettered cowherd maidens (Gopis) were blessed with the supreme

wisdom which was difficult to attain even by the performance of

severe austerities because of their unalloyed devotion to Lord

Krishna. The ultimate spiritual experience is possible only due

to divine grace.

 

This truth is evident from the manner in which the Gopis were

singled out by the Lord for blessing them with the vision of His

divine form and not the others in Gokul. The strains of His flute

were heard only by them and not by the others and in their

single-minded devotion to Lord Krishna they forgot all their

worldly preoccupations and rushed to His presence. They merited

it because of their devotion.

 

This episode is of esoteric significance which can be appreciated

only if one has the mystical temperament to understand the

dynamics of mystical devotion. The Bhagavata Purana says that a

person who listens to this episode is blessed with supreme

wisdom. Another devotee who received His grace was Akrura.

 

When Akrura was sent by Kamsa to fetch Krishna and Balarama to

Mathura he was perturbed about Kamsa's evil intention but at the

same time he thanked Providence for his luck, ``What noble act

has been performed, what supreme austerity has been gone through

or what gift has been bestowed on a worthy recipient by me, by

virtue of which I am going to behold Sri Krishna?'' And in

anticipation of meeting Him this great devotee saw the Lord

everywhere on the way to Gokul.

 

Copyrights: 2000 The Hindu & Tribeca Internet Initiatives Inc.

 

Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly

prohibited without the consent of The Hindu & Tribeca Internet Initiatives Inc.