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

 

Service to God, an end in itself

 

CHENNAI, JAN. 12. Performance of service to the Almighty

eternally is considered an end in itself like devotion to Him and

the eternal souls have the privilege of serving the Lord in His

transcendental abode. An example of exemplary service that

readily comes to mind is that of Adisesha's (the serpent couch)

on whom the Lord reclines. According to the Puranic tradition,

during God's manifestation as Rama, Adisesha was born as His

younger brother Lakshmana. His service to Rama has become the

ideal to be emulated in the spiritual tradition.

 

The example of Lakshmana has been pointed out by one of the

sterling devotees of Lord Rama, Thyagaraja, in one of his

compositions. Service to God (Kainkarya) must not be done as a

matter of routine or as duty or with the motive of getting some

material benefit. It is unalloyed devotion, love for the Supreme

which blossoms into service. For those who have not attained such

heights of devotion, examples of devotees whose service to the

Lord have been outlined in the scriptural texts serve to enhance

their devotion to God for His own sake.

 

In his discourse, Kalyanapuram Sri R. Aravamudan said that

Sumitra's advice to Lakshmana when he accompanied Rama to the

forest drew attention to the role he had assumed during the

Lord's incarnation. ``You have been permitted by me to dwell in

the forest with your brother. Do not neglect, my son, the service

of Rama whom you are accompanying. He alone is your refuge,

whether in adversity or in affluent circumstances. Know Rama as

Dasaratha (your father), look upon Sita as myself (your mother)

and esteem the forest as Ayodhya (your home)...''

 

That Lakshmana never stayed away from Rama and served Him and

Sita with great care during their sojourn in the forest for 14

long years are common knowledge but it was his attitude of total

submission to Rama which is important from the standpoint of a

devotee. In the episode in which Valmiki describes their arrival

in Panchavati the poet draws attention to Lakshmana's singular

trait of selfless service to his brother. Rama asked him, ``Since

you are a man of insight, cast an eye all around the forest. At

which place will a hermitage be acceptable to us?''

 

Lakshmana supplicated to Rama, ``So long as You are present... I

am dependent only. Therefore tell me of your own accord to erect

a hut at a place which is agreeable to You.'' Such an attitude of

total submission to do His bidding by submitting to the divine

will totally, which is one of the forms of devotional mysticism

(master-servant relationship), is highlighted by Andal in one of

the verses of her hymn, Tiruppavai.

 

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