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

 

Devotion enhances experience of God

 

CHENNAI, JAN. 25. Experiencing the bliss of God-realisation is

the goal of the different means described by the scriptures for

attaining liberation. That it is an end to be realised ``here''

and ``now'' gives devotional mysticism the pride of place in

spiritual lore. It is said that even those sages who adopted the

path of knowledge (Jnana Yoga) were enthralled with the sports of

Lord Krishna during his childhood and have composed hymns

embodying their mystic experiences.

 

The case of Periazhwar who looked upon Lord Krishna as his child

is well-known and he has extensively described all the routine

acts that a mother does for her baby and out of ``Vatsalya'' (a

mother's love for her child) blesses the Lord in his hymn. In the

Bhagavata Purana also Sage Suka figures as one who revelled in

listening to the Lila (divine sports) of Lord Krishna though he

is described as an embodiment of a Jnani.

 

The absolute monism of the Vedantic experience in his case pales

in the light of his absorption in Lord Krishna's Lilas. The canto

describing the advent of Lord Krishna has come to be considered

as the crowning glory of the Purana. The instance of Lilasukha is

an enduring example to devotees who see devotion to their

personal form of God as an end in itself.

 

In his Krishnakarnamrtum Lilasukha says with candour, ``Let those

who study Vedanta do so, we will enthral our minds by listening

to the deeds of the babe of Yashoda.'' It is significant to note

that he was also a Vedantin. So the message that comes across

from these instances loud and clear is that spiritual pursuit

must end in experience of God and devotion heightens this

experience by maintaining the distinction between God and devotee

which gives rise to different forms of devotional mysticism.

 

In his discourse, Paranur Sri Krishna Premi said that Suka who

remained absorbed in the bliss of the Absolute, expressed keen

interest in partaking the experiences and privileges Yashoda had

as the Lord's mother. Extolling the merit of listening to the

exposition of the deeds of the Lord, the Bhagavata Purana says

that Suka told Pareekshit, ``A good enquiry has been made by

you... through listening to the narrative of the Lord again and

again, you lend it a new charm... The story of Sri Krishna (the

immortal Lord) appears quite new to devotees every moment even

though their speech, ears and mind are devoted to Him alone.''

 

The greatness of this manifestation of the Almighty must be seen

from the fact that the Lord by His divine sports has enabled the

laity to experience Him which otherwise is possible only for

sages and mystics.

 

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