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

 

Human birth, rare to obtain

 

CHENNAI, MARCH 1. Among the innumerable species of living beings

only human beings are equipped with the capacity of

discrimination. Hence man alone has been vested with the freedom

of choice; he can discriminate between right and wrong and eschew

that which are not conducive for his well being. While a moral

life is the basic requirement of a civilised and cultured person,

there is yet another fundamental feature exclusive to human

beings - realisation of their spiritual nature and the capacity

to actualise this potential in this birth.

 

It is no wonder then that all great saints have without fail

underscored the fact that human birth should not be frittered

away on materialistic pursuits. Bhattatri in his hymn

Narayaneeyam says categorically that it is rare to be born as a

human being and hence it becomes imperative that it should be put

to optimum use. Those who have been privileged to be born as

human beings tend to take it for granted without pausing to think

that this birth is a wonderful opportunity which may not come

their way again as there is no guarantee about the nature of the

next birth.

 

The saint further notes that the individual who has understood

the purpose of his birth and has resorted to chanting the Divine

name and glory of God has realised the fruit of his birth. Adi

Sankara has in his hymn Bhaja Govindam emphasised the importance

of cultivating devotion to God by chanting His names which are

enshrined in hymns like the Vishnu Sahasranama and also by

imbibing His teachings in the Bhagavad Gita.

 

In his discourse, Sri M. R. Nagasubramanian said that the

scriptures have declared that it was easier to realise God in

this Kali age than in the other eras. While in the previous ages

it was possible to realise God only by penance and performance of

austerities, it is possible to realise Him easily by chanting His

names in this age. Though it has become increasingly difficult to

follow the scriptural injunctions now, the method to realise God

has also been made easy to suit the nature of this age, so much

so, it has been stated that only those who have earned spiritual

merit are born in this Kali yuga.

 

The Gopika Gitam in the Bhagavata Purana which is in the form of

prayer by the cowherd maidens to Lord Krishna states that only

those who are blessed develop inclination to hear and chant the

glory of the Lord. Human life in the world has been described

metaphorically as a journey from the womb to the tomb and as it

is evident that no one can escape death, it becomes imperative

that one has to make an effort to put an end to rebirth by

realising God in this birth itself.

 

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[Guest guest]

> Human birth, rare to obtain

>

> Bhattatri in his

> hymn

> Narayaneeyam says categorically that it is rare to

> be born as a

> human being and hence it becomes imperative that it

> should be put

> to optimum use. Those who have been privileged to be

> born as

> human beings tend to take it for granted without

> pausing to think

> that this birth is a wonderful opportunity which may

> not come

> their way again as there is no guarantee about the

> nature of the

> next birth.

>

A contemporary of Sri Narayana Bhattadiri was Sri

Poonthanam. Sri Poonthanam was a great Bhaktha of Sri

Guruvayoorappan (Sri Krishna). Since he did not know

Sanskrit, he composed his masterpiece Jnanappana in

Malayalam. Having heard of the greatness of Sri

Narayana Bhattadiri, he wanted to get his work

certified by him and went to meet him at Guruvayoor.

However Sri Narayana Bhattadidri was not very kind to

Sri Poonthanam since his work was not in sanskrit. Sri

Bhattadiri also pointed out grammatical corrections in

his Malayalam work. Having heard all this criticism,

Poonthanam went away with a sad heart.

However Bhattadiri heard a voice, " I prefer

Poonthanam's Bhakthi to your Vibhakthi (i.e.

grammar)!"

Sri Bhattadiri realizing that it was the Lord Himself

speaking, hastened to Sri Poonthanam and sought his

forgiveness.

Jnanappana also reminds us, that having crawled in the

mud as worms for so many births, after having stood as

trees for so many births, after having roamed the

forests as beasts, after all this , we have got this

rare human birth. Therefore it should not go as a

waste.

Every morning both the Narayaneeyam of Bhattadiri and

Jnanappana of Poonthanam are played starting at 2:30

am at the Guruvayoor temple.

 

Anand

 

>

 

 

 

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