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

 

Company of saints enhances devotion

 

CHENNAI, MAY 19. The recurring theme of the scriptural texts is

the necessity of devotion to God which not only confers material

benefits necessary to lead a fulfilled life in the world but also

for realising the ultimate goal of liberation from bondage which

is responsible for rebirths. Saints and preceptors of the

different spiritual traditions have composed various hymns on God

to highlight how devotion can be cultivated by perusing such

hymns which are at once highly philosophical in import thus

enabling the aspirant to develop discrimination and detachment

necessary to progress spiritually.

 

Adi Sankara who has advocated the path of knowledge (Jnana) as

the means to liberation in his philosophical works has composed

many hymns on different deities to satisfy the devotional urge of

man. By doing this he has blended knowledge and devotion in the

sphere of practical religion and his Bhaja Govindam is a fine

example of this approach. The beauty of this hymn is that it

conveys abstract philosophical truth in a simple fashion which

even a lay person can understand.

 

This hymn in 26 verses according to tradition is supposed to have

been composed by Sankara when he happened to chance upon a

scholar committing grammar to rote memory. Out of great

compassion that he was frittering away valuable time which could

be better utilised for enhancing devotion to God, he

spontaneously burst into song praising the glory of Govinda. The

hymn thus has the tone of despondency of one who regrets having

wasted his life without developing devotion to God. The first 12

verses are attributed to him and the remaining to his disciples

who also taking up the same refrain emphasise the transient

nature of worldly life.

 

In his discourse, Sri M.K. Venkatraman said that Padmapada,

Sankara's disciple, highlighted in one of the verses of this hymn

the elevating nature of the company of saints and devotees. He

laments that the majority of time available at one's disposal is

spent in materialistic pursuits which instead of enhancing

devotion to God, only foment desires. Attachment to kith and kin

and obsession with one's occupation to the extent of neglecting

devotional pursuits in the long run will be counterproductive to

spiritual progress. Thotakacharya in a satirical fashion in a

verse takes a dig at those who pass off as monks but do not have

the necessary spiritual bent of mind and detachment which is only

making mockery of an institution which is held in great regard

and reverence. This verse underscores that spiritual life is

ultimately an inner mental transformation which should take a

person towards God.

 

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