SIVANANDA DAILY READING FOR 11 JUNE

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SIVANANDA DAILY READING FOR 11 JUNE

WORSHIP

 

A devotee repeats the mantra (mystic formula) of the Lord during

worship and touches his heart, his head, tuft of hair, arms and

hands. There is caitanya (consciousness, power) in every letter of

the mantra. Through repetition of the mantra and the touching of the

parts of the body with the repetition of the mantra, the aspirant is

gradually divinised. There is spiritual awakening. Spiritual currents

are generated - tamas (inertia) and rajas (impurity) are destroyed

and he is filled with pure satva (purity). He becomes identical with

the object of worship. He attains the same world of, or proximity

with, or the same form of, or absorption into, the Lord.

 

For a sage there is no such thing as insentient matter. Everything is

Vasudeva or caitanya. The devotee actually beholds the Lord in the

idol. But the worship does not stop there. The sadhaka (seeker) is

taken step by step to higher stages of devotion and samadhi (or

communion) through the worship of the idol. Though he worships the

idol, he has to keep before his mental eye the all-pervading Lord. He

has to feel the Lord's presence in his heart and in all objects also.

 

The ways and rules of worship, described in the Hindu scriptures are

scientifically accurate and highly rational. It is only ignorant

people who have not studied the scriptures, who have not associated

with the devotees and great souls, that vilify worship of idols or

murtis.

 

The aspirant who worships the idol in the beginning, beholds the Lord

everywhere and develops para bhakti (supreme devotion); he beholds

the whole world as the Lord. All ideas of good and bad, right and

wrong, etc., vanish. His vision baffles description. Glory to such

exalted devotees who are veritable gods on earth, who live to lift

others from the quagmire of samsara (world-existence) and save them

from the clutches of death.

 

Tulsidas realised the all-pervading essence. He had cosmic

consciousness. He communed with the all-pervading, formless Lord. And

yet his passion for Lord Rama, with bow in hand, did not vanish. When

he went to Brindavan, and saw the murti of Lord Krishna, with flute

in hand, he said: "I will not bow my head to this form". At once the

form of Lord Krishna assumed the form of Lord Rama. Then only

Tulsidas bowed his head. Mira also realised her identity with the all-

pervading Krishna and yet she never tired of repeating, again and

again, "My Giridhar Nagar".