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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com)

 

Exceptional form of devotional mysticism

 

CHENNAI, AUG. 10.The Bhagavata Purana is revered in the spiritual

tradition as the fruit of the Vedas, which is compared to an

evergreen wish-fulfilling tree. This analogy is used in the

Purana itself to indicate that this scriptural text is the

quintessence of all the Vedas. Study of the Vedas is undertaken

with the objective of getting liberation from bondage by

realising God. So if that goal can be fulfilled by perusing this

text alone then it becomes easy for a spiritual aspirant to

evolve. Like the fruit which ripens on its own accord in the tree

and falls down from the branch, this Purana also has come down to

us from the Lord Himself through the sages and the version as

expounded by Sage Suka to King Pareekshit is actually a

confluence enriched by two lineages.

 

Further, a great mystic like Suka who was always steeped in the

ecstasy of spiritual union related every incident in it from his

experience of the truths enunciated in it. Traditionally, the

mellowness of this work is compared to a fruit tasted by the

parrot. It is for this reason that the Bhagavata has a singular

status among the Puranas revered by both the devotee and the

realised man of wisdom. Scholarship is not the criterion for

perusing the work; only devotion to God and Divine grace will

enable a person to benefit from the work. The result of listening

and reading the Bhagavata is enhancing devotion to Lord Krishna.

 

In his discourse, Sri B. Sundar Kumar said even if a person was

privileged to listen to the glory of God from a realised person

once, then he seeks this experience again and again. Such is the

glory of the potency of the Divine name. This insight was given

by a Gopi to Uddhava when Lord Krishna sent him to Gokul with

messages to the cowherd women and His foster parents when He was

in Mathura. The lives of these simple folks revolved round

Krishna and from the moment Akrura took Him and Balarama to

Mathura, they had consoled themselves by relating to each other

His divine deeds. The Lord knew the agony they went through due

to separation from Him and it was to provide solace to them that

He had despatched His dear friend Uddhava to them.

 

The exchange between the Gopi and Udhhava is in a rare mode of

devotional mysticism in which devotion is expressed in the form

of a reprimand which is possible only when the devotee has

evolved to a stage wherein he can take such liberties with the

Lord. Comparing Lord Krishna to a black honey bee which flits

from flower to flower deserting one as soon as it has tasted the

nectar in it, the Gopi rebuked Him as unfaithful for leaving them

in the lurch.

 

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