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

 

Sincere service pleases Lord

 

CHENNAI, NOV. 14. Given the choice of either reaching God's

kingdom or proceeding to hell, every human being will only be

eager to opt for the former. But going to heaven will mean the

observance in one's life of spiritual discipline. On the other

hand, almost everyone will be committing wrong for which he or

she has to undergo punishment. How then can one aim to reach

heaven? God Himself has prescribed the method.

 

``There are three fatal doors leading to hell, viz, lust, anger

and avarice. So, those who are desirous of eternal well-being

should shun them. Delivered from those dark hell-doors, a man

should search for his own good, then he will attain eternal

bliss, the highest of human existence.'' Scriptures have placed

before man the steps which will ensure that he thinks, speaks and

does only good and avoids taking to bad ways.

 

Obedience to divine ordinances, meditation, prayers, worship of

idols in temples and pilgrimages are some of the injunctions.

Offering obeisance to the Divine Couple will fetch all benefits,

as the Divine Mother, in particular the embodiment of compassion,

will confer prosperity.

 

The Mahabharatam mentions how a butcher acquired extraordinary

spiritual powers not by studying, but only by sincerely attending

on his aged parents, providing them with all comforts and

pleasing them. A woman too displayed her greatness by serving her

husband. Another instance of genuine service was that of a boy

who was taking care of his parents. God wanted to test him and

knocked at his door, but he made God wait, asking Him to stand on

a brick slab till he completed his duty towards his parents. Even

today, the Lord stands in this posture (in a idol form) in

Pandarpur.

 

Sri Sankaracharya of Sakatapuram in a discourse referred to

certain procedures to be observed when devotees go to temples.

The sentries (Dwarapalakas) are to be worshipped and their formal

permission obtained. In the sanctum sanctorum, only the priest is

entitled to offer puja on behalf of devotees as he alone is duly

qualified, according to the Agamas.A story is told of a person

belonging to the backward class who wondered why he could not get

in. The priest who was in a dilemma advised him to go through

rigorous religious observances for six months, reducing his

intake (food) gradually and always chanting a mantra. The

enthusiast followed the instructions and God did come out and

give him darshan, a privilege that was denied even to those who

frequented the shrine.

 

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