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

Miscellaneous

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Religion

 

 

Different manifestations of devotion to God

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHENNAI, DEC. 19. Saints have emphasised the importance of devotion as it is

eminently suitable for anyone, efficacious and easier to adopt than the other

prescribed means to liberation from bondage. This can be seen from the fact that

the Bhagavata Purana which was written by Veda Vyasa after he had finished all

the others, highlighted devotion to the Lord and His glory as the main themes.

It was devotion which enabled Narayana Bhattatiri to compose the Narayaneeyam

which is a condensation of the Bhagavata Purana. A unique feature of this

devotional hymn is the manner in which it came to be written. He was crippled by

paralysis having transferred it from his preceptor out of his devotion for him

and on the suggestion that the Lord of Guruvayur alone could relieve his

suffering started composing a canto of 10 verses about the incarnations of the

Lord everyday.

 

He was not only cured of his ailment but also blessed with His vision which he

has described in this hymn, ``I see before me a bluish radiance which is as

captivating as a thick array of blue lily flowers...'' Moreover, as he composed

the work sitting inside the shrine before the image, the Lord acknowledged his

description. According to the Sthalapuranam of the Guruvayur temple the Krishna

idol in the temple is the same image worshipped by Lord Krishna's parents

Vasudeva and Devaki, which the Lord had given to Uddhava. The idol was washed

away when the sea entered Dwaraka after Krishna left the Earth. This image was

retrieved from the ocean and installed in the place which has been named

Guruvayur after Brihaspati (Guru) and Vayu (wind-god) who found the image.

 

In his discourse, Therazhundur Sri A. Ramabadran said Bhattatiri has highlighted

different ways of devotion manifested in the lives of devotees. The efficacy of

chanting the Divine name is illustrated by the life of Ajamila. He was pious in

his youth but happened to fall into bad ways. He uttered the name of his child

``Narayana'' while breathing his last and was granted liberation though he had

not intentionally chanted the Divine name. The merit of penance as a method for

realising God is portrayed in Dhruva's life. His one-pointed pursuit of the

objective of envisioning God by penance when he was just five years old is a

lesson for anyone who pursues the spiritual path. The spiritual merit of

performing certain austerities can be seen in the life of King Ambarisha who

earned God's grace by fasting on Ekadasi. The life of Gajendra, the king of

elephants, shows that the Lord comes to the succour of His devotee when he is in

distress.

 

 

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