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

Miscellaneous

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Religion

 

 

Devotion to God that becomes end in itself

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHENNAI, JAN. 10. Devotion to God has been described as the royal road to

salvation by a saint. While there are many means to liberation prescribed by the

scriptures this one has been given the pride of place because it is favoured by

the Lord Himself. When the Almighty is realised by dint of performance of

penance and austerities, the end is the fruit of labour; whereas in devotion the

Lord becomes both the means and the end as love forges an eternal bond between

God and His devotee. It is no wonder that it is often stressed by saints that

God becomes a slave of His devotee as there is no recompense to true love.

 

This can be seen even in day-to-day life. While the master does not bother about

an ox which toils day in and day out for him in his fields, he lavishes his

affection on his pet dog which does not do anything except adore him. Likewise,

a spiritual seeker who adopts the laborious route of rigorous austerities

realises God by the sweat of his brow. In the case of the devotee who adopts

devotion with the objective of attaining liberation from bondage, he develops

such overwhelming love for God as his devotion takes root that it becomes end in

itself. He revels in his experience of God and His glory that the goal of

liberation loses its meaning to him. And it is to such a devotee that the

Supreme One becomes a slave.

 

In his discourse, Sri Muralidhara Swami said there were different types of

devotees. Like the fledgling which does not know how to fend for itself and

depends on its mother for food a class of devotees depends on God to show the

way. The other type is indolent and does not actively express his devotion to

God though he is well-versed in the spiritual lore, similar to the calf which

knows that its mother cow is the source of its sustenance but remains tethered

without making effort to run to its mother. The outstanding form of devotion is

that in which the devotee exists only for the sake of God. The Gopis of

Brindavan exemplify this form of devotion.

 

Drawn by the call of Lord Krishna's flute these simple cowherd maidens abandoned

their hearths and homes to be with Him. Blasphemous if viewed from a worldly

perspective. But, who are those who went on record saying that they could take a

leaf out of the Gopi's book? Bhisma who earned this name because of his vow of

celibacy. Sukacharya who was a born sage. Then that dear friend and sterling

devotee of Lord Krishna, Uddhava. After Uddhava visited the Gopis and saw for

himself their unalloyed devotion to the Lord, he became their devotee instead by

partaking the dust of their feet.

 

 

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