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Source: thThe Hindu

(http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/05/31/stories/2002053100610800.htm)

 

Miscellaneous

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Religion

 

 

Lord always stands by oppressed devotees

 

 

 

 

CHENNAI

MAY 31

 

.. By no stretch of imagination can anyone accuse God of being partial. Full of

auspicious qualities only, it is impossible even to think that He shows hatred

towards some and that He too is inimical or that He favours a chosen few.

However a deep study of our sacred texts will reveal that He is certainly aware

of the sufferings of His devotees, who are being constantly tortured by evil

forces, who are determined to disturb their peaceful avocations. When such pious

men's interests are in jeopardy, God will not tolerate and will go to any extent

to protect them. In the Mahabharata, the Lord, who declined the hospitality of

the wicked Duryodhana, says that men, who harbour animosity towards those who

have reposed their confidence in Him, are His enemies. Thus the Lord has no

direct enmity towards anyone. Likewise God is so powerful that He need not

depend on help from external agencies to punish the wrongdoers. Why then should

He accept arms from Sages Viswamitra and Agastya (!

as in the Ramayana)? It is common knowledge that in His incarnations God was

only playing the role of an ordinary human being (as in a drama) and secondly it

was but just that when enlightened seers offer help it should not be declined.

It is His firm declaration that He would always stand by the oppressed devotees

who have sought refuge in Him, come what may. As Rama, He adds that He may

sacrifice His own life, that of Sita too and even Lakshmana, but will not go

back on His promise to save those who depend on Him.

 

One of the truths spelt out in the days of the Ramayana, which still holds good,

is that flatterers abound everywhere and they will not mind tendering bad advice

since they are not concerned with the consequences to be faced by those who are

carried away by their sycophancy. But people who do good by daring to speak even

unpalatable words are rare and they will not mind what will happen to them for

their plain-speaking. Sane counsel tastes bitter to those who head for their

ruin. Sri R. Aravamudhan, in his discourse, mentioned how the demon, Maricha,

who shuddered at the very name of Rama, advised Ravana, when he unfolded the

plan to abduct Sita, to desist from this futile attempt and not invite ruin upon

himself. But as a man's thinking faculty gets blunt when doom awaits him, Ravana

rejected his genuine plea and commanded him to do or die.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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