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Source: thThe Hindu

(http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/07/24/stories/2002072400510800.htm)

 

Miscellaneous

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Religion

  

 

Devotee, dear to the Lord

 

 

 

 

CHENNAI

JULY 24

 

.. God never forsakes His devotee and He is the closest and dearest to him. When

there is a misunderstanding between husband and wife they desert one another; so

do the children when they do not see eye to eye with their parents; even friends

may leave a person when there is a tiff but when one scolds the Lord, He will

not abandon His devotee and on the other hand come to his aid. Who realised this

truth? Draupadi indeed, when all her five valiant husbands stood helplessly in

the assembly of elders, who remained mute spectators to the atrocity committed

by Dussasana at Duryodana's instance. Giving up all attempts to protect herself

she remembered that in times of grave danger only God would help her and

appealed to Lord Krishna. He protected her modesty even though He did not come

in person much to the astonishment of all who were witness to the miracle.

 

The Bhagavata Purana is hailed as the byword for devotion expounding as it does

both the glory of the Lord and of His devotees. The merit of listening to its

exposition and recitation is outlined right at the outset and it singles out

devotion as the most efficacious means to liberation in this age. It relates

that when Lord Krishna had accomplished the purpose of His manifestation and

decided to ascend to His realm, Uddhava who was His dear friend, even after

having listened to the exposition of the truth from Him directly (the Uddhava

Gita which occurs in the Bhagavata Purana), felt greatly perturbed at the

thought of separation from Him and begged Him not to leave His devotees. Lord

Krishna then infused all His glory and divine energy into the Bhagavata and

since then this Purana has been revered as the visible verbal manifestation of

God.

 

In her discourse on the Bhagavata Purana, Srimati Prema Pandurang said the

cowherd maidens (Gopis) were another exemplary case of devotion highlighted in

the Bhagavata Purana. Even they happened to feel proud once that the Lord had

singled them out for His favour. No sooner did such a thought cross their minds

Lord Krishna disappeared from their midst and they cried uncontrollably begging

Him to return. When He relented and re-appeared they burst out in song praising

His glory (Gopika Gita). The Bhagavata refers to the Lord as Manmatha in this

context and the poet-devotee, Bhattatiri, who composed the Narayaneeyam,

requested the Lord of Guruvayur to bless him with the same vision and He graced

him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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