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Source: thThe Hindu

(http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/07/31/stories/2002073100390800.htm)

 

Miscellaneous

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Religion

  

 

God reveals Himself to a sincere devotee

 

 

 

 

CHENNAI

JULY 31.

 

Divine Revelations, called the Vedas, are immutable and are valid forever.

Sages and saints have given proper interpretations and explanations when some of

the directives therein seemed to present doubts or appeared to be contradictory.

Yet there was one instance where God Himself had uttered a statement that is

totally at variance with His own earlier declaration. The Vedic words are that

God can be approached, among other steps, by the study of the Vedas, by chanting

them, by the performance of austerities, giving gifts, or by conducting penance

or doing sacrifices. But God, as Sri Krishna, after having granted His Cosmic

Form to Arjuna on the Kurukshetra battlefield, says that all these exercises

will be of no avail in beholding His vision in this mundane plane. Are not the

two versions puzzling? The Lord Himself has given the answer for this ambiguity.

"It is only by single-minded, unalloyed devotion that My eternal beautiful Human

Form may be perceived, observed and ac!

tually realised. True devotees alone can enter into My Blissful Realm. Those who

carry out all ordained duties for My sake, refrain from the fruits of their

actions, look upon Me as the only supreme goal, and cultivate pure Bhakti in all

affairs, will attain My All-attractive Form", replied the Lord to Arjuna's

query. This will mean that those who study the Vedas or adopt other measures

mentioned, not with pure devotion, but through unholy means, for show or by

force or for pretension, not dedicating them to the Supreme, cannot see Him.

 

If he has submitted himself at His feet, by resorting to the procedure of

surrender, God will wipe out the past sins and should he, by mistake commit

some, a mild punishment will be given but salvation will not be denied, said Sri

Asoori R. Madhavachariar, in a discourse. To a sincere devotee, God will reveal

Himself as he desires. Does He not protect the growing child in a mother's womb?

After witnessing Krishna's universal "Viswaroopam", Arjuna tendered his apology

regretting that he had deemed Him as a friend, jested with Him, at times even

showing irreverence, and urged Him to assume His normal form. Krishna told

Arjuna that none but he could behold this radiant and limitless form and asked

him not to be terrified about any of the forms. Arjuna was privileged to see the

huge form because of his devotion. For those who do not desire anything from

God, He will "give Himself."

 

 

 

 

 

 

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