The Hindu Article: Transforming nature of love

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Date:13/08/2003 URL:

http://www.thehindu.com/2003/08/13/stories/2003081303430900.htm

Miscellaneous - Religion

 

Transforming nature of love

 

CHENNAI AUG.13 . One of the endearing names of Lord Parameswara is

Haran literally meaning "one who steals". What does the Lord steal?

His devotees' hearts indeed as Thirujnana Sambandhar declared from

his experience when he was just three-years-old, "There cannot be a

thief like Siva". The chronicles of the 63 Nayanmars recorded by

Sekkhizhar in the Periya Puranam all point to the fact that the Lord

had stolen their hearts and made them His own. They belonged to

different backgrounds; yet they were all one in their love of God, a

love without reservation— love, which is God.

 

It is not difficult to win God's grace for He can be bound easily by

loving devotion. How should this love for God be expressed? A saint

sings that the heart's emotion should course down as tears from the

eyes and the tongue lisp His names and glory with a choked voice. It

is this expression of unconditional love that puts an end to the

cycle of rebirths. It is supreme love made possible by the Lord's

infinite compassion, which makes Him claim His devotee as His own.

 

True love certainly cannot be developed at once. It is the striving

over several births that can enable one to imprison God in one's

heart. No one is barred from loving God for everyone is capable of

love. And it is never in vain as the lives of these great saints

attest to the transforming nature of love towards God.

 

In her Harikatha, Smt. Kamala Murthy said though there were several

women among the Nayanmars, Kariakal Ammaiyar was unique in that she

was the only one who went to Kailas, the abode of Lord Siva, and

returned. Out of love for the Lord she did not walk on her feet and

ascended the Kailas Mountain on her head and seeing this apparition

the Divine Mother was struck with wonder. Lord Siva granted her a

singular status by addressing her as His mother and this devotee

prayed for undying love for Him. He bade her to go to Thiruvalangadu

to witness His dance and sing His glory.

 

Such a devotee of God could not have born in the world because of

Karma. Known as Punithavati she was born to a rich merchant of

Karaikal and married to a wealthy man to whom she was a dutiful wife.

Her husband was witness to her spiritual stature through an incident

in their life when she materialised mangoes by praying to God. The

turning point came when she learnt that her husband had abandoned her

and from then on her life was centred on God.

 

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