Hindu Article-Simple Religious Practices

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Simple spiritual practices

 

 

CHENNAI, AUG.11 . The means to liberation recommended in the

scriptural texts vary in the different Yugas because the nature of

the age is conducive to follow them. Hence, spiritual aspirants must

be heartened by the fact that it is possible to realise God in this

Kali yuga by adopting relatively easy methods. In the Narayaneeyam,

Bhattatiri while discussing the spiritual practices in the various

ages makes a pointed reference to the merits of following the

spiritual path in this age in the form of a prayer to the Lord of

Guruvayur, "In this Kali yuga, worshipping You will give results

quickly. But the punishment for evil deeds is not immediate (but is

postponed to a future life). This Kali is moreover, afraid of Your

devotees. But if he takes away a person by disease even before his

devotion has become firm, do not punish him."

 

It was possible to derive the maximum benefit of spiritual exercises

in this Yuga, said Sri B. Sundar Kumar in his discourse. The

Narayaneeyam enumerates eight practices, which need little effort but

if adopted in this age will lead the seeker to liberation quickly:

Ganga, Gita, Gayatri, Tulasi, Gopikachandana, worship of the

Salagrama, observance of fast on Ekadasi day and the chanting of the

Lord's names. In spiritual tradition the River Ganga is hallowed

because of its divine origin and thus bathing in it, worshipping it,

partaking its water or even repetition of its name if one is unable

to undertake pilgrimage to it, is said to nullify all sins. Likewise,

the Bhagavad Gita is the teaching of the Lord during His incarnation

as Krishna. Adi Sankara says in his hymn, the Bhaja Govindam, that if

one recites and follows at least a verse of the Gita it will liberate

one from bondage.

 

The other devotional exercises mentioned are also easy but require

sustained effort. Even if a devotee is able to follow any one with

sincerity and conviction it is bound to give quick results. The last

of these methods, chanting of the Divine name, is the easiest of all

and can be practised by anyone. Moreover, it does not have any

stringent regulation and hence can be chanted at anytime and in any

manner. Devotees must remember the case of Ajamila who was rescued by

the messengers of the Lord even though he had called out "Narayana"

unintentionally during his last moments. Out of fear, he had called

out to his youngest son whom he had named Narayana but the merciful

Lord rescued him from certain damnation, which would have resulted

because of his licentious life.

 

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