Hindu article-The ultimate goal

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The ultimate goal

 

 

 

CHENNAI: The eventual goal of existence is to get out of the shackles

of worldly life and seek God's feet through sheer individual effort.

Realised souls and sages consider knowledge of the Supreme One that

provides spiritual richness as the most ennobling since this alone

helps one to see the world and its fleeting nature in proper

perspective.

 

The Bhagavata Purana describes the practice of severe austerities by

the many sages (who had been created by Brahma for propagation of the

human race). Among them, Sage Kardama's rigorous penance was fruitful

when he beheld Lord Narayana who appeared before him. Overwhelmed by

the divine vision, the sage extolled the lotus feet of the Lord as

the "vessel that takes one across the ocean of mundane existence",

said Sri B. Sundarkumar in a lecture. It is only those deluded under

the sway of Maya who worship His feet with a view to attaining

trivial and worldly accomplishments, which however the Lord is ever

willing to yield. But one should learn to aspire and wish for the

greatest happiness, the release from the worldly cycle, and worship

Him with that aim, for He alone is the ultimate refuge for all and

capable of granting this goal. The Lord foretold that the sage would

marry Devahuti, daughter of Swayambhuva Manu, and promised him that

He would be born as his tenth child after nine daughters to instruct

the Sankhya system of philosophy.

 

The effulgence of the frail sage that shone like an unpolished gem

(despite his hermit's garb and unkempt appearance) was due to the

austerity of his penance. His wife Devahuti is hailed as equally

austere who matches her husband's penance by her dedicated service.

 

The ideal manner of penance is reflected in their way of life that

they followed in the hermitage on the banks of the (mythical) river

Saraswathi. Theirs was a wholehearted service to God that they

undertook willingly, considering it a great opportunity and their

good fortune.

 

An individual's spiritual prosperity depends on the commendable

virtues he has consciously learned to cultivate. But one should guard

against the tendency of virtue to turn vicious, when one becomes

discontented, or one falls a prey to one's ego.

 

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