Part-3- "There is Salvation in numbers":The Theme of "Satsangh" in TiruppAvai

[Guest guest]

Dear friends,

 

The statement that 'satsangh' enables and nourishes

Bhakti (and that there truly is "salvation in

numbers") is not mere theological speculation. It has

been clearly and amply vouched for in the philosophy

of Vedanta.

 

Authoritative confirmation of the efficacy of

'satsangh' is available in no less a scriptural source

as that fountainhead of all Vedantic truth -- the

'Srimadh Bhagavath-Gita'. In two splendid verses the

Almighty, Lord Krishna himself underscored the

pre-eminence of 'satsangh' as a form of worship:

 

"macchitthA matgatha-prANA

bOdha-yanta: parasparam I

kathayantascha mAm nityam

tUshyanti cha ramanti cha" II

 

"tEshAm satata yUktAnAm

bhajatAm preeti-pUrvakam I

dadAmi buddhi-yOgam tam

yEna mAmupayAnti tE II

 

(B.Gita: X.9 & 10)

 

"They (i.e. the members of the 'satsangh')", said

Krishna, "they inspire one another ("bOdha-yanta:

parasparam") by constantly exchanging and sharing with

each other their thoughts and feelings ("macchitthA

matgatha-prANA") about Me and My attributes which they

themselves are ever experiencing. By narrating to each

other about my divine deeds born of my adorable nature

("kathayantascha mAm nityam"), they live in

contentment at all times. The speakers are delighted

by their own speech, because it is so spontaneous! And

the listeners too feel their speech to be of

unsurpassed beauty! They live thus in bliss!

("tUshyanti cha ramanti cha")"

 

"To such an assembly of my beloved devotees, I

lovingly grant ("preeti-pUrvakam") that rare but

supreme mental disposition ("buddhi-yOgam") by which

they come to Me" ("dadAmi buddhi-yOgam tam yEna

mAmupayAnti tE").

 

The essence of 'satsangh', as the Gita reveals to us,

is "bOdha-yanta: parasparam" --- the unique spirit of

collaboration that rules amongst 'bhaktA-s'.

 

***********

 

The word "parasparam" may be variously translated as

"mutuality", "inter-dependence", "symbiosis" etc.

Quite simply, it means sharing things with one another

in a spirit of empathy… with an all-abiding attitude

in daily life of "all-for-each, each-for-all".

"Parasparam" is really power of spiritual synergy at

work.

 

The other word "bOdha-yantah" is ordinarily translated

as "enlightenment", "spiritual illumination" or

"awakening consciousness".

 

Thus, in the best possible translation into Sanskrit,

the term "bOdha-yanta: parasparam" would roughly mean

"collective enlightenment through mutual

collaboration".

 

Worship of God through means other than 'satsangh' is

often a severely solitary experience. The seeker of

God engaged in purely meditative exercises of Bhakti

(such as "dhyAna", "manana" or "japa") is absolutely

alone in his state of immersion. None else can

recognize, let alone partake of his inner ecstasy or

illumination; nor is the person really keen to share

such experience with anyone else.

 

Worship through 'satsangh', in stark contrast, spreads

the benevolence of Bhakti with the force of a

contagion. The enlightenment it bestows on devotees is

infectious and transparent. Even they who lack

meditative capacity nevertheless get to experience God

through sheer collaborative inspiration. The reason

why Bhakti through 'satsangh' is naturally filled with

so much wholesome contentment ("tUshyanti cha ramanti

cha") is precisely because of this all-important

element of 'collectivity'. And the Gita calls it:

"bOdhayanta: parasparam".

 

**********

(to be continued)

 

Regards,

 

dAsan,

Sudarshan

 

 

 

 

 

 

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