Bhakthi and Vedanta

[Guest guest]

Jaya Sri Radhey!

Also listen to what the foremost Vedantist and Advaita acarya Adi

Jagadguru Sri Shankara Bhagavatpada said-

 

When one of his desciples questioned him:

 

"mumukSunNA kiM tvaritaM vidheyam?"

 

"What should the seeker who is desirous to attain Salvation do

immediately?

 

Acarya's reply:

 

"satsangatir nirmamateza bhaktiH"

 

Shakaracarya replied that the bonds of material attachment should be

broken, and the mind attached to God and the aspirants should seek

the Association of Saints.

 

The desciple again asked:

 

"kiM karma kRtvA na zocanIyaM?"

 

"What is that work which a wise man performs and does not repent?"

 

Sri Shankaracarya immediately said:

 

"kAmAri-kaMsAri- samarcanAkhyam"

 

"One who is devoted to God (Kamsaari- Lord Krishna) is carefree.

 

In fact Acarya Shankara, the unrivalled propounder of Advaita

Vedanta, advised his own mother practise Devotion to Lord Krishna,

and Blessed her with the vision of the Lord.

 

Not only that, listen to his next proclamation -

 

"kAmyopAsana yArthayanty anudinaM kincit phalaM svepsitam,

kecit svargam athApavargam apare yogAdi yajnAdibhiH,

asmAkaM yadunandanAMghri yugala dhyAnAvadhAnArthinAm,

kiM lokena damena kiM nRpatinA svargApavargaizca kiM?"

 

"Those who waste their time for the attainment of celestial joys or

Liberation (mukti- apavarga) are FOOLS!

 

I DO NOT WANT any of THAT!

I only desire to remain engrossed in the Sweet Remembrance of the

Lotus Feet of Lord Krishna. What is the need for heaven or Mukti to

Prema Bhaktas of Lord?"

 

Thus Sri Shankara appears to consider all objects, including final

Liberation as insignificant in comparison to constant Loving

Meditation of the Lotus Feet of Lord Krishna.

 

The verses of meditation he used to describe the Transcendental

beauty and Attraction of Lord Krishna are exquisite and reveal how

great Rasik Bhakta (saintly devotee) he actually was.

 

"yamunA nikaTa taTa sthita

vrindAvana kAnane mahAramye

kalpa druma talabhUmau

caraNaM caraNopari sthApya

tishTaMtaM ghana nIlaM

sva tejasA bhAsayanta miha vizvaM

pitAmbara paridhAnaM

candana karpUra lipta sarvAGgam."

 

Lord Krishna is standing with one leg crossed over the other, under

the wish-yielding Kalpa tree, in a most beautiful flowery bower in

Vrindavana, situated near the banks of the river Yamuna.

 

His complexion as a dark rain-ladden cloud, illuminates the whole

world with its Luster. He is dressed in yellow silk Garments and all

parts of His transcendental body are anointed with the paste of

sandalwood and camphor.

 

"Akarna pUrna netraM

kuNDala yuga maNDita zravaNaM

manda smita mukha kamalaM

sa kaustubho dAra maNi hAraM

valayAGgulIya kAdyA nujjvala yantaM svalankArAn

gala vilulita vana mAlaM sva tejasApAsta kali kAlaM."

 

His large captivating eyes seem to reach almost to His ears which are

adorned with glittering earrings. A sweet, gentle, enchanting smile

blooms from His lotus face. He is wearing jewelery made of precious

stones, pearls and the celestial jem, Kaustubha.

The radiance of His transcendental Body enhances the splendour of the

golden bracelets, rings and the other ornaments present on Him. As

the vanamala (garland made of five heavenly fragrant flowers) around

His neck, is gently swaying to and fro, His very brilliance and

beauty drives away the sinful effects of the dark age of Kali.

 

"gunjAravAli kalitaM

gunjA puGjAnvite zirasi

bhuGjAnaM saha gopaiH

kunjAn tar vartinaM hariM smarata.

 

mandAra puSpa vAsita

mandAnila sevita parAnandaM

mandAkinI yuta padaM namata

mahAnanda daM mahA puruSaM."

 

The curly locks of His dark hair surrounded by the vines and fragrant

flowers of the Divine bower, are attracting the intoxicated, noisy,

bumble bees.

Fondly remember and contemplate upon Lord Hari Who is frolicking in

the bower along with His cowherd playmates and eating His midday meal

joyfully.

 

Offering worship and prayers, meditate upon that Supreme Personality,

Sri Krishna, the Bestower of the highest Bliss!

He is fanned by the gentle breeze, scented with the fragrance of

heavenly 'mandAra' flowers, and His lotus feet are attended by the

sacred celestial river, Ganges.

 

"surabhIkRta digvalayaM

surabhi zatair AvritaH paritaH

surabhIti kSapaNa mahA

sura bhImaM yAdavaM namata."

 

His Divine fragrance pervades all around as He is encircled by

hundreds of blessed cows who are attracted by His captivating beauty

and soul-stirring ethereal music pouring from His Flute.

 

Let us offer our humble obeisance to Beloved Lord, Sri Krishna, the

Descendent of Yadu dynasty, Who even drives away the fears of

heavenly gods by terrifying and conquering the demoniac forces with

His Supreme Valor.

 

-'Prabodha Sudhakara'- Adi Jagadguru Sri Shankaracarya Bhagavatpada

 

 

Jaya, Jaya Sri Radhey!

 

, pyari_h <no_reply> wrote:

> Jaya Sri Radhey! Namaste all.

> Here is my favorite verse by the great Vedantist and Advaitaacarya,

> the author of the treatise 'Bhakti Rasayana', Sri Madhusudana

> Saraswati:

>

> "dhyAnAbhyAsa vazIkRtena manasA

> tannirguNaM niSkriyaM

> jyotiH kiMcana yogino yadi paraM

> pazyanti pazyantu te,

>

> asmAkaM tu tadeva locana

> camatkArAya bhUyAcciraM

> kAlindI pulineSu yat kimapi

> tannIlaM maho dhAvati!"

>

> (Sri Mudhusudana Sarasvati- 'Gudhaartha Dipika')

>

> Meaning:

>

> If the yogis with their MINDS which have been brought UNDER CONTROL

> through the practice of MEDITATION, SEE and REALIZE SOME such

> TRANSCENDENTAL LIGHT that is WITHOUT DIVINE FORM, QUALITIES and

> EXPLOITS, LET THEM SEE!!

>

> BUT,

> for FILLING OUR BLESSED EYES with STRANGE ASTONISHMENT and RAPTURE,

> LET THERE BE FOREVER that INDESCRIBABLE BLUE FORM OF LIGHT ALONE,

> WHICH RUNS about HITHER and THITHER on the SANDY BEACHES of the

> KALINDI (YAMUNA) RIVER!!!

>

> Jaya Sri Radhey!

[Guest guest]

> If the yogis with their MINDS which have been brought UNDER CONTROL

> through the practice of MEDITATION, SEE and REALIZE SOME such

> TRANSCENDENTAL LIGHT that is WITHOUT DIVINE FORM, QUALITIES and

> EXPLOITS, LET THEM SEE!!

>

> BUT,

> for FILLING OUR BLESSED EYES with STRANGE ASTONISHMENT and RAPTURE,

> LET THERE BE FOREVER that INDESCRIBABLE BLUE FORM OF LIGHT ALONE,

> WHICH RUNS about HITHER and THITHER on the SANDY BEACHES of the

> KALINDI (YAMUNA) RIVER

 

 

Is this describing the blue bindu?

 

What is the blue light mentioned? Has anyone here seen Krishna for real?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Jaya Sri Radhey! Namaste all. The importance of Bhakti is recollected

from Bhagavad Gita Verses:

 

In Bhagavad Gita 4.11 Lord DECLARES -

 

'ye yathA mAM prapadyante

tAM stathaiva bhajAmyaham,

mama vartmAnu vartante

manuSyAH pArtha sarvazaH'

 

'According to the MANNER in WHICH they SURRENDER to ME (Bhakti Yoga),

I FAVOR them in that VERY SAME manner. O son of Pritha, ALL human

beings always FOLLOW MY PATH in EVERY WAY!!'

 

Please note here again the choice of words used by the

Lord, "prapadyante" stressing the importance of Bhakti as a MUST for

ALL Yogas, whether Jnana, Karma or Raja. They should all culminate in

Bhakti Yoga for attaining the Ultimate Goal.

 

Advaitacarya, Adi Jagadguru Bhagavat pada Sri Shankaracarya had also

declared this at many places in His writings.

 

"Among the contributory factors of liberation, DEVOTION STANDS

SUPREME, and it is the search for one's own true nature that is meant

by devotion. (Viveka Chudamani-31)

 

Only one who possesses the REQUIRED DETACHMENT, (sadhana catushtaya

sampatti) specified in the scriptures, attains DESERVEDNESS for the

path of 'Jnana Yoga'. Such a deserving person is RARE, one among

millions. Sri Shankaracarya also specified the following condition

for attaining deservedness.

 

"zuddhayati hi nAntarAtmA

kRSNa padAmbhoja bhaktimRte"

 

(Prabodha Sudhakara)

 

It is impossible to attain purification of the heart and mind without

DEVOTION to Lord Krishna, and no one can attain deservedness without

this purification. Further, of those who DO manage to attain

deservedness, very few manage to attain Liberation.

 

Therefore, being causelessly merciful, God and Saints descended on

earth to HELP suffering souls in their DEVOTION. It was through these

descensions that the innumerable NAMES, ATTRIBUTES, QUALITIES and

PASTIMES of the Personal Form were revealed to us, taking the SUPPORT

of which, innumerable souls have crossed the ocean of material

bondage and attained eternal Divine Bliss. We have the striking

example of a great sinner like Valmiki, who was UNABLE even to UTTER

the word 'Rama'! He too became a great SAINT through the POWER of

Devotion to Divine Name.

 

Coming back to Gita verses,

 

'yo yo yAM yAM tanuH bhaktaH zraddhayA'rcituMicchati

tasya tasyAcalAM zraddhAM tAmeva vidadhAmy aham'

 

B.Gita.7.21

 

'WHATEVER FORM any devotee with FAITH wishes to WORSHIP (Bhakti

Yoga), I MAKE that faith of HIS STEADY and STRONG towards that VERY

FORM!'

 

"yAnti devavratA devAn pitRn yAnti pitRvratAH,

bhUtAni yAnti bhUtejyA yAnti madyAgino 'pi mAm"

 

B.Gita 9.25

 

'Votaries of the Devas (Heavenly gods) go to the Devas; the votaries

of Pitrus (Spirits and ancestors) go to the Pitrus; to the Bhutas

(higher evolved beings) go the Bhuta worshippers; MY VOTARIES

(Bhaktas) come to ME.'

 

The water in the pipe can rise to the level in the reservoir to which

it is connected. Likewise the mind of man rises to the level of the

Deity Whom he ADORES (Bhakti).

 

The Saadhaka (seeker) should therefore be able to distinguish between

the minor deities at various cosmic levels and Iswara, the Ultimate

Reality.

 

'A dyer once had a unique method of coloring clothes. He had a

SOLITARY dye tub into which he dip the cloths brought by the

customers and give whatever color they wanted.

Red, yellow, blue, green, purple - all these and more colors were

produced from the SAME tub.

 

An intelligent customer who watched these miracles entrusted his

CLOTH to the DYER and requested Him to DYE it as He LIKED.

 

Our mind is the cloth. Iswara (Lord) is the dyer and the dyeing tub.

He gives us WHAT we PRAY for. The best that we can do is NOT to ASK

Him for anything but GIVE OURSELVES (Bhakti) over to Him.

 

He in His turn gives Himself to us.

 

-Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

 

'bahUnAM janmanAm ante jnAnavAn mAM prapadyate,

vAsudevaH sarvam iti sa mahAtmA sudurlabhaH'

 

(B.Gita 7.19)

 

At the END of many, many births, the man of WISDOM takes REFUGE in

Me, REALIZING that Vaasudeva (Lord Krishna) is ALL that IS. RARE

indeed is that GREAT soul.

 

After many, many lifetimes of practicing 'Jnana Yoga', the 'Jnani'

finally arrives at 'Ananya BHAKTHI', exclusive Devotion. Here the

word used by Lord, "prapadyate" is very significant. It reveals TOTAL

SURRENDER which is nondifferent from the Bhakti Yoga for attaining

Divine Grace.

 

"bhoktAraM yajnatapasAM

sarva loka mahezvaram,

suhRdaM sarva bhUtAnAM

jnAtvA mAM zAntimRcchati."

 

(Gita 5.29)

 

Translation-

 

Having known Me as the Lord of Yajnas and ascetisms, as the Ruler of

ALL the worlds, as the Friend of ALL beings, he attains Peace.

 

Purport by Swamiji-

 

It is through the GRACE OF THE LORD that the EARNEST SOULS take to

the performance of Yajnas and practice Asceticism.

 

THE LORD AGAIN IS THE GOAL OF THEIR GREAT ENDEAVORS.

He is the OVERLORD of the ENTIRE Universe.

 

NOT ONLY DOES HE RULE OVER ALL, BUT ALSO PROTECTS THEM AS THEIR

(Bhakti Yoga) GENUINE FRIEND!!

 

He resides as CONSCIENCE in the HEARTS of All beings and ASSIGNS the

FRUITS OF THEIR VARIOUS ACTIVITIES.

As karma emanates from Him, KNOWLEDGE, and WISDOM also COME TO BEINGS

FROM HIM.

 

The MUNI, the Sage WHO GIVES HIS CEASELESS THOUGHT (Bhakti Yoga) TO

THESE DIVINE GLORIES OF LORD GAINS SUPREME PEACE.

 

Again here, Sri Krishna stresses the TOTAL DEDICATION OF THE THOUGHTS

OF THE SEEKER TO LORD ALONE (Bhakti Yoga).

 

"ahaM sarvasya prabhavo mattaH sarvaM pravartate,

iti matvA bhajante mAm budhA bhAva samanvitAH" - (Gita 10.8)

 

Translation-

 

"I am the origin of ALL.

>From Me ALL things evolve.

The WISE (Jnanis) KNOW THIS and ADORE ME (Bhakti Yoga) WITH ALL THEIR

HEART."

 

The important words for me in this sloka are

'bhajanti' and 'bhAva samanvitAh'

 

What is the use of KNOWLEDGE if it is NOT UTILIZED properly?

 

MORE Knowledge should make One MORE DEVOTIONAL!

 

'Bhajanti' is the right word for BHAKTI.

 

When saying 'bhAva samanvitAH" here the Lord stresses the SINCERE

LOVING FEELINGS OF ONE'S HEART.

 

When one knows that the Supreme Lord is Everything, naturally all the

feelings of one's heart are dedicated to HIM through Divine Love,

Bhakti.

 

Through out the Gita Lord Krishna had said the importance of Bhakthi

Yoga (Surrender and Grace).

 

The most famous verse:

 

"tameva zaraNaM gaccha sarva bhAvena bhArata,

tat prasAdAt parAM zAntiM sthAnaM prApsyasi zAzvatam"

 

(Gita 18.62)

 

"O Arjuna, take REFUGE (Bhakti Yoga) in Supreme Lord alone, with all

your heart, mind and soul!

Then you shall attain His Grace.

It is through His Divine Grace that you can attain Supreme peace,

eternal happiness and Divine Abode."

 

The Lord finally declared in Gita -

 

"sarva dharmAn parityjya mAmekaM zaraNaM vraja"

 

"O Arjuna, ABANDON ALL THOUGHTS OF RELIGION AND IRRELIGION.

 

'COME TO ME ALONE FOR SHELTER (Bhakti Yoga).' It is then, that I, Who

am a JUDGE TO ALL, will cease to JUDGE in your case and will instead

pardon your innumerable past sins of countless past lives, THROUGH MY

GRACE!!!"

 

Jaya Sri Radhey!