Worship of many Gods

[Guest guest]

Dear friends and devotees,

Bhakti is eternal.

On going through the messages of our Gurudevs on the subject “Worship of many Godsâ€, I wanted to share, but could not do so immediately, due to my indisposition. In a slow process, I am giving some of my thoughts for your kind information. If there are any lapses please ignore.

Ramayana, Bhagavatha, Bharatha, and other Puranas are written by the great Maharishis in Sanskrit and they will retain the original quality for Yugas to come. Most of these are translated in vernaculars by great poets, but with some variations from the originals. Such translated versions and the originals are taken and rewritten by the modern writers in deferent jargons to suit in movies and serials. They are fictitious and taken with commercial motive. We should view these for entertainment purpose only and not for any interpretation.

The originals are only authoritative and of late most of us lost touch with the Sanskrit Language. So any interpretations in the absence of knowing the language are vague only.

In this connection every one can read the translations of all most all by our elder sister Smt Saroja Ramanujam. She is translating all the Sanskrit and Tamil versions with accuracy and delivering to us. Are we not lucky to have her in the group? She is not only an asset to us but also to the present generation. We can take these translations as authoritative and understand our traditional culture.

Regarding worshiping different Gods, there should not be any debate. Bhakti is more important.

For example please take Sri Krishna Karnamrutham of Leelasuka. Sri Krishna Karnamrutham is a work in Sanskrit by the poet Sri Bilvamangala Swami who is known as Leelasuka. The word karnamruta means nectar to the ears. Leelasuka compares that to a bouquet of glory of Krishna.

Sri Bilvamangala acquired the name Leelasuka because of his becoming immersed in the leela of Krishna and describing it in detail like Sukabrahmarishi. He belonged to a place called Mukkutalai, originally mukti-sthalam, in Kerala. He came to be known as Leelasuka.

Leelasuka belonged to a saivite family by tradition. But he became a devotee of Krishna. Hence he refers to his traditional background by saying that he wears the feet of Lord Siva on his head. He belongs to the tradition of great devotees of Krishna of Kerala such as Narayana Bhattatiri, the author of Sri NarayaNeeyam, Poonthaanam and Vasudeva Namboodiri and other great scholars of Dasama skandham of Srimad Bhagavatham.

He was such an ardent devotee of Lord Guruvayoorappan that he is said to have the ability to actually see the lord whenever he wanted. Even though he is a Keralite, his fame as a poet had spread through the entire country.

Leelasuka in his write up mentioned as:

Saivaavayam nakhalutatra vicaraNeeyam,

pancakshariijapaparaa nitaraantadhaati,

cEthO madiiyamatasii kusumaava bhaasam,

smEraanam smarati gOpavadhuu kiSOram.

There is no historical evidence to show that he was in the assembly of any king. If we go through his write up, it is evident that he has not written as other poets did. What he achieved by meditation and what he experienced by it only, he has brought out. It is similar to the experience of great Tallapaka Annamacharya and Thyagaraja Bhagavathar who sang on Paramatma by devotion. Brahmasri Tallapaka Annamacharya is believed to be the incarnation of Lord Venkateswara’s Nandaka (Sword) and Brahmasri Kakarla Thyagaraja named after Lord Tyagaraja, the presiding deity of the temple at Tiruvarur.

He did not mention who he was and what was his birth etc. He said about his tradition only. That is "Saivavayam" He is from saivasampradayam. He told "Sri Krishna Karnamrutham", but accepted as Siva Bhakta! Here he clarified that he did not have any japa on Vishnu. How bold he is! He said that he always meditates Panchakshari but visualises Lord Krishna the son of an innocent Gopika. Being a Saiva and meditating on Lord Siva, how Leelasuka always visualises Lord Krishna? Is it not wonder? How many can feel like this? That is his greatness, true knowledge and Bhakti.

While writing he praised Lord as “atasii kusumaava bhaasamâ€. Krishna symbolises as atasi flower with smiling face. This flower appears in the following sloka also:

atasii pushpa sankaaSam haaranuupura Sobhitam,

ratnakankaNa kEyuuram krushnam vandE jagadgurum.

Atasi flower (linum usitatissimum), is from flax, a plant with lance-shaped leaves that produces pretty sky blue or violet-blue flowers during spring and summer. This flower has a special character. The plant does not depend on favourable or non favourable climatic conditions. Unlike other plants it grows in all seasons. This flower has a wonderful character. This flower after drying on the plant will stay as it is and if the plant is shaken, the flower makes a special noise.

Leelasuka is comparing Lord Krishna to this flower. Why did not he say "neelameghachhaya" as the Lord appears? He wants to tell that any time and whatever manner one worships the Lord will certainly bless. He is blue in colour. See the beauty! The blue-black clouds are cool and give rain whereas white clouds will pass away without rain.

In Bhagavata, Sage Narada said to Dharmaraja: “Gopikas with love, Kamsa with fear, Sisupala and his associates with enmity, Vrushnas with relation, you with affection and we with Bhakti reach Krishna. Therefore people who always utter the name of Sri Krishna either by knowing His existence or otherwise will ultimately reach Krishna onlyâ€.

Though there are many ways to reach HIM, the devotee has to choose the best way. For example, king Pariskshith lived only 7 days by hearing the deeds of Lord and reached Him. Whereas Kamsa lived for twelve years from the date of knowing his end till his death, uttering the name of Krishna with horror and finally reached HIM. As such Bhakti with enmity is not good and makes one fear of death every moment. Bhakti with love only gives more strength and faith that the Lord will come to the rescue at any time.

Sri Krishna also says in Bhagavad-Gita, that whatever deity a person has faith, HE strengthens their faith to that alone. It is said that God is one though known by many names like Agni, Indra etc.

Among the Hindus, people of various predilections worship gods, avatars and even their gurus and saints, besides those who pursue the yogic meditation or the esoteric tantras. One common sentiment which all the sects share is that one should completely surrender to the deity or the guru one reposes one's faith on. Lord Krishna also says in Gita "maamEkam SaraNam vraja".

Krishna further tells us, “Whatever you do, eat, offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform – do that, as an offering to Me.†When we act in devotional service, keeping the Lord in mind, we achieve peace.. In yoga, we find the perfect balance.

The ultimacy on worshiping different Gods is clarified as under:

aakaaSaat patitam toyam yathaa gachati saagaram,

sarvadevanamskaarah kESavam prati gacchati.

Just as all the water fallen from the sky goes to the sea, salutations to all the gods reaches to the one Lord Vishnu. These words have always been reassuring. Like that raindrop inching towards it’s ever destination, it’s good to be reminded of the inevitability of our absolution.

With love and regards,

Sastry