Hindu Article-Path of Bhakti

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Path of Bhakti

Sage Vyasa, who is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is

credited with the task of organising the contents of the Vedas into

four sections, and composing the Puranas with the specific purpose

of enabling the common folk understand the essence of the esoteric

Vedas. Vyasa also wrote the valuable Itihasa Mahabharata wherein is

found the Bhagavad Gita and the Vishnu Sahasranama. Yet the sage

felt dissatisfied and Sage Narada probing the cause of this, pointed

out that while Vyasa had elaborately talked of dharma in these

works, he had not clearly shown the way (Sadhana) by which one could

reach God. Vyasa needed to extol God's auspicious qualities to

enable people be aware of them. They then can stay devoted to Him

and strive to reach Him. On Narada's promptings, Vyasa then wrote

the Bhagavata Purana.

The Puranas are thus doubly valuable, for apart from the essential

truth of life that their stories convey, it is possible to obtain

the fruits of reciting Vedic mantras by merely reading or listening

to the Puranas. Since the meaning of Vedic mantras is inherent in

the chanting/reciting of them, specialised training in utterance,

pronunciation, tone, tune, etc., is required. Failing to adhere to

the Bhava of the chants indicated in these features can distort the

fruits of chanting while none of these demands apply to a reading of

the Puranas.

The Bhagavata Purana contains details of the various incarnations of

the Supreme Being while describing the events and lifetimes of

devotees, disciples, and the sages who were drawn towards Bhakti.

The inspiring accounts in this sacred text engenders Bhakti towards

the Lord and develops spiritual enlightenment by helping to renounce

worldly attractions.

The Narayaneeyam of Narayana Bhattatiri contains the essence of the

Bhagavata Purana. While this hymn conveys the summary of the

narratives of the Purana, it also highlights its philosophical and

devotional teachings, and celebrates the path of Bhakti as the means

and end of liberation.

 

 

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