RE: How to call a devotee ? Confusion is better than clarity

June 17, 2009

Dear BHAAGAVATHAS,

Jai Sreemannarayana

Adiyen is always trying to perceive and understand "DEVOTION" more and more, would like to share a few thoughts on this.

In one of the web pages of http://etemples.net, links "srirangam" - "devotee pages", I proposed and suggested devotion can be FIVE levels (1) Visitor, (2) Devotee, (3) Helper, (4) Writer, (5) More. All JEEVAS move to higher levels through ONE's own efforts over years, experience, association and lives.

We see many pilgrims visiting temples on different occasions for any reason such as "tourism", "marriage occasion", "birthday", "commitment", "festival", "rituals", "in debt to Lord" and similar. They are all "DEVOTEES".

We have people like Saint Thyagaraja, who chose the way of music to reach Lord's Lotus feet. In one of His KRITI s, he suggests “SANGEETHA GNANAMU BHAKTI VINA, SANMARGAMU KALADE”, (meaning other than music and devotion to God, there is no GOOD PATH to Lord’s Lotus feet), which is very true. We have Veda Vyasa, Valmiki and similar scholars who wrote legendary epics that live longer than generations and ages. Are they just “Devotees”?

We have Bhagavad Ramanuja, ANDAL, Alwars and many BHAKTHAs who are nearer to Lord and TRIED to help us in understanding His ubhaya VIBHUTI. All of them are devotees or probably they have much more than just DEVOTION.

Present day, we have many MUTTs, Srimad ANDAVAN mutt, Jeeyar Education Trust and similar, who strive under devout leadership for helping HUMANITY in many ways.

Even people of these groups Dr. Sadagopan, Anibil, active participants and many who interacted with me in my association with the groups and expressed greater knowledge, are definitely more than "devotees" by general meaning of the term.

Not to ignore, the SWAMIGAL, ORGANISERS and BHATTAR s, who offer SEVAI at temples to Lord every day in anticipation of general wellbeing, which is the prime purpose and commitment of Lord Ranganatha Himself.

If we look more into social structure and strata of today, we see doctors, engineers, teachers, poets, govt officers, police, law makers, leaders and many service personnel, who are inclined to “SERVICE and see service to humanity as service to Lord” are DEVOTEES in some sense.

I feel each one category deserves a special title and CONFUSION is better than CLARITY. Lord Ranganatha shall bless us all.

~ Ever humble to all devotees - Peesapati V V Seetharama Chari

P V V S Chari