IMPORTANCE OF NAMASANKEERTANAM-8

March 19, 2009

Sai Rams,

Namasankeertanam without intense love of God will not lead us to the path of attaining union with the Lord. By Love of God we do not mean loving God for any selfish benefit but it is single-minded devotion to God and total surrender to God. Incidentally, the Gita mentions four types of Bhaktas viz,. Aartha, Arthaarti, jignasu and Jani. An 'aartha ' prays to God intensely when he is in dire distress. He pleads for relief from difficulties and sufferings. God grants relief and showers worldly happiness on him. An 'Arthaarthi' prays for money,power,success, position,prosperity etc. etc. God grants his desires too. A 'Jignasu' prays to God to enlighten him with Atmagyana (knowledge of self). His aim is to unravel the mystery of existence. God fulfills his longing by sending a Guru to enlighten him. A Jnaani is one who sees God in everyone and every thing as divinity. Draupadhi is an example of 'Artha bhakti', Prahlada is also an example of this Bhakti. Dhruva, Sudhama and Arjuna are 'Arthaarthis'. For Jignaasu we can take Uddhava as an excellent example. Sukha Brahmam is an example of Jnaani.

Incidentally also, a true devotee Swamy should have all the following qualities:-

1.He should hate none including all other living beings.

2.He should be friendly,compassionate,egoless.

3.He should remain equalminded in joy and sorrow.

4.He should be self-controlled,enduring and ever content.

I am not stipulating all this. The scriptures,especially Gita prescribe these and many other pre-requisites for declaring ourselves as devotee. Swamy says, " The Bhagawad Gita is the lifebuoy to cross the ocean of life and the royal road to liberation " . Unless we follow the path shown by Swamy, how can we call ourselves as SAI DEVOTEES. Pl. think. Let me come back to the topic of Namasankeertanam proper.

(to be continued)

G.Blasubramanian