VIRODHI BHAKTI AND SAI BABA

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201944.doc#VIRODHI BHAKTI AND SAI BABA> VIRODHI BHAKTI AND SAI BABA

 

 

BY B.V.N.SWAMY

 

In the last issue, under the caption " Is Sai to broken? " two instances

were mentioned of devotees getting violently angry with the object of

their worship., Sai Baba and breaking his image. In both the cases, the

devotion of the image breakers was revived or strengthened, as the

result probably of Sai's conferring benefit that had been withheld for a

time. Sai Baba being a kind Mother granted a blessing even after the

devotee broke away from him or her (for really there is no Sex in God)

in high dudgeon. This is true Motherly Love.

 

This is the basis of " Satyagaha " which is always successful (whether

violent or non-violent) within groups where strong love prevails between

the members. The question arose whether success justifies the use of

violence, and the answer has been given that momentary success in

gaining the desired object is a very petty matter which can not counter

balance the dreadful evil results of violent iconoclastic frenzy.

Amongst the evils are the danger of the bad example being freely

followed and iconoclasticism becoming the raging fashion among large

numbers as also the positive harm to the individuals concerned in

allowing Rajas and Tamas to predominate and engulf all Satwa, so as to

bring one to a spiritually lower level. The success in the above

mentioned cases might perhaps have been attended by a strong wave of

repentance which would naturally wash off the evil vasanas of Anger,

Irreverence, & c,. and if that be so, the second evil mentioned above

has been averted in these cases. This naturally lead us to consider the

subject of Virodhi Bhakti.

 

People believe that all Bhakti devotion must be characterized by love

and consider hatred as the exact opposite Bhakti. They can as easily

think of Virodhi Bhakti as of Black Whiteness. Yet Srimadh Bhagavata

which may be regarded as our Bhakti Sastra says: -

 

That is why the term Vyree Bhakti is in common use. The cases of Ravana,

Kamsa, and Hiranya Kasipu are cited as instances of such Virodhi Bhakti.

Several of us would rather regard these cases as instances of violent

poisonous hatred getting into a previously healthy Loving system which

might have naturally killed out all Love or Bhakti except for the

special grace of God that checks effects of the poison by strengthening

the reserve power of power of revival of health that every organism

possesses within certain limits. The hatred is undoubtedly poisonous but

by Divine grace the old Love is not destroyed but only temporarily

clouded or muddled. Just as perennial and powerful spring or artesian

well may thrust out thousands of ounces or even maunds of poison poured

on it. It is this analogy that would induce one to refuse the name

Bhakti to hatred, which is entirely foreign to its nature. But the

analogy is not exact by reason of the peculiar nature of Jivas which

lead some to consider hatred as negative electricity applied to one side

of the Jivas producing by induction the opposite of it Viz., positive

Electricity or Love in another side. Arguments by analogy are often

attended with great danger and so we might avoid discussion of the

prosperity of the name Virodhi Bhakti and at least out of regards for

Srimadh Bhagavatas accept its classifications and labels in this matter

and proceed to consider (1) whether during the currency of continuance

of any one's hatred to Baba, God or other personality, there are any

means of nothing if it is really a case of Bhakti and if it will end in

restoration of the love that should characterise Bhakti and (2)

secondly, if there are no such means, what steps o attitude the person

concerned and his well wishers should adopt.

 

 

Source Sai Sudha Feb 1944