Conquer Lust by Devotion

[Guest guest]

Om Namah Sivaya It is possible to conquer lust by supreme devotion to a Personal God. The God-intoxicated life of Sri Ramakrishna is an excellent example. I would like to give another example to gain more inspiration : Neelakanta was a potter by profession lived in South India about 1000 years ago. He had the highest regard for the devotees of Lord Siva, too. He was ever eager to serve them. He was leading an ideal household life. He made beautiful begging bowls of clay and offered them free to the devotees of Lord Siva, with great joy. He would always tell others how, for the protection of the world the Lord drank the virulent poison, and he would assure his friends that they who took refuge under His feet would be purged of all sins and would finally be taken to His Abode. In spite of his virtuous qualities, once he fell a victim to lust. One day, he visited the house of a prostitute. When he returned home, his dutiful and pious wife understood this. This irritated her, though she did not show this and continued to serve him, as before. But, she had decided not to have any sexual relation with him. Nayanar could not understand the reason. One day, as he approached her with passion, she took an oath and said: ‘In the name of Siva, I ask you: do not touch us.’ Though she only meant herself, she had used the word us. Since she took the Name of the Lord and since she had used the word us, Neelakanta decided that from that day he would not touch (physically or mentally) any woman in the world. Such was his sincere devotion to the Lord. They continued to live together and finally both of them attained His feet. The glory of supreme devotion

to God alone made it possible for Neelakantar to refrain from lustful thoughts or actions, after his wife had sworn in the Name of the Lord and a life of celibacy which bestowed youthfulness on both of them.

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