Sutra 16. Poojadishwanuraga iti paaraasaryah.
(Vyasa, the son of Paaraasara,
is of opinion that Bhakti consists in attachment to worship of God and other
similar acts)
Poojadishu: in worship and
like performances
Anuraga: devotion, attachment, ardour
iti: thus
Paaraasarya: son of the sage
Parasara ( i.e. Vyaasa)
Ardour in worship and similar
performances is the chief characteristic of the love of God or the mark of
devotion according to the sage, Sri Vyasa.
In the initial stages in worship, where "The other performances" is referred in this sutra, the worship may be in a ritualistic manner.
However, the ritualistic worship has its own importance, its own significance in the elevation of a devotee.
The lights and beauty of the alter, the fragrance of the incense, the enchanting music in the Hymns and organs employed, the clean cool atmosphere, and the lingering taste of the theertham..... all these come through the attention of all sense organs and arrest them at the sacred alter. The words of the chants and the Hymns, the prayers, the attitude of surrender and faith bring into the mind of the worshipper, a world of Love for the Lord.
However, the ritualistic worship has its own importance, its own significance in the elevation of a devotee.
The lights and beauty of the alter, the fragrance of the incense, the enchanting music in the Hymns and organs employed, the clean cool atmosphere, and the lingering taste of the theertham..... all these come through the attention of all sense organs and arrest them at the sacred alter. The words of the chants and the Hymns, the prayers, the attitude of surrender and faith bring into the mind of the worshipper, a world of Love for the Lord.
It is important to note that all the rituals, like the ones mentioned above, must have the only focus - TO GET MORE and MORE ATTACHED TO GOD (and, one must not get stuck up in the rituals forever, without evolving further towards God)!
When the devotee develops attachment for worship of God, his mind will automatically withdraw itself from the objects of the world.
When the devotee develops attachment for worship of God, his mind will automatically withdraw itself from the objects of the world.
Those who perform worship of
God attain the Supreme, eternal and blissful abode of God.
The devotee establishes
identity with the Absolute through rigorous and constant meditation. This is
the highest form of worship.
The worship is offered to the
Lord within us. This is also internal worship. Internal worship or Manasic
Pooja is more powerful than the external worship with flowers, etc. Bheema did
manasic pooja. It was more powerful than the external worship done by Arjuna.
It took for him three years to construct the temple mentally. He fixed also
mentally the date on which the Kumbhabhishekam ceremony was to be conducted.
Lord Siva attended the ceremony.
Anuraga: Anuraga means
‘intense attachment to the Lord’. The word ‘anuraga’ ordinarily means only mere
love but in Bhakti scriptures it means the love that arises out of the
recognition of the divinity and splendour of God after realisation.
Prahlad says, “O Hari ! May
not the ceaseless flow of love and attachment leave my heart, while I am
constantly meditating upon Thee.” (Vishnu Purana — 1.20.19). Devotion comes and goes in the beginning. When it is fully ripe, the devotee has intense attachment to the lotus feet of the Lord. Even for the infinitesimal part of a second his mind does not stir from the point or Lakshya. This is Anuraga, referred to in this verse and not a simple affection or attachment.
Love.
P.S.: Readers may take out some time and go back to a post dated 24th March 2017 titled "Attach to Detach or Detach to Attach? - Swami teaches us" under the label "Author's Desk".
P.S.: Readers may take out some time and go back to a post dated 24th March 2017 titled "Attach to Detach or Detach to Attach? - Swami teaches us" under the label "Author's Desk".
Jai Sairam!!!
ReplyDeleteANURAGA - Attachment to GOD!! Attachment to GOD from within and not just outward. Very clearly expressed - One gets more and more attached to GOD and travels up, up and up always. Only truth is that the jiva never realizes how the hymns, chanting, rituals, bhajans affect his innermost consciousness and pulls him again and again into IT.
Slowly jiva is pulled to start listening to such prayers, leading to conduct meditations at his home, follow the bhajan's and one fine day finds himself singing bhajan's and performing pooja's by himself!! All these are outward devotion, bhakti if not for public either to tap his own ego OR if performing alone for vanquishing his own fear of Change (Abhinivesha) / for his own safety. All this is very much required and has to continue for sometime, until an the GURU kataksha happens who through HIS Brahma Jnana removes all fears and shows the TRUE path towards GOD!!
Once this happens then the journey is, as expressed in today's pour of Br. Hari, Up, Up and Up only. How can one not mention the devotion of Mira and Hanuman towards Krishna and Rama, the highest of any jiva's attachment towards GOD, one can ever would have heard of, which lead to TOTAL, Unconditional Surrender, thus reaching HIM, merging and finally existing as Krishna / Rama!!!
Pranams at HIS lotus feet!!!!!
Jai Jai Sairam!!!!
Hari Aum Tatsat!!!!