Patram
pushpam phalam toyam
Ashnaami Prayataatmanah.
Whoever offers Me with
devotion and a pure mind (heart), a leaf, a flower, a fruit or a little water—I
accept (this offering).
“I shall be easily pleased. My worship is not difficult.” We do
not require large assets to please God. The samarpana or
the naivedya that we have to offer to God is simple.
“You can offer a leaf; I shall be satisfied. You can offer a
single flower; I shall be satisfied. You can offer Me a spoon of water with
devotion to Me, I am fully satisfied with it. But it has to be offered with
devotion.” What is offered is not of consequence in the eye of God.
The bhava, or the feeling, or the mode, or the
attitude with which it is offered is what counts. God does not want anything
from us — not large estates, not many kinds of delicacies. God has enough of
these in His Vaikuntha, in His Kailasa, in His Brahmaloka. These are not going
to be the means of His satisfaction. But if our heart is there, then of course
He will accept it. If our heart is not there, the offering is devitalized.
Devitalized offerings are not accepted. And, finally,
the vitality comes from us only. If we offer ourselves, that shall be the
greatest pleasure to God. If we offer something that is dear to us, that is
also a pleasure to God, but a lesser pleasure. But if we offer something that
is not dear to us—an old coin or a torn note—that is not going to satisfy God
because He knows our feelings, our motives. Even before we think, He
knows what we are going to think. So, no deception, no trick, can be played
here. “I am simple and accessible in a very, very easy manner.”
It is said that Arjuna and Bhima were worshipping Lord Siva.
Arjuna was collecting tons and tons of bilva leaves and
offering mountains of these leaves to Lord Siva in worship.
Bhima was also worshipping Lord Siva, but he did it only in his
mind. He had no physical leaf and did not bring anything from the forest to
offer to Lord Siva. One day, it seems, Arjuna and Bhima were taken to Kailasa
for some reason.
They saw cartloads and cartloads of bilva leaves
being brought by the ganas of Siva, and they were poured at
his feet. And some people were also bringing little handfuls of leaves and
throwing them.
Arjuna asked, “Who are these people who are bringing little
bunches of leaves and offering them, and who are these who are offering
cartloads?”
“That little bit is what has been offered by Arjuna, and the
cartloads are the offerings of Bhima,” they said.
“Bhima? He never does any worship,” said Arjuna.
“He has done the worship, and Lord Siva is pleased,” they
replied.
Bhima offered cartloads because his mind was there; and Arjuna
offered a little bit because it was a physical offering.
Sri Hari Bhakti Vilas states:
Tulasī-dala-mātreṇa
Jalasya chulukena cha
Vikrīṇīte svam ātmānaṁ
Bhaktebhyo Bhakta-vatsalaḥ
(11.261)
“If you offer God with sincere love, just a Tulsī leaf and as much water as you can hold in
your palm, He will offer Himself to you in return because He is endeared by
love.”
How wonderful it is that the Supreme Master of unlimited
universes, whose glorious qualities and virtues are amazing beyond description,
and by whose mere thought multitudes of universes come into existence and
disappear again, accepts even the most humble offering of His devotee that is
given with genuine love.
The word used here is prayatātmanaḥ, implying, “I accept the offerings of those whose hearts are
pure.” I am easily satisfied if it is offered to Me with
devotion. Because you have come to Me with an utter spirit of self-surrender, I
shall accept what you give — even a spoon of water or a leaf, or even a
thought. I shall be happy even with the thought of your surrender to Me. Forget
the leaves, etc.; even the idea is sufficient for Me. Your love for Me is
enough for Me, and I know that your heart is for Me, and I shall take care of
you.”
Devotees may recall author's talk on a Samarpan bhajan “Tumhe
Namaskar Baba” in which there is an expression “Prem Dakshina Sweekaaro
Bhagwan”.
All other offerings are also accepted by Lord, but with a smile
as though telling us, “These are all given by me to you, this entire creation
has sprung out of me, so you are offering that which I have given you?”.
But when we offer ourselves with a pure heart filled with love,
Prem Dakshina, Lord is pleased and whispers, “There you are, you are
offering yourselves to me and not anything other than you, for, you are Love
and I am just Love and You have offered yourself as Love , in love, through
love, to me, I accept and I bless you”!!
Love.
