Embodiments of Love!
The level of Bhakti or the depth of Love for the beloved gets reflected in day today life; it is for us to find out.
Take this experience of Rajagopal; from 17 th June, I started telling a few “Thirupugaz Slogams of Shri. Arunagirinathar”
This morning I was reviewing “ Agaramumaaghi Athipanumaaghi, Adhigamumaaghi Aghamaaghi” one of the master pieces of Arunagiri Swamigal; while chanting I was surprised to note that I have not chanted any Thirupugaz praising Lord Ganesha, the prime and supreme Elephant God.
Oh God; my prayers have just reached the loving God Ganesha; I locked the house and started my journey to office, a daily routine; on the way I use to chant Sri Suktam, Durga Suktam and Medha Suktam; after completing that routine( which I do before crossing the Temple of Jagwanti, Indore, a village Goddess whom I love dear) I wanted to chant Ganesha Pancharatnam of Shri Adi Sankara; it starts with “ Muthakaraaththa modhakam Sadavimukti Saadakam”; to my surprise and shock I was chanting “ Kaiththalam Niraikani appomodaval pori” , a thirupugaz song on Ganesha! so love for Love sake takes care of every thing.
I dedicate this episode to my loving Wife Santha; this day being her birthday (which I forgot as usual and got the firing) I pray Lord Ganesha to shower His grace on His this child and be with her forever!
Narada Bhakti Sutram 17
Original sutram-17
कथादिष्विति गर्गः
Transliteration
Simple Meaning:
A great attachment to listening to the stories of His glories etc is Bhakti according to Maharishi Garga.
Story of the Elephant God from “The Parables Of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa”
" In a forest there lived a holy man who had many disciples. One day he taught them to see God in all beings and, knowing this, to bow low before them all. A disciple went to the forest to gather wood for the sacrificial fire. Suddenly he heard an outcry: 'Get out of the way! A mad elephant is coming!'
All but the disciple of the holy man took to their heels. He reasoned that the elephant was also God in another form. Then why should he run away from it? He stood still, bowed before the animal, and began to sing its praises. The mahout of the elephant was shouting: 'Run away! Run away!' But the disciple didn't move.
The animal seized him with its trunk, cast him to one side, and went on its way. Hurt and bruised, the disciple lay unconscious on the ground. Hearing what had happened, his teacher and his brother disciples came to him and carried him to the hermitage.
All but the disciple of the holy man took to their heels. He reasoned that the elephant was also God in another form. Then why should he run away from it? He stood still, bowed before the animal, and began to sing its praises. The mahout of the elephant was shouting: 'Run away! Run away!' But the disciple didn't move.
The animal seized him with its trunk, cast him to one side, and went on its way. Hurt and bruised, the disciple lay unconscious on the ground. Hearing what had happened, his teacher and his brother disciples came to him and carried him to the hermitage.
With the help of some medicine he soon regained consciousness. Someone asked him, 'you knew the elephant was coming – why didn't you leave the place?' 'But', he said, 'our teacher has told us that God Himself has taken all these forms, of animals as well as men. Therefore, thinking it was only the elephant God that was coming, I didn't run away.'
At this the teacher said: 'Yes, my child, it is true that the elephant God was coming; but the mahout God forbade you to stay there. Since all are manifestations of God, why didn't you trust the mahout’s words? You should have heeded the words of the mahout God.'
"It is said in the scriptures that water is a form of God. But some water is fit to be used for worship, some water for washing the face, and some only for washing plates or dirty linen. This last sort cannot be used for drinking or for a holy purpose.
In like manner, God undoubtedly dwells in the hearts of all – holy and unholy, righteous and unrighteous; but a man should not have dealings with the unholy, the wicked, the impure. He must not be intimate with them. With some of them he may exchange words, but with others he shouldn't go even that far. He should keep aloof from such people."
At this the teacher said: 'Yes, my child, it is true that the elephant God was coming; but the mahout God forbade you to stay there. Since all are manifestations of God, why didn't you trust the mahout’s words? You should have heeded the words of the mahout God.'
"It is said in the scriptures that water is a form of God. But some water is fit to be used for worship, some water for washing the face, and some only for washing plates or dirty linen. This last sort cannot be used for drinking or for a holy purpose.
In like manner, God undoubtedly dwells in the hearts of all – holy and unholy, righteous and unrighteous; but a man should not have dealings with the unholy, the wicked, the impure. He must not be intimate with them. With some of them he may exchange words, but with others he shouldn't go even that far. He should keep aloof from such people."
Note: If Lord Ganesh and Muruga have to follow this dictum, then what will happen to Rajagopal, i dirty fellow to the core?
If you find an answer please let me know !
धन्यवाद:
See you in the next episode
With lots of love
श्वस्ति , मङ्गलं भूयात्
राजगोपालः
rajagopal
19.06.2012
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