Chapter 5 Sutra 5, 6
HARI AUM
Prostrations to all.
Sutra 5 –
Modante pitharo nrithyanti devataah sanaatha cheyam bhoorbhavathi
Word Meaning
Modanthe pitharo – Past generations rejoice,
Nrithyanthi devataah – Gods dance
Cha – and
Iyam bhooh sanaatha bhavathi – this Earth would get a savior (controller).
Sutra Meaning
Past generations rejoice, Gods dance and this Earth would get a savior because of these real devotees who are ever immersed in the Lord.
Narada now speaks about what effect real devotees will have in the world in this sutra.
Mundaka Upanishad proclaims that there will not be a single person who will not know Brahman in the kula of a Brahma Jnaani thus:
Na asya Brahmavid kule bhavathi
There is no difference between a knower of Brahman and a bhaktha of the ultimate reality of Lord (we have already discussed this previously). Even as an entire room is illuminated by a small lamp in the room similarly an entire clan will be purified if there is a knower of Brahman in the clan. We can even consider devotion towards the Lord as a disease communicated through proximity. Narada had earlier proclaimed in the 4th chapter that a bhaktha will always be speaking, thinking, chanting, singing etc. about the Lord alone. The power of the Lord is so strong not just because he controls the entire illusory world but because he is of the nature of bliss which we are constantly seeking – therefore the Lord attracts each and every person. Even as cotton dipped in kerosene or hay needs just a little spark to get burnt similarly all the beings in the world just need an initiation towards the ultimate reality of Lord. This initiation or spark is generated by the devotee’s presence in the entire family. Thus the entire family becomes devotees of the Lord thereby rejoicing in constant contemplation of the Lord.
Though it is not good to speak about personal matters, the entire family becoming devotee of the Lord is seen in my father’s family. Initially when my father was very devoted to AMMA, most of the relatives used to criticize him. But after 5-10 years all our relatives are devotees of AMMA (not staunch but at least seeking AMMA whenever she is in town, chanting Lalitha Sahasranama, always interested in listening about AMMA etc.). This in itself is a practical illustration of Narada’s statement that past generations or the entire clan itself will become devotees of the Lord thereby rejoicing in bliss.
Unlike human beings who are stuck with jealousy, Gods are people who are pure in their hearts. This Godly nature or sattvic qualities can be found in few rare human beings as well. This Godly nature is appreciation the success of another person who might or might not be related to us. It is natural to become happy with the success of one’s kith and kin but it is not natural to become happy with the success of any person. Gods are those beings who become happy with success irrespective of whom it graces. Thus when there is the presence of a real devotee, Gods will dance in joy as they experience the same bliss (because of being ever immersed in the Lord like the devotees).
It goes beyond doubt that a real devotee of the Lord is a person who shows the way to God realization to all the seekers of the world. This is evident in the lives of great masters like Krishna, Sankara, AMMA, Ramana etc. They serve the world and are saviors in taking the entire world from sorrows and sufferings to the state of eternal bliss. One may now object that earlier I spoke about my father leading the entire family to AMMA and whether it is true about my father being a savior – though helping the world can be done at different levels, it goes without saying that my father has taken more people to AMMA than even AMMA’s senior disciple Swami Amritasvaroopananda Puri (there is no Ego of “my father” in this statement – any person can verify thisJ).
Narada though enumerates few effects of real devotees in the world, we should understand that the very presence of the bhaktha is enough to send around bliss, peace, compassion and satisfaction as they signify constant contemplation of the ultimate reality of Lord.
We will continue with the next sutra in the next day.
Prostrations to all.
Sutra 5 –
Modante pitharo nrithyanti devataah sanaatha cheyam bhoorbhavathi
Word Meaning
Modanthe pitharo – Past generations rejoice,
Nrithyanthi devataah – Gods dance
Cha – and
Iyam bhooh sanaatha bhavathi – this Earth would get a savior (controller).
Sutra Meaning
Past generations rejoice, Gods dance and this Earth would get a savior because of these real devotees who are ever immersed in the Lord.
Narada now speaks about what effect real devotees will have in the world in this sutra.
Mundaka Upanishad proclaims that there will not be a single person who will not know Brahman in the kula of a Brahma Jnaani thus:
Na asya Brahmavid kule bhavathi
There is no difference between a knower of Brahman and a bhaktha of the ultimate reality of Lord (we have already discussed this previously). Even as an entire room is illuminated by a small lamp in the room similarly an entire clan will be purified if there is a knower of Brahman in the clan. We can even consider devotion towards the Lord as a disease communicated through proximity. Narada had earlier proclaimed in the 4th chapter that a bhaktha will always be speaking, thinking, chanting, singing etc. about the Lord alone. The power of the Lord is so strong not just because he controls the entire illusory world but because he is of the nature of bliss which we are constantly seeking – therefore the Lord attracts each and every person. Even as cotton dipped in kerosene or hay needs just a little spark to get burnt similarly all the beings in the world just need an initiation towards the ultimate reality of Lord. This initiation or spark is generated by the devotee’s presence in the entire family. Thus the entire family becomes devotees of the Lord thereby rejoicing in constant contemplation of the Lord.
Though it is not good to speak about personal matters, the entire family becoming devotee of the Lord is seen in my father’s family. Initially when my father was very devoted to AMMA, most of the relatives used to criticize him. But after 5-10 years all our relatives are devotees of AMMA (not staunch but at least seeking AMMA whenever she is in town, chanting Lalitha Sahasranama, always interested in listening about AMMA etc.). This in itself is a practical illustration of Narada’s statement that past generations or the entire clan itself will become devotees of the Lord thereby rejoicing in bliss.
Unlike human beings who are stuck with jealousy, Gods are people who are pure in their hearts. This Godly nature or sattvic qualities can be found in few rare human beings as well. This Godly nature is appreciation the success of another person who might or might not be related to us. It is natural to become happy with the success of one’s kith and kin but it is not natural to become happy with the success of any person. Gods are those beings who become happy with success irrespective of whom it graces. Thus when there is the presence of a real devotee, Gods will dance in joy as they experience the same bliss (because of being ever immersed in the Lord like the devotees).
It goes beyond doubt that a real devotee of the Lord is a person who shows the way to God realization to all the seekers of the world. This is evident in the lives of great masters like Krishna, Sankara, AMMA, Ramana etc. They serve the world and are saviors in taking the entire world from sorrows and sufferings to the state of eternal bliss. One may now object that earlier I spoke about my father leading the entire family to AMMA and whether it is true about my father being a savior – though helping the world can be done at different levels, it goes without saying that my father has taken more people to AMMA than even AMMA’s senior disciple Swami Amritasvaroopananda Puri (there is no Ego of “my father” in this statement – any person can verify thisJ).
Narada though enumerates few effects of real devotees in the world, we should understand that the very presence of the bhaktha is enough to send around bliss, peace, compassion and satisfaction as they signify constant contemplation of the ultimate reality of Lord.
We will continue with the next sutra in the next day.
posted by vedanta @ 6:48 PM
0 comments
