Why Devotion is so important...?

Devotion (bhakti), is an act of dedication attachment and love towards a personal god. Sri Krishna explained in Bhagavat Gita about 'Bhakthi Margam.' in bhakthi yoga. Century to century, periodically the devotional loyalty from generation to generation different kinds seems to by the various possible ways between the devotees of devotion on god. For example in Trethayukam Vishnu incarnated as Sri Rama. All Sages' devotion on Rama as Parabrhaman. Dasaratha showered his devotion on Rama with affection and love (Pitru-bhavam ) the fatherly devotion, Ravana 's devotion was enmity, Jatayu also paternal devotion, Vebeshana, surrendered and Guhan's is  brotherly devotion, Hanuman's devotion is 'Dhasarathi Bhavam' servant-like devotee of Sri Rama, yet Saint Tyagaraja, and Thulasi dasa, were devout of devotee to Rama in Kaliyuka. In Dvaparayugam Vishnu incarnated as Sri Krishna, first the new born baby showed with four hands holding Shankku, Chakkra Gadha to Devaki Vasudeva as divinity hence they are divine parents, Yasotha Nandhan's is parental devotion, Kamsa, sanoora's devotion was enmity, Gopies are poured their love on Krishna is called love and affection devotion, Pandava in general friendly devotion but for Arjuna Sri Krishna is instructional godhead so he was devotee of godly-man, however Meerabai devoted that a thought of Sri Krishna as her husband and another devotee is oothukadu Venkatasubbair alias Venkatakavi etc are devoted Sri Krishna as brhaman and a series of devotees Azhivars were devout of devotees to Sri Krishna in Kaliyuga. In the same kind Sage Sananthan and Sage Sanatkumara and all other sages and seers devoted as a thought of Lord Siva as their Preceptor, all Nayanmars and Raman maharishi are devout of devotees on Siva in Kaliyuga, Goddess Lalitha (Aradhana) adoration by all devas and including the trinity of gods. The witness is Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam says “chidhagni kunda sambootha devakarya samutyadha” meaning: She who rose from the ritual fire to help the deeds of devas yet Syamasastri, a thought of sisterly affection and Abiramibatter, Ramakrishna Paramahamsar Muthusamy deekshithar devotion is as Parabrahma sakthi so they are devout of devotee on goddess Sri Lalitha in Kaliyuga as that people were worshiped. However we just see why is the bhakthi what is the inner meaning, and what is its series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular destination.

The human mind, body, thoughts feelings will change every day and every minute. Vedhantha philosophy says that one self survives more than his conscious. The unchanging Atman resides with in him self. Our innermost, transcendental self, as conflicting to the physical self ; because we unaware of our true self. The fact that of our passionate involvement with our materialistic self and its search for joy. The cosmos can never give complete and enduring happiness, because it is in a state of constant instability. Only way to attain true happiness, full conscious on our Atman and the search of its true relationship with Brahman.

The common word moksham or goal, the meaning is very clear yet ignorant of the modern young world is getting confused. what is moksham? the moksham is Freshness, realization or freedom. Freedom is not only after death; it is even while alive to lead a peaceful life. For that our ancestors and preceptors given to observe the terms of the fundamental doctrine or tenet of a distinctive ruling opinions. For example If a child get mother's milk at that moment satisfaction is Moksham to that child, once he grows if he get nice schooling and best surroundings pleasant parental love and all goes well at that moment is moksham to that boy, after his education if he secure a job as his wish that minute he gets his freedom; and his married life with children comfortable life with wealth that second really he reached his destination yet when he has wealth performing all rituals, worshiping god in condition of being magnanimous; generosity, no ego, cast and creed with pure and clear mind at that minute certainly he realized his true self or has seen brhaman is residing with in him self. The devotional performance is open to all there is no cast /creed or men/women and no age limit. Devotional practices included reciting the hymns on god or goddess, singing in praise of the deity, wearing identification signs on forehead, and undertaking pilgrimages, the group religious ritual at the temple, after the function having god and goddess darshan then consuming prasadam is an essential part of the devotion. ('Prasadham' meaning is “grace” or the food left by a divine ritual).

The Bhagavata Puranam describes nine types of bhakti or devotional services as follows: 1 Sravanam: Listening the stories and glories of God. 2 Keerrtanam: Singing or Reciting the names and glories of God. 3 Smaranam: act of causing to remember the Lord 4 Pada-sevanam: act of frequent service to Lord . 5 Archana: the act of honoring to the lord with flowers 6 Vandana: Prostration to God. 7 Dasyam: Service to almighty of god 8 Sakhyam: Having companionship with him. 9 Atma-nivedanam: complete surrender oneself on him,

Brahman is formless, infinite and eternal. Brahman is neither male nor female, It is beyond the destiny and time, It is changeless and It is of our best consciousness. One can achieve this only with his empirical observation. Brahman cannot exist, it is the existence of inner self and it is ultimate knowledge of reality.

By achieving awareness of Atman and its unity with Brahman, which is not only happiness, but also familiarity gain from ignorance. At the end (Moksha) the liberation from a wheel of lives called Samsara Or birth/death cycle.

Young people of the world! understanding the greatness of devotion and following the Myths are the route to slip away from evil force and which is alone can save mankind from error and extinction".

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The power of illusion

“Ya devi sarva bootheshu Vishnu Mayethi sabdhitha Namathasyai 
Namasthasyai Namathasyai Namo Namaha”(Devi Mahatmiyam)

All Puranas and Vedhantha philosophy are describing beautifully about (Maya) illusion. Maya is an association of the universe. Sri Bhagavatha puranam tells the story of Markandaya. The story goes like this once Markandeya requests Vishnu to explain about his maya. With in the minute Vishnu seems as an infant floating on a fig leaf in a deluge and then engulf the sage, the sage sees various worlds of the universe, gods with all 2x7=14 worlds and also he saw in the earth his hermitage in the infant's stomach. Then the infant opened his mouth the sage came out; in the spite of time who attempted to embrace the infant, but all disappeared and the sage realized that he was in his hermitage but he experienced happily Vishnu's maya.

Lord Sri Krishna said in Bhagavat Gita that “I incarnate in order on earth in human forms creates an earthly body for myself through my inscrutable divine power and enters into it. It gives others the impression that I was born of human parents”.

The same thing Sri Lalitha Sahasranama is also accepted and it says, “karanguli nagotpanna Narayana dhasakruthi: meaning : "She who created the ten incarnations of Narayana from the tip of her nails.

The ancient texts are emphasizing Maya is the primordial energy with extraordinary power and wisdom, in later interpretations say Maya is a "supernatural power,or illusion".

An annotation from Devi Bhagavatha Maha puranam when Vyaser explaining about Maya to Janamejayan Vyasar says “O Janamejaya Rajan this world is attracted by maya. Humans, demons, birds, beasts, their all right or wrong deeds run by maya according to their past sin or pious deeds.

Sri Adi Sankara composed five verses on Maya. Named Maya Panchagam. He delightfully describing the qualities of Maya he says Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavat Gita give us an thought about the nature of Maya. As per Upanishads, the inner mind , which has the three states they are awaken, dream and deep sleep is the true nature to all, Sri Sankara here mentions that the common wrong thoughts occurs caused by Maya, who is resourceful to making things. If one has absolute wisdom he will escape , otherwise he or she falls prey to Maya and believing the fake world as true and getting stuck in the materialistic of the world.

Nirupama Nithya Niramshake Api Akhande Mayi Chithi Sarva Vikalpanadi Shoonye Ghatayathi Jagadeesha Jeeva Bhedham Tvadh Agaditha Ghatana Patiyasi Maya
Meaning :-

The beginning of verse has shown clearly the gist of subject, and descriptions in the Upanishads. Jagadeesha Jeeva Behdham means the difference between the Jeeva and the Eswara.( jeeva means soul Eswara means divinity) Upanishads declare that, all names and forms are unreal. All the names are too not lasting. The actual Brahman, remains stable. The difference between Jeeva and Eswara is that, Eswara is well aware of the fact that, the name and form is illusive ,but an ignorant Jeeva continues to believe that, his body, mind, senses etc... are true and having trust on the illusive differences. Hence Sri Sankara advocates that happenings and confusions caused by Maya. Supreme Brahman, which is Eternal and is not affected by time and destiny.

The world, God and the individual soul appear to be different from one another only because of the limiting adjuncts. Intrinsically, there is neither difference nor identity among them, for all the three are in essence Pure Consciousness, homogeneous like a lump of salt. When the unconditioned Self has, as the limiting adjuncts, the body and organs which are characterized by ignorance, desire and action, it is called the transmigrating individual soul. When the limiting adjunct is the power of eternal and unlimited knowledge, which is Maya, the same Self is known as God, who is the antaryaamin or Inner Controller of the whole world. The same Self, free from all limiting adjuncts, is Brahman (Br.up.3.8.12,Sri Sankarabhashyam).

Brahma Satyam Jagat Mithya,
Jeevo Brahmaiva Na Aparah

Brahman alone is real, this world is unreal; the Jiva is identical with Brahman.

if you get a knowledge of Brahman, the illusion of the body and the world will be vanished.

Message:-

Maya and Avidya seems to be different. But if a person really analyzes, his recognition is that soul is not different from almighty of god. Acharyas deep thinking is, there is no difference between soul (jeeva) and (Eswara) almighty of God. The Jeeva is the controlling the entire world, if one think with his small intellectual knowledge can understand a little; he mentioned that world means the body-mind.'Kshetra and kshetragya' The controlling mind will turn with in himself for a vision on paramatma one who is residing with in himself. The spiritual ignorant to induce to follow an unwise course of action and encourage to believe something that is not true.

Sri Acharyas analyzed theory is that there is nothing to call Maya. Wherefore the brhaman itself is accompany with illusory to perform to man, bird, or beast commitments of their own deeds. The witness is the entire illusory activities in the materialistic world. Thus the individual should realizes that the Brahman is with in himself. By means of it he will have experience and accrue intrinsic eternal bliss. Hence the individual nonstop his inquiry into the ultimate reality of consciousness which Sri Sankara beautifully depicts in the very first hymn itself. He was our prime preceptor we all follow his foot steps. 

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The Grace of Enlightenment

Savitri Devi is a manifestation of Goddess Saraswati the goddess of learning and arts. Savitri Devi is the consort of Lord Brahma. She herself is wisdom, intellectual knowledge, fine arts and creativity, She is believed to inspire speech and the written word. She is the Sakti of Creation. She is an ocean of mercy. (“Karuna rasa sagara' reference from Sri Lalitha sahasranamam). She is also the goddess of the first appearance of light in the sky before sunrise; who drive away the darkness of ignorance and lights on the Eternal Knowledge. Goddesses Gayatri, Savitri and Saraswati are three goddesses the presiding deities of the famous Gayatri mantra. To realize her; recite the unchanging eternal serenity of the vital Gayatri japam. Matsya Purana authentically proved that only Goddess Saraswathi is authentic deity, and she has one thousand various names, among them the five names are powerful; they are Satarupa, Savitri, Sarasvati, Gayatri and Brahmani are benevolent of her five faces.

The story occurs in Mahabharatha Vanaparvam when Markandaeya met Ythirstra and he asks Markandeya whether there has ever been a woman whose devotion matched Draupadi’s, Markandeya narrates the story of Savitri and Satyavan. Yet Sri Davi Bhagavatha Mahapuranam 9^th skantham 26^th chapter is elaborately describing this story.

There was a king ruled the Badra kingdom his name is Asvapathy and the queen's name is Malathi. One day the sage Vasister visited to the kingdom and met the king and queen. The king greeted the sage and they told their grievances to the sage. the sage Vasister initiated of Savitri Devi hymn and asked her to perform the puja regularly. According to sage's advice she performed that puja for many years but Devi did not appear; so she became so sad and told this to the king then the king learned the principles of worship of Devi and he did the puja in 'Pushkara kshetram' for one hundred years still davi did not appear yet he had hear a voice asked him to do recitation of the Gayatri hymn for one lakh times. he was worried and sad At that time sage Parachara came and saw the king and asked the reason of his sadness and the king told about the voice that he heard and the detail of his grievances. The sage was being serene for some time, then he said “O King the voice message is right; the Gyatri mantra is very powerful if one do Gayatri once his day and night sin will be vanished, one hundred times if one do gayatri one month sin will be vanished, in the same way if one do one lakh times the current birth sins will be vanished but ten lakh times Japa ones all previous sins will be vanished, therefore a Man if he does as it-is he will get realization also his previous 3 births sins will be vanished ” O king this Gayatri japa if possible should do in the river,or in the temple the result will be fast.”The sage continued and explained the procedure “ O king listen I teach you the method of performance, sit on face to eastern side in the morning and western side in the evening The reason is always face towards sun. White lotus bead or pure crystal(spatikam) make as a garland of beads (108, 54, or 1008 numbers) and apply with fragrant sandal paste or gorojanai keep it on a lotus leaf reciting Gayatri Japam anoint with ganga water then take that malai and do 10 lakh japam with it, Savitri Devi will appear. Then the sage initiated Savitri Devi hymn and puga rules and regulations blessed the king and he took leave. The king performed the Gayatri hymn as the voice message and he performed Sri Savotri devi puja for 14 years as the sage's advice Devi appeared and said O king during your puja your wish was a female child but your wife's wish was a male child however now I grant you a female child in due-course your wife's wish also fulfilled; soon the queen conceived and gave birth a female child and named her Savitri.

Savitri is so beautiful and piously great devotee of Savitri Devi. Once she reaches the age of marriage,her father tells her to find a husband on her own. She sets out on a pilgrimage for this purpose and finds Satyavan, the son of a blind king named Dyumatsena, who, has lost everything including his eye-sight, lives in exile as a forest-dweller.

Savitri returns home and told her father that she found a groom; at that time sage Naradha arrived to the kingdom the king greeted and offered him a seat and he told about his daughter Savitri's wishful match named Satyavan. Sage Narada told that Savitri has chosen a bad choice although perfect in every way, Satyavan's fate he will die in a year, so the sage Naradha told her to choose another match. The king also insisted her but Savitri disagreed that she said “I will choose my husband only once”. Ashwapati also Agreed.

Savitri and Satyavan are married, and she goes to live in the forest. Immediately after the marriage, Savitri wears the clothing of a hermit and lives in perfect obedience and respect to her new parents-in-law and husband. Savitri observe fasting and she was performing Savitri Devi puja since before the marriage. Her father-in-law tells her she has taken on too harsh a puja, but Savitri replies that she has taken an oath to perform these austerities, yet Dyumatsena offers his support.

One day early in the morning Savitri felt an intuition of Satyavan’s death, she asks for her father-in-law’s permission to accompany her husband into the forest. Since she has never asked for anything during the entire year she has spent at the hermitage, so Dyumatsena granted her wish. They went and while Satyavan is splitting wood, he suddenly becomes weak and lays his head on Savitri’s lap. Yama himself, comes to claim the soul of Satyavan. Savitri follows Yama as he carries the soul away. When he tries to convince her to turn back, she did pranams to the Lord and he blessed her then she asks successive formulas of wisdom.1. What is 'Karma' 2. Why it occurs; 3. What is the reason for Karma, 4. who has given 5. what is the body 6. who makes to do Karma, 7. What is meditation, 8. What is the talent, 9. What is the soul, 10. What are the organ of sense, 11. What is their nature, 12. Who is the god and whom to make feed food to him, 13. What is senses, 14. What is the pleasure, 15. what is prachita, 16. What is Jeeva and who is Paramatma. I wish to know all things in detail, you are dharmaraja you can only to make aware of these things to me.

Yama smiled at her and begin to reply for her all remarkable questions,”O Savitri listen whatever the instructions accepted by Veda, and following those instructions are the auspicious deeds. Otherwise non acceptances by Veda are ungodly deeds. Non desire worship will lead to be an ardent devotee of devotion. The practitioner will not experience any of deeds and any pleasure or pain. Furthermore Veda says whoever have devotion on brhaman (not creator Brhama) who has relieved from Birth, Death, Oldness, Disease,Sorrow, and Fear who is called Self realized man (Jeevan-mukthar). Bhakthi (devotion) is two kinds; those are called Nirvana Bhakthi and another is Vishnu roopa bhakthi. The Vishnu roopa bhakthi is in general for all but Nirvana Bhakthi followers are Sages, and Seers. Sri Parabrahma Sakthi is the giver of all deeds , and She becomes character of karma holding the formulate string in her hand. Then creates the physical structure of man or animal including the five elements (pancha bootham) to the physical structure with relevant soul and functioning according to their previous good or bad knowledge of deeds. She gives God's realization to the pious souls without taking birth, otherwise stuck with the birth death cycle until it become pure. Savitri listened all care fully and further she asked more questions. “O Dharma Raja you are superior and you are only the god to clear my mind kindly answer my following questions. 1. Whoever the soul in which differences of active deeds giving devotion on guru and having stuck with hardship of cycle 2.whichever the deed is changing as devotee or Sick or diseased 3. whichever deed giving longevity or insufficient life, and occurring pleasure or pain , handicapped ,blind, deaf , brain disorders, greediness, and stealing. Whichever the deed offers successive life, philosophy of bramman , heaven (Salvation), made like thy 4.There are how many hells and whatever the things are in it , 5. who is suffering in the hell and how many years he should be there ? I wish to know all these things from you kindly tell me” heard this Ymadharmaraja astonished and laugh loudly and said “O Savitri you are Asvapathi's daughter born by his austerity and the grace of Sri Savithri Devi that is the reason why in this very young age asking all wise questions in knowledgeable manner. I explicate all your questions in a short manner listen. There are two type of deeds, they are auspicious and inauspicious. Get involved people are Suras ,Daityas, Gandharvas, Thanavars, Rakshasas, and Human-beings, these peoples are performing deeds and enjoying good or bad according to their deeds. Creating the deeds in the places. make people to carry on the deeds and enjoying rewards or punishment according to the deeds they made. This is how Sarveswara is ruling cosmos method of the world. If one avoid the heaven or hell experience only the way that previously I explicated the non desired Nirvana bhakthi otherwise doing all non- pious deeds should lead to the cycle of birth/death and the hell/ heaven. Finally he explicated all about the hell and heaven experiences , punishments, the duration of staying. 

Then he said O Savitri ask boons as your wish, she was whiting for this moment and cheerfully asked that ' O dharmaraja' I need my husband and he should have longevity of life Yama replied that O Savitri you live as long as living Sri Lakshmi devi the place of Vishnu's heart (Sri Vishnu's consort) and in the same way Devi Parvathi living in the half physical structure of Lord Parameswara (Parameswara 's consort) and as other devathi deva consorts likewise, you will live long with your husband. Ask some other boons as you wish Savitri asked Yama “Prabu one hundred children to me and one hundred sons for my parents, my parents in law should regain his eye-sight and his lost kingdom and the final boon is I live one lakh year with my husband and children and at last I should have realization along with my husband Yama said that O Savitri I granted all you wished boons apart from these you will have all other wishes too in your mind. Said this Yama disappeared.

Satyavan awakens as though he has been in a deep sleep and returns to his parents along with his wife. Meanwhile at their home, Dyumatsena regains his eyesight before Savitri and Satyavan return. Since Satyavan still does not know what happened, Savitri relays the story to her parents-in-law, husband, and the gathered ascetics. All they praised her, Dyumatsena’s ministers arrive with news of the death of his rivalry enemy Joyfully, the king and his entourage return to his kingdom.

Message:-

This story is very good and important to the modern young girls, and ladies. It has spoken in a specified way. Savitri is a princes though the king did not do their normal practice to finding match as Swayam Varam inviting only the kings to their status, but Savitri's father has given full freedom to select the match according to her own wish, it shows that his trust on her daughter. Savitri's Obedience, love, affection, presence of mind, knowledge, devotion,and Kindness these qualities are necessary to achieve things and this is very vital lessons to the modern world. Keeping Savitri as mediator spoken this message to the world. Even the ancient days given freedom to girls, to act, speak, and think and also they were leading the life without any hindrance. Feeling amazed of Vyasa's long range view. No age limit to read Epics and Myths and they are very much need to learn the path of righteous. They are the great teachers to a life.

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