T Ram Sewak

AASTHA

In Shri Ramcharitmanas 7.46, Shri Ram dwells upon one of the most significant aspects of bhakti, namely, aastha (faith).

mora .. asa, karai bisvasa

"If he who calls himself my devotee (bhakt) counts upon others, tell me, what faith does he have in Me?"

While immense love (prem) for your Aaradhya (Deity/God) is the stepping stone on the bhakti marg, aastha in Him, His grace, His love, and His will is pivotal. Shri Ram singles out those who claim to be His bhakts (devotees) but rely on worldly men, material possessions, and resources for support. He emphasises that such dependence demonstrates a lack of true aastha. Such men have yet to complete the entire spectrum of bhakti, which ends with surrendering to Him in thought, word and action and taking his sharanagati (refuge).

Aastha is a virtue that many bhakts struggle with on the spiritual path. Shri Ram is concerned about such bhakts, for as Shri Krishna says in Gita 9.3, those who are not faithful on the bhakti marg cannot attain Me, and therefore they continue to be mired in this world of transmigratory existence. Our faith in Him often suffers a jolt and becomes shaky whenever things do not go as we wish them to be in worldly affairs. It's pretty common. However, a true bhakt has complete aastha in Him as he has taken sharanagati in Him. It is not enough to intellectually assent to this teaching; one must live it.

As His bhakt, Shri Ram expects us to have aastha in Him, the anchor of sharanagati. Bhakti flourishes only when both these virtues have been internalised and exist in harmony. In such a state of faith and surrender, the devotee's heart becomes a recipient of the divine grace. Thus, the bhakt is united with his Aaradhya in a bond that transcends worldly concerns rooted in the

eternal aastha of His will. / DAILY WORLD /

Namami Ramam Musings-77

The author is a former electrical Engineer and resides in the Himalayas. He can be occasionally reached at ramam.namami@gmail.com