T Ram Sewak BHAKTI amrit Shri Ram further distils the amrit (elixir) of bhakti in Shri Ramcharitmanas (3.16), sravanadika mahin, sant dridh nema, guru dridh seva.
- Posted: December 23, 2024
- Updated: 06:11 am
T Ram Sewak
BHAKTI amrit
Shri Ram further distils the amrit (elixir) of bhakti in Shri Ramcharitmanas (3.16),
"sravanadika mahin,
sant dridh nema,
guru dridh seva".
"This will bring steadfastness in the nine forms of devotion, such as listening, and the mind will develop admiration for Divine play. Revere the saints with immense love and persist in My adoration through mind, speech, and action. Recognise Me as the Guru, parent, relative, lord, deity and all and be steadfast in serving".
Shri Ram continues to briefly delineate bhakti's profundity, underlining a few core elements. Bhakti is "ati prem"(immense love) for HIM. The first form of love (prem) is attachment (aasakti) in the material world. On the bhakti marg, love first discard saasakti and becomes affection (preeti) in satsang, HIS katha, kirtan, etc. Thereafter, affection elevates itself into devotion (bhakti), enabling the bhakt to reach truth (satya) using the divine eyes of knowledge (gyan) and dispassion (vairagya) as he breaks free from the blindness of attachment. Bhakti is an axe of non-attachment that Shri Krishna refers to in Gita (15.3).
Next, Shri Ram mirrors Gita's core philosophy and exhorts the bhakt to do his worldly duties sincerely. There is no encouragement towards tyag or flight from worldly responsibilities. Instead, HE wants the bhakt to see HIM in his guru, parents and relatives and serve them with dedication, i.e., all actions of the bhakt in this world should be for HIM. A reminder of Gita (9.22) those who worship HIM through everything they do, HE takes care of them.
Another element is"dridhta" or firm resolve. Shri Ram emphasises that whether it is following any of the nine forms, performing worldly duties or doing service, all must be done with unflinching determination. There can be no doubt or wavering of mind on the bhakti marg. It is the bhakt's journey from trust (vishwas) to faith (shraddha) to complete self-surrender (bhakti). Daily World /
Namami Ramam Musings-48
The author is a former electrical Engineer and resides in the Himalayas. He can be occasionally reached at ramam.namami@gmail.com
