God is compassionate to all human beings

CHENNAI, MAY 9. It is beyond doubt that God possesses countless auspicious qualities but a few among them can be termed as outstanding and incomparable. ``Compassion'' is the foremost of those special traits. He shows this mercy at all times on all those who have faith in Him. There has been no instance of God having favoured the rich only or only those who approached Him. This compassionate quality is often likened to the wind, which blows everywhere, bringing cheer to everyone, not depending on any consideration.

In the Mahabharatam, according to the previous 44th Jeeyar Swami of the Ahobila Math, the Lord, in His human form as Krishna, protected the Pandavas on as many as 700 occasions, notable among them being the manner in which He saved Arjuna from death by pressing the wheels of the chariot just by a few inches when the dart aimed by Karna missed the latter's head and dislodged only his crown.

On another occasion, admiring the deep faith placed in Him by an ordinary man but who was honest and who spoke the Truth, the Lord gave testimony that a statement made by him was correct. The poor man had repaid the loan he had taken but after some time the creditor denied having received it. The matter went to the court when the erstwhile borrower said Lord Venkatesa alone was his witness for having returned the dues. On the day of hearing, the court heard an incorporeal voice (that of Lord Balaji) about the correct position that His devotee had discharged his obligation and on this evidence, the complainant was admonished.

One of the toughest tasks of adoring exclusively this one particular aspect of divine attribute, viz., ``sympathy'', had fallen on a spiritual torchbearer who however, with all humility claimed that God had given the wisdom to carry out His commands. His ``Daya Sathakam'' extols the compassion that the Lord in Thirumalai (Thirupathi) with His Consorts showers on devotees. That was Vedanta Desika who describes the Divine Couple as symbols of mercy ready to extend their grace here and hereafter, said Sri V. Srivatsankacharya in a discourse. As he was planning to tour the North, Desika heard a lively discussion amongst his disciples whether the Lord showers His compassion only when sought or of His own accord even without being asked. Desika answered this through this poem explaining that His grace is available for all. The savant spells out how the Divine Mother acts as a recommending authority pleading with Her Lord to ignore the failings of devotees and urging Him to demonstrate His kindness.

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