The Hindu : Art of expounding God's glory

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 16, 2002

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Art of expounding God's glory

CHENNAI OCT.16. Exposition of the glory of the Lord in His different manifestations through the form of stories has been in vogue from time immemorial. The epics (Itihasas) and the Puranas are in the form of narratives meant for discoursing and this tradition known as Harikatha has come down to the present day from the time of the sages who composed these scriptural texts. Narration of the texts enhances devotion to God both in the listener and the expositor. As the objective is to communicate to the laity it has imbibed various artistic forms like music, hymns and devotional songs in different languages for aesthetic appeal and heightening devotional fervour thereby adapting itself to changing taste and clime. Harikatha has evolved into a performing art over the ages and the form in which it is practised now is traced to the Bhajan and Carnatic music traditions.

In his benedictory address, Srimad Andavan Swamigal said the Bhagavata Purana had hailed chanting the Divine name and singing the glory of God as best suited to this Kali age for realising God. The Purana says, "What is attained in the Satya yuga by one contemplating on Lord Vishnu, in Treta by one who propitiates Him by sacrifices, and in Dwapara through worship of the Lord, is attained in the Kali age merely by chanting the name and singing the praise of Sri Hari." In the world one who does not have wealth and position is considered poor but Veda Vyasa remarks that it is the person who does not remember God who is really destitute. Hence it is devotion to God that can be considered man's real wealth.

The Divine name can be chanted by anyone and there are no stringent regulations for its recitation. It is good if one chants it with faith but even if uttered casually it enhances devotion and liberates the individual from worldly bondage. A verse attributed to the Lord declares that He does not reside in the heart of the Yogi or in His Divine abode but stands where His devotees sing His praise. This is often cited to highlight that God prefers the company of His devotees. In the Tiruppavai comprising 30 verses Andal refers to this mode of devotion— singing His glory— 14 times. The Bhagavata Purana mentions at the outset how devotion prevails over other means to realise God in this age, "I was born in the Dravida country and attained maturity in Karnataka. I was respected here and there in Maharashtra and attained a ripe age in Gujarat... Reaching Brindavan I stand refreshed."

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Art of expounding God's glory

dated October 16, 1952: Sir Maurice Gwyer

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