The Hindu : Devotion to God, an end in itself

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2003

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Devotion to God, an end in itself

CHENNAI APRIL 30 . All spiritual practices are techniques to help the mind overcome its tendency of getting engrossed in worldly engagements. Unless the mind is pure it cannot dwell on God. But controlling the mind is easier said than done. Only when one makes sincere efforts to develop devotion to God it will become apparent how the human faculties fail to cooperate. As one becomes old the afflictions of the body also distract the mind from engaging in devotional activities. For this one can draw inspiration from great personages like Bhishma. With tremendous willpower he concentrated his mind on the Almighty at the moment of shedding his mortal coil in spite of the pain he suffered lying on a bed of arrows. He discoursed at length on Dharma to Yudhisthira pointing to Lord Krishna standing near them as the supreme truth and chanted the Vishnu Sahasranama, said Sri B. Sundar Kumar in his discourse.

According to the story line of the Mahabharata, Bhishma awaited the auspicious time of "Uttarayana" coveted by mystics to shed the body but for one who was so spiritually evolved such considerations must have been only incidental. Then there must be a reason why he waited for so long. He waited for Lord Krishna to come to his side so that he could behold Him and glorify Him as he breathed his last. Fixing his mind exclusively on the Lord who appeared to Him in His divine form he extolled Him.

Bhishma Stuti is another important prayer like Kunti's. Both of them highlight the importance of devotion to God and these two devotees were doubly blessed in that they recognised Krishna as the Divine-incarnate when He lived amidst them. And, what did this peerless devotee seek from the Lord? Bhishma prayed, "May I cherish motiveless love for Sri Krishna, the friend of Arjuna, who has assumed a personality charming to the three worlds... May my mind, body and soul rest in Sri Krishna, whose face is hemmed all round by flowing hair soiled with the dust raised by the horses' hoofs on the battlefield and is bedecked with drops of perspiration and whose skin is pierced by my sharp arrows though protected with a shining armour." Bhishma thus personifies the truth that knowledge and devotion to God go hand in hand in spiritual life.

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