When devotion takes root

“Just as the effulgent rays of the rising sun awaken the lotus which blooms in all its splendour, engaging the mind in divine thoughts shows on the countenance as an expression of calm and nobility,” says poet Lilasuka in his magnum opus ‘Krishna Karnamrita’, justifying the adage that the face is the index of the mind.

The same idea is expressed eloquently by Shankaracharya in his Vivekachudamani, where he says, “When the mind is always engaged in constructive and creative thoughts, divine or otherwise, a current of positive thinking is induced which, with constant practice, arrests the intrusion of evil and negative thoughts.”

Lilasuka goes further, saying that such a mind sees beauty and goodness everywhere, where external aids to spirituality fade into insignificance before the contemplation of the inner divinity that is inherent in every man. This inner presence, says the poet, is what must be sought after.

But, says Lilasuka, such a vision of the inner divinity can only be had through divine grace, the fruit of accumulated virtues of countless previous births. This is why the world, in every age sees only a few great souls as compared to the general populace, burdened with its baggage of a mix of good and bad deeds.

Lilasuka wonders how this contemplation of the charming, beauteous form of the Lord, nay, any form that is conceived by the mind, is soothing for the troubled mind, balm for the burning eyes, assailed as they are by the hurting sights of the world and also the inspiration for good words and his poesy.

The poet exhorts mankind to drink deep of this reservoir of devotion that is ambrosia for the anguish of worldly afflictions. He says “not even one among thousands of wise men has beheld you directly or mentally through sacred words. When will you cast your graceful glance towards me?”

To the true believer, the Lord is the essence of all things noble and beautiful. When true devotion has taken root firmly, “ordinary words strung together by ordinary men acquire a sweetness surpassing that of honey, become an offering at the altar of love and transform even a wayward life into a fruitful journey,”.

Echoing the words of the Upanishads, he says, that the Universe is the dwelling house of the Lord, his partner the Goddess of beauty, mankind his offspring and the Gods his devoted servitors. Now comes a moving endorsement of the truism, “if, by thy grace and the power of the meritorious deeds of the past, devotion does take root, then liberation from bondage, the cycle of birth and death is assured, while the three primary goals of man, Dharma - virtue, Artha - prosperity and Kama - pleasures, perforce stand at our beck and call. Pray, grant us this blessing,” asks poet.