Way to God is through service

Worship is regarded by the spiritually inclined as an essential element in reaching the Divine. But what is true worship? What does it consist of? A story from the ancient Hindu text, ‘The Puranas,’ throws much light on this matter.

The sage Narada who constantly intoned, ‘Narayana, Narayana’ was seized by the belief that none was more devoted to Lord Vishnu than he. On one occasion he conveyed this to the Lord. To his great surprise, he received no acknowledgement or praise. On the other hand, the Lord said, ‘Go to the banks of the Ganges and spend a day with a poor farmer who lives there.’

Narada went at once to where he was directed. The farmer was a humble but taciturn man. After a few pleasantries were exchanged, he heaved his plough on to his shoulders, uttered the name ‘Hari’ once and set off to his fields. There he worked until sundown.

When he returned to his hut he was completely exhausted. Quickly he finished his meager meal, breathed the name of Hari once more and then fell fast asleep.

More than a little puzzled, Narada hurried to Vishnu and said, ‘Lord, this lowly man can hardly be counted as a devotee. All day he was busy with common, worldly chores. He uttered your name no more than a couple of times. How can he be compared with me, your devoted slave?’

The Lord smiled and said, ‘Narada, fill a bowl to the brim with milk. Then holding it in your hands, circumnavigate the world and then come to me. Take care that you do not spill even a single drop.’

‘It shall be done, Lord,’ answered Narada joyfully. Determined to fulfil the task to the best of his ability, Narada set off.  Carefully he trod, so that not even a tiny drop was spilt.

When he reached Vishnu’s abode, he exclaimed triumphantly, ‘I have done what You bid me do, Lord. Am I not by far the most devoted of your servants?’

‘Narada,’ came the answer, ‘how many times did you utter My name when you did what I asked you to?’

‘Not even once, Lord. I was engrossed in doing what I was ordered to do.’
‘And how many times did the farmer think of Me?’

‘Twice, once in the morning and once at night.’

‘Don’t you see, Narada, the farmer in spite of his onerous work thought of Me twice, while you forgot Me altogether. Tell me, who has greater devotion?’

Here is a tale that is as thought-provoking as it is illuminating. Worship can be of many kinds and there are many roads that lead to the Supreme. Some believe in repetitive chanting of His name.

There are those who sing His praises. Observance of rituals and rites appeal to some and of course there are those who pray and fast. But, as this story points out, doing your duty and working faithfully is one of the purest forms of worship.

Service to others amounts to the service of God. The secret of worship lies not in lengthy prayers and chants but in honest work. As the Gita has it, ‘He who offers to Me with devotion, a leaf, a flower, a fruit, water, That I accept from the striving self, offered as it is with devotion’.