The Essence of Devotion to God

The Essence of Devotion to God

Introduction

I like to hear Carnatic Music and particularly songs composed by Saint Thyagraja, Annamacharya,  Bhadrachalam Ramadas  Papanasam Sivan etc. These songs were composed in Telugu and Tamil. Though I know these two languages but my knowledge is not proficient enough to understand the meaning and philosophical intent behind these songs. It took some time by constantly hearing and reading various commentaries to understand not only the meaning but also the “bhakthi rasa” (devotion to god) behind those songs. I understood the meaning of these songs by reading books and also going through some of the commentary on the songs written by some of the writers and music lovers. Every time when I hear the song and read the commentary the level of dedication to god amazes me. It is single minded pursuit of these holy saints that made impossible to possible. When I think through and do an analysis of those songs, the meanings and the level of devotion was so pure and high which an ordinary man may find it difficult to scale to that level.

There are many songs composed by Saint Thyagaraja that reveals great meaning. His pancharatna kirtis, Rama Nannu Brovara, Nagumomu and thousands of songs will illustrate how Saint invokes Lord name every time to protect him. For this blog I just took Ksheerasagar song which I like so much. (Music lovers can hear this song sung by K.J. Yesudas in You Tube) In Song of Ksheerasagara composed by Saint Thyagraja he requests Lord Rama to take him to his fold by quoting various examples.

Ksheerasagara Song

Telugu version                                                  English Translation

kṣīra sāgara śayana nannu cintala peṭṭa valenā rāma	O Lord reclining in the Ocean of Milk!     O Lord Rama! Should You keep me in misery?
vāraṇa rājunu brōvanu vēgamē vaccinadi vinnānurā rāma		I have heard about Your coming quickly   to protect Gajendra, O Rama!
narī maṇiki cīraliccinadi nāḍē nē vinnānurā dhīruḍau rāmadāsuni bandhamu dīrcinadi vinnānurā nīrajākṣikai nīradhi dāṭina nī kīrtini vinnānurā tāraka nāma tyāgarāja-nuta dayatōnēlukōrā rāma			I heard long ago about Your giving sarees to Draupadi;    I also heard about Your ending the incarceration of the       brave Ramadasa; I even heard about Your fame in crossing the ocean for the sake of Sita; O Lord whose name carries one across (the ocean of Worldly Existence)! One praised by Thyagaraja! O Rama! Please govern me with compassion.

Saint Thyagraja is simple devotee and he does not know anything other than Lord. He petitions Lord to take him to his fold. He request Lord to care of him and quotes few instances where Lord has taken care of some of his subjects by taking some extraordinary steps. Saint in his song quotes the following instances and compares himself to some of the best known devotees and finally request Lord to take care of the Saint.

Gajendra Moksham

A celebrated exploit of Vishnu, from the Bhagavatam was when Lord rushed to the aid of the king of elephants, Gajendra. Gajendra had been a great devotee of Vishnu in his previous birth, and was born in that form, due to a curse. One day, when he went to the waterfront for a drink, a crocodile attacked him. Gajendra, receiving the worst of it, prayed to Vishnu, who interceded on his behalf. The moral of this story  is that the Lord hears the prayers of all beings including Animals. Indirectly the Saint questions the Lord as how Lord can ignore Saint when he can hear the voice of an Elephant

Protection of Draupadi

In this para he quotes the instance in Mahabharat where Lord protected Draupadi when Kaurava disrobes Draupdai and how he protected Draupadi.

Protection of Bhadrachalam Ramadas

Bhadrachalam Ramadas was another great devotee of Lord Ram. Bhadrachalam Ramadas was a minister in Nizam government and he was accused of spending money from government coffers to construct temple for Lord Ram. Nizam was misled by few of his cronies and he orders the arrest of Bhadrachalam Ramadas and was imprisoned. During his imprisonment, Nizam orders to lash Bhadrachalam Ramadas on daily basis. Unable to bear the torture Bhadrachalam Ramadas cries and Lord Ram finally appears and protects Bhadrachalam Ramadas. The song “Ishvakukula Thilaka”of Bhadrachalam Ramadas will reveal the extent of prayer of Bhadrachalam Ramadas to Lord to rescue him.

Crossing of Ocean

Lord Ram crosses ocean over a floating bridge of stones, into Lanka, to fight Ravana, who had abducted Sita.

Finally Saint requests Lord to show compassion on him as Lord is also praised by him on day to day basis. In this entire song Saint petitions Lord and he compares himself with Gajendra, Draupadi, Bhadrachalam Ramadas and finally with Sita. If one look at the sequence in songs he starts with Gajendra which is considered as King of Elephants, then he quotes Draupdai as “Narimani”i.e gem among women, he quotes Bhadrachalam Ramadas as Lord Ram gave Gold coins to Nizam with his seal to rescue Bhadrachalam Ramadas and finally Saint quotes how Lord had to cross ocean to protect Sita. In all the instances Lord had to take some extraordinary steps to protect his subject who are in difficulties but to protect Saint Thyagraja he does not have to take any extraordinary step but to accede simple request of taking Saint into his fold.

Conclusion

In this song and in any of his compositions, Saint never asks money, wealth, pleasures but merely request Lord to take him to his fold. The essence of devotion is that not to look for pleasures from Lord but ask for his protection which is most valuable than all material and money. I am not sure how many of us in today’s world will get that sort of dedication as all of us are influenced by our day to day routines as even today saints are also influenced by material and jets. Today if we close our eyes for a minute all our materialistic pleasures, all our desires and all our day to day issues comes before us.  The essence of devotion which is single minded is not based on offering of diamond crowns, Gold coins and material to god but a simple devotion alone will please the Lord.