Who Is Dear To the Lord - Swami's discourse during Paduka Puja - 3-10-1996

[Guest guest]

Date:3 Oct 1996

Occasion:Paduka Puja

Place:Prashanti Nilayam

Who Is Dear To the Lord

Embodiments of Love!

Human life is precious, noble and virtuous. It is a pity human beings do not

realize this. The whole purpose and goal of human life is to know ones true

nature. Forgetting one's true nature, man is caught up in worldly concerns and

plunged in misery.

The ancient sages indicated the path to be pursued for the redemption of

mankind. They commended nine forms of worship, any one of which could confer

bliss and redeem a man's life

To experience the proximity of the Divine the easiest path is Naaamasmarana,

remembering constantly the name of the Lord. Sage Veda Vyasa declared that in

the Kali Yuga there is nothing greater than chanting the name of Hari for

realizing God. It is the easiest path for one and all, the scholar and

illiterates, the rich and the poor.

In the Gita, the Lord has indicated the qualifier which a devotee should possess

to enable him to earn the love of the Lord. Among these qualities, Krishna

declared desirelessness as important (Anapeksha). Today there are few without

desires of one kind or other. All sensual pleasures are ephemeral. But most

people are content with them. Greater than the sensual is the transcendental

path, 'Sreyyomarga, which confers lasting bliss.

When one does any action as an offering to God, it gets sanctified. Such an act

becomes a desireless (Anapeksha) act. Every selfless act of devotion becomes an

action free from the taint of desire.

The second quality is Sushi (purity). What is required is both internal and

external purity. God cares only for internal purity of the mind (Chithasuddhi).

 

FAITH AND SERVICE

The third quality is Daksha. This means that the devotees should be steadfast

and unwavering in any situation. With his mind firmly rooted in God, he should

engage himself in service to others and perform actions in a spirit of

detachment. Only such a devotee is eligible for God's love. He is unaffected by

pleasure or pain, gain or loss or what happens in the mundane world. The fourth

quality is "Udaseenah"- indifference to external happenings. The fifth quality

is freedom from egoism and possessiveness. One should get rid of the idea of

doership and ownership and surrender everything to God.

Today all spiritual exercises are ostensibly undertaken for realizing God. But

there is no need for undertaking them. Human birth itself is a mark of

Divinity. What is essential is to recognize the indwelling Divinity and live on

that basis.

Where is God? Not in temples or pilgrim centers or other places. He dwells in

the heart of everyone. To experience the Divinity within, one has to see the

Divine in all others and render them service in that spirit.

WORSHIP OF PADUKAS

Today we are celebrating the worship of padukas (sandals sanctified by the touch

of the Lord's feet). Worship of padukas is not of recent origin.

Even during the Krita Yuga, the sages used to worship padukas, experience divine

bliss and share it with others. By worshipping the Feet of the Lord, they

achieved the goal of their penance.

In the worship of Dakshinamurthy adoration of the sandals of the Lord as guru

(preceptor) is considered important. Even Sankaracharya resorted to the worship

of the Lord's Feet as essential. In a famous hymn, he extolled the Lord in many

ways and declared that he was taking refuge in the Lord's feet (Sambhu). He

declared that Siva's feet were enshrined in his heart and not elsewhere.

The glory of the Lord's feet is demonstrated by a significant episode in the

Ramayana. After Rama left the forest, Bhartha came to him and pleaded earnestly

with him to return to Ayodhya. Rama was equally determined not to return.

Vasishta noticed the equal determination of the two brothers. The sage told

Bharata: "Rama has come to the forest to carry out the command of his father.

It is not right on your part to ask him to change his mind. Let us take his

padukas to Ayodhya. Those padukas will reign over the kingdom". Vasishta gave

this timely advice and persuaded Bharata to take Ramas sandals and install them

on the throne in Ayodhya.

These incidents show that the worship of the Lord's feet and of the Lord's

sandals has a long antiquity. The sacredness of this worship was propagated to

the world by Bharat from ancient times as part of its spiritual message to

mankind . Indians today have largely forgotten this ancient practice. In those

days it was the practice of the disciples, after the completion of their

education at the guru's ashram, to take with them padukas of the guru to

worship them on their return to their homes. But even the worship of padukas is

an external activity. True devotion calls for the installation of the padukas in

the heart.

This means that starting with the external form of worship, we should in due

course make it an internal exercise.

KARMA, BAAKTI AND JNAANA

All these are related to the Karma Marga - the path of Action. Beginning with

the path of action, progressing towards the path of devotion (Bhakti Marga),

one should ultimately achieve Self- realization (Kaivalya) by the Jnaana Marga

(the Path of Wisdom). Jnaanaath Eva Thu Kaivalyam declares the scripture.

Realization is only through Wisdom.

The entire life should not be spent on only worldly duties. One must progress

spiritually from stage to stage. Karma-Upaasana-Jnaanam

(Action-Devotion-Wisdom). These are the three steps in Self- Realization.

Subramania Chettiar has been engaged in these devotional activities for a long

time. Looking at his age, you can realize that physically he is not fit to

undertake long journeys. But because of his intense devotion and strong faith

in Bhagavan, he has been able to carry on this work. The Divine grace has been

giving him all this abundant energy.

So far as the worship of the padukas is concerned, you need not bother about

what others think. Every man should take up such sacred activity to get nearer

to God.

To get close to the Divine, you have to engage yourselves in activities which

please the Divine. The supreme maxims of the Bharatiya culture are: "Speak the

Truth. Follow Righteousness". When you adhere to these two maxims all your

actions will be sacred.

THE PURUSHAARTHAS

Of the four goals of human life prescribed by the scriptures, the first is

Dharma (righteousness). It is like the feet in the human body. The entire body

rests on the feet. "Artha", the second goal, rests on the feet. Hence, the

acquisition of wealth should be based on righteous means. The third goal is

"Kaama (desires). For the fulfillment of desires you need the strength of the

arms (Bhujabalam). Both Kaama and Artha are based on Dharma. Moksha is the

culmination of a life based on Dharma.

Today people have forgotten Dharma and Moksha and are immersed only in Artha

(acquisition of wealth) and Kaama (the pursuit of sensual desires). For the

realization of the goal of human existence, you have to rely on the feet,

namely, Dharma, and the head, namely, Moksha (Liberation). This is the message

of the symbolic description of the Cosmic Person in the Vedas. The face of the

Cosmic Person symbolizes the Brahmic Principle. The feet symbolize Dharma.

Thus, basing oneself on Dharma, one should pursue Artha and Kaama to attain

Moksha.

People should seek the Divine in all possible ways. In the worship of the

padukas, devotees should offer worship with all their heart and not as a

mechanical ritual.

HOW TO RECITE MANTRAS

For instance, when the chief priest was reciting the mantras, anyone would have

been deeply moved by listening to them. Our pandit pronounced the words with

extreme clarity. Let me not be misunderstood when I say that, whether in

Tamilnad, Kerala or even in Northern India, Sanskrit words are not pronounced

correctly. But the pandit pronounced all the words very clearly this morning.

Every syllable was pronounced in such a way that it appealed to the heart. His

assistants were also closely following him.

Governor Burugula Ramakrishna Rao took one group to Badrinath. The priest in the

temple there was a Nambudiri and a Sanskrit pandit. Yet, when the pandit was

reciting the mantras, Ramakrishna Rao closed his ears. Ramakrishna Rao

exclaimed: "Oh pandit! Do not massacre our Sanskrit!" The pandit was saying:

"Jaanthaagaaram Bhujaga Jayanam Padmanaabham," instead of saying

"Saanthaakaaram Bhujagasayanam Padmanaabham,". What humiliation is inflicted on

the Sanskrit language!

It is praiseworthy that a pandit living in Tamilnad should pronounce Sanskrit

mantras more clearly and correctly than even Andhras.

It is because of the help of such pandits that Subramania Chetty's burdens are lightened.

A BLISSFUL EXPERIENCE

The spectacle you witnessed this morning was indeed a blissful experience for

one and all. It looked as if all were in Vaikunta (the Abode of the Supreme

Lord) or Swarga (the abode of Indra). It was not at all a command performance.

Everyone silently performed the puja (worship of the padukas) with his/her full

heart in it. The pandit explained the meaning of every word in the mantra. It is

rare to find pandits who recite the mantras so clearly and explain their meaning

intelligently. This has been the problem in Bharat for quite a long time. Very

few are concerned about the well-being of society. People carry on their work,

professing that duty is God. That was not the case with the pandit who

officiated at the function today. It is thanks to such pandits that we have

devotees who practice the rituals sincerely.

DR. GADHIA AND SWAMI

Now, let me say a word about Dr. Gadhia (who had addressed the meeting earlier).

You know about him. His grandfather, Kaka Dixit was in Shirdi. He has not seen

the old man. But I have seen him. Kaka Dixit's son came to Bhagavan and stayed

with Swami for 30 years in Brindavan. He showed to Swami the diary written by

Kaka Dixit. The Dixit family had relations with Swami which have continued to

this day. Dixit stayed with his wife in Swamis ashram. He showed to Swami Kaka

Dixit's diary. In it he had written what Shirdi Baba had told him: Child! you

will again be close to Baba. Whatever troubles may come, do not give up your

faith." Then Gadhia came to Baba. I sent him to Manipal to study a course in

Medicine. After completing his medical studies in Manipal he came to Bangalore.

I told him that there was no point in his remaining in Bangalore and directed

him to got to London.

In this manner, Gadhia and his ancestors have been associated with Sai. Like

this many devotees have been associated with Swami over many lives. Without

such association in the past it would not be possible for all of you to come

here. You are not aware of this but I know it all. These sacred associations

have been maintained over many life-times.

ASSOCIATION WITH SAI

Thus, many of you have from immemorial times had links with the Atmic Self. This

link is unbroken, is eternal, infinite. Such sacred relationships should never

be given up. All should return to the place where from they came. That is the

strident declaration in the Bhagavatham: "It is natural for every living

creature to go back to the source from which it came. You have come from the

Atma and you must merge in the Atma. Till the goal is reached you must not

treat lightly the sacred journey of life.

People forget the route by which they came and are searching for new paths. Many

approach me and ask: Swami! show a way. I tell them: There is no need for me to

show you a path. You go back by the route you came.

Wherefrom did you come? Not from your mother. Nor from any particular place. The

body came from the mother, but the Atma came from the Atma. You are not the body

or the senses or the mind. You are the Atma alone You are the son of

immortality. Being an Amritaputra (son of immortality), why are you seeking

this anrutha(untruth). What is the way to immortality? Removal of immorality is

the only way to immortality. If you get rid of evil qualities like attachment,

hatred and envy, you will realize immortality. These bad traits make you remote

from God. When you get rid of them, God becomes close to you.

THE LORD IS WITH YOU

Hence, gradually you have to give up the animal qualities and develop godly

qualities such as truth, righteousness, justice and morality. By a process of

self-enquiry you can get rid of your animal qualities like anger. How long are

you going to remain in the same round of birth and death without realizing the

goal of human existence? All pujas, rituals and penances are performed for this

realization. You have secured an extremely precious gift by your present birth.

Do not waste it. Utilize every available moment for a worthwhile purpose.

Devotees are yearning to realize the Divine by worshipping the Lotus feet and

offering their worship to the padukas. Have the conviction that when you have

the sanctified padukas with you, the Lord is also with you. When you enter the

Mandir you leave your shoes outside. But the Lord's feet are present wherever

His sandals are kept. Bear in mind this sacred idea. Live

up to the conviction that the eternal Divine is Omnipresent. Maintain purity and

harmony in thought, word and deed. That is the way to secure Divine Wisdom

("Jnaanasuddhi").

Thanks to many meritorious lives in the past, you have got this sacred

opportunity. Of the hundreds of millions in Bharat, how many have got this

opportunity? Many who wished to come here have been unable to do so for one

reason or another. Make the best use of the rare and sacred opportunity that

has come your way.

Dr. Gadhia observed that many significant events are likely to take place before

1998. [Dr. Gadhia had invited Swami for a big paduka celebration to be held in

Birmingham in 1998]. In accordance with this desire, Subramania Chettiar should

be blessed with the necessary health and strength. He is willing to take on any

burden, but is physically weak. But his faith and determination will give him

the strength he needs. Our Sastri (who officiated at the function in the

Nilayam) should also take a resolve. He should spread the message of the

worship of the padukas among wider sections of the people and dispel the

darkness of ignorance. Whoever carries on the divine mission, unaffected by

success or failure, joy or sorrow, will be the recipient of God's grace.

Krishna has declared that such a devotee is dear to Him. Such a devotee

develops detachment towards all worldly concerns and is indifferent to the

happenings in the

phenomenal world. He is indifferent to praise or censure, pleasure or pain

The next quality a devotee should have is giving up attachment to the fruits of

one's actions. Even the egoistic sense of doership should be given up.

Everything belongs to the Divine. Engage yourself in good acts and experience

the Divine. [bhagavan then honored the pandit with a gold kankanam and fastened

a gold wristlet on Subramania Chettiar. The entire gathering broke into

applause. Bhagavan also presented shawls to the other pandits who had

participated in the function.]

[The memorable discourse concluded with the bhajan, Bhajana Binaa Sukha Santhi

Nahi! and the offer of arathi to Bhagavan.]

With Sai love from Sai brothers, ''

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