Teachings of The Jagadgurus – Anyone Can Tread the Path of Devotion

Anyone Can Tread the Path of Devotion 

From the Teachings of His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyateertha Mahaswamiji

In order to tread the path of devotion, is any special qualification a sine qua non? This is an oft-raised query. A popular verse supplies the reply in the form of rhetorical questions. 

The verse commences with the rhetorical query, “What was Dharmavyadha’s profession?”

Dharmavyadha was a butcher. He carried on his duties without any attachment and dutifully served his parents. As a result of this, he was recognized as a great follower of dharma. The Mahabharata contains a story about him. 

A certain brahmacārin, by virtue of his tapas, acquired some powers. A bird innocently put its droppings on his head. The celibate looked up enraged and the bird was reduced to ashes. Puffed with conceit at the spontaneous manifestation of his supernatural ability, he proceeded for bhikṣā. He went to a house and begged for food. The lady of the house asked him to tarry a while as she was serving her husband. This infuriated the brahmacārin. However, the lady calmly replied, “I am no bird to be burnt up by you.” 

The continent one was amazed that the lady knew about the incident. Humbled, he sought her guidance. She directed him to Dharmavyadha who gave him detailed instructions. The teaching was particularly pertinent to the brahmacārin, who had ignored his obligation to his father and mother. Dharmavyadha was greatly blessed by the Lord, though his profession was deprecated by many. Thus, one’s profession poses no restriction for treading the path of devotion. 

The next consideration is age. Should one be of a prescribed age to be a devotee? The verse under consideration asks, “What was Dhruva’s age?” Dhruva’s father Uttanapada had two wives. Dhruva’s stepmother Suruci did not like him. Once, when he wished to sit on his father’s lap, his desire was frustrated because Suruci wanted Uttanapada to fondle her child. Weeping, he went to his mother Suniti. Unfortunately, Suniti was not in a position to help him. She asked him to pray to the Lord. 

With determination in his heart, Dhruva retired to a forest. Sage Narada saw the boy and, being immensely pleased with him, initiated him into the worship of Lord Narayana. Dhruva sat absorbed in meditation. So pleased was the Lord with his love that He manifested before him and declared that he would earn the love of his father, and later become a great king. The Lord continued that after his death, he would constantly abide in the firmament as the pole star. Since Dhruva was a young boy when he obtained a vision of the Lord, it is clear that there are no age restrictions for treading the path of devotion. 

Is great scholarliness needed? The verse asks, “What was the learning of Gajendra?” 

Gajendra was an elephant who lived with his wives. He was a great devotee of the Lord. 

One day, a crocodile grasped his foot with its jaws. A great struggle ensued between the two. The crocodile gradually gained the upper hand. Despairing for life, Gajendra called out to the Lord to save him. Lord Visnu rushed to the spot, slayed the crocodile and liberated Gajendra. Gajendra, an uneducated elephant, was thus able to acquire the grace of the Lord. Hence, absence of learning is no bar for devotion. 

Should one be high-born? Is it necessary that one should only be a Brahmin in order to gain the grace of the Lord? The verse asks, “What was Vidura’s caste?” Vidura was born to a servant-maid. As such, he was not a high-caste individual. When Lord Kṛṣṇa came to Hastinapura as an envoy of the Pandavas, He chose to stay, not in the royal palaces offered to Him by the Kaurava princes, but in Vidura’s house. This shows that the Lord does not regard low caste as any bar for resorting to and succeeding in the path of devotion. 

Maybe factors such as profession, age, learning and caste do not matter. But could it be that great grit and manliness are essential? The verse asks, “What was Ugrasena’s manliness?” Ugrasena was Kaṁsa’s father. The demon Kaṁsa had imprisoned his father and usurped power. Kaṁsa’s nephew was none other than Lord Kṛṣṇa. When He was brought to Mathura, He killed Kaṁsa in a duel and restored Ugrasena to the throne. Thus, even one who was lacking in prowess was graced by the Lord. 

Is physical charm something that captivates the Lord’s attention? “Was Kubja a bewitching damsel?” is the counter-query contained in the verse. When Lord Kṛṣṇa arrived at Mathura, a hunchbacked woman, who was certainly no belle, offered scents to Him. The Lord was satisfied and blessed her. Her deformity gave way to beauty. Thus, absence of a delightful appearance does not preclude the reception of Tsvara’s grace. 

People are often pleased by affluence. Is the Lord too like that? The counter-question in the verse is, “Did Sudama have great wealth?” Sudama was a boyhood friend of Lord Kṛṣṇa. They studied together and later parted, Kṛṣṇa becoming a royal prince and Sudama a devoted Brahmin householder. Sudama suffered intensely on account of his poverty. However, he bore it with great fortitude. Unable to withstand the problems of penury, his wife requested him to go and see his friend, Lord Kṛṣṇa. Overjoyed at the thought of meeting his beloved friend, he consented. 

His wife gave him some puffed rice. Sudama went and met Lord Kṛṣṇa. The Lord received him with due honour. Sudama felt ashamed to offer the puffed rice he had brought. But Lord Kṛṣṇa was quick to notice it and asked for it. The Lord began eating it. After some time, His consort Rukmini stopped Him. When Sudama returned, he found a palatial mansion at the location of his old, dilapidated house. He saw that his wife and children were expensively clad. He realized that it was the Lord who had made him affluent. It is clear that the Lord ignores factors such as richness. What is He concerned with? He considers only devotion. 

Where there is devotion, He is satisfied. It follows that there are no specific qualifications needed for treading the path of devotion.