Sri Bharatamata

Ashtottaram 35

 

35) OṀ BHAKTI BHŨMYAINAMAH:

     

  OṀ (AUM) - BHAK - TI - BHOO- MYAI-

                                             NA--MA-HA

 

        (Bhakti: means- devotion, intense love of God, committed love)

 

Bhakti or devotion or love of God is one of the most widely recognized religious sentiments in all the major religions of the world. In Hinduism, its origins can be traced to the Ṛigveda itself. Praise of God, hearing or recitation of His names as also surrender to Him, filial affection towards God, that He seeks His devotees, that He is our dearest and nearest-these are some of the aspects of bhakti found in it. The Śvetaśvatara Upanishad actually uses the word 'bhakti' and clearly states 'prapatti' (self-surrender) also. In Bhagavadgīta, as also in the epics and purāṇās, bhakti has been dealt with extensively. Bhakti has been defined as 'parama-prema' (intense love) or 'parā-anurakti' (extreme attachment) to God, thus excluding or transcending all other kinds of love.

 

Bhakti can be categorized according to the guṇas as sātvika bhakti, rājasa bhakti and tāmasa bhakti. According to the mind of the votary, as bhakti of the ārta (the afflicted), of the arthārthi (the one seeking worldly gains), of the jijnāsu (an inquirer of Truth) and of the jnāni    (the enlightened one) is another method.  One who aspires after cultivating bhakti is expected to adopt certain moral and spiritual disciplines in life. Avoiding evil company and cultivating holy company, detachment towards worldly things, taking recourse to lonely places conducive to devotion, giving up evil actions and actions motivated by selfish desires, performing one's duties as an act of worship of God, practicing fortitude and dependence upon God, are some of the disciplines recommended.

 

Sri Vedavyāsa said there is nothing easier than path of bhakti in this kali yuga (age of darkness). Our Vedas said you can worship God in any form you desire and no hard and fast rules to worship Him and which is quite opposite to the other religions which have strict rules and regulations to follow and oppress their creed if do it otherwise. There are great devotees like Annamayya, Tyāgayya, Ramadās, Tukāram, Miirābai and Purandaradās and many more who sang thousnads of songs and kīrtans on God and inspired devotion among ordinary people from younger to old folks alike. Even today, those kīrtanās are very popular and became household songs passed on generation to generation.

 

With their pure eyes and divine vision, many devotees had darśanam (seeing or experiencing) of God dear to oneself (ishṭa devata) either with or without attributes and form.

 

The land which is the home of utmost devotees like- Sri Śankarāchārya, Sri Ramānuja, and many more, is 'Bhakti Bhūmi'.