Focus on ways to reach God

The Ramayana, Bhagavatham, Vishnu Puranam, the Bhagavad Gita and all other holy books tell us that bhakti yogam is better than gnana yogam, ashtanga yoga, karma margam , etc. Although it may sound easy and doable, bhakti calls for a structured approach. One has to climb many steps to reach God. 

The first step is manasa japayagnam — think of the divine. Concentrate fully and let God repose in your mind. The best example of this is Andal, who brought everyone from Krishna to Yashoda, Balaraman, the Gopikas etc, from the uplands to the southern town of Srivilliputhur Nama sankirtanam is another way to reach God. This does not require elaborate rituals, but it calls for a focused mind. For example, Hanuman always chanted, Rama Rama. Even in his addresses, he invoked Rama’s name. 

When sage Narada wondered how Hanuman flew over an ocean and landed on Lankan shores, the latter replied, “Just chant Rama japam; all the endeavours become easy.” In fact, when Rama wanted to ascend back to Heaven after completing his mission on earth, Hanuman begged to be left behind in order to be be with others and chant Rama namam. 

Expanding on the concept of bhakti in Bhagavatham, Sukar says, “Just as how fire reduces wood to ashes, similarly the flame of bhakti through nama sankirtanam will burn away all of one’s sins.” The concept of nama sankirtanam need not necessarily entail an elaborate orchestra and a set stage for music. In Brindavan, the Gopikas were known to invoke the name of Krishna at every turn. 

Even when they went around the streets selling curd, they cried, “Krishna, are you not buying curd?” Whenever a mother gently laid her baby in the cradle, she always said, “Kirshna, are you not going to sleep now?” God was in their thoughts always and even in their subconscious acts, the thought of God, was ever-present. One can also train oneself to think of God through conscious daily acts such as plucking flowers, making offerings of fruits, milk etc, first to God. 

This should be followed by reciting of slokas, reading of the Bhagavatham, etc. There is also the way of Thirunama sangeerthaanam, wherein children are named after Gods and every time one calls out to them, one is also saying a prayer, thereby getting close to God. The best example of this is Ajamilan, a man who had sinned a lot. 

However, he had named his last son as Narayana. On his deathbed, when Yama was ready to take him to the nether world, Ajamilan called out to his son, “Narayana, Narayana,” and breathed his last. Vishnu immediately took him to Vaikuntam, saying, “He called out to me as his last act, and I grant him moksham.” 

In one of his poems, Periyazhwar says, Appodhaikku ippodhe solli vaitthen, and some scholars interpret it as one in which the Azhwar says, ‘I am calling out your name now itself, in case I am unable to utter it with my last breath.” The essence of bhakti is such that there is no age limit. It is not necessary that one should be rich or privileged. Bhakti does not call any great scholarly qualifications, but a simple feeling from the bottom of the heart.