Book Notes
Madhura Bhakthi
Supreme Devotion
Sai Krishna alone is my absolute freedom.
All pervading at all times
Sai Rama is my sole Guardian Angel.
To serve and worship is ultimate joy.
Sai Gopala is ever truly helpful.
Peace and happiness at all times.
Sai Muralidhar is my loving companion.
Redeemer of worldly troubles at all times.
This Bala Gopala has taken worldly birth.
Hold Him without falling into illusion.
Hold His tiny feet firmly - Do not let go.
Hold forever and keep that in your heart.
Forever and ever.
Baba, 21-12-1953
How deep is devotion? Is devotion an activity, like singing songs, or is it just thumbing rosary beads of one kind or another, is it repetition of the name of the Lord? What is devotion, what form does it take? How does devotion permeate the membranes within the host, how does devotion linger in the mind?
Smt Vijayamma, also known as Smt. Vijaya Kumari, author of Anyatha Saranam Nasti, Other than You there is no Refuge has brought together many reflections on Madhura Bhakthi, Supreme Devotion-Bridal Mysticism. It is interesting to note that there are many, many echoes of the Bridal mysticism of Christian Spirituality of the Renaissance in the writings of Smt. Vijayamma. It is clear the the mysticism born of supreme single pointed devotion expresses itself in similar throes, no matter the external container, the religion, nor the name and form of the Lord.
An example of such supreme-devotional-bridal-mysticism is the story of Suguna, the newly wedded Gopika who arrived in Brindavan. Her in-laws forbade her visiting Yashoda's house. It was custom to obtain the candle flame from Yashoda's house, for that house was regarded as a house of prosperity. Suguna went to obtain the flame; she forgot herself, dropped the oil saucer and put her finger in the flame. Yashoda entered, understood the situation, and woke Suguna from her mystical reviere. Her finger was holding the flame; it was not burnt. Upon enquiry, Suguna told Yashoda she saw Krishna in the flame. Thus the tale spread through the village like wildfire, and the Gopikas shared in the happiness of Suguna.
Even so, such a tale is instructive of union with the divine, self-forgetfulness, devotion unto the Lord and the observance of dharma - for selfless love is happy when others are happy.
The book opens with recollection of the lives of Radha, Meera, Goda. There are treatises on Supreme Devotion, Union of the Soul, Love of Krishna, Divine Plays of Krishna and His Pranks. Other chapters introduce and delate on Srimad Bhagavatham, Sage Vyasa, Mother Yashoda, Solitude, Yearning and Offering, Definition and Knowledge of Brahma, different names and forms of the Divine. The book concludes with a Divine Discourse given in 1948.
Many years ago, Baba gave the author a handwritten poem about the names and forms of Krishna and devotion to Krishna. Perhaps this was the seed which flowered into this book. There is a reproduction of this poem (in Telugu, handwritten) in the book along with many other devotional illustrations and plates.
How to use this book? Devotional reading is a discipline wherein one sets aside a time to read, it is time for the Lord only. Perhaps there are many different forms of devotional reading, narratives, accounts of the miracles and leelas of the Lord, presentation of His teachings, perhaps His Divine Discourses. These can be read in many different ways, a whole book in one sitting, perhaps a chapter a day, perhaps, one chapter per week, with daily reading and re-reading and reflection on the text and one's own personal relationship with the Lord.
We opened with the question "How deep is devotion? Devotion is only as deep as the time you put into it, it is only as deep as discipline, the ascetical practices you undertake. Management of the mind is asceticism; training the mind to turn always to either the name or the form of the Lord when inactivity takes over the body or mind, is true asceticism and true tapasya; it is not achieved in the Himalayas on a diet of kusha grass, abnegation, starving the body of food and water and other prescribed practices. It is mind management and heart management; a mind and heart completely focussed on the Lord become the Lord, they bind the Lord with the cords of love. St John the Divine, disciple of Jesus and author of the Fourth Gospel, kept Jesus' name and form in his mind and heart that eventually, people remarked that he looked like Jesus.
Every reader will find their own way to reading a book; however devotional reading is not speed reading, it is both waste-of-time reading, nourishment of the soul, binding the cords of Love, a time for mysticism and union of soul with the Divine, a reading that moves from time to timelessness. Giving time to the Lord is indeed a form of sacrifice, utterly the purpose of devotion. This book may irritate, it may cause you to put it down, but, as we opened, the best reading is disciplined devotional reading; it is an appointment with God which will repay with love that vibrates from top to toe, emanating out with radiations which seize the entire mind-body complex with the totality of Divine Love itself.
Take your time, take HIS time. Remember God, keep your appointment, and reap the benefits. A chapter a week, with reflection on the text, entering into the text, visualising, these things are effort, sadhana. The Dance of the Gopikas, Rasa Vilola, continues today in the hearts of countless devotees world wide. Join them.
$4 from Sai Books, 24 Kenilworth Ave, Wonga Park, 3115,
Margaret and Randall McDonald
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