Page 4 - Newsletter Dec 2018

FOOD FOR THOUGHT :

Q & A

With

Mrs Asha Manoharan

Smaranam

Smaranam is a form of Bhakti wherein, we are constantly hearing and chanting
about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, and pastimes of God.
When we think of this form of Bhakti, one story that comes to mind from mytholo-

gy is that of Dhruva, who was a devotee of Lord Vishnu mentioned in the Vishnu
Purana and the Bhagavata Purana. Dhruva was the first son of King Uttanapada
and his wife Suniti. The king also had another son Uttama, born to his second

queen Suruchi. Once, when Dhruva was five years old, he was sitting on his fa-
ther's lap at the throne. Suruchi being jealous of Dhruva, since he was the heir to

the throne and not her son Uttama, forced Dhruva to get down. When Dhruva pro-
tested, Suruchi scolded him saying that only God can allow him the privilege of
sitting on his father’s lap, and that he should take it up with God. Dhruva took
this comment very seriously and set out to the forest to ask God Himself. Seeing

his resolve, Sage Narada appeared before him and advised Dhruva on chanting
‘Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya’. With his mind fixed on Lord Vishnu, Dhruva

started his penance. When Lord Vishnu finally appeared before him and asked
him for what he wished for, Dhruva forgot the purpose of why he started the pen-
ance. Instead, he asked Lord Vishnu to grant him a boon by which he would al-

ways be in constant remembrance of the Lord. Pleased with Dhruva’s devotion and
determination, Lord Vishnu granted his wish and further declared that he would
attain Dhruvapada - the state where he would become a celestial body which will

always exist, even after Maha Pralayam (Great Dissolution).

The story of Dhruva is a perfect example of how devotion to God should be. The
Bhagavad Gita (7th chapter, 16th verse) groups bhaktas into four categories:
1. Devotees who think about God only during difficult times and fervently pray and

visit temples for solutions to their problems.
2. Bhaktas who have extreme love and devotion for God, and are always in the

quest for more knowledge about God.
3. The materialistic devotees who are always praying for money, property and pos-
sessions of a tangible nature.
4. This last category constitutes the devotees who have renunciated all materialis-

tic desires and are only seeking the ultimate truth about God.
We should all strive towards attaining this state of devotion.

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