ATTRIBUTES OF AN EXALTED BHAKTHA

[varadaraja sharma]

Radhe Krishna,

The life and times of Bhaktha are not simple stories to read but landmarks for saha bhakthas in the path of bhakthi. In this thread i try to give incidents in the life of bhakthas which help us to understand the greatness of atmagunas. For one thing, I request my saha bhakthas - for the sake of god - let there be only discussion of bhakthi and experiences of great souls in the bhakthi marga in this thread. Kindly dont discuss philosophical clashes ; personality clashes ; hatred messages in this thread.

let me start with one such episode.

Saint Thyagaraja, the humble upasaka of Shri Ramachandra use to engage in Ramabhakthi throughout the day. He was believed to have received initiation from none less than Narada the Nuances of music. Right since he wake up early in the morning till night he goes to sleep he engages himself in Rama Bhakthi.
On one day when he was doing sankeerthana in the evening, a person who was with skin sores was sitting a corner away from all bhakthas. Thyagaraja noticed him and asked him to come near. with much hesitation he came near. Thyagaraja asked for his introduction. He humbly said that he was gopalakrishna Bharathi. In surprise thyagaraja asked are u the person who writes wonderfull keerthanas on lord shiva. Shri Bharathi replied, yes my lord, I am that servant of servants who try to write few lines in price of lord which others say are poems. Thiagaraja asked him, sir, these days I hear the Raaga Aabogi is very popular. Have u composed any song in this raga.
Shri Bharathi, told - Prabhu so far i have not composed any - if u permit with ur grace may i submit one. Thiagaraja told i would be happy to hear one
Shri Bharathi sang:

"Sabhapathiki veru theivam samanamaguma"

which means could there be a god who could be equal to Lord Shiva

Imagine he was singing this song in front of Shri thiagaraja who chanted the name of god 96 crores time in his life time - an ananya Rama Bhaktha.

Had it been an immatured upasaka he would have got irritated and either wouuld have walked out of the place or scolded the singer - as to how dare u sing the praise of lord shiva in my presence and in the presence of my lord.

But thiagaraja completely listened to the song. After the rendering was over - Shri Bharathi asked thiagaraja, prabhu, are there any compositions of u in this raaga. Thiagaraja told - let me too submit one now. He started singing :

"Rama nee samanamevaru"

Meaning - Hey Lord Rama is there any God who could be equal to u

Shri Bharathi was also a humble and exalted Bhaktha who too listened joyfully the rendering of thiagaraja.

Both were doing upasana of different gods. Both were exalted souls. What they exchanged was the mood of bhakthi both had. Both benefitted.

There are innumerable such episodes which explains the humbleness, discipline, honesty, politeness, ekagratha and other atmagunas in the life and times of bhakthas. let me provide as much as i know
and I request saha krishna bhakthas to provide such episodes so that we share and learn and improve our personalities so that it helps us to climb the ladder of bhakthi to reach the lotus feet of lord hari

Radhe Krishan

[varadaraja sharma]

Radhe Krishna,

In the last parable we have seen a Bhaktha lakshana - named - "Vinayam". In this let us see "Shantham"

In pandaripur, there was a bhaktha named "Ekanatha". He was krishna Bhaktha in "Varakari Sampradaya". He was Bhaktha true to the term posessing all the basic charecteristics of a bhaktha, viz., "Sousheelaym, soulabhyam, vinayam, shantham, Kshama and other attributes of a true bhaktha of lord.

Daily he use to take bath in the river chandrabaga in the morning. After performing nithya karma anushtanas in the river, he goes to Vittala mandira to get darshan of Rukmanikrishna yugala - called Rakumayee samedha Vittalanatha.

A muslim fanatic once decided to humiliate bhakthas. It was the time of muslim rule and nobody dared to question them because of the strong arm tactics of the muslim rulers. This muslim fanatic used to sit on the banks of river chandrabaga. Whenever a darshanarthi climbs up the steps after having taken bath and after having purified him externally, he used to spit on them paan that chews. Many get irritated - somebody scolded him and somebody who were strong enough engaged in fisticuffs. Neverthless, this man enjoyed his mischief and method of humiliation and the more and more he got scolded and got into fisticuffs - his resolution to continue with his mischief got stronger and stronger.

Shri ekanath came across this muslim one day. After taking bath he climbed up the steps and when he came near the muslim, as he does with other persons, he spit on Ekanatha also. Shri Ekanatha, without giving any reply and without even a glimpse of shrink on his face went down the steps to take bath again.

He climbed the steps and when he went near the man he spit again. Shri ekanatha without giving any reply and even without reacting in any manner went down again and took bath.

This event of spitting and taking bath again continued for 10 times. The eleventh time - when Shri Ekanatha took bath and climbed the steps - the muslim instead of spitting at him prostrated at his feet.

He asked him. Sir, I request u to forgive me for what I have done to u and others. But tell me - when all others scolded me and some even got into fisticuffs with me why u did not even utter a word to me.

Ekanatha replied smilingly, Dear friend, When u spit on me my shareera got impure necessitating me to take bath again. Had I engaged in a verbal dual in addition to my shareera - my mind would also have become impure. The shariric impurity can be easily removed by taking a bath again. But the mental impurity - krodha - is difficult to be cleaned. Thats why whenever u spit on me - i went again to take bath.

May I pray Radha Krishna yugalam on this day of Ekadashi to bless me also to posess this shantha svabhava.

Radhe Krishna.