DEVOTION
Prema Jyothi
The Light of Awareness
Prema Jyothi covers central questions that may arise on the spiritual journey to awakening regarding our essential nature. It presents some fascinating insights into the Indian and other spiritual traditions, in particular the Himalayan Vedantic tradition,
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DEVOTION – A POWER TO MERGE FROM THE FINITE TO THE INFINITE
In my time spent with yogis and spiritual practitioners in India, I could see that devotion (bhakti) was always an intertwined essential aspect in spiritual unfoldment. This was made clear during my time spent with Swami Sudhananda, who outwardly appeared to be a jnani (one who follows the path of knowledge). Sudhnanda invited me to travel with him to the birthday celebration of his guru, Swami Dayananda. Along the way, Sudhnanda continually emphasised the path of jnana as being at the heart of spiritual unfoldment, and the only way to realisation. He was well-known for his discourses from this viewpoint. Once we arrived at the celebration, and were seated in the massive crowd, Dayananda called up his disciple Sudhnanda. When this happened Sudhanada began to cry, and it appeared that he was completely overcome with feelings of devotion. In the taxi, on the long journey back to Madras, every time he tried to speak of his guru, he would again begin sobbing with the deep love he held. More than any other experience, this etched into my mind, that devotion is an integral part of the spiritual process.
- Savitri
THE STREAM OF BHAKTI - STORIES OF DEVOTION THAT LIFT THE HEART
MIRABAI – DEVOTION PERSONIFIED
It was 1980. Sai hosted us for a big world conference at Prasanthi Nilayam (Sai Baba’s ashram in South India). Delegates came from all over the world. Along with the conference proceedings, there was an amazing musical programme. All the big artists in Indian music were there: Ravi Shankar (sitar); Siv Kumar Sharma (santur); Hari Prasad Chaurasia (flute) and several others. One of the musical offerings that still invokes sweetness when I recall it was a rendition from the renowned singer M.S. Subhalakshmi. Sai sat on the stage and MS sat at his feet and sang bhajans (songs) composed by the great saint Mirabai in praise of her beloved Krishna. The devotion in the hall was so palpable I think everyone was in tears. We were transported back to a time when the gopis (cowherdesses) poured their devotion at the feet of their beloved Gopala (name of Krishna that means cowherd). Being present for such a unique blessing remains one of the highlights of my 47 years with Sai. But who was this Mirabai whose songs invoke such devotion and love? This is a question worthy of investigation.
To understand Mirabai, we must travel back to 16th Century Rajasthan in Northern India. This was a time after the Mughal invasion, where the Islamic rulers governed vast tracts of India, and there were wars between the mainly Hindu rulers of the various autonomous states (that made the patchwork of smaller nations comprising the India of the time) and the Mughal rulers. These wars were common on account of the Mughal Sultanate of Delhi attempting to extend their empire. Mira’s husband was the crown prince of state called Mewar, which was battling to maintain its independence. He was killed in battle, leaving Mira a widow.
It is said of Mira that, when she was young, she asked her mother, “Where is my husband?” Her mother pointed to the statue of Krishna and said, “Take Krishna as your husband”. Whilst this may have been said lightly to appease the young girl, Mira took the statement literally and seriously. So began a life-long love affair between Mira and Krishna, one that was to be tested again and again as Mira’s travails after losing her husband were myriad and severe. Her in-laws did not know what to do with this young woman who only had Krishna in her heart and consciousness and had no interest in the multiple duties of a woman of the court. They attempted to end her life so many times, through poison, drowning and deadly snakes. Each time Krishna saved the young princess, with a snake turning into a garland of flowers, with her floating when she should have drowned, and the poison turning into nectar.
Sometime later Mira left the kingdom of Mewar and began a pilgrimage. Whilst travelling on foot, she began to compose Bhajans to her beloved Krishna. These songs were not simply devotional songs. Her love for Krishna had blossomed into great and deep wisdom, and Mira’s bhajans are redolent with this wisdom and philosophy. Within her stream of devotion, she had come to the place where she realised her oneness with Krishna, the supreme consciousness. However, her songs and poetry were passionate with longing – with devotion. One such poem attributed to her speaks of her renunciation for her beloved only.
My Dark One has gone to an alien land.
He has left me behind, he's never returned, he's never sent me a single word.
So I've stripped off my ornaments, jewels and adornments, cut my hair from my head.
And put on holy garments, all on his account, seeking him in all four directions.
Mira: unless she meets the Dark One, her God, she doesn't even want to live.
(NB. Dark One refers to the dark hue of Krishna’s skin)
Mirabai has been seen as someone who has dared step out of the social norms (particularly for women), and even defy them. In this she may be considered similarly to the modern-day sadhus, who roam India, living outside caste and gender restrictions. It is important to note that, given her intense devotion to Krishna, she may not have deliberately flouted the conventions, but simply followed her heart.
It is said that she once attended a convocation of scholars. When she was chided for entering a male domain, she retorted, “I see no males here, only females”. This is in reference to her perception of the supreme consciousness being masculine in nature (purusha) and all creation, including humans being feminine in nature (prakriti).
Mirabai lived her later life in Dwaraka, which was once the home of Krishna and his clan of Yadavas. She is said to have ended her earthly sojourn by merging her form into the idol at the main temple in Dwaraka.
Satyavan
SURDAS – EYES ONLY FOR THE LORD
The outer sight of pictures or idols cannot confer true devotion. Devotion is found within the heart and is not dependent on personal circumstance. A great and instructive example of this is the 15th Century poet Surdas.
Surdas was born in a small village in the region of Vraj (the same region where Krishna’s boyhood town of Vrindavan is located. There are various versions about his early life, but Sathya Sai tells us that he blinded himself because he felt his eyes were to blame for leading him astray, following women or visiting prostitutes. Thus, Surdas decided to pierce his eyes with a thorn to avoid them inciting his lust. One version tells that, while he was attempting to return home after visiting a prostitute, he had to cross a river swollen in flood. The waters started to carry him away when he grabbed on to what he thought was a log, only to find that it was his dead wife who had been swept away by the deluge! He cursed himself for his lustful habits and felt his eyes had caused the great calamity by leading him away from caring for, and saving, his wife. He then plucked out his eyes.
Becoming blind, Surdas began to develop great devotion, using his inner vision to picture Lord Krishna. Once he was journeying to Dwaraka (Krishna’s town) when he was about to fall into a well. A small boy and caught hold of his hand and asked him, “Where are you going?”.
Surdas Said, “I am going to Dwarka.” The boy said, “I will show you the way and lead you.” The boy then proceeded to help Surdas. The next day, resting in a wayside hut. The boy said he wanted to go, but Surdas wouldn’t leave him. The boy then lay down and, seemingly, went to sleep. Surdas put his hand over the boy while he was sleeping and asked the boy to put his hand on him. The boy awoke and obliged. Because of the divine touch of the boy, he was released from all his sins.
The boy revealed himself as none other than Krishna. He told Surdas, “I am Krishna, to whom you always pray. I played this drama to show you My form.” He touched Surdas’s eyes, and Surdas got back his sight. Beholding the divine form, Surdas went into blissful ecstasy. After he recovered, Krishna asked him if he wished to retain his vision, Surdas said,
“I have seen You; I don’t want to see anything else with these eyes. I don’t want my sight. Many people have eyes. Have they seen you? Many have ears; they are not fortunate to hear your melodious music. I want only jnana chaksus (eyes of knowledge).”
Krishna then kept His hand on the head of Surdas. With the gentle touch of his beloved Krishna Surdas merged with the Divine.
Satyavan
SAI GITA – A SUPREME SONG OF LOVE
In the jungles of Mudamalai, Karnataka, South India a baby elephant is crying bitterly. She has lost her mother directly after her birth. She is wandering around aimlessly, crying bitterly. The wildlife officers, discover her and, being moved by her predicament wondered what to do. However, the baby’s tears of sorrow would soon be transformed into tears of joy. This the story of a love affair that reveals that devotion is not limited to the human realm, but is a universal force that pervades the whole of creation.
Sometime after the loss of the mother, the baby was being cared for near the compound of the park administration. At that time Sathya Sai and a small party came to the sanctuary. This was not a chance visit. This was a Divine Play set up by Sai to enact a wonderful song of love that was to last for many years. Sai asked the wildlife officers what had happened to the baby elephant. Being at a loss as to how to care for her, they asked Sai if He would look after the orphaned one. Baba agreed and what followed was and instance of ‘love at first sight’. The baby then travelled to Puttaparthi to be with Sai.
For the elephant, the grieving for her mother was short-lived as Sai Gita (the name Swami gave to the young one) became an intimate part of Sai’s life from thereon. The young elephant followed Sai everywhere, even into the interview room (the small room where Baba used to talk one on one with devotees)! Years later, Swami confirmed this to Sri B. N. Narasimha Murthy when He said, “What you have seen is nothing, she used to come to my room along with me!” Her first living space was, in fact, right next to Swami’s bedroom.
Later Gita was housed in a small shed inside the ashram, where she had daily contact with her beloved One. She was developing into a loving and disciplined soul, who yearned to be Sai’s presence. She even knew when He was coming. Although He could not be seen for quite a distance, she would trumpet her delight! She was often seen bowing to Baba, and taking padnamaskar (touching of the master’s feet) with her long, mobile trunk.
An early devotee of Sai recalls,
“I have wonderful memories of Sai Gita, the baby elephant, when she was first brought to Puttaparthi. We, the children, would follow her everywhere in the days of old when hardly a few hundred people would be present in the ashram. We were always amazed at her one-pointed devotion to Swami and her excitement as soon as she could sense His presence even from a distance. Swami, in those days, would quite often visit her shed and she would ‘know’ Swami was coming even before we had spotted Him.”
Gita would also garland Baba on special festival days, delicately placing the flower arrangement over Sai’s head. I have witnessed this delightful scene many times and it never failed to draw out tears from my eyes, such was the infectious devotion of Gita. Sai Baba has stated that she was His only true devotee, a tribute to her dedicated love and constancy.
I had some beautiful encounters with her over years that still bring a smile to my face and a small tear to my eyes. Once, during Sai’s 55th Birthday celebrations I was walking back to my accommodation when she was coming along the road in the same direction. I walked alongside her for a lengthy part of the way, our eyes making contact as I talked about my love for Sai, and she shared, with her sparkling eyes, her incredible feelings for the One central focus of her life. Another time, I came across her at the ashram gate. The people all around were attempting to touch her broad body (she had grown very large by this time) in a frenzy of reverence for her sacredness. Somehow, I couldn’t share this reverent attitude as I felt such kinship with her. I was moved to simply say, “Hello darling”, and held out my hand. She gracefully and gently touched it with the end of her trunk. It was a beautiful, intimate moment with one who was always pure and loving, always the darling of Baba. To watch her taking a bath in the river was always a special treat as well.
The devotees at Radio Sai have written many articles about Gita. One description found on their site has encapsulated the essence of the love between her and Swami.
“When Swami came, it was a divine thrill in totality, not only for Sai Gita, but for every devotee witnessing the sublime play of pure love. Swami would first walk up to her, and she would almost kneel down – her hind legs half-bent and front legs folded to the maximum extent possible. Her height now would be a mere two feet, and she would lift her tiny trunk up and down three times in salutation. After she had offered her prostrations at His feet, she would take a garland, raise her nimble trunk over the five feet frame of her beloved very carefully, and then with lots of glee slip it down Swami’s opulent hair onto His shoulders. Swami, in turn, would flash an enchanting smile, pat her cheeks so affectionately and would start speaking to her softly.”
I recall one year at Dasara (the festival of the Goddess) that all the devotees were to move from the main hall and assemble in the large auditorium adjacent. For some reason, I was with a section of the crowd that was delayed in going into the auditorium. We were a bit disgruntled that we could not get into the auditorium and find a good seat to watch the festivities. But Sai is ever gracious and lo and behold, to our delight, Gita entered the hall. Sai came out of His room and came over to Gita. It was a sight to behold. The love between the two was a window on pure devotion, pure love. Somehow after that, the disappointment of being delayed going into the hall melted into the heart of love. I realised that I had received the greatest blessing to be immersed in the stream of Divine nectar that was the love between Baba and Sai Gita.
Gita left this life on 22nd May 2007. Sai was with her as she left her body, and personally conducted her last rites. Her mausoleum is beside the planetarium on the main road into Puttaparthi.
Later that year, I was at Prasanthi Nilayam, when a singer sang a song of Gita in the presence of Sai. So moved was Baba by this song, and the memory of Gita that a tear appeared from the side of Swami’s eye during the singing. It felt as if the devotion of Gita towards Sai was reflected in the flow of love from Sai towards her.
Gita’s devotion is a supreme example to us all.
“Vinayaka [Ganesha] has the head of an elephant. What is its significance? No human being has an elephant's head. It is against the order of nature. How then did Vinayaka acquire an elephant's head? This has an inner significance. Vinayaka is known for His supreme intelligence. The elephant is also known for its high intelligence (Gajathelivi). The elephant will not trust anybody except its master. Because Vinayaka is endowed with exceptional intelligence, His elephant face is symbolic of supreme intelligence. Those of you who are staying in the hostel notice cars going up and down the road. On the other side of the hostel is Sai Gita. Sai Gita takes no notice of the innumerable cars going on the road. But, without any notice, she smells, as it were, the passing of Swami's car and immediately comes out with a roar to greet Swami. That is the devotion of Sai Gita to her Lord. The faith of the elephant is as strong as its intelligence. Her love for the master is equally strong. It is steadfast love. These qualities of devotion, faith and intelligence are associated with the elephant. Whoever has these qualities can be regarded as endowed with the head of an elephant.”
Sathya Sai Baba – 1992
Beloved of my heart
When will you come charging on your white horse
and steal me away?
I am waiting in the silence
only for you
Lost in love
Savitri
SAVITRI SURRENDERS IN THE FACE OF THE DEVOTION OF ELDERLY COUPLE
One year when I was conducting my spiritual practice in a cave in Tapovan, in the Himalayas, In Gangotri, Swami Sundarananda had directed an elderly village couple, devotees of Shirdi Sai Baba, to go up to Tapovan to find me. Sawmiji said that, if they did this, they would receive blessings.
The trail from Gangotri to Tapovan entails an 25 km trek, following the Ganga and then crossing a dangerous glacier and up a steep escarpment to the alpine meadow at 14.600 feet. The cave is not easy to find and involves another long walk and some detective work.
However, one afternoon I looked out the cave entrance and saw an exhausted couple approaching. I did not know that they had come all this way to see me. They explained that Swamiji had sent them, and they had carried up a large cane basket full of fruits, flowers and coins. They asked me if they could touch my feet.
Savitris’s cave at Tapovan Surrounded by snow.
I was horrified. I was not an advanced practitioner, just a beginner. People would often assume I was a holy person, just because I wore white, and lived alone in a cave. This was far from the truth, as had come to Tapovan to further my sadhana.
When I looked at their exhaustion and the radiance on their faces from having achieved their pilgrimage, I thought “What the heck”, and decided to allow them to fulfil their desire. When the man touched my feet, I felt this enormous bolt of energy descend through my body and out my feet into the man. The same thing occurred when the woman touched my feet, but the power was less.
I realised that it was immaterial that I was just a normal person beginning out in spiritual practice. What was important was the devotion and faith that these villagers had. God had not disappointed them; using me as simply a conduit he had filled them with His grace.
Sathya Sai Baba has often said not to worry about the calibre of the teacher or guru, sincere devotion will always reach God.
- Savitri
THE HEART OF DEVOTION - taking us from the finite to the infinite
“Seek out the heart of devotion, the source of Love within you. Much of what arises as devotion is merely the fulfillment of desires. True devotion is where you are given over, fully and completely, until there is nothing left but that Love.” - Sundareshwar
When the stream of Love springs from the heart, all sense of duality is gently washed away by its waters. We lose ourselves in that Love completely. Much is made of the difference between advaita (non-dual approach) and dvaita (the dual approach), but in reality, there is no difference when the love we have for God or guru becomes the stream of Love itself. The great devotees from all paths, all religions, are those that have completely let go of their own individuality and become the Love that they have for their chosen form of the Divine.
The great Christian saints, such as St. Francis of Assisi, St. Bernadette of Lourdes, St Therese of Liseaux or St. Therese Neumann of Konnersreuth; the great Islamic mystics, such as Rūmī, al-Rāzī and Shams al-Marif; Buddhist masters, such as Milarepa and Padmasambhava; Daoist mystics such as Lao Tzu and Chang Tzu; and the great Indian devotees, such as Chaitanya, Purandara Das and Ramakrishna; all extolled the losing of oneself in Love.
Devotion is found in all paths including Buddhism
This losing of ourselves is the continuous stream of devotion, where dvaita becomes advaita. Yet still, within the experience of unity with the divine and all creation (advaita) there can be intense devotion to a form (dvaita). Tota Puri was one of Ramakrishna’s gurus. He believed that Ramakrishna’s devotion to Mother Kali was born of ignorance of the oneness of Iswara (the formless Divine).
Ramakrishna
He instructed Ramakrishna “Brahman, the one substance which alone is eternally pure, eternally awakened, unlimited by time, space, and causation, is absolutely real. Dive deep into the reality of the Self existing in yourself. Be one with It with the help of Samadhi. You will then see the universe consisting of name and form, vanish, as it were, into the void.”
Tota Puri
On Tota Puri’s instruction Ramakrishna went beyond the form of his chosen deity, Mother Kali, into an experience of formless Oneness. However, on coming out of samadhi, Ramakrishna declared, “She [Mother Kali] can no more be differentiated from Brahman than can the power of burning from fire.” Thus, he showed that the experience of pure unity with the formless, and love of the form can be one and the same.
Mother Kali at Daksinewar
The key is Love. Ramakrishna had such love for Mother Kali, that he forgot himself in the stream of devotion. So too can we simply let our love for our chosen form take us into union with that form and beyond into unity with the formless One who is Love. As Sai once told me, “There is only One Way – Love.”
Satyavan
DO NOT ALLOW DEVOTION TO BE AN EGO TRIP
Devotee to Swami Dayananda
“Swamiji, I’m so devoted to you!
I love you so dearly.
In my whole life, I’ve never drunk alcohol
I’ve never eaten meat.
Swamiji, my whole life, I’ve never gambled”
Swami Dayanada replied “A pity”
- Savitri
DEVOTION – POWER TO MERGE FROM THE FINITE TO THE INFINITE
In my time spent with yogis and spiritual practitioners in India, I could see that devotion (bhakti) was always an intertwined essential aspect in spiritual unfoldment. This was clear, even during my time spent with Swami Sudhananda, who invited me to travel with him to the birthday celebration of his guru, Swami Dayananda. He continually emphasized the path of jnana (knowledge) as being at the heart of spiritual unfoldment and the only way. He was prominent for his discourses on this viewpoint. Once we arrived at the celebration, and were seated in the massive crowd, Dayananda called up disciple. Sudhanada began to cry, he was completely overcome with his feelings of devotion. In the long journey back to Madras in the taxi, every time he tried to speak of his guru, he would again begin sobbing with the deep love he held. More than any other experience, this etched into my mind, that devotion is an integral part of the spiritual process.
- Savitri
Swami Dayananda
MAKE AN ALTAR IN YOUR HEART
On my very first trip to India in 1988 I I was deeply moved by my experiences and wanted to express my devotional feelings through getting all the items to build a beautiful altar to Sai Baba. I would sit in line waiting for darshan envisaging the candles, incense, gold edged cloth, and pictures I would place there and plan to go out and complete shopping for them when I had time. This would continue even when being in darshan itself. One day Swami came walking past and like a knife cutting through my thoughts, I could hear him state emphatically “No! I want you to make your heart an altar to me.”
Building a beautiful altar to my Beloved is much easier than removing all anger, blame, fear and anxiety from my heart.
Savitri
