Wednesday (Feb 24th-2016) . The life history of another great Rama bhakta Sri kabhir Das was the subject of the discourse. Sri Hariji took up the difference between ‘Sadhana bhakti’ and ‘Prema bhakti’. Sadhana bhakti has prescriptions regarding who can perform them, when, where, how, etc. But Prema bhakti such as chanting God’s name has no such stipulations. To chant the name ‘Rama Rama Rama’ there is no prescription of who can and who cannot. Place, time of the day, achara etc do not come into play at all. Anyone anywhere anytime can chant. Even the religion one belongs to does not matter. God is universal. God does not bother about one’s religion. Hereabouts Sri Hariji chanted the famous slokam from Sukha Stuthi in Srimad Bhagavatham, which is the pramanam (proof) for this statement:
kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ |
ye ’nye ca pāpā yad-apāśrayāśrayāḥ śudhyanti tasmai prabhaviṣṇave namaḥ ||
(Srimad Bhagavatham 2.4.18)
[The people of old Bharata, Europe, southern India, Greece, Pulkas'a, Âbhîra [part of old Sind], S'umbha, Turkey, Mongolia and more who are also addicted to sin, at once get purified when they take to the shelter of the Lord's devotees. Him, the powerful Lord Vishnu I offer my respectful obeisances.]
Sri Hariji explained that this foundation was necessary for the day’s discourse because Saint Kabhir Das actually grew up as a Muslim and got drawn to Rama Bhakti. Kabhir’s original parents are unknown but he was brought up by a devoted Muslim couple. Kabhir became attracted to Hindu God Rama and was for ever in Rama dhyanam. But he continued with his typical muslim attire and appearance. He did not find any need to change his appearance. At this juncture, Sri Hariji drew our attention to the well known Bhagavad Gita slokam which highlights that God is only drawn to the bhakti (devotion) in one’s heart …. ‘patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktyaa prayacchati …..’. The key word here is ‘bhaktyaa’. What is being offered is not critical. The process is not important. But with what bhaavam it is offered is very important. Offering with bhakti is the key.
Sri Hariji narrated the episode of Kabhir seeking Guru Ramananda’s darshan and hoping for upadesha from him for Rama nama. How the mutt people turned him away ……… how Rama & Lakshmana gave a message in the dream of Guru Ramananda about the wrong to a bhakta ……….. how Guru Ramananda enquired and found out the truth ………….. how he was determined to seek out this Kabhir and bless him ………… how a heartbroken Kabhir was lying on the river bank in tears ……. How Guru Ramananda stepped on his head in the darkness of pre-dawn time and exclaimed SitaRam ……….. how Kabhir was electrified by this Guru upadesha …….. were all awe inspiring. For Kabhir who got the initiation from his Guru, the whole jagat became Rama. The following verse of Kabhir expresses it beautifully. Kabhir says once you apply the paste called Gurukrupa to your eyes, other than Rama nothing else is seen. Kabhir declares that it is his experience (anubhav):
andar rAma bAhar rAma jahAn dEkhO sOn rAm hI rAm
gurukrupAnjan pAyO mErE bhAyI rAma binA kachu dEkhat nAhI
jAgat rAm sOvat rAm sapnOm mE dEkhat rAm hI rAm
kahat kabIr anubhav nIkA jahAn dEkhO vahAn rAm sarIkha
Kabhir’s Guru bhakti was extraordinary. In the following Dohe Kabhir says that if both Guru and Lord Govinda stand in front of him he will fall at Guru’s feet first, because he is the one who showed the path to God:
Guru Govind dono khade kake lagu paay
Balihari Guru aapki Govind diyo batay
The upanyasam touched on a couple of other glorious incidents from Kabhir’s life. The episode where Kabhir gets his first personal darshan of Lord Rama (and also his mother) gave goosebumps to the audience. Another episode where a grand Akhanda Rama nama mela organised mischievously by some people bearing ill will towards Kabhir turns out to be a great spiritual
success, was also very enthusiastically narrated by Sri Hariji. Lord Himself coming in a human form to take care of all the bhagavathas in this incident upheld the greatness of Kabhir’s bhakti. Here Sri Hariji reminded us of another well known Bhagavad Gita slokam where Lord states that He will take care of the welfare (yogakshemam vahamy aham) of his bhaktas:
ananyaas cintayanto maam ye janah paryupaasate |
teshaam nityaabhiyuktaanaam yoga-ksemam vahaamy aham ||
(B.G.9.22)
Once again, the key words of Lord Krishna are ‘maam paryupaasate’ and ‘teshaam’, stressed Sri Hariji.
Sri Hariji concluded by throwing spotlight on Kabhir Das’ Guru Bhakti, extreme virakthi and total Rama bhakti. After his life time, a whole set of followers of Kabhir Panth (Kabhir’s path) sprung up. Kabhir Panth has many institutions all over north India. Kabhir’s works are followed with great devotion by a multitude of his followers.
On a personal note here are a few Kabhir Dohe that I always enjoy:
Dheere Dheere Re Mana, Dheere Sub Kucch Hoye |
Mali Seenche So Ghara, Ritu Aaye Phal Hoye ||
(Slowly slowly O mind, everything in its own pace happens …. Gardener may water with hundred pots, fruit arrives only in its season)
Jaise Til Mein Tel Hai, Jyon Chakmak Mein Aag |
Tera Sayeen Tujh Mein Hai, Tu Jaag Sake To Jaag ||
(Like sesame contains the oil, fire in flint-stone … The truth is indide you, wake up if you can)
Dukh Mein Simran Sab Kare, Sukh Mein Kare Na Koye
Jo Sukh Mein Simran Kare, Tau Dukh Kahe Ko Hoye
(In anguish everyone prays to Him, in joy does none ….. To One who prays in happiness, how can sorrow come)
Jai Sitaram
Summarised by:
V.Prabhakar Rao
Singapore
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