We get excerpts of devotion in various classical texts. A small incidence drops in mind; When King Janaka dreamt of being an impoverished being, He avoided the suggestions of astrologers and zodiac specialists, for they would have vividly exaggerated the dream. Anxious Janaka wanted to know the truth- the dream or the living fantasy of kingship. Later, He was initiated into the spiritual path by His Guru, Ashtāvakra ji. He abdicated His entire life at the divine feet of His Guru.
The most significant description of devotion is found in the verses in the Rāmāyańa; Mother Shabari’s incarnation. In other texts, too, Prince Prahlāda had elucidated the concept of Navadhā Bhakti, to His father, King Hirańyakashyapa. Some revealing paths are as under-
We own two ears. Listening as well as hearing to the divine words of the divine; is one of the paths of devotion. Then, it comes to repetition of Thy Name. Presence of rosary is not mandatory. Making the mind, itself a rosary, will drift us across the venomous ocean, which is conquered by the deadly six-headed serpent (the six passions, viz., Lust, Greed and the rest).
Consistent remembrance of Thy Name diminishes the need of performing severe penance, through meditation and fasting. Remembering The Name, in every step we take, lessens our burdens of fruits of those deeds, may they be whatsoever.
Reading Thy Name cleanses the mind, and diverts it to Thy Lotus feet. An alluring word in Sanskrit language comes to my mind; Swādhyāya. The Great saint, Kabir Dās ji said that even the toughest of the rocks are indentated by the persistent flow of even the shallowest of the rivulets.
Diurnal regime should involve a feature of not finding faults in others. A glass of same clean water given by our closest of the friends, and that by a clerk at our workplace, imparts distinctive taste to the water. The same element of “Vitality” exists in all beings, even in the most tiny creatures.
Being a child, playing in the cozy lap of our Divine “Mother”, is one of the magnificent forms of devotion. A child believes that if his mother is near him, no harm can even hover near him. Divine Mother loves us even more than seventy mothers in summation. She can’t let any harm come to us. We have to leave everything to Her; be it materialistic existence or, rather, spiritual progress. Once we let our ‘imaginary chains’ loose, and let Her work for us, then we may contribute to a comparatively harmonious coexistence. Prince Prahlāda had an immense faith in Nārāyańa.
Mother Shabari was an embodiment of all nine paths of devotion. She had a deep craving for the Eternal knowledge. In her previous birth, She was a beautiful lady, born in a good family. Her beauty jammed her way leading to Divinity. She visited a great sage, who ‘blessed’ her, to be born as a tribal woman, who was ugly enough to be ignored, but, Her life would be more spiritual than those of even sādhus performing deep renunciation. AND…
After ‘plethora’ of years, nearly in her old age, Lord Rāma and His brother, Lakshmańa, visited the hermitage of Mother. She fed them with plums, which She had selected for Her Rāma, by tasting them, if they were sweet enough for Him. Such an immense love like that of a mother to her child, brought great happiness in the hearts of Lord Rāma and Lakshmańa. Mother Shabari told them that it was known to her, that the two great princes (being incarnations themselves) would come to her hermitage. She said that Her Guru had forecasted the future. She had absolute faith in the words of Her Guru. She waited for about seventy years for their arrival. She was asked to recieve the teaching of Navadhā Bhakti (nine paths of devotion) from Śri Rāma. She conveyed them the guidance, of going to the nearby mountain ranges, which would be dwelt by monkey-like beings. Sugriva and Lord Rāma’s most beloved bhakta (devotee), Hanumāna ji, would be waiting for His arrival. Mother, even, told Them about the extravagant victory was waiting for Them, till the coronation of Śri Rāma, with His wife, Mātā Sitā, as the rulers of Ayodhyā.
These words of Mother filled Śri Rāma’s heart with joy. He quoted that He had received the priceless words as they were given to Him. In this entire incident, Mother Shabari personified Herself as Shakti, giving instruction to Brahma himself.
Śri Rāma and Lakshmańa were eager to visit the place of the Great Sage, who knew everything, even future; prior to the birth of Lord Rāma. Mother took Them to the tree, whose base was illuminated by a ball of light; that was dwelt by the Great Sage.
Mother asked Śri Rāma for giving Her instruction on Navadhā Bhakti (Despite, She was personification of devotion Herself). She said that Her Guru told Her that She was ready enough, capable of uniting with the divinity. She was asked by Her Guru to stay and wait for Śri Rāma’s arrival, and spread the knowledge of devotion to the universe. The significance of chanting Rāma’s name is impeccable. Lord Rāma said that He would not state anything by mouth, but He would be glad to share the knowledge, through heart. Mother received the divine instruction, in its flawless form, through Her heart. This is the most aesthetic part of divine conversation. Speechless conversation made Lakshmańa speechless (He knew everything, afterall). He asked Lord Rāma for giving Him, too, few drops of Ambrosia of Knowledge. Few words were uttered for Lakshmańa. Grossly, the nine paths were, (I remember only few of them)
- Company of Holy men
- Rememberance of Thy Name
- Unconditional service to the Guru
- Unwavering remembrance
- Seeing the world, and all its attributes as divine
- Loving all, even those who are trespassers
- Seeing everyone and everything flawless. Distinguishing a fault even in a dream, adds pain
- Childlike devotion (as is to his mother) to the Divine Mother
When we flip the pages of history, we find that devotees acquired one or two forms of bhakti; but, Mother Shabari ‘is’ an incarnation of all paths of bhakti. Hanumāna ji had a devotion like that of a sevaka (servant), sometimes, He assumed the bhāva (emotion) of Brahma too. Rādhā Rāni was always immersed in the ocean of love for Her Krishńa.
After receiving the instruction, Mother Shabari took leave from Her hermitage, amidst Śri Rāma and Lakshmańa. She merged with the divine light, too, like Her Guru. Lord Rāma said to Lakshmańa that anyone who practices pure devotion achieves an illuminous enlightenment.