HARI! OM!
Q. 1. What is the meant by Upasana (उपासना )? A. 1. Upasana means to be always focused on God or The Almighty, in whatever activities, rituals we are in day to day life, without any expectations in return and with absolute devotion or sraddha (श्रध्दा) and see God in Everyone & Everything.
Q. 2. The glory of Sri Narada Maharishi. A. 2. Sri Narada Maharishi, is son of Brahma and by birth, intelligent, knowledgeable, of good character, conduct and values. Sri Narada Maharishi, consistently follows austere life and has total control over, fear, anger and doesn’t fall for sense pleasures. Being fully aware of himself and his position, श्रि नारद महर्षि, is truthful, honest, humble and tactful in action. Sri Narada Maharishi has the capacity to mesmerize with his intelligent questioning. With an attitude of flawlessness, always expressed sympathy and empathy towards everyone without any demarcation or bias. Sri Narada Maharishi is always keen and ready to provide all knowledge, guide people of their Dharma, duties etc. Due to aforesaid attributes and many other, Sri Narada Maharishi is regarded, respected, valued and adored by everyone, at all time. To add to the attributes, Sri Narada Maharishi, never even humiliated, disrespected or insulted any one even if they all misbehaved. Sri Narada Maharishi with his swift, punctual and time valuing nature, on even kill helped, guided everyone and disseminated whatever knowledge or experiences he had. With Sri Narada Maharishi, there is no question of Ambiguity, dilemma, unhappiness etc. Sri Narada Maharishi, personifies an ideal personality, overall with endless attributes.
Q. 3. The meaning of the word Sutra as found in the Sanskrit verse and in Nanool. A.3. Sutra, सूत्र or सूऋः literally, a string thread, as per Sanskrit literary tradition, refers to individual or collective, distinctive and definitive, memorable expression of a general truth or principle, in the form of a concise manual, handed down from generation to generation.
Sutras are short rule or theorem put together as syllables, around which teachings of rituals, philosophies, grammar or any field of knowledge can be woven. Sutras are different from shlokas, anuvakhyas or vakhyas.
Nanool, is a work of Tamil grammar written by a Jain ascetic, Pavananthi Munivar. Sutras are also known as Suyas, which are canonical sermons conveying a message and following short rule.
Q.4. The nature or definitions of Bhakthi (भक्ति). A.4. To concentrate and focus on the thought that, “I am pure consciousness” continuously and consistently is termed as Bhakthi. Also to see in everything and everyone the Paramathma Thatvam(परमार्थ तत्वम्). Bhakthi give us self-confidence. Jnana sahita Bhakthi (ज्ञान सहित भक्ति) is the right path in Bhakthi.
Bhakthi, is a natural process and the kind of expressions by people in
the world, should not be construed for Bhakthi. Bhakthi is naturally, not
expressed and is expressed because of Upadhis (उपाधि).
Q.5. The different views of Acharyas on Bhakthi. A.5. The view of Acharya Veda Vyasa (वेद व्यासः पाराशर्य महर्षि, son of पराशरः, on Bhakthi is, being always keen to pray and do pooja to God in whatever possible way. As per Acharya, गर्गःमहर्षिः doing keerthanam, parayanam and katha of भगवान् is Bhakthi.
As per Shandliya Maharishi (शाण्डिल्य महर्षिः) views Bhakthi as the attitude and expression of sincere love to oneself and everyone without any expectations or bias and not harming anyone or anything.
श्रि नारद महर्षि, says, Bhakthi is doing our duties with धर्म अनुष्ठानम् and attitude of surrender (अर्पणम्) to God and having sincere conscious of guilt when defaulting from the Dharma Anushtanam and Arpanam attitude.
As per आदि शंकराचार्य from श्रि सुब्रह्मण्य भुजङग्म्, the praying attitude to God seeking to provide anugraham (अनुग्रहम्) to not forget to have स्मरणं on God, due to reasons as memory loss at old age and as such. That is Bhakthi.
Q. 6. What are the Benefits of Bhakthi? A. 6. By Bhakthi on Bhagwan ( भगवान्), we would be benefited with contentment with whatever, wherever and however we are. There would be no desires, worries struggles for material needs or wants. One would not be attached to anyone or anything. Doing the worldly & vedic or spiritual duties we are contended beyond any material or worldly happiness, sorrow or hate or anger. We would be in a state of Satchidha Ananda ( ever peaceful & blissed). Bhakthi with jnana and sraddha on God we can get Moksha and release from the cycle of Birth-Death-Birth.
Q.7. Essential qualifications or rule for Bhakthi. A.7. For Bhakthi the Narada Bhakthi Soothram prescribe; we should always focus our mind or thoughts on the Almighty or God or ईश्वर, as we are conducting ourselves in the world with our routine mundane activities. Doing कर्म with धर्म अनुष्ठानम् is essential or mandatory. Next one needs to be detached from all materials, sense pleasures, relationships. One should be essentially in the company of सत् संगः or with people focused on the Ishwara Thtatvam. The attitude of Bhakthi though begin as dvaitha(informal) should mature or culminate into formal or ज्ञान सहित भक्ति. Expression of Bhakthi is not required, externally. An attitude of contentment (तृप्ति) in whatever we have and whatever we are doing and surrender to the ईश्वर तत्वम् is what is required. Spreading the knowledge of the self and Bhakthi is essential. श्रवणं (listen), कीर्तनं (Bhajans and Prayers) स्मरणं (Thoughts), पादसेवनम् (Puja Rituals), वन्दनम् (Bowing down), all with भIवना and not mere physical activity, need be practiced. Overall, dedication and consistency need be maintained and if at all one slips from all these, a guilt conscious should genuinely remind us to correct us.
Q.8. How Bhakthi plays an essential role in all spiritual sadhanas like karma yoga and jnana yoga. A.8. Bhakthi is very important and the base for all spiritual sadhanas, In fact in laukika karma also Bhakthi is the base. Sraddha in Dharma Anushtanam of Karma yoga & retrospecting inner-self in jnana yoga without expectations (इच्छा) of कर्म or ज्ञान फलम् and patiently, conducting with all वैदिक & लौकिक karmas with an attitude of surrender to the परब्रह्म, that is Bhakthi and its role in our yoga. In our मार्गम् of life of karma or jnana, Bhakthi should not separate from us. This is the role of Bhakthi.
Q.9. Why God loves those who don’t have ego? A.9. Ego is attached to the I’ness, aspirations and desires of the BMII complex and causes detachment from the God principle, of all creation. The God principle is universal 1 to all and with ego we dis-own everything except our BMII and get disconnected from God and the Love. If we leave our Ego and have an attitude of Oneness with the entire creation, immediately we can realize God’s love for all of us, which is always there.
Q.10. What are the methods to cultivate Bhakthi? A.10. The methods to cultivate Bhakthi ; i) Be in company of Bhakthars i.e, सतसंग ii) Read about Bhakthars iii) Ishwar Bhakthi should be practiced without any attachments of materials, positions & relationship and only thoughts of the The Almighty iv) Continue with rituals & duties (धर्म अनुष्ठानम्) study of sastras with the attitude of surrender to the God principle v) Imagine, see and feel the God principle in everyone, thing, thought and conduct accordingly vi) Follow all the above and anything more, consistently without any break whatsoever vii) Get into the company of Mahaans (महत्संगम्) viii)Do Bhagwan mahima keerthanam ix) Do sravanam(श्रवणम्) or listen to holy scriptures, bhjanas, puranas, harikathas etc x) Do mamanam (मननम्), ie. Reflecting on the knowledge and all learnings of Brahman so as to not forget, in daily rituals and duties. Xi) Do nididhyaasam (निदिध्यासनम्), by contemplating on the knowledge gained about the Brahman or retrospection or deep thinking.
Jai Hind!!
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