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Which kind of worship, Sagun Sakar or Nirgun Nirakar Swaroop of Brahm; is the best?
Shri Krishna explained to Arjun about Karma Yoga Sanyas and Gyan yoga Sanyas that can be followed by a person whether he remains in Sansar or he abandons the home and roams as Sanyasi in jungles, mountains and in the coldest hemisphere, how he could he attain Yoga completely means be a –YOGARUTHA YOGI in terms of BHAGAVAD GITA anywhere and in any situation and in any VARNASHRAM? Now Arjun is confused; what should he follow whether he should be a Sanyasi or live in a Sansar? And he asked Shri Krishna, you have talked about Sakar and Nirakar worship of Paramatma. I am a little bit confused now tell me what should I do? Whom should I follow? Tell me only one thing, what should I do, standing on the war field of Kurukshetra at this moment? What is the best decision for me? Tell me.
A nice incident should be recalled here.
Shankaracharji says;
ब्रह्मैवाहमिदं जगच्च सकलं चिन्मात्रविस्तारितं
सर्वं चैतदविधया त्रिदुणयाशेषं मयाकल्पितम् ।
इत्थं यस्य द्रढा मतिः सुखतरे नित्ये परे निर्मिले
चाण्डालोङ्तु स तु द्विजोङस्तु गुरुरित्येषा मनीषा मम।।
A nice event of Aadi Shankaracharyaji 's life can well describe the non-duality of omnipresent Paramatma. When he was going towards the bank of river Ganga ji, he saw a CHANDAL-a person belongs to the serving class of society was creating obstruction on his way with four dogs in a narrow street. He tried to adjust and cross the street by moving here and there but it seems that the person intentionally did not allow him to cross the street. At that time, Shankar was a small kid and he was disturbed due to hurdles created by the person known as Chandal by caste.
It was a dark age of superstition and religious chaos everywhere and he was not allowed to touch the person providing services like butcher or cleaning toilets when he has to go for his religious rituals. Hence he said, O man why are you not giving way to me and creating hurdles, move aside. The Chandal told him that O Sanyasi! You are going to preach non-duality to the world and where could I go when Paramatma is omnipresent in every particle of the sand? How could you preach to people that Paramatma exists in every particle of the universe when you have accepted HIS presence is none but all and in everything? Your obstinacy and thinking that you are Brahmin and I am Chandal; is the main obstacle in your way to spirituality and not I with my four dogs; Child Shankar was stunned and accepted him as a guru. Spontaneously he wrote MANISHA PANKAJAM and accepted that everybody and everything in the universe is a teacher for me and from now onwards and I would learn to see BRAHM in every particle of the universe. And then he preached ADWAITYA VAD which says that; there is no duality between jiv and Shiv –Brahm. Till now I was thinking about the separation of jivatma and Paramatma which was a sign of ignorance. I am thankful as I am also a bundle of Trio-virtues SATVA RAJAS and TAMAS. If my intentions, my karmendriyas and senses are going to act in a way that hurt or harm anybody through my mind, body, and action then I have to consider that I am ignorant and from now onwards, I would consider anybody who is going to preach a lesson as my Guru, whether he is Brahmin or Chandal BY BIRTH. And he considered his idea of Brahma as I am a part of Brahma and the entire universe is an expansion of Paramatma known as ADWAITYAVAD. Listening to this Shiv abandons his Swaroop of Chandal and blessed child Shankar and orders him to write criticism on Brahma Sutra written by Maharishi Vyasji Known as Adwaityavad.
Here Arjun wants to know whom Paramatma would consider as the most favorite devotee. Which Swaroop he has to worship or whether he has to worship Nirakar Swaroop or Sakar Swaroop? Arjun becomes a small child and asks Paramatma who is the most loved one among all the devotees; just as we ask our parents about whom do you love the most my brother, sister, or me?
Arjun is a symbol of every Jivatma. We are in search of shortcuts and want the best of the result from our efforts and the consequences of events and incidents in our life. To think that I am a part of Paramatma is a sign of devotion. We love Paramatma, serve and pray HIM but in terms of consistency, we are careless. I am not perfect. When in the morning, I get up, I worship Sun, earth and water, and God in my home temple. But the moment, I get up from the seat- my AASAN, my relation with Paramatma stands still, stay at paused as if someone says STATUE or as if Shri Krishna made the whole world at pause when he told Gita Gyan to Arjun in the Warfield of Kurukshetra. Paramatma is standing and waiting for my returning back but for the whole day, I remain busy in my worldly chores. To think that I am a part of Paramatma is a sign of devotion but to remain in constant contact is not an easy task. The word here used is SATATYUKTA-consistency. We love Paramatma, serve and pray for him but in terms of consistency, we are not perfect.
The difference between other yoga and Bhakti yoga is here. Bhakti yoga says that a Vaishnav Jan never thinks about separation with Paramatma While a learner on the path of liberation thinks differently. When he is performing Pooja, he gives his hundred percent concentration to him but in the same way, when he is engaged with his worldly chores and relations, he remains attached to them totally and forgets God so, the gap is created and there is no continuity in worshipping hence Paramatma says SATAT YUKTA continuously be with me. It is said;
नागो भाति मदेन कं जलरुहैः पूर्णेन्दुना शर्वरी
वाणी व्याकरेणन हंसमिथुनै र्नद्यः सभा पण्डितैः।
शीलेन प्रमदा जवेन तुरगो नित्योत्सवै र्मन्दिरम्
सत्पुत्रेण कुलं नृपेण वतुधा लोकत्रयं धार्मिकैः।।
Trio-world is adorned by religious people whatever religion they follow or whatever form of God they worship. Just as an elephant is adorned with a little pride, the water pond is adorned with lotus, the night with the full moon, speech with the knowledge of grammar, rivers with a couple of swans, assembly with scholars, beautiful women with good character, a temple with festivals, horse due to his speed, dynasty because of an obedient son and earth with generous king devotion is adorned only when it long lasts with persistency because everything in this perishable Sansar is bound to decay except religion as wealth in any form is movable and temporary
चला लक्ष्मीःचला प्राणाः चले जीवितमन्दिरे ।
चलाचले च संसारे धर्मो एको हि निश्र्चलः।।
House, wealth, and property today you have; are going to pass either to your successor or to your lenders. The body is going to die and life is temporary in every yoni. If we can feel the existence of Paramatma 24 * 7 for 366 days and nights then only our karma becomes Yoga.
यद यद कर्म करोमिङहम् शम्भो तवाराधनम्।
Then you could be a devotee like Vidurji's wife offering skin of Banana to his guest Shri Krishna and even forget to dress well while rushing to him after her bath. The same we heard about Gopi, the same longing we see in Shabri, The same longing we see for Paramatma in a child Dhruv and Prahalad.
ऐसी लागी लगन मीरां हो गइ मगन ।
वो तो गली गली हरि धुन गाने लगी ।।
A queen of the state when dances with Sadhu and Saints how could Rana ji tolerate it but for Mira; Shri Krishna was his loved one as she thought the ocean of Sansar as salty.
ગોવિંદો પ્રાણ અમારો રે , મને જગ લાગ્યો ખારો રે
મને મારાં શ્યામજી ભાવે,બીજું મારી નજરે ના આવે...
This is known as ANANYA Bhakti as it is said a devotee sees nobody in Sansar he thinks only about Paramatma all the time
दर्शन दो धनश्याम नाथ मोरी अंखियाँ प्यासी रे ।
The thirst and longing to see HIM in her desired Sakar Sagun Swaroop as Bal Krishna or Radha Rani, Ma Durga or Shiva, Brahma or Vishnu Uddhav Gita says;
ब्राह्मण्यस्य हि देहोङयं क्षुद्रकामाय नेष्यते ।
कृच्छाय तपसे चेह प्रेत्यानन्तसुखाय च।।
The body of Brahman is not meant for the entertainment of senses and petty ends. It is meant for TAPASHCHARYA rigorous austerity and endless eternal happiness after death but he should be conscious about his karma and Dharma.
A Sadhak who wishes to lead a life as a Gruhasth should study VEDA, he should offer prayers with Swaha and Swadha in the invocation of Pittar and Devta respectively. He should perform five Yagna or sacrifice daily as Uddhav Gita says
वेदाध्याय स्वधा स्वाहा बल्यन्नाध्यैर्यथोदयम् ।
देवर्षिपितृभूतानि मद्रुपाण्यन्वहं यजेत्।।
A household Gruhasth should distribute and share food to all as to Rishi Muni, the Gods, the animals' cow, dog, ant, birds, and needy persons and considered all of them as the Swaroop of Paramatma and just as a Chest woman serves her husband in his presence and remain busy about him in his absence too, and while doing her household work or serving her parents-in-law in his absence and thinks about the arrival of her husband all the time, a devotee feels a longing for Paramatma as a Chatak long for raindrops or a dying person longs for oxygen with sharp intensity.
When it seems difficult to worship Nirakar Brahma, why it is easy to worship Sakar Swaroop of Paramatma?
Let us understand from our great God and Jagat Guru Shri Krishna...Be with me in a journey in search of truth...