The formal offerings to the Deity are of little worth, unless the mind be bent in devotion.

Nama Article 25th July 2013

 

The formal offerings to the Deity are of little worth, unless the mind be bent in devotion. How beautiful does Raidas express himself on this point!

 

Sant Raidas

राम मैं पूजा कहा चढ़ाऊँ । फल अरु फूल अनूप न पाऊँ ॥टेक॥

थन तर दूध जो बछरू जुठारी । पुहुप भँवर जल मीन बिगारी ॥१॥

मलयागिर बेधियो भुअंगा । विष अमृत दोउ एक संगा ॥२॥

मन ही पूजा मन ही धूप । मन ही सेऊँ सहज सरूप ॥३॥

पूजा अरचा न जानूँ तेरी । कह रैदास कवन गति मोरी ॥४॥

 

Sant Raidas by Swami Sivananda

 

What shall I offer Thee for worship, O Rama? - Fruits and flowers are rare, I find not.

The milk in the cow's udder is defiled by the calf tasting.

The 'Bhramara' hath contaminated the flower, and the fish the water.

The serpent entwines the sandal tree: - Poison and nectar are to be found side by side.

In the mind is the worship: In the mind, the incense: - In the mind I attend on Thy natural Form.

I know not Thy worship or oblation. - Says Raidas: What shall be my fate?

 

Please check these: Excerpts from a discourse by our Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji

 

Let the one who cannot do Bhakti go out to do tapas!

 

What is there in this world that devotion to the Lord cannot do?

 

Man feels that only the most difficult is the highest, the most difficult way is the best way. This is a very wrong notion

 

That love, can sprout only by his grace. His grace descends when we chant the Mahamantra.

 

When can one earn Guru krupa? When God decides to bless a person, he receives Guru's grace. One has to be blessed with Bhakti; and that is blessed only by God/Guru.

 

Reciting the Divine Names of Lord Hari, one can overcome the most formidable delusion of mind.

 

There are many ways. But the simplest and the easiest way is by chanting the "Hare Rama.." Mahamantra.

 

They are for those who don't believe in simple prayers.

 

Bhagawan Nama Bodendra Saraswati Swamigal puts forth his findings in the following words, "Since it is so easy and simple, none takes to it!

 

Would it not amount to grave injustice if one shows a difficult path to the world?

 

God gives whatever is required (by His devotee), removes whatever is not needed, leads the devotee in the path suited to him/her; Since Bhagavãn takes utmost interest in the devotee's needs the latter will not earn/attain any 'siddhi'

 

Chant the Mahamantra Nama kirtan :

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare