“In the Hari-bhakti-sudhadaya there is another example, forwarded by Maharaj Dhruva. He says there, ‘My dear Lord, I have practiced austerities and penances because I was desiring to receive something from You, but in exchange You have allowed me to see You, who are never visible even to the great sages and saintly persons. I had been searching out some pieces of broken glass, but instead I have found the most valuable jewel. I am therefore fully satisfied, my Lord. I do not wish to ask anything more from Your Lordship.’” (The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 46)

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“If you read more recent texts of the Vaishnava tradition, drafted and published say within the last four hundred years, you tend to hear about amazing meetings. The stories are about people reaching success, saphala, in their routine practices, sadhana. For instance, they might be worshiping a deity with love and faith. Rather than worry about establishing a large building to host guests once a week, in a kind of formal humiliation ritual, to ensure allegiance with a faith that most know nothing about, a dedicated follower first creates a place of worship at home. If it is a renounced ascetic, then the worship takes place in an ashrama. Irrespective the specifics, it is always some kind of humble establishment.

“Within that worship, the devotee might receive a special vision. The Sanskrit word is darshana. Perhaps someone of unknown lineage pays an unexpected visit. It is only afterwards that the devotee puts two and two together. You see, that innocent boy bringing a gift was actually Krishna. That little girl who kindly donated milk was actually Shrimati Radharani. Sometimes, there are instructions provided in a dream. God reveals to the devotee the exact geographical coordinates of an ancient deity, which has been buried within the earth. The instruction is to find that deity, extract it from the ground, and commence worship again. The information from the dream later proves to be factual.

“On a personal note, I love hearing such stories. I cannot get enough. I love people who worship in that way. I wish I knew more such people. I think the spirit of devotion remains, but society subtly pulls others away from the worship. You should prioritize money, you see. You should worry about finishing at the head of the class, to earn a scholarship for attendance at university. You should take care of your family first. You should get involved in politics, to cure the recent ailments afflicting the nation. If you have nothing else, get a cat or a dog to take care of.

“Setting aside the particulars for a moment, just what should I do if I am ever fortunate enough? Not that I am anywhere near the level of these people described in sacred texts, but if I worship in a steady manner, what would I say if my object of worship suddenly appears before me? More specifically, what should I ask for? Is there any guidance offered for this case? I understand it is a rare achievement, like the great soul who finally reaches an understanding of Vasudeva, but you have to admit that the potential is there.”

बहूनां जन्मनाम् अन्ते
ज्ञानवान् मां प्रपद्यते
वासुदेवः सर्वम् इति
स महात्मा सु-दुर्लभः

bahūnāṁ janmanām ante
jñānavān māṁ prapadyate
vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti
sa mahātmā su-durlabhaḥ

“After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.19)

Rather than reveal the best answer immediately, let us attempt to reach a resolution through a process of elimination. In other words, work through the initial inclinations and the general tendencies and then assess the result. We can step away from the gravity of the meeting for a moment. Pretend that we come before a benefactor. It is someone who can help us. They have the means. They have the ability. They do not require much in return. We say a few kind words and they are prepared to assist. They are eager, in fact, since they have affection for us.

Well, I might try to fix some of the issues requiring immediate attention. The ones that are fresh and new come to mind. For instance, the other day I made the mistake of using the treadmill in the home without wearing appropriate protection. I was barefoot. I have done this several times without issue. Of course, this last time is when my recklessness caught up with me. I turned the speed up and I must have daydreamed for a moment. Next thing I know my left foot got caught in the side of the machine, between the belt and the rail. I immediately turned off the machine. The pain was noticeable, but no visible injury. Well, of course after the pain went down the blood began to show. My foot indeed hurt. I was not happy about it, because it easily could have been avoided if I was wearing shoes.

Anyway, in the blessed meeting with the benefactor, I ask them to heal my foot. Make the pain go away. Cure the scar, such that I no longer have to carry an injury. Indeed, some people out there might be scratching their heads. Why would I ask for something so trivial? I merely wait a few weeks and the foot will be completely healed. Why would I waste my opportunity with an amazing benefactor on something of so little value?

The reason is illusion. This is known as maya in Sanskrit. Because I was in illusion, I was not thinking straight. The acharyas of the Vaishnava tradition often use the example of a woman from a village carrying a heavy object on her head. This is to transport goods from one area to another. The vision was commonplace in the olden days and can still be found in some rural areas. The woman happens to meet God. She is so happy. The first thing she asks for is the removal of the distress. Make it so that she no longer has to carry the basket on her head. Her wish granted, she can still ask for more things. She decides that she is satisfied. She does not need anything else.

In the same way, if we immediately reach for a temporary issue and ask for resolution, we have not really made the best use of the meeting with God. He is all-powerful, after all. He is both sarvatra and sarvada. He is everywhere, all of the time. We use the deity in our home as a sort of central repository. For our feelings. For our sentiments. For our expressions. For our frustrations as well as our appreciations. The deity is a way to find God through the illusion. The saguna helps to give a picture to the one who is simultaneously nirguna.

A five-year old boy once intentionally took the route described above. That is to say, rather than be surprised with a meeting and unable to think of what to ask for, Dhruva had a mission from the start. He wanted a meeting with the most powerful person. He wanted to see someone who could deliver results. Dhruva wanted the wrong to be corrected. Dhruva was insulted by his step-mother, in being called a second-class citizen in his own home. Dhruva sought advice and was told that only Vishnu could solve the problem.

The path would not be easy. It is not something a small child would normally follow. This was a vow in dedication. The resolve was strong. Dhruva wanted to meet Vishnu, and so he went to the forest and voluntarily accepted extreme austerities. Amazingly, the meeting happened. Vishnu took notice. The Supreme Personality of Godhead arrived, carried by the dedicated eagle known as Garuda. Dhruva was there because of being fired up by the insult from his step-mother. He knew exactly what he wanted.

Or so he thought. Upon meeting Vishnu, Dhruva was not even sure what to say. Vishnu was so kind as to use His conchshell to tap Dhruva on the head. That created an awakening of sorts, a return to clarity. Dhruva no longer hankered for revenge. The initial reason for his austerity no longer mattered. He had the meeting with Vishnu, after all. This tends to be the preference of the wise. If they are forced to ask for something, they will go for continued devotion, in lifetime after lifetime, no matter the circumstances. After all, if we really think about it, if we honestly assess the situation, we realize that having something to do, a positive and active engagement, is more valuable than any gift of wealth, health, or societal position.

जौं जगदीस तौ अति भलो जौं महीस तौ भाग
तुलसी चाहत जनम भरि राम चरन अनुराग

jauṃ jagadīsa tau ati bhalo jauṃ mahīsa tau bhāga
tulasī cāhata janama bhari rāma carana anurāga

“If Rama is Jagadisha, the Lord of the universe, or if He is the God of earth, giving everyone their share of fortune, then it is very good. But Tulsidas wants only devotion to Rama’s feet in birth after birth.” (Dohavali, 91)

In Closing:

Occupation of highest worth,
Preferred in birth after birth.

To ask if with meeting blessed,
Deliberated on benediction the best.

Like Dhruva initially sought,
Revenge to forest brought.

But Vishnu upon meeting,
The trivial instantly receding.

Categories: questions

Tags: dailyprompt, dhruva, hare krishna, poem, poems, poetry, prayer