(Shrimad Bhagavad Gita Jayanti: 8th December)
Homa and havan performed by Vedic method, while sitting in the place of fire sacrifice and doing charity with an intention, is Dharma centric. All these are accomplished on the strength of the belief in dharma. Worshipping God in a temple or in solitude is Upasana centric. Spiritual disciplines like Aasana, Pranayam, yoga, etc. are primarily Samadhi oriented. Vedanta has different characteristics from all three. It focuses on Tattvadarshan (Knowledge of the Truth). ‘What is Atman?’ Hear about it, reflect on it and contemplate it and eventually realise that ultimate Truth. This is the process of Vedanta.
The Dharma, Upasana, Yoga and Knowledge (Jnana) that the Gita expounds is quite different. It is not a sadhana to be performed in a place of fire sacrifice, a temple, a mountain cave or on river bank sitting in padmasan. The sadhana instructed in the Gita can be done even while doing daily activities. The religious exercises of Dharma, Karma Yoga and Jnana Yoga described in the Gita are not merely a religious vow, or rites and rituals like homa-havan. The Yoga of the Gita can be successfully executed while being engaged in daily activities of life. The Karma Yoga of the Gita can be put into practice, even while cooking food, earning money or even doing office work. Oh! The Lord has claimed that you can practice the Yoga instructed in the Gita even while fighting a battle. You can remain unstained by war despite fighting. No dharma in the world is powerful enough to turn our public dealings internally, subtle and divine. The Lord has even said in the Gita (6.30)
यो मां पश्यति सर्वत्र सर्वं च मयि पश्यति ।
तस्याहं न प्रणश्यामि स च मे न प्रणश्यति ।।
“He who sees Me everywhere, and sees everything in Me, he never gets separated from Me, nor do I get separated from him.”
Describing the marks of the devotee in the Gita, the Lord states in 14th verse of
9th chapter:
सततं कीर्तयन्तो मां यतन्तश्च दृढव्रताः ।
नमस्यन्तश्च मां भक्त्या नित्ययुक्ता उपासते ।।
“Always glorifying Me and striving, the men of firm vows, worship Me by paying obeisance to Me and being ever endowed with devotion.”
God himself takes care of such devotees
A devotee, according to the Gita, the devotee of God, is not indolent nor escapist. Arjuna, Uddhvaji, Ambarish, Lakshmanji, Hanumanji, Bharatji and others were single-mindedly devoted to God (with minds devoted to nothing else). Their glance did not stay on anything other than God. Still there was no place for indolence, escapism or timidity in their actions. Those dutiful devotees did such great works which cannot be done by ordinary people. Despite being engrossed in action, they remained exclusively devoted to God. Their duty consciousness was so firm. They were unconcerned about their achievements. Such is the supreme devotee of God, while being engaged in the service of God, is ready to embrace even death if it comes. God has himself said:
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन ।
“Thy right is to work only, but never to its fruits…” (The Gita: 2.47)
Western culture says: “First deserve and then desire.”
But Eastern culture, the ancient Sanatan culture and the knowledge of the Gita says: “Deserve only, no need of desiring.” The way a stone or a piece of iron or anything useful is preserved by us, the same way the devotee, fulfilling his duty, becomes a useful tool for God. There is no need of desiring the fruit of action for him. Antaryamin God Himself takes care of such a devotee. Society and nature are willing to serve such a devotee. Then why would such a selfless brave man of action be in need of desiring? He makes himself deserving by treading the path of selfless action. What does he have to do with the desire for fruit?
How to worship God through karma?
According to the Gita, a worshipper is one who worships God, but not in a temple or a temple of the mind. He is neither an idol worshipper, nor a mental worshipper. He worships God through his action. He performs desireless action and that too with the spirit of offering it to God. An action which is performed ensuring no one gets hurt emotionally or incurs any harm or loss, becomes a sacrifice, prayer and worship. Only a devotee doing such actions is able to realise God fully. Without becoming involved in the hassle of living in a hut, on river-bank or in a forest, such a devotee attains spiritual knowledge simply by being engaged in worldly activities in the land of karma. Intermittently resorting to silence and solitude, he comes back to distribute the divine gift in society engaging himself sincerely in the divine work of Self-realized men who make the dull and dejected world vigorous and brilliant.
