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Various challenges to divine way of life

CHENNAI MAY 26 . It is commonly acknowledged that seekers follow a five-pronged approach to Divinity — knowing one's own nature, understanding God, identifying one's goal, finding ways of reaching it and the hurdles along the way. The greatest stumbling block to spiritual wealth lies in obstacles — such as disputing the supremacy of the Lord or recommending that one lead a life of ease and pleasure. Spiritual history is replete with episodes of such challenges to divine way of life. Religion can be broadly classified into two categories — one based on total acceptance of the Vedas as they are God's utterances and the other, which repudiates the Vedas. Even in the former there were dissenters led by cross-eyed reasoning and giving twists to these profound statements.

The story of two deer can explain this. While searching for water in a forest one chased a mirage and ultimately perished. The other, despite identifying a water hole, stepped into it and fell a prey to waiting crocodiles. There is nothing to choose between them; similar is the so-called arguments of those with skewered thinking. In the Mahabharata, Lord Krishna annihilates Sisupala, not as a reaction to the latter's verbal abuse of Him, but rather to prevent him from compounding his sins. At Ravana's death, Rama felt happy as He could grant salvation to the former at last. Throughout his lifetime, Ravana's ego prevented him from accepting Rama and all the virtues He personified. Doubters wonder why one of the Azhwars claimed that Narayana is the Supreme authority. Does that mean that other gods do not exist? A powerful king appoints vassals and delegates His authority for better administration that would reach even the farthest point. The Lord has also empowered celestials with various tasks for mankind's benefit. Thondarippodi Azhwar, in his hymn, the "Thirumaalai", gives a clarion call for deterrent action against those who denigrate God. If he has no power to combat such atheists, one should save oneself by shutting one's senses to disruptive theology the saint says. Such an extreme statement emerged from the mildest of the Azhwars only under provocation; even then he exercised restraint and did not villify the opposing camp's doctrines, said Sri M.A. Venkatakrishnan in a discourse.

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