Kapila tells his mother Devahuti that the Supreme Brahman dwells in each and every object of the entire creation. Then every human being, be it wife, husband, mother, father, teacher, friend, foe, or even that person whom you may think to be a fool, is thus a temple in which He resides. This bhava about God’s all pervading presence is the essence of true bhakti and all kinds of worship by individuals or groups of people or in temples that lack this bhava cannot become true worship, said Swami Paramasukhananda in a lecture. It is only given to realised souls to see God in all these forms, while the majority continue to ‘see and yet not see’ this fundamental truth. Swami Ramakrishna inculcated by example this perception of God-realisation in day-to-day life in his disciples.
Saint Namadeva lived in this bhakti bhava at all times and it is said that he enjoyed a one-to-one relationship with Lord Panduranga. Once, when in an inspired mood, he was engaged in writing poems on God, he had forgotten to eat the bread, ghee and sugar his wife had kept for him. All of a sudden, Namadeva realised that a dog had taken away the bread. He chased the dog and when he caught up with it, he offered it the ghee and sugar as well. He saw the very Lord Panduranga in the dog. The Lord certifies that Namadeva’s devotion is such that he cannot be deceived by any of His disguises since he is sure to recognise Him. Yagnyavalkya tells Maitreyi that the atma for whose sake one is willing to forsake all possessions has to be understood. It is not easy to attain the bhava that all of us are one. One has to listen to this truth, contemplate on it and internalise it. When Atma Jnana is gained, all fear arising from the perception of differences begins to fade away and one is able to transcend the sorrows of this world. This is the state of experience of a Brahma Jnani and the basis of true bhakti.
