God is never bothered about ostentation but sees only the devotion of a person, seer of Sringeri Math Bharathi Tirtha Swamigal has said.
He was delivering the benediction address at a reception given to him here on Sunday.
“God does not bother how many ‘mantras' a devotee chants or how long one does a ‘puja.' The key to earning the grace of God is devotion,” he said.
Man's life was like a chariot which moved on two wheels. While one wheel was man's effort, the other was God's grace. If one of these wheels went awry, man's life would go out of balance.
“In giving his grace, God does not discriminate between the rich and the poor, the learned and the ignorant. Similarly when worshipping God, man should not discriminate between His many names and forms. It is but one God who shines bright through all of creations,” the seer said.
Very few people — such as the legendary Prahlada who said there is God even in a pillar — have the ability to see the divine everywhere. Ordinary people cannot have this vision. This is precisely why there are temples; so that ordinary man can be told that there is the presence of God in that place of worship and that he can feel the same.
Earlier, in his address Finance Minister K.M. Mani said the philosophy of ‘Advaita' united the whole of India. “Advaita reminds us that we are all one, irrespective of caste and creed,” he added. Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar was also present.
The head of the ruling family of erstwhile Travancore Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma participated in a special ‘puja.' Earlier the seer was received with a ‘poorna kumbhom' on his arrival at the Sree Vaikuntam kalyana mandapam.
