Prema –Bhakti : Ramcharit manas by Tulsi Das , Aranya Kanda

Sage Agastha had a very devoted disciple ,His name was Sutik’sna . He’s well Versed in the Vedas and a devotee of Sri Rama ,within his heart or even in his dreams ,there’s no place for any other divinity ,rather than Rama.

When, Sri Ram along with Sri Laxman and Mata Sita in their exile visited Agasthya Muni, Ecstasy embraced Sutikshan; He’s all overwhelmed ! But , same time ,this great devotee had humble attitude – he thought , “ I have no Bairagya (dispassion),devotion and wisdom ;Yet Lord Ram is so merciful ‘’. He had no sense of the outer world ,he achieved ‘Prema Bhakti’ in reality .Rama appeared as His Chaturbuji Murti within Sutikshan’s Chitta ,the saint turned senseless. That’s the stage of ecstasy . But ,then for Leela , Sri Ram disappered from his within and as Dvibhuj (two-handed form ) Muni vesh Rama waked him up .Seeing Sri Ram in front of him, Sutiksna muni cried the loving tears and prostrated to Sita ,Ram and Laxmana. Other than Rama’s lotus feet ,he had no other desire ! Sri Ram hugged Sutiksan and went to Agasthya's Ashrama.

Sutikshan then, worshiped the Lord by singing Lord’s glory and defining his own humbleness (as Sutikshan called himself as fool,unintelligent so on ).He also sang the glory of Rama as sagun,nirgun,Samrup and Visam (these are Vedantic aspect, That means he was not that fool ,he was well versed ; it was just his humble nature of saranagati).Then ,he prayed that he want the love for Sagun Rama only .Rama grant him boons of Bairagya and Wisdom , but he then asked only the love or Prema bhakti .The place of Bhakti is greater even than Gyana .

Agastya Muni too worshiped Sri Ram . After that Prabhu Ram migrated to the Panchavatii , there Jatayu and other devotees worshiped Lord Ram,Devi Sita and Lord Lakshmana. Once, Lakhsman Ji asked Rama about the greatness of Bhakti ,Dharma ,concept of maya etc . After explaining all dharma etc , Rama finally explained the path of Bhakti as the greatest as well as an independent path. beginning with Sravana ,all nine fold bhakti is the way to the Lotus Feet of Lord Ram . The bhava for these Nine-folds of bhakti are that of Guru bhakti, parental attitude etc . It’s also explained that ,from Karma arrises Bairagya and from Bairagya utimately bhakti. Who achieved the Prema ashru in Bhajana ,for him ,the Lord is in his control and sant seva (service to the saints) is also a part of Hari Bhakti . thus, Niskam (self-less) Bhakti is the greastest way ; with these explanation , Rama pleased Laxamana .

Jai Sita Ram. Jai Tulsidas . ShriKrisnarpanahmastu

(About the painting : Rama and Agasthya ,Artist unknown ,courtesy :Chiraan's astro)

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