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1970
The Divine Life Society
Hyderabad Branch
India
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A Flower At Thy Feet, Oh Lord
Early this year, a few high-souled devotees of Sri Gurudev Sivananda expressed
their eagerness to study bhakti yoga at the Yoga Vedanta Forest Academy. At the
behest of Sri Gurudev Sivananda, I took that class, with Narada Bhakti Sutras as
the text.
Is was a revealing experience for me. There we were, all of us, students of Sri
Gurudev Sivananda- studying this glorious scripture - and each sutra conjured
up before our mind's eye the glorious life of Sri Gurudev Sivananda and His life-
transforming teachings. If there was an abstruse idea, Gurudev Sivananda's life -
some anecdote - came in handy to make it clear. As we proceeded with the study,
we discovered that Gurudev Sivananda's illustrious, fruitful, and divine life itself
was the best commentary on 'Narada Bhakti Sutras' - nay, all the important
scriptures in the world. I am extremely grateful for this experience.
As I spoke, I realised that I was myself a student in the class - and it is Gurudev
Sivananda's own radiant life and teachings that played the part of the preceptor.
Not a single idea contained in this volume is mine - every good thought presented
herein is a particle of the dust of Sri Gurudev Sivananda's Divine Lotus Feet. May
the radiant Dust of His Feet guide us!
The notes I had kep of the talks, assumed the present shape at the holy abode of
Sri Rani Sivananda-Kumudini Devi of 'Sivananda Griha', Secunderabad, in her
motherly, affectionate and extremely hospitable care. To her I owe inexpressible
gratitude.
May God bless them all!
20th November, 1960
Swami Venkatesananda
Introduction
Om Sri Satguru Paramatmane Namah.
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.
Namah Parama Rishibhyo
Namah Parama Rishibhyah.
Before taking up the study of the Narada Bhakti Sutras themselves, let us for a
moment dwell upon the meaning of the three words, which form the title of the
book.
In days of yore, before printing was invented, knowledge of scriptures had to be
imparted to the student, by the preceptor, by word of mouth. Records could be
preserved only on the palm-leaves; each copy was produced at expense of time
and energy. Therefore, the preceptors and the students, too, resorted to the
sutras. An elaborate discourse was condensed into a brief sutra, which
constituted the double-distilled essence of the discourse. The sutra was more an
aid to memory. To the 'initiated', each sutra called up a world of thought and
ideas.
The various Schools of Philosophy have their own sutras, which are regarded as the
primary Source-Books. The sutras are always terse and often enigmatic - and they
invariably require a commentary, to be understood.
Bhakti
Bhakti comes from the root 'bhaj', which means 'to be devoted to', 'to be in love
with'. Bhakti is love. It is universal. Everyone has love in his heart. He who has a
heart, has love in it. Even the cruelest man loves somebody or something. This is
common, not only to all mankind and animals, but even to plant-kingdom. The
sun-flower and the lotus are in love with the Sun.
It is true that the modern man is moved more by the heart than by the intellect.
Emotions govern and prompt his actions. That is indeed an excellent sign- for he
who responds readily to emotion is capable of developing devotion, too. That is
why Gurdev Sivananda says that, in kali yuga, bhakti yoga is the quickest, safest,
and surest way to self-realisation.
But, the modern man's emotions are stirred more by the instinct than by
intelligence! Therefore, he is swayed easily by every passing wind - he swings to
the side that stirs his motions more deeply, without pausing to think whether that
is the right direction or not.
Bhakti is emotion plus discrimination. Bhakti is love. But all love is not Bhakti, as
we shall see later.
Narada
Before we take up the study of any book, it is better to look at the name of the
author. Then we shall whether the book is authoritative, whether it will guide us
aright, or not. Otherwise, we shall suffer the fate of the blind men led by a blind
man.
Narada is one of the greatest bhaktas. He is continuously God-conscious. He is
roaming the three worlds, singing the Lors's Names, awakening all to the glory of
His Names, and instilling in all intense and supreme love for God. Hence, he is an
authority on bhakti.
Three stories connected with Narada are of interest to us here. They contain
object-lessons which every student of bhakti yoga ought to bear in mind.
Power of Satsang
The first is about Narada's own previous birth. He was then the son of a non-
Brahmin widow, who was serving Mahatmas in a village where he had camped
for the rainy season. The boy used to listen to their discourses, and also eat their
uchchishtha- leavings. These had purified him and created in him an intense
longing to realise God. One day, a cobra bit the old woman and she passed away.
The young son was happy! Such was the power of satsang. He felt that the one
bond that tied him to samsara - worldly life- had been severed by God. He
approached the Mahatmas for their blessings, as they were leaving the village.
They blessed him and initiated him into bhakti. He did intense sadhana. The
Lord appeared to him and granted him the boon that, in the next birth, he would
be born as a great bhakta.
Satsang is indispensable for one to grow in devotion.Name whenever possible,
and eventually, always, by force of habit.
Practice and Experience
Narada was himself restless once, and went to Sanatkumara for guidance. He
gave Sanatkumara a long list of all the scriptures that he had studied.
Sanatkumara dismissed all that knowledge as mere 'word', without meaning, as a
mere intellectual burden, as chaff! He then initiated Narada into Brahma Vidya,
and exhorted him to attain the direct realisation of the Infinite.
Whatever be the path we choose, practice, and practice alone, can enable us to
reach the goal. No amount of theory - however lofty and good- will be of any
avail, unless it is translated into practice.
