Bhakthi at its best

After both our daughters were married in 2010, my wife and I travelled to many parts of India. We went to various places for sightseeing, meeting Holy men and women, visiting some of our relatives, observing silence, doing research on our charitable work and generally having a good time.
I am sixty two years old and left India to migrate to the USA in 1977. I am an NRI, whatever that means. In some quarters within India I am not qualified to talk about India. In some circles, I am considered objective. In the USA, I am looked upon as an immigrant, with all the baggage that goes with that term. Some good and some not so good!
Our travels were between June 26th, 2011 and August 31st , 2011. This is one of my observations.



Gokulasthami in India

The birth of Lord Krishna is celebrated in many parts of India with prayers, bhajans and dancing. Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavtgita, even if you offer me a leaf, with devotion, I am pleased. I interpret that to mean Bhakthi is more important than the show of scholarship or outward signs of devotion. True Bhakthi comes from the heart
During my stay in my mom’s home in Hyderabad, the watchman in the apartment complex across the street, came and requested my mom, and my two sisters to conduct the bhajans on Gokulashtami day. Immediately my younger sister got on the phone and called every one in the neighborhood and requested them to join her on the evening of August 21st for a bhajan session.
I was so pleased that the attendance was beyond the watchman’s expectation, considering it was raining. It was not one of those functions arranged by well educated people. It was arranged by a watchman. In the social ladder and in the scheme of things ,which influences many a decision, it was definitely not a “I have to be seen” event.
The Bhakthi and fervor of devotion I saw in that watchman and his family and the less educated people in the crowd brought tears to my eyes. If Lord Krishna was going to be present anywhere, that was the place. No doubt in my mind. The watchman’s Bhakthi was evident. The preparations, the love, the devotion and spirit of oneness was appreciated by one and all. Caste played no role.
Unfortunately, with the advent of technologies like the internet and the proliferation of teachers who claim to teach our scriptures, we have many students of Vedanta walking around. I call them pseudo Vedantins. Bhakthi is rarely talked about. They do more harm to Hinduism, their families and themselves. In this atmosphere, you meet a person like the watchman and see true Bhakthi. So beautiful, so refreshing, so unsophisticated. Bhakthi at its best.