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ONE POINTED DEVOTION
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Ananyata (One pointed devotion)
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Sri Hitaji in the foremost principle had elucidated the paramountcy of the worship of Radhaji's transcendental personality. Its uniqueness has been described in the previous Chapter. Now, we may understand his Second Principle-Ananya Nishta (Single minded Undivided Devotion).
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Several devotees in their campaign for spiritual tradition glorify the greatness of their own and belittle and deride that of others. As they do so their followers shower appreciation on them. Such state of mind cannot characterize Ananyata (one pointed and single minded devotion). If the Lord is all-pervading there is no atom where He is not, no spiritual tradition wherein He is not present. In the realms of devotion there should not be contempt and derision against any tradition or path under any circumstance. Criticizing others gradually distances the seeker from the Lord and lowers his devotion. Such habit only strengthens the Rajoguna within the Seeker. "kama esha krodha esha rajoguna samudbhavah". This declaration of the Geeta reveals that Rajoguna is the source of desire and anger. The real devotion is above and beyond the three Gunas. Any Sadhana to reach the Lord who is beyond three Gunas, must be devoid of Gunas.
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Even if there is minutest display of Rajoguna, it proves to be dangerous.
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Lord Chaitanya had ostracized a 'Sanyasi' as he saw Rajoguna in his conduct. At last the devotee walked long away and ended his life by jumping into Triveni Sangam at Prayaga Kshetra.
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At the Divine Portals of Vaikuntha, Jaya and Vijaya were serving their Master-Maha Vishnu. The 'Rajoguna' displayed by these portal-keepers resulted into a 'curse' and eventually they had to born as demons on the Earth. A single drop of poison turns entire pot-full of milk poisonous. The wives of Seven Maharshis except Aundhati Devi while taking bath in the Ganges had seen Gandharva traveling in a celestial vessel in the sky. Without their knowledge they displayed a little bit of 'Rajoguna'. As a consequence they lost the power of 'pativryatya'. The subsequent curse by their husbands is due to this reason. As a result they had to become blades of grass. Thus the Purana reveals the ill-effcts of Rajoguna. Therefore we should always remember as to how dangerous 'Rajoguna' is!
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Do reproach and causing violence are in tune with Dharma? That day when Parikshit kept a dead-snake around the neck of a Muni who immersed in Bhav Samadhi, he committed a 'Vaishnavaparadha' (ill-treatment to a Great Soul). Thereafter son of the Muni reacted angrily at the event and went on to curse the Emperor Parikshit, which is in consonance with Dharma. The curse was materialized. If the followers of one tradition deride and castigate other traditions or religion such acts will eventually become contravention of Dharma. While talking to the Yaksha (a celestial being) in the Mahabharata, Dharmaraja said that this philosophy of Dharma is very subtle and secret. The prime character of Ananya Bhakthi instructed by Hitaji was to behold Radhaji in every spiritual tradition and in every being. Then only we naturally develop respect for all paths and religions. In line with this principle Ananya Bhakthi, without evincing any resentment or hatred, we can endevour to transform even a cruel person into a saint or a Mahatma. Despising Spiritual Paths is a great sin.
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Ananya Bhakthi propels us to see our beloved God in every being, path and religion. When the enraged demon king Hiranya Kasipa questioned Prahlada "Where is your Hari? Tell me where he is. The boy, replete with tranquility, replied, "Father, Hari is here, Hari is not there. Do not have such doubts. He is all-pervading. Wherever you see he will be there.
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Harivamsaji neither criticized any path or tradition, nor did he point at the deficiencies of any tradition or religion. He was beholding his Ishta devata(favourite deity)-Sri Radhaji everywhere. Readers will know more about his philosophy in this Chapter.
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If we see Radhaji even in a cruel person and show respect and service-mindedness towards him, then within a short time his cruel nature will get dissolved, besides, the richness of saintly qualities arises in him. Now it is evident that Sri Radhaji showed this principle of Divine Love to the world through Sri Hitaharivamsa Prabhu.
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In the Ashram of Kanva Mahamuni, the Mahabharata declared, that Tigers, Deers and calves, all lived together in peace and friendliness. King Dushyanta watching this wonderful unnatural coexistence thought, "Oh! What a wonder! I don't see any rules of nature are working in this Vana. How great and venerable is Kanva Muni". The Divine Love displayed by Kanva placed a great ideal before humans. Here is a Mahatma who saw the presence of Lord in every one. This all pervading universal love of the Muni became an invincible power and transformed cruel animals into peace loving beings.
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In the same way St. Francis of Assisi - a great devotee of Jesus Christ used behold his ista(personal God) in everyone, even in birds and animals. One day as he was passing through a village, the villagers requested him, " Sir, you are looking like a Great Soul. We are facing a great trouble from the attacks of a ferocious wolf. It is killing people entering into our village. To day it is very likely to attack our village as many of the neighbouring villages are taking shelter in our village fearing its attacks". The saint forthwith said. "What is direction of its coming? I will sit in its way." As expected by the villagers, the wolf starting coming into the village slowly. It was moving towards the saint. St Francis has drew the shape of cross in the air, in the meantime, and showed it to the wild animal. The Cruel animal's natural traits transformed very next moment.
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Sri Hitaji instructed the same priniciple to one and all. 'Radha Bhav' is naturally enshrined in every being) 'Eswara sarva Bhootanaml, Hruddese, Arjuna tishtati'- The Lord is seated in the heart of all beings-The Geeta. To behold Sriji in all beings and remembering Her is real Ananya Nishta. He is only a perverted being who regards his own path as the highest and despises and castigates other paths. Such person can never become a devotee. So it is the duty of the Jeeva to understand the uniqueness of the teachings of Hitaji and to tread along the path shown by him.
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In the coming chapter readers will understand how Sri Hitaji, using a fraction of the power of Divine Love through his disciple Sri Vithal Das, transformed the King and people of Junagadh as devotees of Sri Radhaji. The King of Junagadh told his Prime Minister Vithal Dasji, "To day onwards you needn't come to my palace. I will come to you and run the administration. I decided to be your servant and you are my master. This is my Dharma".
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Thus Sriji's Hladini shakthi converts a servant into a master and master to a servant. Her power is uncomparable. Hitaji lived here on the earth with the help of small fraction of such transcendental power. We cannot imagine the invincibility of Sriji's Hladini Shakthi.
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Ananya Nishta (one pointed, undivided attention) is, to behold the essence of Hladini Shakthi-Sri Radhaji everywhere. Even the Gopis of Brindavan used to see Krishna in every being. 'Yatra Yatra mano yati tatra tatra Madhava' - wherever the mind treads there they find only Madhava, not heinous outer prakritic objects. This is the principle of Ananya Bhakthi (Single minded devotion).
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