Haranath Tattwa
A dazzling light can be looked at by weak human eyes only if it is properly shaded. Similarly the infinitely brilliant Jyoti, Paramātmā, has become perceptible and approachable to all in the form of Haranath.
Haranath is the ocean full of gems. In the ocean there are cruel reptiles also, but it does not thereby suffer. But as the ocean gives salt which is the essence of every taste in return for the poison of the reptiles, so my Hara is taking upon Himself the sins and miseries of every one resorting to Him and giving in return the gems of Purity and love. He shelters and elevates sinners. Like the ocean, He remains ever pure in spite of giving shelter to numberless sinners. If we, born of Maya, immerse ourselves in the ocean of Joy, Haranath, we will be relieved of all impurities and grow into the same divine purity as Haranath is. He is Hara because He absorbs the sins and miseries of all those who seek His shelter. Those who are burning in hell-flames may find in Him an everlasting shelter of unfailing and boundless coolness.
Ganges water is equally sacred whether it is stored in a pot of gold or one of brass or of clay. The spirit inside is what gives value to the form. The form itself is not the thing to be valued. Kings may need to drink out of vessels of gold but ordinary persons are satisfied with earthenware vessels. Similarly Prabhu who is everywhere may be worshipped by those great in learning and Tapas only in His more impressive incarnations, but common men, sinners and those in misery, can see Him and love Him only when He comes to them in a lovable human shape, devoid of qualities which strike awe. The Lord is one, though His forms may be infinite in number.
We do not know the origin of the Ganges but its mighty flow is seen by all. We do not know the real nature of God but He becomes perceptible to us when He comes to us in human shape. In this Kali Yuga, we are all weak and deficient in virtue and Tapas. And taking pity on us, the Supreme Lord has incarnated in human form as Haranath and has become accessible to all. He is now the giver of peace.
Water kept in a pot of gold or silver is not so cool as water kept in a pot of clay. So an Avatar of Mercy accessible to sinner and saint alike, such as Haranath, gives us greater joy and happiness My Hara is like Ganges water stored in an earthen pot and as the water in such a pot is ever cool and perpetually oozes out of the pot, so He is full of mercy which constantly flows out through His eyes in streams of love, tenderness and sympathy.
His arms are wide-extended to take all into His embrace. All that He cares for is the salvation of mankind. The Lord has concealed His unimaginable brilliance and power within the simple human form of Haranath.
There have been many incarnations in this world, inspiring devotion with their wisdom and beauty. In Haranath we have the most recent incarnation and this time the dominant quality is Love. Love satisfies all our desires and fulfils all our wants whereas knowledge and beauty and power cannot. If we put all the good things of this world in one scale and Love in the other, Love weighs heavier. So, for the love of Lord Haranath we may happily discard everything else.
As there are different teachers in a school, so in life too the teachers are many. There are different spiritual paths and different Gurus but he is the highest and only Guru who teaches the ultimate truth-Love.
Even a desert has its own beauty, but certainly the most charming is that of a riverside garden. Other paths have their attractions no doubt, but the Prema marga of Haranath is undoubtedly the sweetest and the most pleasing.
The principle of love is the essence of every living and non-living thing. Even snakes and wild animals surrender themselves to the power of love. It can make even the very ordinary and worthless human being divine and immortal. Love is the only force that can bring about the perfect union of Jiva with Siva. Love can even make the physical frame immortal by keeping it green and fresh in the memory of countless grateful and loving generations that follow.
So long as a girl is unmarried, she may try to learn many things, but when once she is married, she gives up everything else for the sake of love. So, Jnan and other things may be necessary until the soul makes its choice of the object of love. When that is done, there is no need for Jnan. All that is needed is love.
The Lord is Existence-Sat, and Sat is the Supreme Being. This Sat is always within, not without, call it what you like-a Saint, or God, or the Absolute. Contact with this Sat makes mortals immortal.
Those who are in contact with Sat get its response without effort; but those who are out of contact with Sat cannot obtain any response, whatever may be the image they set up and adore. Satsang is a torchlight enabling everybody to see God. It is Satsang that sanctifies ‘teerthas’ and ‘pratimas’, holy places and their images. Otherwise they have no merit of their own. Even the Lord surrenders Himself to the influence of Satsang, association with the Divine Substance, contact with Sat. Poison kept in an earthen vessel makes the vessel itself poisonous, but if nectar is stored therein the vessel also acquires the corresponding virtue.
VIMALA MA
N.B. Collected from the book, “JYOTI” Published By, Vimala Ma with “The Haranath Mission”, 361, Hornby Road, Fort, Bombay (02.07.1944).
Jai Haranath Jai Kusumkumari Jai
Welcome to KusumHaranath World 