Sandhya Vandana bhadramasthu bhavathe bho snaana thubhyam namo bho
Devaaha pitarascha tharpanavidhau naaham kshamah kshamyatham
Yatrakwapi nishidya Yaadava kulottamsasya Kamsadwisha smaram smara
Smaram smara agham haraami tadalam manye kimanye name !
Leela Shuka imagines how Rukmini Devi was frustrated as there was no recognition for her! Krishna lifted one of the lightest hills by name Govardhanagiri casually and came to be called as Govardhanagiridhari all over the world and heaven! Rukmini Devi holds Krishna, who bears the burden of all the three worlds, on her chest but none care for her great act!! What is the use of frustration and feeling sorry for the negligence of people? It is only through one's punya or good deeds in the previous birth one gets renown!
“ O Sandhya Vandana! May you thrive you well! O Bath! My pranams to you! O Devas and pitrus! I am unable to offer oblations to you! You may kindly pardon me for this inability of mine! Sitting in some remote place, I contemplate and meditate on the greatest of Yaduvamsa, the enemy of Kamsa, Sri Krishna! I reflect on Him again and again and wipe out all my sins! I feel that repeating His name is capable of washing off all my sins! What is the use of indulging in other ways?” exclaims poet Leela Shuka in this beautiful sloka!
The Vedas have ordained that every brahmin should perform a few daily rituals to purify themselves and qualify for the final goal of mukti or salvation! They are called “ Nitya Karmas” or daily duties or actions. There are others called “ Naimittika Karmas” or those performed for some reason. Sandhya Vandana is the most important karma prescribed for brahmins! It is the upasana or worship of the greatest of all mantras, namely the “Gayathri Mantra” visualized by the great sage Viswamitra! It is the meditation of the three forms of Gayathri during the morning, afternoon and evening! Brahmins are supposed to have two births, one before Gayathri upadesa and the second and the most important after upanayana or Gayathri upadesa otherwise called “Brahmopadesa.” That is why the brahmin is called “Dwija” –twice born!!
The brahmin is expected to offer oblations to Gods and his own ancestors. This is a kind of sacrifice which every one has to perform. These are called “Deva Yagna” and “Pitru Yagna” Man has to pay his debt of gratitude to the Gods and his own forefathers responsible for his birth and existence. Therefore yagnas have to be performed. On every new moon day the pitrus have to be propitiated to get their blessings for a happy and prosperous life. It is believed that those who don’t care for their ancestors cannot lead a happy and peaceful existence! The Bhagavadgita too lays stress on the significance of these Yagnas or sacrifices!
Leela Shuka is not interested in these duties or kartmas! These are only rituals that have to be performed scrupulously and daily. There is still uncertainty regarding the result they produce. One is not sure if he gets mukti or salvation purely by performing them. They are only the elementary means to attain God! What is use of following them when you aren’t sure of the result? Hence the poet discards these regular duties and concentrates on the Supreme Brahman in the form of Krishna, the jewel of Yadu clan and the arch enemy of Kamsa! The poet feels that repeating the name of Krishna and meditating on Him shall ward off all his sins once and for all! There is no use in wasting time over silly rituals. God of Death is merciless! One's only duty is to sing the glory of God! “ Kalakshepo na karthavyaha kshina mayur kshane kshane Yamasya karuna nasthi karthavyam Hari kirthanam!” The poet emphasizes the futility of daily and other rituals and the primary importance of “Nama Smarana” or recollecting and thinking of the name of God!
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