Slokam 4

This Slokam provides an insight into how to secure the Paramathma’s grace.  Single minded and dedicated concentration of the mind on the forms, manifestations and attributes of the Paramathma will alone secure his grace.

In order to fix the mind, and consciousness, on the Paramathma, will require a tremendous effort because of competing pulls and pushes from worldly objects.  And worldly temptations, fear, insecurity, greed etc. Unless all these forces are overcome, the mind will not remain steady.

Overcoming these pulls and pressures is the primary spiritual attainment. There is no greater challenge in life.  It is not surprising that this effort takes many lifetimes.  Attainment of total dedication is the ultimate objective of this life. 

Sri Bhattadri in this slokam says that when Brahma could not physically find the cause of the appearance of the Lotus, he turns to intense meditation.  From earlier slokams it would have been noted that he turned to intense meditation on being prompted to perform Tapas by the voice from eternity of the Paramathma.

Because the mind is unsteady, the Paramathma has chosen to take the many many forms and events that we perceive in this universe.  So once we accept that the perceived and the perceiver and every atom and every breath that we take is the Paramathma,  the mind will always associate all that is perceived with the multitude of His actions and accomplishments.  So it will always be fixed on Him.

This is also the reason that Sanathana Dharma has no restriction on the forms of the idols that we use of worship.  All the forms represent the Paramathma alone.  In the Bhagavath Gita, the Paramathma says that whenever a devotee takes to performing pooja to a particular deity, He Himself assumes the form of the Deity and grants the devotee’s material requests.  As the devotee progresses  to higher levels of attainment and prays for non-worldly objectives, the Paramathma steps in directly in His true form to take charge and guide His Bhaktha.

May we be endowed with strength to follow the footsteps of Brahma and attain unification with the Paramathma through single minded concentration and effort.