A Worry-Free Life – Govindanukku Aatpatta Kudumbamamma #9

This series was originally published in Tamil MadhuraMurali monthly magazine in India, as a 12-part series. Based on Sri Swamiji’s Madhurageetham, “Govindanukku Aatpatta Kudumbamamma Engal Kudumbam”, it speaks beautifully of how the family members of our satsang lead/need to lead their lives.
This is the translation of the ninenth article in this series. Click below links for the earlier episodes:
Part 1 – Govinda, the Beautiful One
Part 2  – Leading a Life Beholden to Govinda
Part 3 – Everything is Indeed His Will
Part 4 – How We – as Govinda’s family – Live!
Part 5 – We Shall Get Together, Sing and Dance!
Part 6 – The Attachment that Frees
Part 7 – How will we Raise our Children?
Part 8 – Love vs Attachment

A Worry-Free Life

Govindanukku Aatpatta Kudumbamamma… #9

(This is the Madhurageetham that joyfully sings of the way of life of satsang families, who live blissfully in the shadow of Govinda’s lotus feet – “Govindanukku Aatpatta kudumbamamma”. After singing about the peaceful lives of families who live without being greedy and without falling into attachment, like a lotus leaf in water, now shall we see the lines that sing about the mental strength given by satsang and Guru krupa?)

6. kavalai paDamATTOm, kAlanukku anja mATTOm
puNNiyam pAvam kAlam enDru parithavikkavum mATTOm || gOvindanukku ||

We shall not worry; we shall not fear Death
We shall not struggle anxiously, thinking about merits, sins, time, and the like!

Generally, once we are born as humans, along with us are born worry and fear! These two are strong feelings that rise in our minds when we contemplate about the future.

When the mind runs towards the future, two types of thoughts sway our mind:

  1. Worry about tomorrow
  2. Fear about this world (life in this world) and the other world (life after death).

[1] We all desire to be happy in life. It is only natural to wonder now and then, “Will we be happy like that in the future?”

“Will we get any problems because of our body, our possessions, or people around us – such a thought takes the shape of fear, whereas “If we get any such problem, wonder what are we going to do to be happy again?” – such a thought takes the shape of worry. We will see about fear later; first we will not worry (kavalai paDamATTOm)!

We will remove worry with the staunch faith that “Will not That immensely compassionate Govinda — who easily and beautifully runs this entire world – show me also a way? Will He not run my life also?”

[2] No one can see the future right? We have a thought that whether my family members or I will live happily, healthily, without any lack in terms of worldly comforts, with name and fame, in the years to come. When our thoughts go in this direction, if we do not have confidence in ourselves or faith in Govinda who is running this world, then, that which affects us deeply is this fear.

Once we are beholden to Govinda, since we visibly see the beauty with which He takes care of us, faith in His grace develops on its own. When there is faith, where is the fear?

Fear of death is the basis for all other types of fears. That too, when we are unsure of what our state will be after death, then fear is natural. “If I leave, my dear family will suffer!” this thought will also instill fear of death (kAlan).

“I am the child of Govinda; there is no separate thing as “my family”; this is a family beholden to Govinda!” – when such a certainty comes, we will not feel scared about ourselves or about our family. If I leave this body, I am going to serve Govinda in His world. Since we get the conviction that as this family is beholden to Govinda, He himself will take care of them, so

kAlanukku anja mATTOm” (we will not fear death!)

Further, we can divide spiritual life into two paths – they are the path of karma, and the path of krupa.

Theists (believers) who follow the path of karma see whatever happens as the play of paapa-punya (sins and merits).

They will consciously and carefully do a lot of meritorious deeds with the intention that if one does a lot of punya, it will bring them happiness and comfort in the future. When troubles assail them, they will think, “Oh what sins did I commit! I am suffering! What is the atonement for this? Which temple should I circumambulate? Which mantra should I chant? In which pond should I take a dip? What charity should I do?” and go from pillar to post. They will lose peace of mind.

Other believers will turn towards astrology, pacifying the planets, and see everything as the effect of Time. Saying things like “I have kAla sarpa dOsham, the planet Saturn is in the eighth place”, they will roam around restlessly thinking about astrology, horoscopes, etc.

Astrology is also true; the effects of karma are also true; but those who keep crying and holding on only to these will be theists or believers; they will not become devotees.

A devotee will consider anything that happens as the grace of his chosen deity. When faced with problems, he will pray with a melting heart to Govinda; he will not go in search of atonements. He will pray to Govinda to strengthen him. After that, he will take it as God’s wish. In the case of such a devotee, it is a beauty to watch Govinda Himself take the responsibility and protect him!

Hence, Sri Swamiji sees satsang families and sings of the way in which they live.

kavalai paDamATTOm, kAlanukku anja mATTOm
puNNiyam pAvam kAlam enDru parithavikkavum mATTOm || gOvindanukku ||

True surrender to Govinda is — lowering and placing one’s worldly as well as spiritual burdens completely at Govinda’s feet, and because of the staunch faith in Him, not carrying any burdens or fear or worries, and as “nirbharo nirbhayo lOkE, nishchintaschAsmi kEshava”, continuing to do His Nama kirtanam always.

The flower shall bloom further….

Sri Ramanujamji, disciple of HH Maharanyam Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji
Originally published in Tamil Madhuramurali magazine in Chennai

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