<!--QuoteBegin-Husky+Dec 15 2007, 11:38 AM-->QUOTE(Husky @ Dec 15 2007, 11:38 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->similar prayer - by a Ramar devotee this time (my book here of the RK Math doesn't give this shloka's name):
<!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->I look upon Vishnu and Rama as one and the same, but still may I hold the beautiful Rama to be my all-in-all.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->These are Hindus who chose their Ishtadevams - the manifestation of the divine that most suited/appealed to them, though they knew these are all the same in the very end.
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Very well put. even consider the anecdote of sant sri tulasidas ji when he was traveling through braja-vrindavana. As he was visiting a Krishna temple, some critics commented that 'here comes a known Rama devotee, praying finally to Krishna'. (per another tradition it was narada muni's game with tulasi). To this, he appealed to Krishna like this:
kaa baranau chhavi aap ki, bhale bane ho nath,
tulsi mastak tab navai jab dhanush baan lehu haath
{how to describe your beauty, what a wonderful form you have now taken my Lord,
However your tulasi will bow to you, when you take your bow and arrows at hand}
(And whatever the truth, tradition says that the Krishna pratima did appear with bow and arrows of Rama)
Likewise, consider the life and words of Ma Mirabai. She says, 'mere to giridhar gopala, doosaro na koi' {to me only Giridhar Gopal, none else}. This is not a theological statement but an experience born out of her singular love towards her isTadeva. Like a sati wife only can think of one man - her husband, she thinks of only gopal and no other isTa. But that does not mean she can not respect other forms and manifestations of her lord. She also says 'payo ji maine rama-ratan-dhan payo' {found, I found, the tresure of rama-jewel} This is a sign of loving devotion with a true knowledge of her isTa.
<!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->I look upon Vishnu and Rama as one and the same, but still may I hold the beautiful Rama to be my all-in-all.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->These are Hindus who chose their Ishtadevams - the manifestation of the divine that most suited/appealed to them, though they knew these are all the same in the very end.
[right][snapback]76195[/snapback][/right]
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Very well put. even consider the anecdote of sant sri tulasidas ji when he was traveling through braja-vrindavana. As he was visiting a Krishna temple, some critics commented that 'here comes a known Rama devotee, praying finally to Krishna'. (per another tradition it was narada muni's game with tulasi). To this, he appealed to Krishna like this:
kaa baranau chhavi aap ki, bhale bane ho nath,
tulsi mastak tab navai jab dhanush baan lehu haath
{how to describe your beauty, what a wonderful form you have now taken my Lord,
However your tulasi will bow to you, when you take your bow and arrows at hand}
(And whatever the truth, tradition says that the Krishna pratima did appear with bow and arrows of Rama)
Likewise, consider the life and words of Ma Mirabai. She says, 'mere to giridhar gopala, doosaro na koi' {to me only Giridhar Gopal, none else}. This is not a theological statement but an experience born out of her singular love towards her isTadeva. Like a sati wife only can think of one man - her husband, she thinks of only gopal and no other isTa. But that does not mean she can not respect other forms and manifestations of her lord. She also says 'payo ji maine rama-ratan-dhan payo' {found, I found, the tresure of rama-jewel} This is a sign of loving devotion with a true knowledge of her isTa.