Be Full of Prema

You are all lucky indeed to be the residents, at least for some months every year, in this holy place, which is known from very ancient times as Badarikaashram. Many great sages have performed tapas here and realized the goal of human life. These snowy peaks teach man to be as pure and unblemished as their whiteness. The silence of these valleys is very inspiring; when the mind is free from agitation, the tongue is dumb, and the ear has rested. That is why in olden times and even today, saadhakas (spiritual aspirants) came to these solitary places and did tapas (penance). But, it is no use searching for silence, with a noisy storm raging inside you. You are where your mind is, not where your body rests.

This morning, I took out from its resting place the Netralingam (egg-shaped stone, representation of Shiva, with the eye of wisdom in it), which Shankaracharya had installed as the chief source of spiritual sustenance in this shrine. After abhishekam (consecrating by sprinkling holy water) and puja (ritual worship), it was sent back to the original place, from where it will continue to scatter even more grace on the pilgrims, who come here. Shankaracharya, when he first came here—he must have known this place and journeyed up by means of yogic powers, had with him five Lingas, which he brought from Kailasa; the other four he installed in strict conformity with the shaastras (scriptures), at Sringeri, Dwaraka, Puri, and Chidambaram.

Just as the mountains Nara Parvatam and Naaraayana Parvatam, which form the background of this temple, have the Neelakantheshwara Parvatam shining on the horizon between them both, this Narayana shrine has a Lingam from Kailasa as the core of its spiritual halo. The Ganga is born from the foot of Vishnu, and it is sanctified by contact with the head of Shiva. Such stories are formed to teach that there is no difference between one aspect of God and another.

The Four Limbs of the Cosmic Purusha

There is no room for higher and lower among the aspects of Godhead; there is no room for inferior or superior in status, among the various sections of humankind. The Purushasukta speaks of the Brahmana being the face, the Kshatriya the hands, the Vaishya the thighs, and the Shudra the feet of the cosmic Purusha. Apart from the figurative meaning that the passage obviously carries, when God is one uniform sweetness, wisdom, and grace, any part is as sweet, as effulgent, as graceful as every other. A sugar doll is sweet all through; the limbs are as much sugar as the head.

The trouble comes, and the quarrel starts only as a result of the want of prema towards sugar. Once you are established in prema, you will not notice these differences any more; they will appear silly, stupid, and meaningless. When there is no prema, egoism has the upper hand; quarrels about your being superior and others being inferior raise their heads.

You are in the holy presence of prema-swarupa (divine love personified) Himself, Badri Narayana; so, you too must be full of prema (love). Do not entertain any hatred or anger in your hearts. Most of you have come here on pilgrimage, fulfilling the dream of a lifetime. I know how much sacrifice you have made to put together the money needed for this arduous yaatra (pilgrimage). I know the long time you spent in planning for this; I know the joy, with which you started on this pilgrimage and the courage which has brought you here. You have braved illness, accident, poverty, and hunger, during the long trek from your villages, wherever they may be, in Assam, or Kerala, or Rajasthan, or Kashmir.

Proceed Towards the Goal Gladly, Over Rock & Boulder

Carry back with you the silence of these hills, the cool comfort of the Alakananda, the warm affection of the hot springs that gurgle from the earth here, the spirit of sacrifice, which brought sages and saints to this spot. Become better spiritual aspirants on your return, carry on that other pilgrimage towards the goal more resolutely, hereafter. Like the Ganga rushing towards the sea, from where its waters are derived, the jeeva (individual soul) must hurry towards Brahman (Supreme Spirit), from which it has separated. The Ganga does not allow any obstacle to stop its course. You too should proceed, as this Alakananda proceeds, laughing, rolling, tripping gladly over rock and boulder towards the goal.

I would ask the residents of this place, who are mostly merchants, shopkeepers, and priests, to take from the stream of pilgrims that comes here every day, a part of their faith in Badri Narayana. Just try for a moment to understand what it is that brings these people, poor, old, decrepit, from far off places, through this tortuous mountain road, to this temple? There is a faith that heartens them to the last step across the threshold of this temple. Plant that faith in your heart, too; you will then find that your whole life changes for the better. Take the name of Narayana on your tongue and become aware of its sweetness; you will find a new meaning in every act of yours. This temple will then become for you the house of God and not a source of livelihood. Livelihood anyone can eke out anywhere, by any one of a thousand means. But, to be in this place, a place considered holy by millions for thousands of years, a place at the very mention of whose name, millions stand up and bow their heads in reverence, is indeed a great privilege, a great opportunity. Use that opportunity. Use that opportunity well.

Do Not Exploit the Ignorance of Pilgrims

I must tell you one thing more. I would ask you to appreciate the ordeals, trials, and tribulations of the pilgrims, who come here. Treat them kindly; do not speak harsh words and add to their troubles. When, after weeks of the blistering walk and hungry vigil, they reach this heaven, treat them gently. Do not exploit their ignorance and try to get maximum advantage out of it, for yourself. There is dharma (code of morality) for even business; do not overstep that limit. Then, Badri Narayana will bless you; not that He will give you up, if you act otherwise. Only, it will take a longer time! For, every living being has, someday or other, to tread the right path and get merged in the grace of God.

Badrinath Temple 17-6-1961