| To me who
strove against obstinate enemies, not knowing the way to emancipation, He taught the way
of love. So sang the Saint Manikkavachakar.
The obstinate enemies here referred to are egoism and desires which are hindrances to true
knowledge. They are foolish, obstinate, evil forces.
If Sri Aadi Sankara himself who drank the ocean of
knowledge as easily as one sips water from the palm of one's hand, sang hymns to develop
devotion, it is enough to show that knowledge and devotion are one. No other
testimony is needed. Sri Sankara has packed into the "Bhaja Govindam" song
the substance of all the Vedantic works that he wrote and he has set the truth of the
union of devotion and knowledge to melodious music which delights the ear. |
