Saints Of India - Their Contribution To Hinduism-Part IV

By Staff

Indian Saints, Hinduism Contribution
Lord Kapila in the third book of Srimad Bhagavatha describes and defines who a saint is : "Thithikshavaha, Karunikaha. Surudhah Sarvadhehinam: Ajatha Sathravas Santha Saadhava Saadhu Bhushana; Myananyena Bhavena Bhakthim Kurvanthi Yedhridam; Math Krutheyaktha Karmanaha Thyaktha Swajana Baandhavasa. This is the definition of a Saint.

The saint is not only one who has got saffron robes. The man in a saffron robe can be a Saint, need not always be a saint, but a man in plain clothes can be a saint because it is the quality of the mind that makes the saint. He should be one who has forbearance. He should be one who has compassion, he should be one who loves everybody. He is one who has no enemies; he is one who has poise, is one whose very qualities are his embellishments. He has total faith in the Lord. We also have faith in the lord. To believe in him on Monday and to throw him off on Friday. That is not Faith. Faith has not to be not capricious, not spasmodic, not sporadic, not coming and going but something that is continuous and continual conviction. - Niranthara Prema pravahci.

That is called Faith and this is what the Saints have. They believe in the Lord if they are happy. They believe in him more when they are unhappy. That is the way they have believed in the Lord.

It is these who are so dear to the Lord. Most of you have heard love songs. Haven't you? Most of our films have love songs. There is only one combination - You are my heart and I am yours. It is only this in every vernacular.

The first love song I heard was from the Lord sung to his saints. The Lord in Ambarish Charitra in Srimad Bagavatha says; "The saints are my heart and I am theirs. They do not know anybody but me; I do not know anybody but they". What a lovely commitment from the divine!

Sadago hridayam mahyam Sadhoonam hridayam tvaham
Madhanya thena jananthi Naaham thebyo manatapi.

Thus the Saint is a unique person whose personal ecstasy is what we are knowing from the universal expression given in his songs. Most of the saints are singers. Can you find out why? Have you ever thought why all Saints sang?

Why did they sing? Because when you speak you can quarrel, when you walk you can quarrel, when you sit and eat most of us quarrel. But when you sing you cannot quarrel; when you sing you have harmony within and you spread harmony through everybody. Unless there is music in your heart. you cannot weep for the Lord. Wasn't it said by Shelly that "Our sweetest songs are those that tell us of saddest thought" and the saddest thought, it is separation from the Lord.


It is very strange that saint Thyagaraja felt separation from Sri Rama. And what He sang became a beautiful song. When he was there alive, He went from house to house with a begging bowl, asked for the day's handful of rice, and those who sing Thyagaraja Kirtana travel by Mercedes Benz today. How does it happen? This same Thyagaraja whose great songs have become so popular because a personal suffering became a universal expression. Meera Bai on the hot sands of Rajastan, walked bare foot. People called her by names, and said that she was a fallen woman and yet when she sang songs, the Gods in Heaven wept. And today you have Latha Mangeshkar growing to the golden record because of her music. How did it grow? Tell me, How did these great men and women of God grow? Because they felt God in their blood and bones and their lives have come down to us as examples to follow.

About the author

Prema Pandurang

She is the founder President of Samskriti (Home of Culture) and Kshetropasna Charitable Trust and the Founder Trustee of Shree Chakra Foundation. Kshetropasna Trust was founded by Pujya Prof.Prema Pandurang and Dr.P.R.Krishnakumar with the noble purpose of establishing a unique organization to revive the values and ideals of our Indian culture in India & Abroad. This Trust encompasses several activities. She wields a powerful pen and has a God-given gift of magnificent eloquence. She has to her credit a number of articles in various popular journals. Her writing always stimulate thought and inner peace. She speaks on God with fervor and conviction.