Talk:Transcending Karma through Moksha:Bhakti Yoga and Karma:Destruction of Prārabdha Karma by Bhakti Yoga
By Vishal Agarwal
A Bhakta surrenders himself completely to the Bhagavān. As his mind, intellect, and body are completely immersed in the Bhagavān, he does not feel the results of any adverse Prārabdha, nor does he exult over any worldly gain. The effects of karma no longer agitate his mind, for he is established in divine consciousness.
Story: Swāmī Rāmakṛṣṇa Paramahaṃsa Accepts His Death as a Gift of Mother Kālī
Swāmī Rāmakṛṣṇa Paramahaṃsa was one of the greatest devotees of Mother Kālī. He treated her as his real mother. He would visit Her temple, sing in front of Her Mūrti, and cry out to Her like a child would to his mother.
In his later years, Swāmī Rāmakṛṣṇa fell gravely ill. Doctors diagnosed him with throat cancer and said he would not live for long. His disciples were heartbroken. They pleaded, “You say Kālī is your mother. Why not ask her to cure your cancer? Surely she would listen to her dearest son.”
Swāmī Rāmakṛṣṇa replied that he had never asked anything from Mother Kālī. But upon their insistence, he agreed. The next day, the disciples asked eagerly, “Swāmījī, did you ask Mā Kālī to cure you?”
He smiled and said, “Yes, I asked her. But she replied, ‘Why do you ask for such a trivial thing? Your body will die one day anyway. Ask for something more worthy.’ So, I was ashamed and asked Her only this that I always remain Her devotee, at Her feet.”
The disciples wept upon hearing this. Though their Guru would soon die, they knew they had witnessed the rare devotion of a saint who chose Bhakti over even his life.
The Mercy of Bhagavān Kārttikeya on Alagumuttu Pulavar
More than 200 years ago, in the Kārttikeya Mandir at Nagai, there worked an accountant named Alagumuttu. He was a devout follower of Bhagavān Kārttikeya. Every night after work, he took a bit of Prasāda from the temple and went to bed without dinner.
One night, he fell asleep inside the temple after the evening worship and was locked in. Hungry and helpless, he prayed to Bhagavān Kārttikeya for help. Suddenly, a priest appeared with food. Alagumuttu ate it gratefully.
Then the priest asked him to sing a devotional song. Alagumuttu said, “I cannot sing. Nor do I know any songs in praise of Kārttikeya. I’m not even educated enough to compose one.”
But the priest insisted. Alagumuttu hesitantly opened his mouth, and to his surprise, a melodious hymn came forth. He sang effortlessly, beautifully. He asked, “What was in that food? Who are you?”
The priest revealed his divine form, he was Bhagavān Kārttikeya Himself. He said, “I am pleased with your love and devotion. I grant you the power to sing and compose songs in my praise.”
When the temple doors opened the next morning, the other priests saw a radiant glow on Alagumuttu’s face. He immediately began to sing to Kārttikeya, and all were amazed. The simple accountant who knew no music was now a blessed poet-singer.
From that day, Alagumuttu became famous as a composer of hymns to Bhagavān Kārttikeya. It is said that when he died far away from Nagai, his soul appeared as a beam of light and merged into the Mūrti of Kārttikeya in the Nagai temple.
The follower of Bhakti Yoga does experience his Prārabdha Karma, but he is not disturbed by it. His heart and mind are immersed in divine love. Pain and pleasure lose their sting. Even great suffering is accepted as the Lord’s gift, and liberation is attained through surrender.