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mind. True love for Him never remains unfulfilled. His grace is received in response to our acts of service
(6) Adoration (Archana) : We worship and adore God's Idol in many ways. There are Ashtaprakari (eight types), Sattarbhedi (seventeen types), Ekvisprakari (Twenty one types). Darvya pujas are essential part of Archna-the ritual to be performed before Him, but true adoration means living according to His precepts. We should learn from His life and put it into practice.
A devotee of God does not injure the feeling of others. He is compassionate to all. He treats others as his own self. He cherishes a feeling of friendship for all and enmity towards none. Archana or outward form of worship, as rituals, should lead to Bhav Puja, then only their purpose is served.
When Rama was in exite in the forest, his brother Bharat did not ascend the throne but he placed Rama's sandals on it. What an ideal he set for devotion to the elder brother ! Shravan worshipped his parents by taking them to the places of pilgrims in a hamper.
Action and emotions accompany one another. Unless specific action is performed, associated feeling does not arise. As an action is the first step, importance of performing rituals intelligently is emphasized, but unless the spirit of worship is realised goal is not reached. True worship as archana is a service of God, by serving all. It is the sixth step.
(7) To seek refuge in complete surrender to Master (Sharana): What a pleasure it is to be a servant or a devotee of God and to
refuge in Him completely is known only by experience. A juggler makes an ape dance at his bidding. A man should be willing to walk likewise, without any hesitation on the path laid down by God.
We obeyed Masters in many a life times to gain riches to satisfy our desires for happiness. It was always found to be short-lived. Only obedience to God will annihilate our past sins and will lead us to eternal bliss. We should, therefore, completely submit ourselves to God without any reservations of mind and gladly obey His Commands. This seventh step is the step of complete surrender of self to Him as we pray, "I am thy servant, O ! Master save me".
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