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are worshipped in and for themselves, such worship is only a ritualistic karma; and as a vidya (science) it gives us only the fruit belonging to that particular vidya; but when the devas or any other beings are looked upon as Brahman and worshipped, the result obtained is the same as by the worshipping of Isvara, the Supreme Ruler. This explains how, in many cases, both in the Srutis and the Smritis, a god or a sage or some other extraordinary being was taken up and lifted gradually out of its own personal nature and after being idealized into Brahman, had been worshipped as such. In explanation the Advaitin says, 'Is not everything Brahman when the name and the form have been removed from it ?'--'Is not He, the Lord, the innermost self of every one?'-says the Visishtadvaitin. "The fruition of even the worship of the Adityas etc. Brahman Himself bestows, because he is the Ruler of all. Here, in this way does Brahman become the
BHAKTI-YOGA.