“There Is No Retirement in the Service of Lord Raghavendra,” Says Spiritual Leader During Ram Katha in Lucknow
Lucknow: Renowned spiritual leader Jagadguru Rambhadracharya emphasized the transformative power of devotion, kirtan, and unwavering faith during the second day of a nine-day musical Shri Ram Katha being held in Lucknow.
Addressing devotees at the Brij Ki Rasoi campus on Sitapur Road, Rambhadracharya elaborated on the concept of Navadha Bhakti (nine forms of devotion) and described kirtan as one of the most effective paths to spiritual liberation.
He explained that in Sanskrit, Maya (illusion) is often likened to a dancer, and symbolically reversing the word leads to the concept of kirtan. “When a person immerses himself in kirtan, the influence of maya gradually diminishes,” he said. He further stressed that unwavering faith in God is another essential pillar of devotion, adding that sincere belief makes the path to divine realization easier and more accessible.
Speaking on the principles of Karma Yoga, Rambhadracharya urged devotees to perform their duties with dedication and sincerity. Referring to the teachings of Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita, he said that individuals have a right to perform their actions, and when responsibilities are fulfilled honestly, rewards and recognition naturally follow.
The spiritual leader also highlighted the importance of selfless service, stating that true service lies in serving God and humanity. “Government service may have a retirement age, but there is no retirement in the service of Lord Raghavendra. One need not worry about pension there, because the Lord Himself takes care of the welfare of His devotees,” he remarked, encouraging people to dedicate more of their lives to public welfare and spiritual pursuits.
During his discourse, Rambhadracharya also reflected on the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and the sacrifices made by devotees during that period. Recalling the events associated with the movement, he said he had always maintained faith that the sacrifices made by devotees would not go in vain. He described December 6, 1992, as a significant turning point in Indian history and shared his personal reflections on the developments surrounding the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
Several distinguished guests attended the event and sought blessings from the spiritual leader, including Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Higher Education Rajni Tiwari, Mahant Pawan Das of Naimisharanya Hanumangarhi, MLA Neeraj Bora, and the Vice-Chancellor of Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Divyang State University.
Prominent organizers, patrons and devotees also participated in the special evening aarti, including Ajit Srivastava, Ashish Agrawal, Bharat Bhushan Gupta, Sanjeev Agrawal, festival General Secretary Rakesh Pandey, Convener Saurav Bandopadhyay, Kanupriya Jaju, Bindu Bora, Vatsal Bora, Sunil Agrawal and Dr. Ajay Gupta.
Media coordinator Dr. S.K. Gopal informed that the next session of the Shri Ram Katha will commence at 5 p.m. on Wednesday and is expected to draw large numbers of devotees from across the region.
