Bhakti in Religions of the World (with Special Reference to Dr. Sri Bankey Behariji)

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Bhakti in Religions of the World is a comparative study of the four main religions of the world. This work assumes special importance in light of the fact that communal hatred and discrimination on the basis of religion mark the order of the day. The author has discussed Bhakti and the teachings of noted Bhakti leaders, especially Dr. Sri Bankey Behariji who has bequeathed to posterity a rich heritage of mystico devotional literature.

The author felt inspired to write this book after he attended the sat- sang and kirtan of Sri Mata Krsnaji. The work explores every facet of Bhakti in the light of the four religions - Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. Quoting from several classical scriptures and epics, the author points out that all these religions enjoin moral and spiritual virtues by prayer, charity, worship and belief in God. Various means of God-realisation have been outlined out of which Bhakti predominates, followed by practice of the Divine Name and Renunciation. All through the book, the author has highlighted the basic identity between the tenets of various religions and exploded the myth of superiority of any one religion over the others. Essentially, in the words of Robert Burton 'one religion is as true as another."

This magnum opus in its comprehensive treatment of the various religions will be of immense interest to the general public for its review of oriental philosophy. Besides, research scholars, academicians are also bound to profit from this delectable work, descriptive and well-written as it is.

Dr. Chhaganlal Lala (b. 1931) migrated to Vrndaban from Sind after the partition in 1947. In 1950, he joined Law College, Poona for LL.B. but left his law studies in 1951 when he suffered a long illness. Since then he attended the Satsanga of Dr. Sri Bankey Behariji Maharaj in Vrdaban till he resumed his academic career in 1966 when he passed his M.A. in Philosophy. In 1972, he was awarded the Ph.D. degree by the Agra University. Not satiated in his quest for knowledge, he studied further and obtained the degree of D. Litt. from the Agra University. He served as a Lecturer of English in Sri Nimbark Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya, Vrdaban.

In 1950, I joined 1st LL.B in Law College Poona. After my long illness in the winter vacation, I suddenly attended Sri Mata Krsna Satsanga! Vṛndaban in 1951. The very first day I felt that by the grace of God, I had met the true saints. As I continued to attend Satsanga, I came in closer contact with two great saints of Vṛndaban, His Divine Grace Dr. Sri Bankey Behāriji Maharaj and Her Divine Grace Sri Mātā Kṛṣṇāji. The scholarly treat- ment and comparative study of all religions of Dr. Sri Bänkey Behāriji Maharaj and the melodious 'Kirtan' full of yearning to meet Lord Krsna of Sri Mata Kṛṣṇāji attracted me most. In a private interview with Dr. Sri Bankey Behāriji Mahārāj I asked him what the Karma Yoga of the Gita meant. He explained to me that the 'karma' of the Gita is the worship of the Lord and not the mundane 'karma. He advised me to realise God in this life and not indulge in any political or social work if I wanted to have the full advantage of my life. So I left the law-studies and decided to live in Vrndaban and attend this Satsanga. In Satsanga I heard many signs of a true saint. First, the goal of a saint is to meet God in this life. He will not accept anything short of God, neither money, nor name, nor fame, nor propaganda, nor Asramı, nor disciples etc. But above all, the two most important internal signs of that rare saint who has come from God, were, (1) he has no sex-consciousness and (2) he does not see the world even in the dream but he dreams only of God and His sports. All these apparent as well as internal signs applied on both these saints in toto. I thanked God for, by His special grace, I had met those rare saints who did not want anything but God, neither money, nor name, nor fame, nor propa- ganda, nor Asram nor disciples. They could not tolerate the company of the worldly people.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages