Worship of God

"I am in every religion as the thread through a string of pearls. Wherever thou seest extraordinary holiness and extraordinary power raising and purifying humanity, know thou that I am there." - Sri Krishna, Bhagavadgita

As different streams having their sources in different places all mingle their water in the sea, so O Lord! different paths which men take through different tendencies various though they appear crooked or straight all lead to thee.

Thus it is that the Vedas proclaim not a dreadful combination of unforgiving laws, not an endless prison of cause and effect, but that at the head of all these laws, in and through every particle of matter and force, stands One "by whose command the wind blows, the fire burns, the clouds rain, and death stalks upon the earth."

And what is His nature?

He is everywhere, the pure and formless One, the Almighty and the All-merciful. "Thou art our father, Thou art our mother, Thou art our beloved friend, Thou art the source of all strength; give us strength. Thou art He that beareth the burdens of the universe; help me bear the little burden of this life." Thus sang the Rishis of the Vedas. And how to worship Him? Through love. "He is to be worshipped as the one beloved, dearer than everything in this and the next life."

It is good to love god for the hope of reward in this and the next life, but it is better to love god for love's sake.

"Ananyaschinthayanthomam ye jana paryupaasathe

Thesham nithyabhiyukthanam yogakshemam vahamyaham"

Punarapi jananam purnapi maranam

punarapi janani jathare shayanam

iha samsaare bahu dhusthare

krupaya paare paahi muraare