Talk:Sādhu-Saṇga

By Vishal Agarwal

The best form of Satsanga is the company of or association with Gurus or spiritually elevated Saints called Sādhu-s. It is said to be the greatest means of igniting the spark of Bhakti in oneself. The true saint is very rare indeed and none other than Divine grace can make us come into contact with one -

One can develop Bhakti through renouncing sense-objects, giving up attachment to people around us, through continuous loving service towards the Lord, hearing and singing the glories of the Lord even while engaged in worldly activities. But the primary source of Bhakti is the grace of other great saints, and secondarily the grace of the Lord as well. Nārada Bhakti Sūtra 35-38 The most important means to become a Bhakta is obtaining the blessings (or grace) of saints, or a spark of the Divine Himself. The company of saints is indeed very difficult to obtain because they are not easy to find. But, their grace never fails in its result. It is only by Divine grace that one gets the company of true saints. Because there is no difference between true saints and Bhagavān. Nārada Bhakti Sūtras 39-41

As a man resorting to fire is rid of his cold, fear, and darkness, so is the case of a person who associates with saints. Uddhava Gita 21.31

The saints who have realized Brahman is the supreme refuge of people sinking and being tossed in the stormy ocean of rebirths, they are like a strong boat that saves people who are about to be drowned in water. Uddhava Gita 21.32

The sun, upon rising, gives people one external eye (vision) but the saints provide them with multiple eyes. Saints alone are true friends and true Devas. They are One with me (i.e., a part of the Divine). Uddhava Gita 21.34

Saints are like mobile Teertha-s and they are more effective and rapidly acting purifiers than the physical holy places that are stationary-

Even the very sight of good men purifies one. It is better than the holy places of pilgrimage. The benefit from a holy place is derived later but that from the contact of good men is immediately effective. Garuda Purāṇa 1.221.23 It is not that the holy waters are not altogether holy. It is not also that divine images made of clay and stone are not divine. While these take a very long time to purify the mind of man, holy men accomplish it by their very darshana. Bhāgavata Purāṇa 10.48.31

The Tamil Shaivite Hindu tradition also says that serving the Saints is better than even making offerings to Deities in the temples-

“Offering given to the towered temple, Reaches not the noble-walking temples. Offering given to the noble-walking temples Reaches surely the Lord in the towered temple.” Tirumantiram verse 1857

How does one define or describe a Saint who can jump-start our journey on the path of Bhakti? Scriptures say- A holy man is patient in all circumstances, who is full of fellow feeling, who is the friend of all, who looks upon none as an enemy, who is overflowing with peace, who has virtue alone as his ornament, and who has a deep-rooted love for Me, characterized by a sense of inseparable intimacy. He works solely for My sake and abandons all dependence on relatives and clansmen (preferring to depend solely on Me). Bhāgavata Purāṇa 3.25.21-22

He always hears and speaks of My sanctifying deeds and excellences. His mind is fully given over to Me, no affliction ever affects or troubles him. Bhāgavata Purāṇa 3.25.23

How does the company of such holy men inspire Bhakti in us? The following verses answer this question-

In the intimate company of such holy men, you will hear accounts of My glorious deed, which form a veritable draught of ambrosia to the ear and the heart. By drinking this ambrosia, you will soon develop, one after the other, faith (shraddhā) in the path of devotion, delight in God (ratio), and deep love for Him (Bhakti). Bhāgavata Purāṇa 3.25.25 When the sinful tendencies that obstruct the dawning of devotion are eliminated by the constant service of holy men, there arises firm and unswerving devotion to the Lord. Bhāgavata Purāṇa 1.2.18

A contemporary scholar too explains-

[Satsanga is] the root practice of Bhakti Yoga. As anyone who’s tried to start a fire by rubbing two sticks together knows, fires don’t start easily! But if someone brings you a burning stick from the campfire they’ve already got going, you can ignite your pile of twigs and dried leaves effortlessly. The guru, and other devotees farther along the path, have already got their fires roaring. When you spend time with them, you see love for God happening. You see spirit being lived. For many, the effect is galvanizing. Saints who’re enlivened with shakti, with divine energy, transmit it to others as if they’re spiritual tuning forks. Some people’s spiritual batteries have run down so low that they have to be repeatedly jumpstarted before they’re able to keep their inner light glowing. Once your light starts burning night and day, and whether anyone’s there to pump you up or not, you are now a Bhakta- a genuine devotee.

Therefore, one must endeavor to seek the company of holy men, serve them, and direct all of our love and attachment toward them alone-

The wise say that intense attachment to the objects of the world is the cause of bondage for the soul. The same attachment, if directed towards holy men, opens the gate of liberation. Bhāgavata Purāṇa 3.25.20 One should give up all associations. But if that were not possible, then associate only with the virtuous, because the company of the virtuous is like a great medicine. Likewise, one must give up all desires. But if that were not possible, then direct all your desires towards the attainment of Moksha, because that desire for Moksha is a medicine for all maladies. Mārkandeya Purāṇa 34.23-24

Story: Proximity to Haridās Thākur Reforms a Prostitute

Haridas Thakur, a disciple of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, chanted the name of Hari 300,000 times every day. In the course of his wanderings, he once reached a village and started chanting the name of Hari. Ramchandra Khan, the police superintendent of the village got very upset with his incessant chanting because he felt disturbed. He thought, “Let me send a beautiful woman to Haridas. He will fall in love with her and spend all his time in her company instead of chanting.”

He contacted the prettiest woman in the village, who was very proud of her beauty. Whenever she saw a rich man, she would pretend that she was in love with him, and then gradually make him part with all his wealth. In this way, she had become very rich. The superintendent promised her a lot of wealth if she could somehow distract Haridas from his devotion.

That night, she went to Haridas Thakur and said, “Stop wasting your time chanting and look at me instead.” Haridas Thakur replied, “Let me complete my chanting, and then I will talk to you.” The entire night passed but Haridas kept chanting ‘Hari, Hari’ till it was already dawn.

The woman was very frustrated and left without being successful in her aim. She returned the next night with the same request. But once again, she had to return without achieving her goal.

She thought, “It appears that Haridas Thakur has found something more pretty than I. Let me watch him from a hiding place for a few nights and find out what it is that he finds prettier than me?”

She started coming every night, but all she heard was the continuous chanting of ‘Hari’. But gradually, the chanting and the proximity had a deep spiritual effect on her and she became attracted to Bhagavān. And therefore, one night, she fell at the feet of Haridas Thakur and begged him to take her as a student.

Filled with remorse, she said, “Through your chanting, my heart has become purified. Now I do not wish to defile you by seducing you. I was instigated by Ramachandra Khan to commit this evil deed. Please forgive me, and teach me as a Guru would teach his student.”

Haridas Thakur agreed. He asked her to donate all of her possessions to a Brahmana, serve a Tulsi plant, and chant the name of Krishna whenever possible.

Then, he gave her a rosary and a seat and asked her to chant the name of Bhagavān every day. She agreed to her Guru’s command and became a women ascetic thereafter, devoting herself wholly to the worship of Krishna.

Over time, she became a renowned Vaishnava herself, and people came from far and wide to have her darshana. Thanks to the proximity and guidance of a saintly person like Haridas Thakur, she became a very noble and saintly woman herself after some time.