No matter what …

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A man once asked Parasara Bhattar how he managed without a steady source of income. Bhattar told the man to go into the temple and have a proper darshan of the lord. When the man returned, Bhattar asked him if he had noticed the Lord’s hand.

The man replied that the Lord’s hand indicated that He was the protector. Bhattar said that since the Lord was the protector, He would take care of Bhattar’s needs.

Bhattar went one step further and said that even if the Lord’s hand was turned away, he (Bhattar) would continue to adore Him. Such is the unquestioning, undemanding love that devotees have for the Lord. No matter what, their love for Him remains intact, said Akkarakkani Srinidhi in a discourse.

In the Ramayana, Anusuya, wife of Sage Atri, says that Sita is blessed to have a virtuous person like Rama as Her husband. And Sita, of course, takes care of Rama lovingly.

But Sita says that Rama being good has kept people from understanding Her properly.

The world assumes that since Rama is good, Sita serves Him. But Sita says that Her love for Rama goes beyond this. Even if Rama had not been the embodiment of virtues as He is, She would still have been the same towards Him.

Kulasekhara Azhvar says that his relationship with the Lord is like that of a patient and his doctor. A doctor may perform an operation, which causes discomfort to the patient. But the patient does not keep away from the doctor. No matter what, he continues to go to the doctor. And so does the devotee, in the case of the Lord.

His life may be difficult, but he continues to place his trust in the Lord.