The Nava Vidha Bhakti or the nine paths of bhakti speaks of smaran. Smaran is the continuous remembrance of God at all times of day and night. It is compared to the flow of oil from one container into another. When we pour oil, the flow of oil is smooth and uninterrupted. Smaran or remembrance of God should be done in the same way. Where there is non-stop or uninterrupted remembrance of God, we can attain the blessings and grace of Divinity in a very short time. We may feel that such a feat is not possible for us but all depends on how and why we approach God and how focused we are in achieving our goals. Like Prahlad, Dhruva is famed for his smaran of God and achieving the grace of God in a short period of time. This is the story of Dhruva:
Once there was a king called Uttanapada. He had two wives – Suniti and Suruchi. Suniti had a son called Dhruva and Suruchi’s son was Uttama. The king was very fond of his second wife and son and neglected his first wife and child. Dhruva loved his father very much and wanted his time and attention. Once when he entered his step-mother’s home, he found the king seated there with the other child on his lap. Dhruva ran to his father to sit on his lap. His step-mother Suruchi stopped him on the way and said: You are an unfortunate son as you were born to your mother. If you wish to sit on your father’s lap you need good fortune. Go and pray to God that you are born to me as son in your next birth so that you can sit on your father’s lap. Dhruva noticed that his father was indifferent to what had happened. He was stung and pained by his step-mother’s words.
Dhruva went weeping to his mother Suniti. His mother tried to console him but it was of no use. Dhruva asked her if there was someone in this world who could take away his pain and give him what he wanted. His mother replied that Lord Narayan was very kind and when anyone pleased Him by constantly remembering Him with love, the Lord granted darshan and blessings.
Dhruva went to the forest dressed in bark(the outer covering of tree) clothing. On the way he met Sage Narad. When the sage enquired, Dhruva told him about what happened at home. Sage Narad saw the determination and resolve in the face of the young boy and in his compassion, gave him the holy mantra: Om Namo Narayana. He also directed Dhruva to the forest called Madhuvana, on the banks of the holy river Yamuna. Dhruva took bath in the river and sat under a tree with his mind focussed on Lord Narayan and the mantra ‘Om Namo Narayana’. His mind was empty and devoid of all thoughts. He did not even think once about his father or step mother or step brother or even his own mother or the insult to him. In the meantime, Sage Narad went to the kingdom of King Uttanapada. He was met by the remorseful king who was now saddened by the grief of his son Dhruva which drove the child away from his home to the forest. Sage Narad informed the King of Dhruva’s decision and proclaimed that Dhruva would be successful in appeasing the Lord and he would be so successful that he would be remembered for all eternity.
In Madhuvana, Dhruva carried on severe austerities. He gave up food and immersed himself in japa throughout the day. In the first month he ate one or two fruits, once in three days. In the second month he ate only a few leaves once in six days. In the third month he drank a little water once in nine days. In the fourth month he opened his mouth once in twelve days and swallowed only a little air. In the fifth month he stopped even that and stood on one foot like an immovable post and continued japa with all his mind set on Lord Narayana. The intensity of his tapas created immense heat which even the heavens could not withstand. Lord Narayan, moved by the bhakti and austerities of Dhruva appeared in front of him and blessed him that his father and others would love him, he would be a great king and after his death he would become the Dhruva star (Pole Star) which would guide and show the way to others. After his death, Dhruva became a star and even there he is very firm and never changes position in the skies. Dhruva is a benchmark to us in smaran and firmness of resolution in attaining Grace of God.
