14. The Worship

'Up' means near and 'Asana' means to sit. To be in complete vicinity with the Supreme Lord. The superiormost meaning is - A complete direct experience of eternal bliss and peace, of the undefinable supreme esctasy regarding the divine form of Parmatma by achieving oneness and by merging oneself in Him.

'Upasana' - the worship does not become complete or matured unless and until the mind does not get stable in the meditaion and knowledge of Parmatma. During meditation, if the mind wanders around the worldly objects, then the worshipper should believe that there is something missing in Upasana - the worship; because Upasana does not get accomplished in real sense, if the inclination is not towards God.

The attachment towards various worldly pleasures does not allow to create the love and absolute devotion towards God. If the affection solely towards God is not produced, on achieving utmost asceti­cism from all other objects; how can pure Upasana be performed? All that persists is an illusion, it is only in speech and not in action.

If lethargy and negligence prevails during the worship for achiev­ing God, if slackness prevails in dutifulness and obedience, if the mind is more attracted towards the worldly pleasures; then it should be believed that one's worship is only in words. It does not hold firmness or maturity. Hence, vigorous ef­forts are required.

Even if during unfavourable circumstances, one gets inclined towards deities, spiritual formulae, spir­itual techniques, knowledge etc. other than the Supreme God; pure Upasana can not be achieved as it is just like having refuge elsewhere. So, one should try to achieve Upasana by understanding it from an enlightened saint.

The pure Upasana of the form of the Almighty, who is the cause of all causes, who is the incarnate of all incarnations, who is the Supreme Being Purna Purshottam, is utmost essential for ultimate liberation. Such worship is achieved only by asso­ciating with and by offering service with devotion and dedication to a saint who has attained realization of Parmatma.

Lord Swaminarayan, in His Shrimukhwani 'Vachanamrit' (Nectar of Words), has considered the worship (Upasana) and meditation (Dhyan) of the divine form of God of utmost necessi­ty to experience manifestation of the Supreme Lord. It can be concluded from this, that pure Upasana is of utmost importance for a worshipper.