Datta Maata 159: Devotion is nothing but possessing deep and wholehearted love for God

Devotion means to serve God. Pooja (worship), japa (repetitive chanting), rituals, stotra (hymns) divya nāma sankeerthana (singing the divine glories) are different types of services to the God. For anything, complete faith is mandatory.
"Sāparānurakthireshware" is a Narada sūtra (principle). Devotion is nothing but possessing deep and wholehearted love for God. Such devotees do not face any problem. They have no fear at all. This is known as complete devotion.

Though Prahlada was a very small boy, he served God with total devotion. God appeared in the fierce form of Narasimha Swamy and slayed Hiranyakashipu. Prahlada was not scared to see this sight. Instead, he offered salutations with folded hands, out of devotion and prayed to Lord. Another devotee Dhruva, after seeing the Vishwaroopa of Vishnu was not at all scared. Marakandeya was a great devotee of Shiva. When Yamadharma Raja came to take him away, he hugged Shiva with both of his hands and prayed by chanting 'Om namah Shivaya' with total devotion. When the noose of Yama touched Markandeya, immediately Shiva became furious and punished Yama. Marakandeya who saw this directly was not scared. He saw Shiva's anger, Yama and his noose but he did not fear at all. This is because the devotion was a complete one. It was totally pure. If one is panicked seeing God, then it means that something is wrong with such devotion. Similarly, if one is panicked when some problem strikes, then it indicates that the devotion is imperfect. Let us also discuss another example.

Once, a big ship was travelling in a boat which consisted of many passengers. In that, the captain of the boat was present along with his wife. After travelling for a while, suddenly the climate turned into a cyclone. The ocean became terrible. The waves were shaking the ship. The passengers in the ship were greatly panicked for life. Nobody even thought of remembering God. The captain's wife was also disturbed. However, the captain remained unperturbed. When everyone was scared, he was the only one to remain calm. His wife was surprised with this and she asked, " Are you not worried by looking at the climate? You behave as though you are not bothered at all." Listening to her words, the captain took a knife and kept it on his wife's throat. She was not scared. But, she looked at his husband in surprise. Then, the captain asked, "How is it that you are not scared when there is a knife on your throat? How are you calm?" She said, "I am not scared of this knife. I know that you will not kill me because you have lot of love on me." The captain also answered the same, "I have completely believed God. Even if this ship immerses in the water, I am not bothered because one who has faith in God will not have any problem. Pray to God as Anyatha saranam nasthi (I surrender to no one else except you)" Thus the captain spoke bravely. The ship reached the other bank slowly. In this manner, if one has total devotion on God, one can overcome any problem. May you all acquire such kind of total faith. I pray to Datta. We lose half life because of fear. When we are in the safe hands of God, what will he do to us? He is the one who protects and not the one who punishes. That is why the captain said that nothing will happen to him because he is devoted to God.

Jai Guru Datta! Sri Guru Datta!