Use of sense organs

Superficially, it would seem that our sense organs have

been given to us so that we may enjoy the various

pleasures that worldly life affords us. But that is not

how a devotee of God will see it, said Malayaman, in a
discourse.

There was a poet who sang the praises of Lord Vishnu, and he pointed out the purpose of each sense organ. He addressed each of them and urged them to focus on Lord Vishnu. He asked the ears to hear the praises of Kesava being sung. He asked the head to bow before the Lord of Srirangam. He said the eyes were to feast on the beauty of Lord Krishna. The mouth was to praise Lord Vishnu.

In the case of this poet, because he was a devotee of Lord Vishnu, he talked about one’s sense organs being used in the worship of Lord Vishnu. A devotee of Lord Siva would, likewise, think only of using his sense organs to worship his favourite deity. In fact, Saivite saint Thirunavukkarasar expressed a similar sentiment, and instructed his sense organs to worship Lord Siva.

In the case of most people, their sense organs are used for trivial pursuits. We use our ears, not to listen to His name being chanted or to listen to religious discourses, but to listen to harmful gossip. We use our mouths to engage in meaningless conversations or to slander someone.

We bow our heads before people in power, although their power is temporary. So in the use of our sense organs, we are foolish, cruel or thoughtless. Great men have shown us how to spend our time and how to put our sense organs to proper use.