Badri swamy, namaskaram. Let me share my understanding, please.
Whatever steps one takes towards spiritual life does not go waste. Suppose if one takes to a spiritual process but doesn’t reach the fully matured level in this life, in the next life (s)he starts from that point where (s)he left in the previous life. The life situations will be arranged accordingly. This applies to whatever process of yoga (karma, jnana or bhakthi) one is pursuing. As Perumal states in Bhagavad Gita 6.41 and 42, if one almost reaches there but falls just a little short, in the next life they are placed in a pious family.
With this understanding, it is definitely a ‘more blessed’ opportunity to be an archahar in the garba-grha – because all of one’s activities are directly related to Him; there is greater opportunity to hear sat vishayam, associate with sat-sanga, and thus perfect one’s life. In contrast, if one is placed in a non-devotional situation, the distractions are gallore! It takes a lot more effort to keep one’s mind fixed upon the goal of life – service to the Lord throughout the day.
But there is a caveat. Kaliyuga is a very dangerous place; even when one is born in a favourable situation (like archahar family), there is a great danger of getting distracted by desires for material things and get ourselves further entangled in this mire. In contrast, kaliyuga has the great benediction that by the glance of an acharya, even someone born in the worst-est situation can make significant spiritual progress.
In light of this, we don’t have to worry about the situation we are placed in this life; whatever situation we are in, in this condition let us be grateful for our acharyan’s anugraham and be very careful not to get distracted. Strongly hold on to acharyan’s lotus feet, avoid any form of vaishnava aparadh, and plead Him to take us back soon.
adiyen dasan.
