Devotion......thru Love or fear ?

I have always believed that God should be worshiped thru Love .... not fear. 

God is not some frightening cruel being, ready and waiting to revenge or punish for every mistake we make.

The ultimate reward of devotion is "Moksha" which means liberation... free from the fear of sufferings and death.

The old Hindu scriptures is full of many such stories where God, when pleased with the devotion of the sages & Bhaktas, gave them the boon of "Abhaya Daan" and "Abheeh" (to be free from fear). 

Similarly, Gurubani also says:

"Bhaya kaahoo ko dait nahin, nahi bhaya maanat Aan

  Kahu Nanak sun re manaa,  Giani Tahi bakhaan"

                                                 (9th Guru Teg Bahadur ji)

भय काहू को  देत नहीं, नहि भय मानत आन

कहु नानक सुन रे मना ज्ञानी ताहि बखान         (म: 9 )

"One who does not frighten anyone, nor is afraid of anyone (or anything)

Listen  O' mind, says Nanak, consider them spiritually wise."

There is no need to be afraid of God. Devotion out of fear or greed is not a real devotion.

But every time I say this, some people start quoting another popular verse from the Gurubani:

"Bhaya binu Bhakti na hovayi, Naam na lagay Pyaar"

"भय बिनु भक्ति न होवई,  नाम न लगै प्यार "

(without the fear of God, one can neither have devotion, nor the love for His name.)

Both these verses are from Gurubani and sound contradictory.

But then again, they may not be.

Perhaps the Gurus give different upadesh to different people, according to their need and understanding. 

As Shehanshaah ji used to say "I want people to listen to me, to understand me. So I am willing to tell them in their own way.... whichever way they want to understand it."

It's like some people, by nature, like to drive within the speed limit, while others may stay within the limit only if they see a cop nearby........ for the fear of getting a ticket.

I guess, the devotion thru "love for God or fear of God" could also be an individual choice.

                                    ‘Rajan Sachdeva’