Abhirami Bhattar’s meditation on Ambal was continuous. It is difficult for us to focus on something. Even if we turn our thoughts towards God, it is with a view to reaping some immediate benefits. If we do not see any results at once, we give up meditating on God altogether. But Abhirami Bhattar never gave up his meditation, said M.A. Manickavelu in a discourse. Bhattar knew that constant worship would liberate him from the cycle of births and deaths. That focus, and the belief that meditation will help are necessary for meditation to bring us rewards.

There is a story about a man who began to dig a well in his land. He dug 10 feet and when there was no trace of water, he began to dig in another place. Here too he found no water at a depth of 10 feet. He then moved on to yet another place, and so on, until he had dug six wells each of 10 feet depth. His efforts went to waste, because there was no water in any of the wells. But another man dug in one place, and was not bothered when he found no water at 10 feet or even 50 feet. He went on digging, until he found water at a depth of 60 feet. The first man had also dug up to 60 feet, although not in one place. The cost to both was the same, but while the persevering man had a well full of water, the impatient man had nothing to show for his expense. Intermittent meditation will be like the efforts of the impatient man. Bhattar says para samayam virumben, meaning that he does not want any other religion, but the one in which Ambal is worshipped. He says anbar koottam thannai villen, meaning he will not part from the devotees of Abhirami. She is the antaryami present inside everyone in this world and beyond. She is sweet like honey and like nectar. The joy that you get when you worship Her is intoxicating.