Varadaraja PancASat and other things

[Guest guest]

Hi,

 

One more verse from Desika's VaradarAja PancASat will follow, but

I want to note my reaction to Krishna's discussion with Paramananda

Bharati regarding ultimate Unity and the relationship of Advaita to bhakti.

 

Nammalvar himself writes of the unitive nature of bhagavad-aanandam

in the pAsuram "kaDal ~nAlam ceydEnum yAnE; kaDal ~nAlam Avenum yAnE..."

The key point to note here is that this unity is *experiential*.

Essential unity does not appear to be an ontological verity to

Nammalvar; instead, his aikyam is a union of resolves and bliss.

Perhaps this can be termed "aananda-aikyam" or "svabhAva-aikyam"?

 

The question very well may arise (and I often have to remind myself

of the answer) -- why is Ramanuja (and consequently Srivaishnavism)

so insistent on maintaining some bit of difference? I suppose the

answer is that it is precisely this difference that lends any true

meaning to the process of bhakti; it is difference that makes Nammalvar

realize the wonderful feeling that PerumAL has graced him by "mingling"

with him to such an extent that he himself has become infinitely

glorified. I believe there is a pAsuram (perhaps 8.8.x?) which

describes how Nammalvar was distraught about how such an insignificant

and apparently unworthy one as himself could be the recipient of the

gift of union with the Lord. He finally rejoices, because the Lord

shows Nammalvar that he indeed possesses his own individual beauty

and glory, so much so that the Lord is attracted to him! All this

becomes meaningless if my substantive individuality in the end is

an utter falsehood.

 

Regarding the Para-brahman's being beyond any description, as Advaitins

so often like to repeat, I need only cite Sri Yamunacharya:

 

namo namo vang-manasAti bhUmaye

namo namo vang-manasaika bhUmaye

 

Salutations to You, who is beyond all words and thought!

Salutations to You, who is the only object of all words and thought!

 

I just realized how late it is, so I will followup tomorrow with

another sloka from the VaradarAja PancASat.

 

Yours,

Mani