Questions from Srimathi Satyan & Sri B. Jagannathan

[Guest guest]

Dear Members of the Prapatthi group :

 

Both Srimathi Satyan and Sri Jagannathan

had questions on the three kinds of debts and their

realtionship to Prapatthi. I will do my best to answer

them in the context of opening up discussions from

fellow members . These questions are timely in the

coming season of "MaaLaya Paksham ".

 

First of all , the three debts to be liquidated are to Rishis

(Mantra Drashtaas of Veda Mantraas) , Devas and Pithrus.

 

Through Veda Adhyayanam , the first debt is discharged.

Brahmacharyam and learning of Vedas under the proper

teacher is the recommended route.

 

The performance of one or more 40 Yagas and Yajnas as a married person

takes care of the debt to the Devas . Many of them are Agni

Kaaryams . I have written extensively about them in a special

issue of Tattvaloka entitiled Hindu Samskaaraas .

 

The third debt is to Pithrus or our ancestors residing in Pithru Lokam .

The works on Ahnikam(duties from dawn to night) compiled by

our Acharyas and Purvacharyas in the context of Sutras left to

us by Bodhayana , Apasthampaa and other Ahnika Khaandams

are the source literature for us . These in detail are:

 

1. Srivaishnava Sadhaachaara Nirnayam by the 26th Jeeyar

of Ahobila Mutt and recent edition by Ahobila Mutt

Aasthaana Vidwan Villivalam Sri Krishnamacharya(1989).

2. Smruthi RatnAkaram

3. Prapanna Dharma Saara Samucchayam

by Sri Vaikunta Dikshithar

4. Saccharitra Sudha Nidhi by Naithruva

Veeraragahvacchaar

5. Ahnika Khaandam by Sri Vaidhynathar

known as Sri Vaidhyanaatheeyam .

6. Aapasthmbeeya Sroudha Sutras

7. Mumukshu TarpaNam

8.Sesha Samhita

9. NaaradhEya Samhita

10. Sri Vaishnava Sadhaachara Dhrumam

11. Srimadh Gopaladesikan Ahnikam and its

commentary known as AhnikArtha PrakAsikai

 

All of these granthaas and their premise is based

on the convictions that (1) Dharmo Viswasya Jagadah:

Prathishtaa (2) Dharmo Rakshathi Rakshita : (3) Dharmasya

Anushtaanam cha Tattvarupa Jnanam vina Durlabham

(4) VedaakilO Dharma Mulam . These tenets state that

the world is rooted in Dharma , It protets those who protect it,

Dahrma Anushtaanam goes hand in hand with Tattvarupa

knowledge and Vedas are the root of Dharma.

 

With these in mind , our Acharyas stated that Anushtaanam

and Acharam are the two wings of one who seeks higher

knowledge through the practise of Dharma . Ramachandra was

described in this context as RamO VigrahavAn Dharam: (Rama

is the embodiment of Dharma ).

 

Dharmam falls into two categories : Saamanya Dharmam

and Visesha Dharmam. The first class deals with speaking

truth, non-stealing, Nonviolence etc that is common to all.

The second category varies according to one's Varnaasrama.

A Sanyasi has thus differnet dharma compared to a Grahastha.

A king has a different set of Dharma (eg) Rajya Paripaalanam

compared to a Brahmana , who has to learn Vedas with the six

angas . The Visesha Dharmas further subdivide into Nityam,

Naimmitthikam and Kaamyam. The works of Sri Ramanuja

( Nitya Grantham ), Swami Desikan ( Saccharitra Rakshaa

and Sri Paancha Raatra Raksjhaa) , the works of the Various

Jeeyars of Ahobila Mutt fall in these categories. SPECIAL

SECTIONS ON STHRI DHARMAM HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN

THE AHNIKA TEXTS BY ALL ACHARYAS AND PURVAACHAARYAS .

 

Among the debt to Rishis , if one can not learn Vedas as in the

old times , atleast Purusha Suktham should be learned and recited.

Among the Yagas and Yajnas , the minimum is recommended

according to one's Sakthi and other limitations.

 

Regarding Pitru Runam (Debt to Pithrus) , Sraardham, TarpaNam are

recommended . Sri Ramachandra's offering of water and

cooked food for his father after hearing of his father's demise from

his brother Bharata at Chitrakootam is described in the Ayodhya

Khandam ( Sargams 102 and 103). Bharata reminds Sri Rama

this way : " For , the knowers of truth declare that water offered by

a beloved son surely becomes inexhaustible in the relam of manes

(Pitrus) and you are undoubtedly the beloved of our (deceased)

father ". Thereafter , Sri Rama repairs to the banks of Ganges and offers

water and balls of cooked food to the spirit of his departed father.

 

During the MaLaya ( Maha Aalaya) Paksham occuring during

Purattasi Krishna Paksham . Pitrus are said to descend on

earth to receive the food (Pindam ) and Tilothakam ( Water and

Sesame seed mixture ) . They arrive with great expectations and

wait until the next month (Iyppasi ) , if their living descendants do not

perform

the TarpaNams in Purattasi. They spend two months , if necessary,

and return to their places in Pithru Lokam afterwards. Since these Mahaans

make the earth holy by their residence during these two months ,

this lokam is known as Maha Aalayam (Sacred temple ) .

Even Sanyasis have to perform

MaLaya Sraardham. The VaraNams, Karunika Pithru TarpaNam

have been dealt with in detail in Ahnika Granthams.

 

These are the types of Debts to Pithrus to be liquidated.

 

Prapannas & The three debts :

*********************************

 

This is a complicated and vast area, where there may be different

points of view.Srimad Rahasya Traya Sara(RTS) Experts in this

group like Anbil Swami , Sri Krishna Prasad and others may wish

to add their points of view.

 

The eigtheenth sloka of Nyasa Dasakam is the basis of my

comments . That is elaborated further in the work of Swami

Desikan known as Rahasya Virodha Parihaaram , the last work

of Swami Desikan to clarify some doubts that we may have on

the concepts covered in his RTS .

 

The 18 th slokam says: 'The utterance of the word SaraNam in the

prescribed manner (Prapatthi ) is capable of securing all desired ends,

Sarva Phala Saadhanam ( all Purusharthams including Dharma ).

This is because Prapatthi is Sarva Phala Pradhanam

and is capable of giving the fruits of Yagas and

Yajnas including Pitru Yajnas.This applies to ALL

independent of sex , creed et al.

 

The capacity of Prapatthi to secure all kinds of desired ends

is dealt with at length in RTS. It is appropriate however to state

that the Prapanna in the Post-Prapatthi period has some dharmas

prescribed by the Vedas to follow that are discussed in detail in

the different sections of RTS and particularly in the 17th chapter

known as Saastriya Niyamanaadhikaaram.

 

V. Sadagopan