Raghuveera Gadhyam: Yuddha Khaandham--Part 3

[Guest guest]

Dear Rama Bhakthaas :

 

After revealing his Sarveswarathvam through

the decalaration of his position that he can not

refuse anyone , who sought his refuge, Rama

commands Sugreeva to bring VibhishaNaa before him.

The words of Ramaa to Sugreevaa before commanding him

are great ones to reflect upon. Swami Desikan was so moved

by them that he saluted Raghuveeran three times for his courage and

firmness in his sworn duty to protect SaraNaagathas without

fail. He saluted Rama as " Sakruth Prapanna jana SamrakshaNa

Deekshitha ! Jaya Jaya (GS 49 ) , Veera ! Jaya , Jaya ! ( GS 50 ) ,

and Sathya Vratha ! Jaya ! Jaya ! (GS 51).

 

These great words of Rama spoken for the benefit of Sugreevaa

that elated Swami Desikan deserve serious study by all of us :

 

" Be he malevolent or otherwise, this VibhishaNaa is incapable

of doing even the subtles tof mischief to me in any manner. I can ,

if I wish , destroy with my finger tip all the ogres , dhanavaasnad

Yakshaas on earth .... In the name of humanity, one should not

strike even an enemy arrived at one's door and seeks piteously

protection with joined palms... An enemy seeking protection

against his enemies , be he distressed or (even ) proud , should

be protected (even) at the cost of one's life by one , who has controlled

his mind. .. If rom fear or folly, or even from desire (of some gain ) ,

a man does not protect a refugee according to his capacity, the sin

incurred by him is despised in the world. .. (nay ) if a refugee

(who sought protection ) persihes before the eyes of the man ,

who is capable to protect him , the former (refugee) takes away

all his (the would-be protector's ) merrit (puNyam) ... Such a failure

shuts out heaven, brings infamy and puts an end to one's strength

and virility.... I therefore vouchsafe security all living beings to him

who comes to me only once and seeks protection from me, declaring

" I am Yours, Please protect me" . That is my vow. "

 

The key passage in Raamaa's discussion with SugreevA is as follows :

 

" SakruthEva prapannaaya tavaasmeethi cha YachatE I

abhayam sarvabhoothEbhyO dadhaamyEthadh vratham mama"

 

These words of SaraNaagatha Rakshaka , Sri Ramaa spoken

at the sea side to Sugreevaa and VibhishaNaa and HanumAn and

the other monkey counsellors should serve as a beacon for us in our

deha Yaatraa on this earth .

 

Swami Desikan was rightfully moved therefore by these uplifting

declaration of Sri Ramaa and saluted him as Veera , Satya Vratha

and Sakruth Prapanna SamrakshaNa Deekshitha !

 

Ramaa has such prowess that he will not let any Prapanna

have fear after performing SaraNaagathi to him. There is no one

who matches the Lord in that display of power and quickness

to rush to the rescue of the Prapanna in distress. That unique

vow to protect the prapannaas moved Swami Desikan to

salute Ramaa as Veeraa . Actually, Swami chose the name of

Mahaa Veera Vaibhavam for this Gadhyam with this fact in mind.

 

Swami also saluted Ramaa as "Sathya Vratha " in this series of

salutations. For many years, Swami lived at Thiruvahindrapuram .

The name of the archaa murthy there is Achyuthan , Natha Satyan .

Achyuthan refers to the Lord's vow not to abandon anyone , who has

sought his refuge. Achyutha is the 101st Sahasra Naamam of

VishNu. Paraasara Bhattar comments on this name Achyuthaa

this way : " tEbhya: PrapannEbhya: na apagatha: Achyutha: ".

( He is never away from those , who sought refuge in him ".

That is his Deekshaa (Sworn vow ) as Satya Vrathaa. The sruthis

declare his Svarupam as Brahman this way : " Satyam Jnaanam

anantham Brahmaa" . In Dasaavathara sthotram , Swami follows this

line of thought and describes Ramaa as the embodiment of Dharmam

(DharmO VigrahavAn ) and goes on to focus on His central

kalyANa guNam as " Sarvaavastha sakruth Prapanna Jana

SamrakshaNaika vrathee ". These are the thoughts that echo in his

49th Gadhya salutation : " Sakruth prapanna jana SamrakshaNa

Deekshitha ! Jaya ! Jaya ! " He just does not provide RakshaNam,

but he offers SamrakshaNam . He protects the Prapannas very well

indeed ! He placed VibhishaNaa not only on the throne of Lankhaa ,

but he gave him also Sri Ranganatha , the Ishvaaku Kula Daivam

to worship.Even today during every Amaavaasyaa day , he offers his

darsanam and shows his beautiful /majestic gait to VibhishaNaa

at the Divya Desam (Ashtaakshari Ksethram ) revered as ThirukkaNNapuram .

 

Such is his Dayaa for the PrapannAs and His Deekshaa to

protect them .

 

Raama Raama Dayaa sindhO RavaNaarE JagathpatE I

Tvath paada kamalaasakthi : BahvE janmani janmani II

 

Sri VaishNava Daasan ,

 

Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan