Sri VaikunTa EkAdasi day & the 5th day of Dhanur MAsam : Part 1

[Guest guest]

Dear Members of the Prapatthi Group :

 

On this sacred day of VaikunTa EkAdasi also known as

MukkoTi EkAdasi, Bheeshama EkAdasi , KrishNa BhagavAn

is said to have performed GithOpadesam to his student ArjunA

on the battle field of Kurukshethram . Hence this day is also known as

GeethA Jayanthi day .

 

On this holiest of holy days in SrivaishNavA

calendar , Sri Ranganathan comes out of His AasthAnam and

enters the VaikunTa vaasal followed by throngs of devotees.

During the Adhyayana uthsavam coming to a splenderous

conclusion on VaikunTa EkAdasi day , NammAzhwAr performs his

SaraNAgathi . Thirumangai initiated the Adhyayana Uthsavam and it has

been carried out ever since by all of our Acharyas and the Uttama Nambhis

serving the Lord at His Bhoga MaNtapam known as Bhuloka VaikunTam .

The Various Gathis ( Nadais ) demonstrated by the SrI Paadham ThAngees

of Lord Ranganatha such as Simha Gathi , Vyagra Gathi , Sarpa Gathi

and Rishabha Gathi have deep esoteric and Yogic significance . The travel

of Kundalini sakthi through Sushumna Naadi to SahasrAram and

the darsanam of the Lord there in the form of a resplendent Jyothi

is referred to by Swami Desikan in the first slokam of

Sri Bhagavath Dhyana SopAnam:

 

ANTHARJYOTHI: KIMAPI YAMINAAM

ANJANAM YOGA DHRUSHTe :

CHINTAA RATNAM SULABHAMIHA NA:

SIDDHI MOKSHAANURUPAM I

DHEENAA NAATHA VYSANA SAMANAM DAIVATHAM

DIAVATHAANAAM

DIVYAM CHAKSHU: SRUTHIPARISHATHAAM

DRUSYATEH RANGAMADYEH II

 

Swami Desikan emulates the beautiful experience of

ThiruppANAzhwar described by latter in the ten verses of

AmalanAdhipirAn in his Sthothram . The first describes

the oLi pizhambhu ( Jyothi) , which is residing in the Yogi's

sahsrAram , which is the same as the one resting on

Adhiseshan a the middle of the two cauveris in the island of

Srirangam . Natha Muni practised the very same Yogam

and revealed it to his sishyAs through his AruLiccheyal

known as Yoga Rahasyam , which is no longer available to us.

 

Pointedly , Swami Desikan chooses the phrases YaminAm for Yogis ,

Antha: Jyothi : ( Internal effulgence at the thousand petalled lotus

in one's head ) , Yoga Dhrushteh: ( the JnanakkaNN) and goes onto

describe the blessings given by that resplendent Jyothi experienced

through One or other YogAs taught by GeethAchaaryan to ArjunA .

 

Swami states that this Jyothi is known as " Siddhi MokshAnurupam ChintA

ratnam ( The chinthAmani/divine , wish yielding gem stone , which

gives the Moksham as well as Bhogam in this universe ) . That Jyothi

also has the power to be " Dheena Anaatha Vyasana Samanam ".

It banishes the sorrows of the powerless , who are unable to practise

the tough YogAs and those , who have no one to protect them ( AnAthais ) .

Swami Desikan concludes this powerful first slokam by revealing that

this Jyothi is Daivatham DaivathAnAm or the supreme Lord of all Gods

and is resting in the middle of Srirangam practising Yoga NidrA .

 

Like ThiruppANAzhwAr , AndAL merged with this illustrious Jyothi

at Srirangam . She climbed Sri RanganathA's serpent bed and

merged with Him as His chosen bride . Until then , Sri Ranganatha

according to a slokam of GodhA sthuthi of Swami Desikan was

anxiously looking in the southern direction (towards Srivilliputthur )

for AndAL to complete her Prabhandhams and journey to His side .

( NidhraaLunApi niyatham nihithA : KatakshA : ) . Even as he was

sleeping in Yoga Nidra , RanganathA was often opening His eyes

anxiously to see whether AndAL was ready to travel to His asthAnam

and become His bride.

 

Such is the glory of this day and that of Sri Godha Piratti and Her

consort Sri RanganaathA .

 

GodhA priya Sri Ranganatha ParabrahmaNE nama:

 

Sri ViashNava Daasan ,

Oppiliappan Koil VaradaachaAri Sadagopan