Garuda

[Guest guest]

My thanks to Murali for explaining Desika's Garuda poems

to us. However, I ask a very fundamental question, one that

I am surprised has not already come up.

 

I do not quite understand why we as Sri Vaishnavas would

resort to worshipping Garuda (or even the Lord for that

matter) for the sake of obtaining something. These are

kaamyaartha, are they not, lower desires nowhere near

the pursuit of jnaana, bhakti, and consequently moksha?

 

For example, it is often stated that recitation of the

Sudarshana Mantra can be used as means to ward off disease,

that the Garuda Mantra wards off poisons and snakes, etc.

Appeals to the fantastic mythology of Garuda and the

popular tales concerning his obtaining of amRita are often

told in this context. Aside from the fact that this

tale has nothing to do with Bhagavan Garuda's wisdom or

devotion, these ``recite the mantra and get results''

stories smack of a very unenlightened and selfish form

of religion, one that is not respected very much by

Krishna himself (recall the classification of adhikaaris

in the Gita).

 

Please note that my comments are not directed towards

anyone in this group, in any manner.

 

It seems to me that someone who has surrendered his

very self to the Divine Lord should already be free

from these worldly concerns, or at least try to be so.

Is this not why a prapanna is described by Desika as

a kRta-kRtya (one who has done what ought to be done,

and is therefore supremely satisfied in his Self)?

 

I must admit that Desika's vivid and fancy description

of the Puranic tales of Garuda also do not hold my

attention very much. This is admittedly a criticism

of me rather than Swami Desikan, but I fail to see how

contemplation of the Puranic stories of Garuda (which

are obvious mythologies from any perspective, given

that Garuda is a nitya-sUri in our sampradAya) helps

one in the path to God-consciousness.

 

Please give me your reaction to my comments.

 

Mani

[Guest guest]

Sri Murali writes:

> Since my posts seem to be objectionable to Sri Mani, this is my

> last post on the subject.

 

I am quite tired of people taking remarks completely

out of context. I have never once suggested that the

posts themselves are objectionable. In fact I thanked

Murali at the beginning of my post precisely to avoid

this kind of sentiment.

 

I never stated that a Sri Vaishnava acharya taught that mantras

should be uttered for results. I was merely restating

what people in the general Sri Vaishnava population

say. I have no idea whether an acharya has taught

this way or not.

 

I merely brought up some honest questions I had concerning

the fruits and purpose of mantra japam. I am astonished

at how easily people get unnecessarily offended at some

mild and sincere questioning.

 

Sri Murali: I intended you no insult or offense. If you

do not wish to post any further, I am not going to beg you

to do so. But please do not take my words out of context

again as if it were a personal attack.

 

Pardon me if my words are strong, but I have lost patience.

 

Mani