Mani/mantra/& the garuda-legend-3

[Guest guest]

srimathE lakshmi-nrsumha parabrahmaNE namaha

sri vedanta desika guravE namaha

 

Dear "bhAgavatOttamA-s",

 

Let's discuss Dr.Bruno Bettelheim's thesis on fairy-tales and the "uses of

their enchantment".

 

But first we should examine what Sri.U.Ve.Mukkur Swami II has to offer on

the subject of what I term as "the reflexivity principle" operating in

"mantrA-s".

 

It might -- I repeat, it might --- throw some light on the queries raised by

Sri.Mani Varadarajan on the "garuda mantrA".

 

Mukkur Swamy II usually begins explaining this topic with a very humorous

anecdote which I reproduce below to the best of my ability :

 

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Many centuries ago in a village there lived a brahmin boy hailing from an

extremely poor family.

 

Since the parents couldn't afford a proper education for him the boy was

encouraged to "school" himself. The parents wished to be left alone to eke

out a bare livelihood.

 

The boy therefore spent his life loitering around the village streets

merrily doing whatever he willed.

 

One afternoon the boy happened to pass by a house where the village

"ghanapATi" (vedic pandit) was teaching to a group of his students.

 

The sheer sound of "vedAbhyAsam" so attracted the boy that he immediately

desired and decided to learn the Veda himself.

 

He went upto the guru and appealed to him to enrol him with the other students.

 

The Master, however, first wanted to test the boy for any innate bent for

vedic study. Hence, he began the "entrance-test" by chanting a particularly

difficult "rk" from the Rg-veda. He asked the boy to repeat the same "rk"

after him.

 

The boy listened just once to the "rk" and was simply demoralised. He

couldn't pronounce a single syllable from the "rk" in spite of the master

enunciating it clearly several times !!

 

Completely disappointed with himself, the boy took leave of the master

admitting he was unfit for vedic study.

 

"And so do I, my boy," said the Master, "Neither do I think you are cut out

for it."

 

Many months passed and the boy continued to pass by the same house of the

Master. Everytime he did so and the euphonic vedic sounds filled his ears,

he felt a strange thrilling sensation run through his body. He again became

fascinated with the idea of being able to learn the veda-s himself.

 

After a few more months of this strong desire gnawing away his heart, the

boy could stand it no more.

 

One day he again went up to the Master and said,"Master, I would like to try

my hand again at the veda-s, if you please."

 

The Master, this time, again set an "aptitude-test" by chanting a heavy

"ghanam" from the "Krishna Yajur veda".

 

This time around the boy tried repeating the "ghanam" after the Master and

...... alas ! flunked very badly.

 

Again the boy left .... sorely disappointed.

 

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We will continue in the next post.

 

srimathE srivan satagopa sri narayana yathindra mahadesikaya namaha

sudarshan