MaanasAaradhana SlOkams (2)

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Dear Sriman NaarAyaNa BhakthAs :

 

MaanasAraadhanam (M.A )is done prior to

BhahyAradhanam ( B.A ) .

 

M.A is considered even superior to B. A by

our achAryAs . We can offer the Lord all

victuals , rare treats with our mind alone .

It is the unison of thoughts and unwavering

foucus on Him that is needed in M. A . There are

three SlOkams that Sri Ram Gopalaswamy referred

to for M.A . The first one , " KurmAdheen --"

is not part of the M. A . in the Sri Sannidhi tradition .

Hence I will focus on the two other slOkams ,

which are indeed part of the M . A .

 

The first of the three slOkams is a salutation to VishNu BhakthAs

such as the Nithya SUris at Sri Vaikuntam ( VishvaksEnA ,

Anantha , VynathEyA and Dwara PaalakAs , KumudhA and Mukhya

gaNAs of the Lord . The slOkam visualizes the Lord being seated

on a lotus at the center of the dharma peetam and on the lap of

AdhisEshA under the Gem bedecked mantapam supported by

a giant tortoise .

..

There the Lord receives fan ( Chaamara ) service ( kaimkaryam )

from the female attendants . He is visualized as being seated

with His Devis and displaying His divya Ayudhams

( weapons ) and AbharaNams ( jewelery ) . GarudA is

holding the Lord's feet in his hands at the foot of

the SeshAsanam . The slOkam ends with prapatthi to those

VishNu BhakthAs in Sri Vaikuntam in the spirit of

Bhagavatha Nishtai .

 

TheRemaining Two SlOkAs of M.A

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

 

1 . AaradhayAmi Hrudhi -------

 

The anvaya Kramam for this slOkam is as follows :

 

MaayApurE Hridhi aatmagEhE , hrudhaya pankaja Sannivishtam

Kesavam ArAdhayAmi ; sraddhA nadhee vimala jala abhishEkai :

SamAdhi kusumai : , apunarbhavAya nithyam ( ArAdhayAmi ) .

 

At the center of the mysterious and wonderful city known as my body

there is a palace and in the heart of it is the lotus , where Lord Kesavan

resides (as AntharyAmi Brahmam ) . I perform Thirumanjanam for

Him with the waters known as pure mind from the river of SraddhA

( mahA ViswAsam ) . After that I conduct His worship with the flowers

known as DhyAnam ( meditation , ceaseless rememberance ) for

gaining the boon of nonreturn to this world of births and deaths

( Moksham ) .

 

The echos of this prayer can be heard in MahA NaarayaNOpanishad

passages such as :

 

Manthram 1. 11 : hrudhA maneeshA mansA abhiklupthO

ya yenam vidhu: amruthAsthE bhavanthi ( Those who

meditate on Him with their minds undistracted and fixed

in the heart lotus know Him ; they become immortal ) .

 

The body is known as Brahmapuram analogous to

the capital of a king . There is a royal mansion in that

city to which the lotus of the heart is compared . The king

( paramAthmA ) resides there . He must be sought there by

those , who need His anugraham for Moksham . This has to

be done by fixed , undistracted meditation on Him .

 

Manthram 2.16 describes the MayApuri and the Kesavan residing

there in the heart lotus inside the palace of MayApuri this way :

 

" In the citadel of the body , there is the small sinless

and pure lotus of the heart , which is the residence of

the ParamaathmA . Further in the interior of this small

area , there is the sorrowless ether. That is to be meditated

upon continously . " Such a focussed dhyAnam on the antharyAmi

Brahmam(ether /gaganam ) in the hrudh pundareekam leads

to Moksham . Brahma Sutram too asserts the same this way :

" anAvritti sabdhAth" . Bhagavadh GithA assures one about

non-return to the World of births and deaths , when one

has become successful in such a meditation ( Bh.G 8.15 ):

 

nApnuvanthi MahAthmana: Samsiddhim paramAm gathA :

 

NaarayaNAnuvAkam points out the place , where one has to worship

the Lord to attain Moksha Siddhi of nonreturn to this world of

repeated birhts and deaths this way :

 

padma kOsa pratheekAsam Hrudhayam chApyadhOmukham

--- tasyAnthE sushiragum sookshmam tasmin sarvam

prathishtitham----tasyA; sikhAyA madhyE ParamAthmA vyavasthitha:

Sa BrahmA sa Siva: sEndra: Sokshar: parama svarAt .

 

That is the manaseeka ArAdhanam that the first slOkam

refers to .

 

SlOkam 2 :

SouvarNE sthAlivaryE ---

 

( Meaning ) : I offer unto my Lord residing in my heart lotus

as antharyAmi Brahmam tasty preparations cooked in pure

ghee from cow's butter . These are Bhakshyams (eatables),

BhOjyams (victuals ) , Lehyams( medicinal digestives) ,

Superior Havis , sOshyams ( fried Food ) , cooked rice ( annam ) ,

cooked vegetables with seasonings , curd , honey , ghee ,

milk , water . I have placed them all in different

golden vessels and am presenting it to Him with my mind

( maanaseeka samarpaNam ) for His enjoyment .

At the end , I offer this antharyAmi Brahmam residing in

my heart lotus , betels and areca nut ( TaampUlam ) as well ,

with my mind as Maanasa upachAram .

 

The examples of Maanaseeka NaivEdhyam of foods

and offering of ThAmpUlam by a devout BhakthA can be

seen in number of Saint ThyagarAjA's krithis :

 

Thodi Raagam : "AragimpavE , paalAragimpavE

Saaramaina divyAnnamu shadrasayutha BhakshaNamulu

dhAra sOdharAdhulathO , ThyagarAja vinutha , Aaragimpave "

( Sri RamA ! pray drink this milk . Accept this offering of butter and

milk made holy by the touch of SitA , and the delicious chitrAnnams

and cakes to cater to the six varieties of taste. Partake of them

in company with Your consort , brothers and others .

 

KaraharapriyA : Vidamu sEyavE , Nannu vidanAdakavE

{ Pray accept the TampUlam ( Paansupaari ) and do not

discard me . Accept this with all the spices , as from the hands of

SitA dEvi , while LakshmaNA , with all his royal dignity

holds the gem-bedecked spit-toon in his hand } .

 

Ahiri Raagam : pUla pAnpu meedha----

 

Oh ParipurNa kalyANa guNa svarUpA ! Please rest well

on this bed covered with fragrant Jasmine flowers after

drinking honey , sugared milk and butter and chewing

delicious paansupAri and after blessing me. Please accept

this fragrant sandal paste to smear on Your body , wear the

bright flower-garlands around your neck , and accept the bed

prepared according to the SaasthrAs , while being convinced that

whatever ThyagarAja , your servant , does is with sraddhA

and MahA viswAsam .

 

That is the type of Maanaseeka PujA and Kaimkaryam

that cuts the bonds of SamsArA and makes one never

return to this earth .

 

The Bhavam and the RasAnubhavam is the most

important element in Manaseeka ArAdhanam to

secure the Lord's anugraham .

 

RaamAnuja Daasan ,

Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri SadagOpan .