SamAshrayanam - part 6

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Sri :

 

Srimate Sri Lakshmi Nrusimha Para Brahmane Namaha

 

Srimate Sri Lakshmi - Nrusimha Divya PAdukA Sevaka -

Srivan Shatagopa Sri NArAyana Yateendra MahAdesikAya Namaha

 

Srimate NigamAntha MahAdesikAya Namaha

Srimate Bhagavad RAmAnujAya Namaha

 

Sriyai Namaha ; SridharAya Namaha

 

 

Dear bhakti group members,

 

Namo NArAyanA . kindly accept adiyens pranAmams.

 

please pardon adiyen for an error in the "part 5" posting. It was

mentioned as though only the BrAhmana purushAs are allowed to chant

pranavam. It is actually eligible for the men of the first three varnAs.

 

In this posting , let us discuss about the last SamskAram .

 

 

 

5. Yaj~na (YAgA) SamskAram :

---------------------------

 

In this SamskAram , the AchAryA teaches about Bhagavad

ArAdhanA ( Ijyai ). ArAdhanA is the way of worshipping Sriman NArAyanA.

There are basically two forms of ArAdhanA : bahyA (External) and

mAnasIkA (Internal).

 

This samskAram is initiated by the AchAryA through Sanskrit verses

whose translation in English is as follows :

 

" After Achamanam , wearing OOrdhvapundram , prostrating to the Lord

(Sriman NArAyanA) , sit in a seat. After prAnAyAmam , perform japam with

DhyAna slokAs ( AshtAksharam , etc). Later , worship the Lord Sriman

NArAyanA residing in ones heart ( mAnasIka ArAdhanA). Then with water from

the vessel placed left (of Sriman nArAyanA) , sprinkle water on flowers

and other materials for worship and also vessels for arghyam, pAdyam

etc.From water in arghyA Vessel , sprinkle water on flowers etc (for

worship) and also self "

 

" After welcoming the Lord , offer arghyam , pAdyam ,Achamaniam,give

ritualistic bath. Then offer cloth, Yagno Pavitha (sacred thread), Sandal

paste , flower , incense , light , in order. After Achamanam , honey and

Achamanam. Later offer food comprising of pudding, rice , vegetables,

water, pan-betel etc.After Prostration ,restoring status quo is the

procedure of worship of Vishnu"

 

 

Thus , the sishyA gets the eligibility to perform Bhagavad ArAdhanam (

Ijyai) to Sriman NArAyanA's archA avatAram as 'SALagrAmA'. Since the food

we take should only be the remnants of food offered to Sriman NArAyanA ,

SALagrAma ArAdhanA is very important for a Sri VaishnavA..

 

Lord Sri KrishnA in His GIta Upadesam , says that

" Good people eating the remains of yaj~nAs are released from all

sins.Those sinners who cook food for their own sake eat only sin " (3.13)

 

Food is the major source of input to the body. It drastically affects

the proportions of sAtvikkA,rAjasA and tAmasA gunAs in the body.By eating

the food which are devoid of sAtvikA nature , the person drifts away from

spiritualism and his indulgence in materialistic affairs increases.

Further , if the food is not offered to NArAyanA through Bhagavad ArAdhanA

,the person incurs lot of sins . Therefore ,One should perform the

Bhagavad ArAdhana kainkaryam daily without fail .

 

 

By performing SALagrAma ArAdhanam , one gets cleansed from many

impurities (seated in mind).The sacred water obtained after the

ablution of SALagrAmA is highly potent. We have to remember that , the

sacred water has had the direct contact with the thirumeni (divine body)

of Sriman nArAyanA .Thus it makes one charged with sAtvika gunA and thus

cultivates bhagavad bhakti very easily.

 

 

Ofcourse there are many side - benifits like improvement in health,

intelligence, memory , etc due to the intake of sacred water ( 'PerumAL

theertham'). All these benifits are for aiding the cultivation of bhakti

and shouldn't be seen in a materialistic perspective. The spiritual

benifit obtained is enormous , and can only be felt by the devotee.

 

 

A true devotee of Sriman NArAyanA however doesn't bother about the

so called scientific explainations for the side-benifits incurred during

any devotional kainkaryA . These explainations are only for those who

doesn't believe in NArAyanA and sAstrAs .For instance , Sri AnnamAchAryA

( disciple of Sri Adivan Sadagopa Yateendra MahAdesikan) and Sri

ThyAgarAjA have sung many songs because of their intense bhakti to the

lotus feet of the most wonderful Lord Sriman NArAyanA. RAgA , tAlA etc are

not planned . These things pour out spontaneously out of their great

devotion. But , to attract some persons, we can tell the greatness of the

rAgA , tAlA , way of composition etc.But, the important aspect is bhakti

towards NArAyanA . If this is left out , then there is no point in

discussing other things. Eventhough the rAgA,the composition structure etc

are amazing, they simply aid one to create the mood of bhakti involved in

that song.Similarly , we can talk about some petty, so called scientific

explainations behind some devotional activities .But , the spiritual

reason behind it and spiritual benifit one obtains is beyond the

comprehension of our senses.

 

The archA form of NArAyanA is due to His Soulabhyam ( easy accesibility

to one and all ) & Sowseelyam ( Friendship shown by an exalted one

towards a lowly person without expecting anything in return ). His dayA

(mercy) for all of us has no bounds.

 

Garuda PurAnam says

"SAlagrAma shilA yatra devo dwAravathIbhavaha

vubhyoho sangamo yatra tatra mukthirna samshayaha "

 

ie . Mukthi is assured without doubt in those places where SALagrAma

silai and DwArakA silai coexist (ie.sALagrAma ArAdhanam leads a person to

perform prapatti and makes him lead a life of true prapannan ). The

greatness of sALagrAmA is that Sriman NArAyanA has Himself chosen (

svayam vyaktA) to incarnate in that form ie. it is not consecrated or

installed by others.SAlagrAmA can thus be straightaway worshipped without

any special consecration.

 

 

Eventhough the sALagrAma ArAdhanA is performed by the male members of

the three varnAs , ladies too have important role in that kainkaryam. They

can make nice arrangements in terms of preparing food, gathering & making

fragrant flower garlands , etc.Thus they too derive the same benifits out

of the ArAdhanam. The entire family should assemble together for the

'SAtrumurai', the concluding session of ArAdhanam .

 

The important aspect in any kainkaryam is that it is purely for the

pleasure of Sriman NArAyanA . SAstrAs also clearly specify the type of

kainkaryam one has to perform , according to ones varnA & AshramA. So ,

one has to just take up the kainkaryam assigned to him/her & perform with

devotion. This is the spirit behind the kainkaryam & thus one shouldn't

entertain questions like "Why can't I do this ?" , "Why should they only

do that ? " etc.

 

 

mAnasIkA ArAdhanA has to be performed by all. This is similar to

the bahyA ArAdhanA , but the whole ArAdhanA is done mentally .Pictures of

Sriman NArAyanA in various Divya Desams , plays an important role here .

Irrespective of the caste, place , time or sex , one can perform this

mAnasIka ArAdhanA .

 

Sri Sukabrahma maharishi in his nectarian Srimad BhAgavatham says

about the way in which great devotees worship NArAyanA residing within

their hearts ( mAnasIka ArAdhanA ) :

 

"These devotees meditate on NArAyanA with His four handsholding the

Conch , ChakrA , GadhA (club) and Lotus. They fix His figure firmly in

their mind. Having fixed His figure firmly , they worship Him with the

courtesies ( as in Bahya ArAdhanA or pUjA ) including serving of food ,

mentally. They conclude the worship with MangalAsAsanam ( MangalArathi)".

 

 

If one doesn't remember about the upadesam of the AchAryA as

regarding the Ijyai and unfortunately couldn't meet the AchAryA , he can

approach another Sri VaishnavA who is spiritually advanced and learn the

practical way of doing the sALagrAma ArAdhanA.

 

This samskAram is very important in many angles. thApa samskAram

makes the sishyA eligible to start performing various kainkaryams to

Sriman NArAyanA . The pundra samskAram makes a person eligible to wear the

dvAdasa OOrdhvapundram ,which is a must while performing kainkaryams like

Bhagavad ArAdhanam. NAma samskAram makes the sishyA get the intimate

relationship with Sriman NArAyanA & Bhagavad RAmAnujA, which is again

important while performing kainkaryams. The mantrAs initiated during the

mantra samskAram are used to please Sriman NArAyanA while performing

kainkaryams like Bhagavad ArAdhanam. So , all the samskArams are

ultimately aimed to make the sishyA perform the kainkaryams like Bhagavad

ArAdhanam properly.

 

 

While doing Bhagavad ArAdhanam to Sriman NArAyanA , one is also

reminded about the Lord in various Divya Desams , the nectarian anubhavA

of AzhvArs , mercy of our AchAryAs etc.All types of spiritual emotions can

be nicely poured out during the Bhagavad ArAdhanam ,thereby bringing

immense divine ecstacy.This makes one get rid of the sins that propel a

person to engage in materialistic pleasures and makes him deeply attached

to the Lotus Feet of the Supreme Lord Sriman NArAyanA.

 

 

 

Namo NArAyanA

 

Adiyen

 

Anantha PadmanAbha dAsan

 

 

Sarvam Sri KrishnArpanamastu