SamAshrayanam - part 7

[Guest guest]

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.

 

This is the last posting on the samAshrayanam series. Those who

haven't undergone samAshrayanam , please take the earliest oppurtunity to

get the blessings of the AchAryA corresponding to your sampradAyam and

humbly request him to perform Pancha SamskAram. Please do help others also

to know about Pancha SamskAram and bring great fortune to their lives too.

 

 

LIFE AFTER SAMASHRAYANAM :

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

 

SamAshrayanam marks a great turning point in the journey of

jIvAtmA through the cycle of repeated birth and death. The Pancha

SamskAram performed is invaluable. But , one has to keep up the samskAram

by his regular devotional activities. The samskArams done loses its

significance when one starts indulging in more materialistic activities ,

without caring about Sriman NArAyanA . The whole purpose is to make a

person ( jIvAtmA ) get involved in the sanAtana dharmA ( eternal dharmA) .

Surrender and love towards the Supreme Lord Sriman NArAyanA is the only

purpose of human life . SamAshrayanam helps in a great way to make a

person progress towards achieving this goal.

 

 

The disciple should be highly thankful to the AchAryA for his

great compassion. He should take deep interest in the SampradAyam & gain

the true knowledge from kAlakshepams (Discourses) either under the lotus

feet of his achAryA or under other SriVaishnava achAryAs his achAryA

directs him to do so.In the worst case ,he should atleast learn from

cassettes , books etc of our AchAryAs. He should learn the recitation &

meanings of the most nectarian , unparalleled divine songs of the Tamil

VedA(Divya Prabandham) , which is embedded with soul stirring devotional

pAsurams.He should carry out the duties ( like SandhyAvandanam , Bhagavad

ArAdhanam etc ) without fail , according to the VarnA and AshramA . The

taniyan of the AchAryA must neccessarily be recited daily atleast after

adorning the dvAdasa OOrdhvapundram.

 

 

He should perform various services to the AchAryA and Sriman NArAyanA

daily. Then, jn~AnA ( knowledge) , vairAgyA (detatchment from

materialistic things ; sense control) and bhakti is automatically gained

by the devotee due to blessings of the AchAryA . By performing prapatti ,

the devotee should lead a life of prapannA ever immersed in devotional

kainkaryams ( services) .Eventhough he is in the midst of the society , he

can earn through dharmA as a service to Sriman NArAyanA . The money so

earned should be spent for various devotional services and not for

materialistic pleasures.

 

Swami Desikan says in his NyAsa vimsati that ,

 

"The disciple too must fulfil certain requisite qualifications. He should

have

 

1) A Good sense

2) A friendly approach towards sAdhus.

3) A good character.

4) An earnest desire to understand the tenets of the sampradAyA.

5) A loving mind to render service to the AchAryA

6) No self-esteem or self conceit.

7) Abject obedience to the AchAryA, this being a SUPREME DUTY.

8) A tendency of waiting and readiness for the correct oppurtunity

to get clarification of our doubts from AchAryA.

9) A complete restraint over the external senses.

10) A mental discipline

11) A mind of surrendering to the AchAryA without any jealosy

12) An implicit faith in what the SAstrAs say.

13) The ability to pass all the tests the AchAryA admininsters.

14) Supreme graditude to the AchAryA for the great help.

 

Only such a disciple is eligible to be inducted into the

philosophical training." Nyasa Vimsati(3).

 

 

In his glorious 'pallAndu' to Sriman NArAyanA , PeriAzhvAr (Sri

Vishnu chittar) glorifies samAshrayanam and instructs us the way one

should lead the life after samAshrayanam : "Bearing (on our upper-arms)

the imprint of Holy ChakrA ,caused by the special consecrated instrument

with the red - hot wheel-emblem which is blazing more fiercely than fire

, we have been at the service of Lord Sriman NArAyanA , generation after

generation".

 

 

Kindly follow the instructions of our dearmost AzhvArs and AchAryAs

and lead a life of a true Sri VaishnavA by their divine blessings.

 

 

Namo NArAyanA

 

Adiyen

 

Anantha PadmanAbha dAsan

 

 

Sarvam Sri KrishnArpanamastu