Sri VaishNavam-3

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SRI:

 

SRIMATHE RAMANUJAYA NAMAH:

 

SRIMATHE NIGAMANTHA MAHADESIKAYA NAMAH:

 

SRIMATHE GOPALA DESIKA MAHA DESIKAYA NAMAH:

 

SRIMATHE RANGANAYIKA SAMETHA SRI RANGANATHA PARABHRAHMANE NAMAH:

 

Dearest Sisters and Brothers, the bhakthAs of Sriman NarayaNA!

 

Ennuyir thandhu aLitthavaraich charNampukki/ yaanadaivE avargurukkaL

niRai vaNanghi/

PinnaruLaal perumpudhUr vandha vaLLal/

periya nambi Alavandhaar maNakkal nambi/

NanneRiyai avarkku uRaittha uyyakkoNdaar/ nathamuni sadagOpan sEnai

nAthan/

Innamudhath ThirumagaLenRu ivarai munnittu/ Emperumaan ThiruvadigaLai

adaiginREnE!

 

SarIra - Athma bhAvam:

 

This is the most important concept in Sri Ramanuja Siddhaantham or

SriVaishNava Siddhaantham. SarIra Athma bhAvam. That means: The chEtanan

and the achEtanan (as described in earlier post) - these two tatvams -

(that implies all beings and non-beings;) are all the sarIram (body) for

Emperumaan and Emperumaan is the AthmA for these chEtan-AchEtanAs.

 

This concept has been described clearly by Vedas in great amount of

details, with examples. This can even be called the life line of our

Siddhaantham. So, let us have a closer look.

 

What do we call sarIram (body matter, mind and intellect- all Gross,

Fine and Finer matter)? And AthmA?

 

1. AthmA is the support for sarIram - without AthmA, there is no

sarIram- AthmA only holds the sarIram. As long as AthmA stays inside the

sarIram, there is life.

2. AthmA only employs and directs the sarIram (body, mind and

intellect). SarIram is being directed by the AthmA.

3. For the benefit and enjoyment of AthmA only, the sarIram (body, mind

and the intellect) acts and does all; sarIram is a lifeless

matter(achEtanam) and hence, there is no benefit or enjoyment

exclusively for that. There is no bodily pleasure when there is no life;

one can not satisfy his intellect by reading a book when he is dead; one

can not see a scene and think about some joke and laugh, if there is no

life; the sarIram is still there; but no athmA; He has gone; the same

shoulders of the husband whom you hugged, are still there with the

sarIram; you do not even want to go nearer- it stinks; because there is

no AthmA anymore. SarIram is only achEtanam. The AthmA is the master for

which the sarIram works for AthmA’s enjoyment. By nature, there is NO

ENJOYMENT for sarIram. Through sarIram, AthmA enjoys. (Clear? That is

sarIram is the sEshan- servant - adimai- property for AthmA).

 

So, these three are the normal sarIra-AthmA relationship. Now, if it is

clear, let us take a further step. (If it is still not clear, read the

above three points again, until it gets drilled into the head.)

 

As per our Siddhaantha, Emperumaan is the AthmA and holds all chEtanAs

(the jIvAtmAs) and all achEtanAs in His ThirumEni . i.e. our AthmA as

well as our sarIram are His Body. (interesting!).

 

Please Pay Attention!

Thus, We, the sarIra of Emperumaan-our body, mind, intellect as well as

our jIvAthmA are His servant, His body, His property- His sEshan (as was

seen in point no.3 above) and are MEANT ONLY FOR HIS ENJOYMENT. We have

to render service to the Master only and THERE IS NOTHING UNNATURAL

ABOUT IT. THAT IS THE ONLY NATURAL THING. If we (our mind, body, and

intellect as well as jIvAthmAs ) DO NOT carry out any activities for His

enjoyment, THAT IS SOMETHING UNNATURAL AND UNORTHODOX. That is

SOMETHING THAT WE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO OR BE. )

 

Now, next step: If the sarIram of Emperumaan is jIvAtmAs and achEhatnAs,

then logically the sarIram does not have any enjoyment. But DUE TO THE

LIMITLESS, GRACE AND MERCY / DAYA of Emperumaan- our master, our sEshI,

our AthmA, the Param AthmA the jIvAthmAs, i.e we are given free will,

intellect, the sixth sense to experience enjoyment. IS IT NOT

APPROPRIATE to utilise to the Greatest extent end enjoy the Absolute

Bliss by rendering service to our AthmA (for which we are the body) and

make Him enjoy and be pleased! Anything that jIvAthmA (by itself or

thru’ its body, mind and intellect - either here in this life or at

SriVaikuntam ) does to please the Emperumaan, the master is thus,

NATURAL. Anythinh else, IS NOT NATURAL and against the Law. Hence, this

is called VishishtAdvaitam.

 

Hitham:

 

The upaayam-the means to attain mOksham is called Hitham. Such ways for

attining mOksham are Bhakti yOgam and Prapatti (Surrender). (Bhakti

Group members have discussed at length about Bhakti and Prapatti). Just

a single statement to further supplement. If we pour a viscous oil, how

uninterruptedly, without any gap, or porosity, the oil flows down the

floor- like that the jIvAthmA has to keep thinking and meditating

continuously on Sriman NarayNA from this moment upto the last

consciousness before falling into the death trap and the last

breath/unconsciousness), without any gap, or interruption with the

highest level of bhakti- that is Bhakti yOgham. We very well know it is

next to impossible due to our "monkey-like" vacillating mind, Bhakti

yOgham is extremely difficult to achieve. (Please note that we are

talking about performance of Bhakti yOgham; and not bhakti). There are

so many NiyamAs for Bhakti Yogham. Since we are not capable of

performing Bhakti yOgam, we are blessed with Prapatti (an act of

surrender)which can facilitate us to attain mOksham, by getting our Lord

Sriman NarayaNan immensely pleased by our surrender to His Lotus Feet

unconditionally with complete faith. All that we have to do is to

surrender unto Him and His Lotus Feet completely (as assured by Sri

KrishNA in gItA). But, please again note- for Prapatti yOgham, too, what

we need is MAHA VISWASAM. MAHAA- note Big, Terrific- Great,

Tremendous-Complete- Enormous or whatever- We should have so much faith

in Him. HE WILL SAVE US; HE WILL SAVE. HE WILL OF COURSE SAVE US; (That

MahA Viswasam is not all that easy, dear ones!) . Prapatti, therefore

also warrants our Great Faith in Him at all times under all situations;

We should Never have any doubt about Him; His Parathvam; His Supremacy;

His Capacity; Do all that pleases Him; Don’t do anything that DOES NOT

PLEASE HIM. Surrender (Prapatti or SharaNAgathy is only the means to

please Him. He is the SiddhOpaayam; Prapatti is only SaddhyOpaaayam.

 

Prapatti is also addressed as bharaNyAsam, bharasamarppaNam,

saraNAgathi, and athrushtam. One should approach his AchAryA and get to

know about Bhagavadh VishyaNgaL. After, one should perform aurrender

(Prapatti) at the Feet of AchAryA and surrender to the Lord. Through the

AchAryA, we should perform Prapatti. Then we need not worry about the

mOksham; we should only repose total, complete faith in Him. (This

formal function of performing BharNyAsam is not followed by Thenkalai

Sampradaayam). Just simply prostrating once at His Feet is enough; He,

the Merciful one will save us: It is also a different school of thought

- They do perform surrendering at the Lord’s Lotus Feet; not as a

function; it is only just a matter of opinion; Let us not go further

into it; Because, any way at SriVaikuntam, all of us are going to be

together rendering the same Beautiful eternal service at the Lotus Feet

of Divya Dampati; (along with Parama bhAgawathAs like AzhwArs, with our

Great AchAryAs Sri RamanujA, Sri Vedanta Desika, Sri Pillai LokAchAryA,

Sri ManavaaLa MaamunigaL, et al, together with all of them- Don’t we

feel EXCITED about it? How nice and Blissful it will be! (Why to talk

trivial issues!)

 

Pancha Samskaaram

 

As mentioned earlier, Sri VaishNavan, who wants to go on the right

track, shall approach the AchAryA. AchAryA teaches him the sampradaaya

vishayangaL. Then the SrivaishNavan shall carry out the Panch samskaaram

(samAshrayaNam- Please read Sri Anand’s excellent posts on

samAshrayaNam- They are really lucid and descriptive and simply

SUPERB!). AchAryan applies the marks of sanghu and the chakrA on the

Sri VaishNavan’s shoulders, as a part of samAshrayaNam.(Please note that

these Panch samskaarams ARE ALSO applicable to SriVaishNava ladies.

 

Every VaishNavan shall CERTAINLY carry out this Pancha Samskaaram. (Five

Samskaarams).

1. Carrying the marks of Sanghu and ChakrA on his shoulders (as applied

by his achAryA)

2. Applying 12 ThirumaN SrichoorNam on his body (please apply ThirumaN

SrichoorNam at least one on his forehead daily- or even that is

difficlut due to various reasons, at least on Saturdays and Sundays and

holidays- But apply and cultivate that habit for your son - very

essential- be an example- I have seen in Saudi Arabia, even the Chief

Executive Director of a Petrochemical Complex a Saudi, who has graduated

from the US, does not change from his traditional attire; nor does he

forget the five times prayers during the day- no airs about that; why

shall we be afraid of- embarrassed about- the guys who see us with

ThirumaN srichoorNam are going to be seeing us for a fraction of a time

in our entire life cycle- why do we give a damn to them- We belong to

Emperumaan’s party and let us have His chinnam on our forehead.- we are

ready to wear the dress code as specified and as called for the occasion

but why don’t we wear the dress code as warranted by the sampradaayam-

the Kaccham, the Oordhva puNdram- ThirumaNsrichoorNam- Please!)

3. Having the dAsya naamam, (as named by AchAryA- like NarAyaNa dAsan-

PadmanAbha dAsan, etc.,)

4. getting upadEsam from AchAryA on the ManthrAs. (ahtAksharam, dwayam,

charama slOkam)

5. UpadEsam for performing daily Thiru ArAdhAnam for Emperumaan with

the three manthrAs as described earlier (even maanasIka ArAdhanA can be

performed if one is not fortunate to get a saalagraamam or due to any

other reasons;

 

MaansIka ArAdhanA: (This is as exactly described to me in an extremely

moving narration by Srimad Poundareekapuram Andavan during His upadEsam-

I have attempted not to dilute to a large extent)

 

Even during maanaseeka ArAdhaNA, one can do it in a couple of minutes or

take an hour or so; We all know that our heart is like an inverted Red

lotus bud. Assume that is has been made vertical in upright position and

consider that it has fully bloomed as the Most Beautiful Red Lotus

flower. Imagine the Antharyaami, who is sitting on that flower- Our

Lord, Emperumaan- Right from waking the Dearest Emperumaan and Piraati

from the Red Lotus considered to be bloomed to its full grown petals

from an inverted heart of ours; consider yourself seated at the corner

at the feet of Divya dampati and one can visualise to his fullest

satisfaction performing Thirumanjanam, most fragrant sambhiraNi smoke,

agrbatthis, adorning Them with the most valuable vEshti and utthriyam

with lots and lots of jarigai for Emperumaan and Great, Gorgeous looking

Most colourful pattu pudavai (silk sari) with rettai pEttu jarigai and

jarigai puttAh in the most beautiful bright, marvellous colour- adorning

Them with the world’s costliest jewels, randging from diamond,

MANickkam, Gold, Coral, Emerald, countless numbers of necklaces, rings,

maalais, saharanaama malai, Most Fracgrant, Big, ThuLasi maalais,

Diamond kireetams (crowns) etc., etc., - Just think of them; after all

only imagining- Let us give Them the best that we can imagine; we can

imagine and visualise Their smile while wearing all that we offer; one

can continue with the japam of those sacred manthrAs while decorating

Divya Damati; one can visualise also his spouse taking part (we need not

even ask them; that is also our imagination) in the alankaara kaimkaryam

for the Piraati while the male member can decorate the Emperumaan with

great love. One can imagine any avathaar or any ishta deivam Sri Sita

Ram or Sri RukmiNi KrishNan or Sri RanganAyakI samEtha Sri RanganAthA or

Sri BhUmi Piraatti samEtha Oppliliappan or Sri Lakshmi Narasimhan- any

deity of Lord Sriman Narayana or any avathaar.; while the alankaaram is

about to be over, quickly one can (imagine) ask his spouse to bring from

the kitchen, with a pure clothing and great love and bhakti, the

Prasaadham to be offered to The Divya Dampati- This also- one may bring

in variety of dishes and amudhu for our Dearest Lord- AkkAra adisil,

navaneetham (butter), PuLiyOdharai, sakkarai Pongal, VeNpongal, tasty

Dhadhhiyannam, kadalai paruppu suNdal (favourite for Sri Lakshmi

Hayagreeva PerumAL), vadaparuppu, pAnakam (for Sri Rama Navami)- any or

combination of them in big Golden vessels so that we can offer Them

sumptuously and also offer to other bhakthA and NityasUris present in

Your Heart of Sri vaikuntam; Offer to everyone- all BhAgawathAs; Ask

them again if they need more and more of it; Enjoy looking at the Lord,

Piraati and all devotees eating the prasadham with fullest enjoyment. We

have enough to offer to all 33 crores of dEvAs even; While They are all

enjoying the prasaadhams, one may keep prostrating at Their Lotus Feet

as many times as one can (this is not imagination- really!) and ask for

Their pardon for all our apachaarams done knowingly and unknowingly- one

can make Them sit on a "Oonjal" also decorated so nicely with flowers

and ThuLasi and gently swing it so that They look at each other and

smile at our acting so much funny like the small kid tries to comb the

mother’s hair for fun; While They are having fun at the Oonjal, one may

prostrate (without of course getting hit by the oonjal), at Their Lotus

Feet; They may feel sleepy and like to relax - one may request Them to

walk unto the amsa dhULikA manjam nearby (also in your heart), and ask

Them to lie down- one should also request the Periya Piraatti to lie

down next to the Lord and assure Her that we (you and your spouse) will

gently press Their legs and calf muscles and perform kaimkaryam to Them-

we can continue the entire day activities with The Divya Damati and make

this list bigger and bigger; It is all our anubhavam- We can do this

only when there is less disturbance at home ; that is why we should try

to get up before others get up especially the little ones at home - If

you have no time, you can quicken the process and complete the entire

activity in less than five minutes - He knows all our problems and

understands too!). .......

 

It is better to stop this post here when we are in that beautiful state

of mind with pErAnandham after having performed the ArAdhanam.

 

We will see about the three Rahasya manthrAs that are to be uttered by

us; and their meanings, AchArya Mahimai, BhAgawathAs, etc.. in our next

post. (Thanks to each one of you for your encouragement through private

e-mail.)

 

AchAryAL ThiruvadigaLE saraNam

 

 

Ram Ram

 

With Best Regards

 

NarayaNa dAsan madhavakkannan

 

 

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