Mukkoor Azhagiyasingar's RAmAnuja SiddhAntam - 2

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SRI RAMANUJA SIDDHANTAM

BY SRIMAD MUKKUR AZHAGIYA SINGAR

 

< Translated by Sriman Jaganath Bharadwaj >

 

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Prakruti exists below Suddha sattvam. It covers all the area

below Suddha sattvam & Suddha Sattvam exists above Prakruti. Of the three

types of jIvaatmAs, nityAs and muktAs are eternally worshipping Sriman

nArAyaNA in Sri VaikuNTam and are eternally experiencing bliss. They

will never be confined to a material body and be forced to experience

suffering like birth and death, like the people of this world.

 

MuktAs used to be baddha jIvaatmAs like us. They surrendered to Sriman

nArAyaNA, got rid of their sins and are now experiencing bliss in Sri

VaikuNTam alongwith nityasUris and other mukta jIvaatmAs in the service

of Sriman nArAyaNA. Among the baddha jIvaatmAs, one after many tens of

millions of years of prayers (ArAdhanam), will attain the post of BrahmA.

He proceeds with the process of creation within his territory or

BrahmaandA. He works according to the orders given by Bhagavaan.

 

Another jIvaatmA performs many kinds of sacrifices (yaj~nAs) and attains

a post called devadevA. He proceeds with the process of destruction under

the orders of Sriman nArAyaNA. He is the one commonly referred to in this

world as ShivA. Another jIvaatmA performs 100 horse sacrifices

(Aswamedha yAgA) and attains the post of IndrA. He is the superintendent

of the three worlds (Bhu, Bhuvar and Suvar).

 

Some baddha jIvaatmAs accrue substantial punya karmA and take births in

the world of IndrA, BrahmA & the like. Others perform sacrifices

(yaj~nAs) in this world and proceed to SvargA for a short time where they

experience some pleasure. Once this punya karmA is exhausted, they come

back to suffer consequences of their remaining combination of sins and

merit . Yet others keep performing terrible austerities. They are called

Rishis, for e.g. VashistA, ParAsarA, VyAsA and SukA. Some are practicing

the process of Bhakti Yoga to attain liberation. Yet others surrender

(prapatti) to Sriman naaraayaNA to attain the same goal and are waiting

for their liberation. Yet others show total disregard for the scriptures,

gods, those who lead a life in strict accordance to scriptures, commit

atrocities and at the end of this life proceed to Yamaloka to experience

hell. Yet others, in spite of having committed sins, had the good

fortune of being corrected by great souls, perform necessary repentance

for their past sins, and live a life without committing further sins.

Yet others may have led an inappropriate life in their younger days.

But they have seen other people around them die. They wondered about

the consequences of their actions in a future life and have since mended

their ways and are practicing rites like SandhyAvandanam ordained by the

scriptures.

 

Some baddha jIvaatmAs think that it is possible that there is truth in

the scriptures, and that liberation is also similarly possible. They

perform Saranaagathi in the belief that there is nothing they can lose

in the process. Yet other baddha jIvaatmAs have seen how mantrAs work

miraculously to cure snake bites and scorpion stings. They ask to

themselves, if these mantras can work for removing the venom of these

animals then why will Saranaagati not work for removing the venom

called sin? They are thus totally convinced about the efficacy of this

process and come and surrender to the Feet of Lakshmi Nrusimha. Yet

others surrender to the Feet of Sri Ranganatha, or Sri Devapiraan, or

Sri Srinivasar and live an ideal life under the directions of their

respective AcharyAs.

 

For those who surrenders with total faith, Sriman nArayaNA bestows

liberation at the end of this life itself and blesses them with bliss.

For those who surrender without total faith, Sriman Narayana will, if not

in this life, at some time in the future make this person surrender with

total faith and attain liberation. It will not go waste. The 3 types of

jIvaatmAs, prakruti, Suddha sattvam, time etc., all these elements are

pervaded internally and externally by nArAyaNA (antar bahischa tat sarvam

vyApya nArAyaNa sthitaha ). In this way He controls them in addition to

protecting them.

 

This is why everything is considered to be the body of God by the

VedAntA ( Upanishads : "yasya Atma sarIram " , "yasya pruthivi sarIram").

Lakshmi and Narayana are the ParamaatmAs. There are unlimited number of

baddha, mukta and nitya jIvaatmAs. Prakruti gets divided into 24 elements

to form the various bodies of baddha jIvaatmAs. Suddha sattvam goes on to

form the bodies of Lakshmi, Narayana, nityasUris & mukta jIvaatmAs, and

are as well as present in the form of palaces, gopurams, Viraja river

and every source of happiness in Sri VaikuNTA.

 

"Time" (kAlA) which is eternal & indestructible, determines when it is

appropriate to perform sacrifices (yaj~nAs) , perform nitya karmAnushtAnAs

(like SandhyAvandanA) ordained in the scriptures, experience the fruits of

past karma, perform the worship of God ( Bhagavad ArAdhanA) & as well as

to perform various other activities.

 

JIvaatmA, ParamaatmA, Prakruti, time, Suddha sattvam are the primordial

elements that are never subject to destruction. The Knowledge

(dharmabhoota jn~Anam) of a jIvaatmA is also an entity. All other

substances that have a name and a form are subject to creation and

destruction. Darkness and smoke are subtle forms of earth, because of the

smell associated with smoke and the dark blue color associated with

the darkness called tamas.

 

It therefore behooves us to perform Saranaagati to Sriman nArAyaNA,

thereby giving Him an opportunity to cut loose these shackles of

conditioned life , out of His mercy. We can then reach Sri VaikuNTam

and mix with nityasUris and mukta jIvaatmAs, perform devotional service to

Sriman nArAyaNA and attain unlimited bliss.

 

Bhagavaan in Sri VaikuNTam inorder to protect those who have sought

refuge under Him , makes various incarnations like RAmA , KrishnA &

the like , as stated by Him in "yadaa yadaa hi dharmasya, glaanir

bhavati" . The prime purpose of such incarnations is to protect the great

devotees (sAdhUs). Also, for the sole benifit of those of us who

did not take birth during the time of His incarnations, He takes various

archAvatAram as in Srirangam and other holy places. Our Lakshmi Nrusimhan

is so merciful that one needn't go in search for various Divya Desams,

since He Himself comes to the residences of His devotees. It therefore

behooves us to take shelter of His holy Feet and attain unlimited bliss.

 

Srimate Srivan Shatakopa Sri VedAnta Desika Yateendra mahAdesikAya namaha

 

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