sAmpradAya saurabham

[Guest guest]

As there have been several interesting discussions on Srimad Ramayanam this

past month, my wife, Madhuri, and I thought that it would be appropriate to

share an article from the latest edition of Bhakti Nivedana, the monthly

magazine that is published by Sri Tridandi Jeear Swamy's Educational Trust.

Please forgive our errors in this translation from Telugu.

 

SAMPRADAYA SAURABHAM

 

Sri Parasara Bhattar's sishyan Pallavarayan was a great ruler who was

always involved in politics, wars and strategies to save all his people. He

was engrossed in this activity and had virtually no time for anything else.

Pallavarayan was a devotee, a great believer in Perumal. But he had no

time to do any kainkaryam to the Archamurthy in any divya dEsham , listen

to kAlakshEpams of revered AchAryans or even serve BhAgavathas.

 

He always felt very badly that he was unable to do anything about this. He

knew very well that he had to enhance his spiritual pursuit, but at the

same time could not give up his worldly duties as a ruler. Caught in this

turmoil , he knew that the only one who could provide him with a solution

was his AchAryan. Upon realizing this, he went to see Sri Bhattar Swamy.

 

Pallavarayan talked to Sri Parasara Bhattar and explained his painful state

of affairs as to how he was sinking in the quicksand of his kingly

responsibilities, and how this was a serious hurdle to his pursuit of

spiritual upliftment. He beseeched Parasara Bhattar Swamy for an easy

method for serving the Lord.

 

Sri Bhattar Swamy replied, "Despite worldly responsibilities, always

meditate on that KodhandapAni, who completed construction of the sEthu,

crossed the ocean, and camped at the suvElAdhri mountain on the outskirts

of Lanka. This is your protection and your sustenance."

 

To this Pallavarayan asked, "Swamy, why should I think of Sri Ramar from

Yuddha khAndam? Why not of bAla rAma, or kalyAnarAman? Swamy, I humbly

request an explanation for this."

 

Sri Bhattar Swamy said, "When Sri Rama, Lakshmana, and the army of vAnarAs

reached suvElAdhri on the shore of Lanka it was nightfall. At night, the

powers of the rAkshasAs increase, as well as their dark magic. The vAnaras

talked among themselves, 'what if someone does harm to Sri Rama and Sri

Lakshmana? We should be wide awake and protect our dear princes.' They

formed a circle around Rama and Lakshmana and decided to take turns keeping

watch over them through the night."

 

"With time, however, the exhaustion of marching across the bridge all day,

combined with the cool sea breeze, slowly lulled all the vAnaras to sleep,

one after another. Rama and Lakshmana saw this sight and felt amused.

They felt concerned that the vAnaras were sleeping so soundly and were

unaware of their surroundings."

 

"The two brothers conversed, 'for our sake, these vAnaras took so much

trouble to try and stay awake and protect us that they have exhausted

themselves. Who knows what will happen to them if the rAkshasas try and

harm any one of them now? It is our responsibility to protect them.' With

their bows and arrows poised to hit any oncoming target, Rama stood on one

side of the circle of vAnaras, and Lakshmana stood on the other, and

together they made a prAkAram and protected their compatriots through the

night."

 

"Are vAnaras powerful enough to protect the Lord? Obviously not, but the

intense Love that they felt for Him made them feel that they could.

However, their love paled to insignificance when compared to Perumal's pure

and unconditional love for them."

 

Sri Bhattar Swamy continued, "This incident proves the Lord's nirhEtuka

kripa. Normally, a warrior's arrow is only drawn upon seeing an enemy.

But, in this case, the Divine Brothers took the pain of holding their bows

and arrows poised, ready for any encounter, all night. The agony of

Perumal's uncontrollable desire to protect us is seen through this

incident. The vAnaras did not ask Perumal to protect them, but He was, and

is, ever ready to do so."

 

"Meditate always on that Sri Rama, who crossed the sEthu, vigilantly

guarded the vAnaras throughout the night, solely out of His Compassion.

May that Sri Rama always be in your heart."

 

Meditating on this incident, we should perform anusandhAnam on the

following slokam from Srimad Ramayanam:

 

Agrathah: prushtatashchaiva pAshvatashcha mahAbalau

Akarna pUrnadhanvAnau rakshEthAm rAmalakshmanau

 

 

AzhwAr emperumAnAr jeear thiruvadigalE sharanam

 

Mohan Raghavan & Madhuri