Experiencing Swami Desika - 9

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SrI:

Shrimate Shri Lakshmi Nrusimha Parabrahmane Namaha:

Shrimate Shri Seetha Ramachandra Parabrahmane Namaha:

Shrimate Shri Ramanujaya Namaha:

Shrimate Nigamantha Maha Desikaya Namaha:

Shrimate Shrivan Satagopa Shri Narayana Yateendra Mahadesikaya Namaha:

 

Swami Desika now salutes to Goddess Lakshmi who is

the next in our Guruparampara.

 

Sahadharmacarim saureh Sammantrita jagadd-hitam!

Anugrahamayim vande Nithyam ajnatanigraham!!

 

Swami Desika prostrates at the lotus feet of

Goddess Mahalakshmi the inseparable consort

of Lord Vishnu. She is an embodiment of mercy.

She does not know to punish any one. She

converses with the Lord for the well being of

the whole world. When the lord wants to establish

Dharma like protecting his devotees she accompanies

him to ensure the proper execution of the same.

 

The Divine couple is inseparable. They are not

separated even when they manifest as avatar's.

This is explained in the Vishnu Puranam thus:

 

Raghavatway-abavat Sita, Rukmini Krishna janmani !

Anyeshu chavatareshu Visho-resha-yanapayinee !!

Devatvey Deva-deheyam, Manushyatvey cha manushee !

Vishnor dehanu-roopam vai karoth yesha-yatmani tanum!!

 

-- Vishnu Purana, 1 -9-144&145

 

Goddess Lakshmi is forever united with the Lord

Vishnu. So, when our Lord becomes Rama, Sri becomes

Sita, when He is Krishna, she is Rukmini. Not just

this, even when the Lord takes the form of a Deva,

or for that matter a human being, Goddess Lakshmi

also takes a suitable form of a Devi or a human being.

Goddess Lakshmi thus adjusts herself according

to the embodiments of Lord Vishnu.

 

This is reflected by Nammalwar in

Thiruvaimozhi (6.10.10):

 

ahalahillen iraiyumenru alarmel mangai urai maarba

 

Goddess Alarmel mangai sits on the chest of our Lord

Srinivasa because she cannot bear to be without our

Lord even for a fraction of a second!

 

In our tradition the word "Sri" points to the exclusive

position of our mother

She is ---

our Lords consort

the mother of the entire universe

mediatrix between God and the humanity

and of course an Acharya in our tradition!

 

Sri stands for

Srunaati;

Sriiyate;

Srunoti;

Sraavayati;

Sriinaati;

 

meaning

 

she removes all sins,

is resorted to by all for ever,

hears the petitions,

makes the lord hear (the petitions)

nourishes the world by her virtues,

 

Our mother, the mother of the whole world - Akhila

jaganmata, does not know to punish any one.

 

What can we speak of our Thayar's innumerable

auspicious qualities? She is an ocean of mercy.

She is an embodiment of Karuna.

 

She has a kind heart even for the evil ones.

 

When Goddess Lakshmi manifested as Sita, and was

in Lanka, the rakshashi's harassed her.

 

The repeated torture from the rakshashi's did not provoke

our mother. She could have reduced them to ashes, with

out any efforts . In addition to resisting herself from punishing

them, our eternal amma full of daya, pleaded Anjeneya on

their behalf when he wanted to kill them, and thus saved them.

 

Goddess Sita by way of pointing out to Shri Anjaneya,

teaches us the importance of mercy and magnanimity

in forgiving the erring individuals.

 

....To be continued!

 

dEsikan tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

 

Praveena nAmni Ramanuja dasi

14th Jun 1999