Experiencing Swami Desika - 28

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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:

 

In the previous posting we saw Swami Desika's Sloka

in Yathiraja Saptati dealing with Shri Krishna

and Shri Yamuna, thus:

 

Vigahe Yamunan teertham SAdhu brndavane sthitam

Nirasta-jihmagasparse yatra Krshnah Krtadarah!!

 

Now for an elaboration!

 

'Vigahe Yamunan teertham', Swami Desika has a pun

intended in the word 'teertham'. 'Teertham' refers

to both water and 'AchArya'.

 

Swami says, just as how a person who had been in

heat would immerse himself in the river yamuna and

enjoy, so also we can do Dhyana on all the auspicious

qualities of Shri Alavandar and immerse ourselves in

the Greatness of his qualities!

 

Swami Desika states that Lord Krishna

(i) has protected the pandavas

(ii) chased away kaliyan serpent from the Yamuna river,

(iii) along with Gopas and Gopikas sported in the Yamuna river.

 

But then our Alavandar has not done any of these deeds. Then

why is it that Swami Desika mentions these attributes of

Shri Krishna while speaking of Shri Alavandar?

 

Here it goes.,

 

(i) Alavandar by his teachings to his disciples like

Peria Nambi protected them just like how Lord Krishna

protected the pandavas.

 

(ii) The river yamuna is useful for every body, but then

the kaliyan serpent had occupied the river and exhaled

poison. The water now could not be used. Lord Krishna

chased away the serpent and made yamuna river useful

for every body.

 

Lord Krishna chased away Kaliyan, Alavandar chased

away desires, KAma and krOda.

 

(iii) Lord Krishna played along with Gopas and

Gopikas and sported in the Yamuna river.

For all the above reasons, Lord Krishna had a

liking towards the yamuna river.

 

Shri Alavandar was an abode for the Preethi of Krishna.

He ran down the theories of opponents and assured the

protection of Bhaktas.

 

Shri Mannakkal Nambi after having taught Shri Alavandar

all the vedantaarthas, instructed him to learn the

Bhakti yoga of his grand father, Shri Nathamuni,

from Shri Kurugaikaavalappan.

 

Alavandar instantly went to visit him. Shri Kurugaikaavalappan

was in his Yoga. So, Alavandar did not want to disturb him and

so went silently and sat behind him. Shri Kurugaikaavalappan

after a short while completed his yoga and asked if there

was any body belonging to 'sottai kullam?'

 

Alavandar replied "Adiyen" and prostrated to

Shri Kurugaikaavalappan. Alavandar humbly enquired -

" How did DevarIr know about Adiyen's visit?"

 

Shri Kurugaikaavalappan replied that he was meditating

on Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna who was looking at him was

suddenly distracted and turned behind to look at some body

else. Shri Kurugaikaavalappan added, "Who else can it be, other

than a 'Sottai kullathan' capable of moving away Lord Krishna's

attention from me?"

 

Hence seeing the preeti of Lord Krishna towards Alavandar,

Swami Desika says "yatra Krshnah Krtadarah".

Swami Desika gets immersed in Shri Alavandar's great

qualities and offers salutations to him.

 

We have been seeing the inexplicable Greatness of

Shri Alavandar. With all these greatness, our Alavandar's

humility, just brings out tears in our eyes.

 

Shri Alavandar performs SaranAgathy at the lotus feet

of our Lord in the Stotra Ratna.

 

Na dharma nistosmi nacha atma vedhi

Na bhaktiman tvat charanaara-vindey: !

Akinchana, ananya-gathihi sharanyaha

Tvad paada moolam charanam prapadye !!

 

Shri Alavandar confesses to our Lord that he is

neither a Karma yogi, nor a Bhakti yogi, and adds that

he is bereft of all sAdhanas.

 

Shri Alavandar communicates to the Lord that he has

no other refuge [other than Sriya: pathi] and surrenders

absolutely at the lotus feet of our Lord.

 

In this Shri Alavandar confesses his Aakinchanyam and

Ananyagathitvam to our Lord and hence chooses

"Prapatti" marga.

 

Our Alavandar has performed Prapatti for our sake. So that,

we will follow our PoorvAcharyas foot steps.

 

Alavandar states that he is an akinchanan. It is not because

of the incapacity of this Great Aacharya, but then it is just

because our Acharya wanted us to follow his foot steps. He has

reflected our Aakinchanyam.

 

If our Aacharya himself claims Aakinchanyam, then where

are we? What can we do? We cannot even dream of choosing

Bhakti yogam because, we will end up no where. Let us

follow the foot steps of Shri Alavandar.

 

In Sloka 62 of Stotra Ratna,

 

"Amaryaadaha kshudrach chalamathi rasooyaprasavabhoo..."

 

We see Alavandar in absolute humility confess his weakness

on the following ten counts:

 

1) Dis-obedient ; Dis respectful

2) Easily attracted by petty sensuous attractions

3) Shaky mind

4) Full of jealousy

5) Ungrateful

6) Peevish

7) Ensnared by sensuous infatuations

8) Deceitful

9) Cruel

10) Sinful

 

Shri Alavandar prays to our Lord stating that Despite

his absolutely undeserving nature, he look's upon

Lord's grace ! Shri Alavandar communicates his urge

to near our Lords Lotus feet, cross this ocean of sorrow

and to do Kaimkaryam to our Lord.

 

Here we see the over pouring mercy of our Acharya to

point out our weakness by claiming it to be his and

there by enlightening us to be worthy of our Lords grace

- by performing Prapatti.

 

Shri Alavandar after having performed Prapatti, adds that

it is our Lords mercy that he accepts us who have committed

so many sins.

 

Swami Desika reestablishes this in his Saranagathi Deepika thus:

 

MuKhyam cha yatprapadhanam swayameva saadyam

dhatavyamIsha krupayA tadapi tvayaiva !

tanme bhavaccharaNasangavatImavasTham

pashyannupAyaphalayooruchitam viDeyA:!!

 

Swami states that for the performance of Prapatti

itself we need our Lords grace, and it does not

end there. Even after performance of Prapatti, It

is upto our Lord to accept us. It is again our Lords

grace that he accepts us.

 

How are we to show our gratitude to our Great poorvAchAryas

for ALL that they have done for us?

 

We are Akinchanas, we are totally indebted to them in this

life, after this life, ...

 

WE ARE INDEBTED TO OUR ACHARYAS FOR EVER!

 

.......to be continued!

 

AlavandAr tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

 

dEsikan tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

 

Praveena nAmni Ramanuja dasi

17th Jul 1999