Challenge 3.22: "LISTEN TO WHAT THE WORLD SAYS ABOUT YOU!"

[Guest guest]

SwAmi VEdAnta DEsika's "NaichyAnusanthAnam" and

"SAtvika AhamkAram "

(As gleaned from his StOtras.) -

Part 3 - SWAMI CHALLENGES!

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Dear Bhagavatas

Kindly refer to "Part 3 - SWAMI CHALLENGES! An Introductory Note" -

posted on 10th October 99. I am leaving out this to avoid repetition.

You may read that to appreciate this posting in the proper perspective.

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

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A CORRECTION TO Challenge 3.20:. "SAVE YOURSELF FROM IGNOMINY!"

The word "SAVE" was wrongly typed as "SACE". Please have it corrected.

Thanks.

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Challenge 3.22: "LISTEN TO WHAT THE WORLD SAYS ABOUT YOU!"

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SwAmi - dayA jala nidhir madhurah kshamAvAn

SeelAdhikah sritha vatsalah suchir athyudhArah /

EthAni hAthum anaghO na kila arhasi tvam

VikhyAthimanthi birudhAni mayA sahaiva //

(Sri SaraNAgathi Deepikai SlOkam 52)

 

Meaning

 

Did you hear the "talk of the town"?

 

The whole world is praising you saying-

 

· You are the "SwAmi" - the Lord, the Owner, the Master (SwAmi)

· You are the Ocean of mercy (DayA jala nidhi)

· You are the sweetest person with the most enjoyable qualities (madhurah)

· You ignore the faults of your devotees with unequalled clemency (kshamAvAn)

· Your "Soulabhyam" and "Souseelyam" are such that you condescend to mix

freely with the lowliest of the lowly (SeelAdhikah)

· You have unsurpassed affection and love to your devotees

· You are so pure at heart that you do shower your favors without expecting

any recompense (nirhetukam)- (vatsalah)

· You always feel that you have not granted enough even after unstintingly

fulfilling all the desires of your devotees with your blessings (athyudhArah)

· You are absolutely blemishless (anaghah)

 

If you forsake me now, you will forfeit not only me, but inevitably also all

these titles (birudhAni)

 

If you care to save these titles for yourself, take care to bless me with

your grace.

 

Therefore, beware!. If you forsake me, all these titles will forsake you and

follow me!"

 

Comment

 

SwAmi in StOtra bAshyam quotes "VishNu Tattvam" SlOKam thus-

"svatvam Aathmani samjAtham swAmitvam brahmaNi sthiotham

ubhayOrEsha sambandhO na parObhimathO mama /

sva jeevEchchA yadhi thE sva sathyam spruhA yadhi

AathmA dAsyam harEh: swAmyam swabhAvam cha sadhA smara //

 

Meaning-

"This universe of sentient beings and non-sentient things are your

possessions.

It is the duty of the owner of property to protect his property"

 

madhurah: cf AnDAl's "manathukku iniyAnai"

 

athyudhArah: cf "vENDitrellAm tharum vaLLal maNivaNNan koLLak kuraivilan" etc.

One who gives without expecting anything in return.

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Note

Explanation of other epithets not given lest the comment should become too

lengthy.

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To Continue: Challenge 3.23: "I KNOW WHAT YOU DID BEFORE!"

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[Guest guest]

Dear Bhagavatas

I give below a mail received on the subject togther with my reply because I

felt that it may be of interest to other members also.

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

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My reply

Dear Sri Balaji Raman

 

Let me first thank you for a genuine query.

 

I agree with your view. It is not that the SwAmi challenges in the spirit of

threatening.

SwAmi is only taking privileges with the Lord in a kind of ' PraNaya kalaham'

so often featured in the works of AzhwArs and AachAryas. I am trying to

bring out a new dimension for appreciating the kaleidoscopic presentation in

his own inimitable style, the various moods and sentiments in this mode

 

May I request you kindly to read the Introduction to this part of the series

posted on 10th October 99? I have clearly indicated therein that these

challenges have to taken as a kind of friendly banter.

 

Hope this helps. If you have any questions, please write to me in private as

you have done now and I should be more than happy to answer your concerns.

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

"balaji raman" ramanbalaji

Ramanbil

Re: Challenge 3.22: "LISTEN TO WHAT THE WORLD SAYS ABOUT YOU!"

Tue, 02 Nov 1999 14:57:30 PST

II SRI: II

NAMO NARAYANA

SHRI. RAMANBIL SWAMIN,

Daasasya vignyabhanam,

adiyen is reading your postings & they are wonderful by BHAGAVAT SANKALPAM.

adiyen strongly feels SAAKSHAATH SRIMAN NARAYANA wants to propagate the

glory of SWAMI DESIKAN through this KAINKARYAM.

Though adiyen does not have age to bless you,adiyen bows to you & would wish

to humbly submit the following.

The tone of your challenges seems SWAMI DESIKAN challenging OUR SHRIYA:

PATHI which adiyen doubts.

adiyen feels that SWAMI DESIKAN is afraid that all the SOWLABHYAM & KALYANA

GUNAS of OUR LORD might be in stake if OUR LORD forfeits SHARANAGATI to His

surrenderers.

And so He pleads to Lord not to lose his AKHILAHEYA PRATHYANEEKA KALYANA

GUNAAS for that would wound SWAMI DESIKAN more than OUR LORD Himself.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

I also apologise for any inadvertent mistakes in this letter.

Daasan,

SRINIVASA SARMAN.

 

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sriya: kAntHAya kalyAna nidhaYE nidhaYERdhinam

Sri vEnkata nivAsAya srinivAsAya mangalam.

 

II SARVAM SRI SRINIVASA ARPANAM ASTHU II

 

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