SAtvika AhamkAram 4.03: "DO YOU WANT TO ASCEND TO PARAMAPADAM?

[Guest guest]

SwAmi VedAnta Desika's "NaichyAnusanthAnam"

and "SAtvika AhamkAram"

(as gleaned from his StOtras)

Part 4. SAtvika AhamkAram

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Dear Bhagavatas

Your kind attention is invited to the Introduction to this Part posted on

21st November 99 to appreciate this posting better and in the proper

perspective.

(Anbil Ramaswamy)

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SAtvika AhamkAram 4.03:

"DO YOU WANT TO ASCEND THE STEPS UP TO PARAMAPADAM?

FOLLOW ME. I WILL TAKE YOU THERE!"

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RangAsthAnE rasika mahithE ranjithAsEsha chithE

vidwat sEva vimala manasA venkaTEsEna kliptham /

AklEsEna praNihitha dhiyAm AarurukshOravasthAm

Bhaktim ghADAm disathu bhagavad dhyAna sOpAnam Etath //

(Bhagavad DhyAna SOpAnam SlOkam 12)

 

Meaning

"This is BhoolOka VaikunTam called Srirangam.

This is hailed by all Bhagavatas as the ideal kshEtram to reside.

This DivyadEsam is delectable to all those who are fortunate to come and live

here.

Brahmavidss (those who have known Brahman) like VenkaTEsa, AppuLLAr and

others who took their residence here.

I have acquired pure and blemishless knowledge having faithfully served them.

 

It is with these extraordinary qualifications that I have come forward to

compose this StOtram.

If you desire to acquire deep devotion like the great yogis of yore and if

you wish to ascend the steps to Paramapadam -

Come one, Come all.

Following me, recite this StOtram constantly with faith

You will acquire Bhakti at the feet of EmperumAn.

Do you know what will happen to you?

Without your realizing it, you will find yourself escalating step by step on

the flights of steps leading to Paramapadam"

 

Comment:

SwAmi created two flights of steps -(SOpAnam means flights of steps) -

"Bhagavad DhyAna SOpAnam" and "Paramapada SOpAnam".

SwAmi himself is said to have named this StOtram as

"Bahagavad DhyAna SOpAnam".

 

It is the function of the AchAryas to provide the ladder to lift the Sishya

up to Paramapadam and then withdraw the ladder, so that the one who thus

reaches Paramapadam would never ever have any chance to descend "down to

earth" again.

 

"Bhakthim ghADAm" means "unswerved devotion"

Who can get this kind of devotion?

Only those who have purity of mind (Vimala manas)

Who can have this purity of mind?

Only those who have served truly their AchAryas (Vidwat Seva)

 

SwAmi seems to imply that one should -

· first resort to an AchArya,

· then, serve him wholeheartedly,

· thus, acquire a pure mind, and

· thereby develop steady devotion to the Lord

· culminating in performing SaraNAgathi

· which will directly lead one to Paramapadam.

How beautifully SwAmi takes us step by step to our goal!

 

Following TiruppANAzhwAr to whom he has special attachment and endearingly

calls him "Nam PANa nAthar", he enjoys the "DivyamangaLa vigraham" of the

Lord starting from the feet culminating at the crown of the Lord (PAdAdi kEsa

varNanam).

 

"AkLEsEna praNihitha dhiyAm"- "akLEsa" means without any effort or pain.

SwAmi seems to imply that while "BhaktiyOgam" is beset with insuperable and

painful effort, the "Prapatti mArgam" to which this StOtra will lead will

ultimately elevate one to supreme bliss *without any effort* at all!

 

Thus, in this StOtra, SwAmi not only lets us enjoy the pulchritude of the

Lord's "DivyamangaLa vigraham" *here* but also packs in it the essence of

"SaraNAgathi Tattvam" in each of its verses leading us to eternal bliss in

the *hereafter* also.

 

In the process, the SwAmi provides us a foretaste of the beatitude which we

will be enjoying "again for the first time" in Paramapadam!

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To follow: Satvika AhamkAram 4.04:

"WHY DO YOU FEAR, WHEN I AM HERE?"

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