MOKSHADIKARI 1: "WHO ON EARTH WANTS TO GO TO ETERNITY?"

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhagavatas:

 

You will remember that sometime ago, in deference to the requests from

several Bhagavatas, I agreed to write on "Vilakshana Mokshadhikari NirNayam"

of Sri Erumbiappa, a disciple of Sri ManavAla MAmunigal

 

This write up is based mainly on the summary of the above work by Prof. R

RangarAjan of Madurai in his book "Vaikuntam pugum maNNavar yaar?" published

by AzhwArgal Amudha Nilayam, Komaleeswaranpet. Chennai 2. Since Erumbiappa

has faithfully followed what Swami Desikan has written on the subject in his

various monumental works, cross references to them are included wherever

necessary by way of elucidation.

 

The revolutionary ideas of Erumbiappa as explained by the learned Professor

are sure to raise many eyebrows and also many questions that will provide

food for thought.

 

I claim no originality for the views expressed herein but reproduce what

these celebrities have propounded. The credit for anything correctly stated

goes to my Acharyas HH Srimad Andavan of Poundarikapuram Ashramam and HH

Srimad Azhagiyasinghar and to the above learned Professor, All errors of

commission and omission are mine and I am open for any corrections from

Bhagavatas.

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

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An Introduction

You might have seen / heard of the popular show: "Who wants to be a

millionaire?"

 

Our AzhwArs and AchAryas put the question differently.

They ask "Who on earth wants to go from here to eternity?"

 

They have brought out the criteria for this as revealed in the SAstras. As in

any selection, only those who satisfy these criteria will be eligible to

"eternity".

What are these terms and conditions, the rules and regulations, and the ifs

and buts that should be satisfied?

 

Not all people want to become millionaires; There are still people who shun

such practices like crossing the ocean in search of filthy lucre which is

definitely NOT sanctioned in the SAstras and would strip us of our claim to

be Brahmins, let alone Srivaishnavas.

 

They are prepared to stay contented with what they have; Still some others,

who like our AzhwArs and AchAryas seek to embrace poverty as an antidote to

ego that goes hand in hand with material prosperity.

 

A fellow BhAgavata smitten by remorse (nirvEdam) and self deprecation on his

own plight which, however, is shared by many of us has poignantly observed-

 

Quote

"A true Vaishnava-Vedantin aspires to poverty all his life. We see examples

in the very same "achAryA-s" we so much extol. Desikan embraced the life of a

mendicant all his life. KurathAzhwAn was born rich but strenuously strove to

achieve poverty. AlavandAr could have continued to live a life of royal sloth

but chose to acquire poverty.... the examples could be cited endlessly... In

the past, the Brahmin community strove to remain poor in the midst of

wealth...

 

....Today we see the exact reverse! The Brahmin community, the new

generations, exert all their efforts to, in fact, transit as quickly as

possible, and through any means, fair or foul, from a state of abject penury

to unconscionable pelf... This is directly in conflict with the Vedic ideal.

So how can we ever reach Vedic truth when the fundamental direction of our

respective lives is wrong ... utterly wrong?...

 

....Although we call ourselves VedAntins --- and that too of the superior

Ramanuja-type --- we are utterly unfit to call ourselves so, since as a

community we are travesties and caricatures of a true Vedantin...

 

.... Before learning Desika stOtram-s and AzhwAr pAsuram-s, we should try and

do what those achAryA-s resolutely did... shun the ambition of wealth and

strive to embrace poverty. It is easy to learn our AchAryA-s "pAsurams" but

difficult to *practice* their ideals of life. But as long as we continue to

live like we do today ---

we shall only continue to make holy clowns of ourselves and the rest of the

world will see us surely for what we all are: a community of hypocrites who

are really long on "words" but short on "practice"...

Unquote-

 

But, what else do these AzhwArs and AchAryas and true VedAntins want?

They want to attain eternal glory that Moksham alone can ensure.

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1. In the first place, who gets to desire eternity i.e. Moksham?

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Only those fortunate souls who gain what is known as "jAyamAna kaDAksham"

will at all desire this.

 

What is this "jAyamAna kaDAksham"? Is it available for purchase in a

departmental store and if so, at what price?

 

Erumbiappa explains:

"Sriyah Pathi", the consort of MahAlakshmi (i.e) EmperumAn is the highest;

has limitless auspicious qualities and therefore is known as "BhagavAn". He

is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent. None can equal Him much less

challenge Him; Yet, He is as much the personification of absolute mercy as of

immense power.

 

He is moved by the souls' self-inflicted suffering in the sea of SamsAra as a

result of endless karmas. Out of His natural disposition of compassion, He

decides to bless them for no specific reason (NirhEtuka Kripa) with His

benign glance.

 

This glance is called "jAyamAna kaDAksham" in Sanskrit and "karuvilE thiru"

in Tamizh. Only those who are fortunate to "catch the eye" of the Lord in

this manner will ever get a desire for Moksham. One who gets this desire is

called a "Mumukshu".

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To Continue: MokshAdikAri 2. WHAT DOES A MUMUKSHU DO?"

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