Lord's Thiruvullam

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Srimate Sri Lakshminrisimha Parabrahmane Nama:

Srimate Ramanujaya Nama:

Srimate Nigamantha Mahadesikaya Nama:

Srimate Athivan Satakopa Yathindra Mahadesikaya Nama:

Srimate Srivan Satakopa Sri Vedantadesika Yathindra Mahadesikaya Nama:

Srimate Sri Lakshminrisimha Dhivya Padhukasevaka

Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yathindra Mahadesikaya Nama:

 

 

Dear BhakthAs

 

I have few observations regarding the ongoing discussion among Bhakti-group

members

about supriority/holiness of one river over the other.

It is true that many of us acknowledge Ganga is most holy river in India

(rather World) as no other river enjoys such a holiness. In Thiruppavai,

the mention of

Yamuna gives impression that it is the holiest. Whereas in one of the

Alwar's pAsurams ( I do not remember Alwar's name and full pAsuram) it is

mentioned as "Gangaiyinum punitha

Kaveri". Here river Kaveri is given the highest degree of holiness as

compared to Ganga.

 

In this context I also would like to bring to notice that in our Hindu

religion, though we accept one GOD ( Supreme Being) philosophy, different

sects adopted

their own approach to the superiority of the Deities. In Shaivam, Siva is

the Supreme Lord and Vishnu & other deities (devathas) one or the other time

go to

Lord Siva and plead for His help during crisis times. Similarly in Shaktam

(Shakti

worship) both Siva, Vishnu and other devathas go to Her for blessings. And

of

course in Sri Vaishanavam it is Lord Narayana for everything and is the

Ultimate.

 

So it is only by belief and full faith in the Lord, determined by own self

consciousness and of course by the will of the God,

that the persons belong to a particular sect praised one over the other.

 

Going by this, pAsurams and other songs in praise of Lord (including

narration on archA murthys) and related

environment (rivers, mountains, tanks, theerthams etc) which came out

spontaneously from the mouth of Alwars, Nayanmars and

other devotees were very much momentary upon seeing/feeling their Lord. At

this kind of mental state ( direct experience

of Supreme Being), definitely they won't have made any conscious comparison

(due to their full consciousness with Lord) on

material/natural entities.

 

It is only we make conscious comparison (as we do now ) through our

researches and analyses etc. So obviously a lot of inferences and new

interpretaions would take place with the information that we have from

various sources.

 

As a follower of Sri vaishnavaite sampradhayam, I believe that it is

Sriman Narayanans' Thiruvullam to manifest in various forms

and to bring out His glories and qualities through Alwars and other

devotees at different times including giving importance

to natural entities ( rivers, theerthams, places etc).

 

I also seek pardon from devotees if their sentiments are hurt in any way.

The intention of writing this is to get enlightened in the subject in a

more meaningful way.

 

Comments on my observations are welcome.

 

Adiyen Shri Ranganatha Dasan

Balaji K

 

 

Dear Sudarsan,

 

Nice to hear of the vibrant activity in Singapore.

I have a couple of observations, if you don't mind:

 

(a) The normal order of events during mArgazhi mAsam

is FIRST the usha: kAla visesha ArAdhana, including

tiruppAvai recital and only then the prAta: sandhyA.

The reason for this is that the visesha ArAdhana

is done before sunrise, so it belongs before the sandhyA

(clarified by Srimat Poundarikapuram Andavan Swami).

 

(b) The criticism of the Ganga river sounds rather harsh.

I would consider it a privilege, as nearly all Vaidikas

do, to bathe in the same water that touched the body

of a great bhAgavata such as Siva. When Sage Vishvamitra

was guiding Rama and Lakshmana through the forest, Valmiki

Maharishi writes:

 

bhavAnga-patitam toyam pavitram iti paspRSuH |

 

They bathed in the waters [of the Ganga] considering

it pure because of contact with Siva's limbs

 

[ SrImad rAmAyaNam, bAla-kANDam ]

 

Perhaps it is 'na hi nindA stuti', but still a little

bit troublesome.

 

With regards

aDiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan,

Mani

> The day started with Thiruppaavai recital, followed by Prathas

> Sandhyavandanam, followed by Saligrahma Aaradhanai.

> Even Ganges whose sanctity came from the feet of the Lord, was

> blemished with Brahma and Rudras touched it with the aim of

> cleansing their sins(Ithara Devathaa Samantham), but Yamuna was

> constantly cleansed with Bhagavad Samantham.