Remembering our Lord during final moments..

[Guest guest]

Dear Members,

 

According to our sampradAya, Sri Ramanuja just before proceeding to

Srirangam stayed in Kanchi and learnt Divya Prabhandam. During this sojourn,

he was enlightened by none other than Sri VaradarAja Perumal, Himself, via

Thirukacchi Nambi, regarding several important questions that later formed

the basis for his wonderful philosophy.

 

Among the questions that were answered one was that, it is not necessary on

the part of a departing soul to remember Him (during the final moments).

 

Yet, we find almost all our Acharyas who followed Sri Ramanuja (including

even us-common folks) routinely praying that they/we should be able to

remember Him when the end comes. This is understandable for obvious reasons,

but why is the *repeated emphasis* when Sri Ramanuja had already clarified

that it is not required so.

 

Thanks in advance for clarifications.

 

Respectfully,

Sriram

[Guest guest]

Sri Venkata Gurave Nama:

 

Dear Sriram,

 

One of the 6 instructions (6 Vishayams) Emberumanar got from Thriukachi

Nambi is "Anthimasmirthi Varjanam".

i.e. One need not worry about 'Remembering the Lord just before Death'

 

This is true esp for those who have done Prapatti. I would give you 2

pramanams form our Poorvacharyas anubhavams.

 

1. In Varaha Sarama Slokam, Lord clearly states that one who surrenders

to him when his senses are functioning, for such a person when he is on

the death bed like a wood, having no senses, Devi, I would remember him

and grant him deliverance.

 

This is assurance is given by none other than Lord Varaha. As Swami

Parasara Bhattar states, Varaha Permuman is the most dependable and

reliable person and his assurance is more reliable than all other

assurances given by Lord during his various incarnations.

 

 

2. Again I discuss the Life of Swami Peria Nambi. When he was about to

die, His daughter suggested that he be immediately taken to Srirangam as

his Anthisma desai is approaching. He snuffed at her and said, 'If I

choose to run to Srirangam to die so that I get Moksham certainly, then

the future generations would think that only a stay or visit to a

divyadesam would grant moksham and not Prapatti to Lord or association of

one towards his acharyan.

I on the strength of my association to Swami Alavandar would get my

deliverance'....

 

Now it may be clear that one need have to remember him for Mosksham. But

still you may have a question as to why then Lord should insists In

Bhagavat Gita that 'One who remembers me immediately before his death,

would be rescued by me'....

This dharma(samaniya dharma) is applicable to those who follow Bhakthi

Yoga and not for prapannas who surrenders to him at the instance of our

Acharyan.

 

Infact Swami Ramanuja also had the same doubt what you are having,, that

made him to go to Thirukachi Nambi and ask for answers...

 

Thanks

Dasan

 

KM Narayanan

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Sriram Ranganathan" <srirangan on 08/12/2001 04:45:14 PM

 

bhakti-list

cc:

 

Remembering our Lord during final moments..

 

 

Dear Members,

 

According to our sampradAya, Sri Ramanuja just before proceeding to

Srirangam stayed in Kanchi and learnt Divya Prabhandam. During this

sojourn,

he was enlightened by none other than Sri VaradarAja Perumal, Himself, via

Thirukacchi Nambi, regarding several important questions that later formed

the basis for his wonderful philosophy.

 

Among the questions that were answered one was that, it is not necessary

on

the part of a departing soul to remember Him (during the final moments).

 

Yet, we find almost all our Acharyas who followed Sri Ramanuja (including

even us-common folks) routinely praying that they/we should be able to

remember Him when the end comes. This is understandable for obvious

reasons,

but why is the *repeated emphasis* when Sri Ramanuja had already clarified

that it is not required so.

 

Thanks in advance for clarifications.

 

Respectfully,

Sriram

 

 

-----------------------------

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[Guest guest]

SrI:

SrImathE Gopaladesika mahadesikaya namah:

Dear SrI Sriram,

 

Your question is very good and enables us to enjoy the greatness of the

Divine name.. Sure.. There is no need for anthimasmruthi.. That is what the

Lord says. Once you surrender at my Lotus Feet, as the means and the end as

well, I will remember you at the time of death. Not to worry.

 

While bhaktiyOgam warrants a constant, uninterrupted remebrance of the Lord

until the last breath, like a continuous flow of oil..with no cessation.. a

prapannan (one who has performed prapatti) need not remember at the time of

death.

 

AzhwArs also have expressed their inability to think of the Lord at the

final moment..

 

Sri KulasekarAzhwAr in Mukunda maalaa says:

 

krishNa tvadheeya padha pankaja pancharaantham

adhyaiva mE visathu maanasa raaja hamsa:/

praaNa prayaaNa samayE kapa vaadha pitthai:

kaNTavarOdhanavidhou smaraNam kuthasthE?//

 

(adiyEn's free translation)Oh KrishnA! At this moment, at this spot of time,

in my life, let the swan of my manas (mind), enter the Lotus Feet of Yours..

How can I remember You at the dying moment when my thorat is choked with

phlegm (and emotions), mucus, bile and air (gasping..)

 

so, appOdhaikku ippOdhE solli vaitthEn..- says PeriyAzhwAr.

 

Though if we simply utter once His Divine Name and perform saraNAgathy once,

it is adequate and He does not expect anything else; He takes

a pledge.. etc.., it is still sweet to utter His divine name always..

His name is for our enjoyment. By uttering his divine name, By performing

the kaimkaryams for His pleasure; By prostrating at His Feet at his temples

and at our perumAL sannidhi, we are able to carryout what pleases the

Lordwith manas, vaak, and kaayam (mind, word and deed).

 

Swamy Varaaha PerumAL says: with all three organs of senses(karanam)

namely manas , vAk and kAyam (speech, action and thought) we must surrender

to the Lord.

Think only about him, act only for his pUja, and speek only in

praise of Him. Immediately bhUmipiratti grasped this easy means to reach the

Lord and thought it fit to be preached to us in this samsAra.

 

So she incarnated as AndAl and descended in this world. Andal is none else

but BhUmAdEvi herself. The preachings of VarAha to BhUmi PiraaTTi is

enscribed in the 5th verse of tiruppavai "vAyinAl pAdi , manatinAl cindikka,

tUmalar tUvi tozhudu" . This is the same as what was conveyd to her by Sri

VaraahaperumAL (maanamilaa panRi)

 

 

namAmi nArAyaNa-pAda-pankajam

karOmi nArAyaNa-pUjanam sadA |

vadAmi nArAyaNa-nAma nirmalam

smarAmi nArAyaNa-tattvam avyayam || 35

 

Also, SrI kulaSEkhara says that he is engaged in the three-fold worship of

SrIman-nArAyaNa - through manas, vAk, and kAyam. (mind, speech and body) The

AzhvAr says that he worships the Lotus Feet of SrIman-nArAyaNa; he is

performing tiruv-ArAdhanam for Him without any interruption; he is reciting

His blemishless names and is constantly thinking about His eternal glories.

 

When Sri Ramanuja performed his Saranagathy at the feof Divya Dampathi

during Setthi sEvai at Srirangam composing Gadyatrayam

(Saranagathy Gadyam, Sriranga Gadyam and Sri VaikuNta gadyam), the Lord

accepts his Surrender and says:

 

"Keep uttering Dwaya manthram contemplating ITS MEANING and get over even

the semblance of ALL the HURDLES; Live like that, HAPPILY in SRIRANGAM till

your body is worn out and will not house YOU ANY MORE"

 

When your body falls down, you will shine BRIGHT BY MY GRACE and you will

see My Darshan and You will be GREATLY INQUISITIVE to see Me and Reach Me to

Serve Me; and you will shed the BODY like removing the Old Cloth; you will

get All Bhakti for Me Due to My Grace; You will get "Nitya Kainkaryam" for

Me; and you will Not desire anything other than the bliss and happiness of

performing Nitya Kainkaryam;

Have No Doubts about This (mA thE bhoothathra samsaya:)

I have NEVER UTTERED FALSEHOOD; Nor will I ever; Rama Never TalksTwice;

"Once, whoever surrenders to Me and says"I am Your Servant", I Give

"AbhaYam" to All such Beings";

 

Isn't it a pleasure uttering His Divine Names at all times..

Thanks for giving us the oppotunity to discuss this..

Regards

Narayana Narayana

aDiyEn Narayana dAsan madhavakkannan

 

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[Guest guest]

Dear SHRI Narayanan,

 

U can find further eveidence to support ur finding in swami Desikan/s "

Amrithaswathini" where He says that Lord Varaha will Himself come to teh

mind of the bhaktha and this assurance is what we require.

The intersting point is that the asssurance has been given by the Lord and

reirtirated by our Achrya , the latter who is closer to us.

 

adeyen

ramanuja dasan

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

srimatE rAmAnujAya nama:

 

As Sriman Madhavakannan rightly pointed out - many AzhwArs also have

expressed their inability to think of the Lord at the final moment-

Peria Alwar, in nAlAmpathu,5- pAshurams 3 to 7, there are references

to how one should think of Lord a lot before the final moment-

"anthakAla madaivadanmunnam, mArva menbadOr koilamaithu, madhava

nennum theivathe natti, Arva menbadOr poovidavallarku ...." Also in

the end, in 4-10 referring to the "final moment" he says that he may

not be able to remember the Lord at "that moment" and instead of that

"final moment" he would like to say right now... "angEdu nAnunnai

ninaikkammAttEn arangatharavanE palliyanE... appOdikkippOdE

shollivaithEn... Infact these are the most moving pashurams in Peri

Alwar's Tirumozhi...

 

rAmAnuja dAsi

 

 

 

 

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