H.H Srimad PaRavaakOttai Andavan's prayer of Abheethi Sthavam

[Guest guest]

SrI:

SrImathE Gopaladesika Mahadesikaya namah:

 

Dearest Vaishnavas,

 

The terrorist attacks and the tragedy that struck was described by adiyEn's

father to asmadhAchAryan His Holiness Srimad PaRavaakkOttai Andavan Sri

Gopaladesika Mahadesikan Swamy. Sri C Seshadri Swamin

of Chennai also visited Srirangam and was narrating the gory attacks.

 

Sri Ve Anantha Narasimhachariar Swamin and asmadhAcharyan Srimad

PaRavaakkOttai Andavan Swamy immediately were shocked and were concerned

about the situation of innocent victims and more particularly

of us, who are residing overseas (especially in USA).

 

Swamy out of His compassion, with motherly affection spontaneously said, "I

will recite daily in the morning and the evening, Swamy Desikan's abheethi

sthavam and Dasaavathaara sthOthram for the safety of Srivaishnavas in US

and pray to Divya Dampathi Sri RanganAyaki SamEtha Sri Rangantahan and

Acharya Saarvabhouman Sri Vedatha Desikan to shower Their benevolent dayA on

us, dispelling the fear (uneasy tensions) from our minds.

 

Sri ANC Swamin also pledged to do the same. Swamy also has asked and

instructed Srivaishnavas all over the globe to recite Abhiti Stavam and

Dasaavathara sthOthram of Swamy Desikan everyday for the safety and welfare

of every one of us.

 

(From Srivaishnava Home Page by Sri Mani Varadarajan-

http://www.ramanuja.org ), This stotram Abheethi sthavam has a historical

background. The great centre of Sri Vaishnavism Srirangam had fallen into

the hands of the Muslim invaders led by Malik Kafur in the 14th Century A.D.

Before that, the shrine of Lord Ranganatha had been closed after secretly

sealing the sanctum sanctorum, and the utsava-murti removed to places of

safety by the pious people of the place. Several great acharyas lost their

lives, and several others, Vedanta Desika among them, ran away from the

place in fear and panic. Desika stayed at Satyamangalam near Kollegal now in

Mysore State. It is from there he sang this stotra in praise of Lord

Ranganatha, praying to Him to banish the fear of his devotees and return to

His abode.

Sloka 20 voices the prayer to banish fear in Srirangam and restore it to its

former glory, and sloka 22 prays to the Lord to wield His weapons and remove

their fear caused by the turushkas and the Yavanas. The Stotra refers to the

Lord's five weapons (panchayudhas), which He always holds in His hands for

our protection, in four places 11, 21, 22 and 23. Fear and/or freedom from

fear figure in nearly half the total number of slokas of this stotram. Sloka

19 refers by name to eight staunch devotees of the Lord who obtained

complete freedom from fear by

taking refuge at the Lord's feet and prays for a similar benefit and

blessing for all of us.

 

A paaraayanam of this stotram has been prescribed by elders for securing

freedom from fear of any sort.

 

Let us contemplate the rich meaning (so apt for us now in the present

context) of Slokam 22 - This slokam tells us about the attack on Arangam by

turushkAs and yavanAs:

 

kalipraNidhi lakshaNai: kalitashAkyalOkAyatai:

turushka-yavanAdibhirjagati jrmbhamANam bhayam |

prakrshta-nijashaktibhi: prasabhamAyudhai: panchabhi:

kshiti tridasharakshakai: kshapaya RanganAtha kshaNAt ||

 

May the spread of fear in this world due to anya mathams like boudhdha,

chArvAka (with kali purusha gooDhachAra lakshaNam) and also due to the

attack of turushkAs and yavanAs, be completely eliminated with the use of

your divya Ayudhams in a second.

 

A SRIVAISHNAVAN IS ONE-

who feels the pain of and empathizes with the suffering.

who says, aiyO" and cries when he sees someone suffering.

who rushes to rescue and help the suffering.

 

It is not just enough to watch the CNN and feel bad about the attacks and

weep for the victims. Let us pray and recite Abhethi Sthavam and

Dasaavathaara sthOthram as instructed by asmadhAcharyan and help

us to help each other. The most compassionate Acharyan has also started

sicne 15th and has been reciting daily for our safety and welfare. adiyEn

has already started reciting at Singapore.

 

Let us be true vaishnavas and feel for the suffering.

 

This also reminds me of Narsi Mehta ( A gujarathi poet)'s "VaishNav

JanatO"poem. Given below is the text and Translation

(from bhakti archives)

 

Vaishnav jan to tene kahiye je

[One who is a vaishnav]

PeeD paraayi jaaNe re

[Knows the pain of others]

Par-dukhkhe upkaar kare toye

[Does good to others, esp. to those ones who are in misery]

Man abhimaan na aaNe re

[Does not let pride enter his mind]

Vaishnav...

 

SakaL lok maan sahune vande

[A Vaishnav, Tolerates and praises the the entire world]

Nindaa na kare keni re

[Does not say bad things about anyone]

Vaach kaachh man nishchaL raakhe

[Keeps his/her words, actions and thoughts pure]

Dhan-dhan janani teni re

[O Vaishnav, your mother is blessed (dhanya-dhanya)]

 

Vaishnav...

 

Sam-drishti ne trishna tyaagi

[A Vaishnav sees everything equally, rejects greed & avarice]

Par-stree jene maat re

[Considers some one else's wife/daughter as his mother]

Jivha thaki asatya na bole

[The toungue may get tired, but will never speak lies]

Par-dhan nav jhaalee haath re

[Does not even touch someone else's property]

Vaishnav...

 

Moh-maaya vyaape nahi jene

[A Vaishnav does not succumb to worldly attachments]

DriDh vairaagya jena man maan re

[Who has devoted himself to stauch detachment to worldly pleasures]

Ram naam shoon taaLi laagi

[Who has been edicted to the elixir coming by the name of Ram]

SakaL tirath tena tan maan re

[For whom all the religious sites are in the mind]

Vaishnav...

 

VaN-lobhi ne kapaT-rahit chhe

[Who has no greed and deciet]

Kaam-krodh nivaarya re

[Who has renounced lust of all types and anger]

BhaNe Narsaiyyo tenun darshan karta

[The poet Narsi will like to see such a person]

KuL ekoter taarya re

[by who's virtue, the entire family gets salvation]

Vaishnav...

 

Bonus:

Sri C Seshadri Swamin of Chennai has also come out with a BONUS Plan of

performing Archana to the Lord of Srirangam on behalf of us (those who pray

and recite Abheethi sthavam). Those interested, may please send an email to:

padhukasavagan with your name, star and Gothram. He will

perform Archana and send you the archana ticket details by email back. IT IS

FREE OF CHARGE.

 

Acharyan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

Regards

Narayana Narayana

NarayaNa dAsan madhavakkannan

 

 

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[Guest guest]

SrI:

Dear Smt Jayshree,

Thanks for your good and encouraging words on adiyEn's post (two cents

worth).

 

I agree. I too think it was primarily for protecting Sri Sudharsana Suri's

Sruthaprakasigai and to save the children of Sri Sudharsana Suri. Sri Pillai

lOkAcharyar took the Lord Ranganathan (NamperumAL)vigraham to safety. They

worked hand in hand during this crucial time. We need to condier these

Acharyas as role models and attempt to follow and emulate.

Thansk again.

Regards

Narayana Narayana

NarayaNa dAsan madhavakkannan

 

----Original Message Follows----

"Narasimhan, Jayshree" <jayshree.narasimhan

"'Madhavakkannan V'" <srivaishnavan

RE: H.H Srimad PaRavaakOttai Andavan's prayer of Abheethi Sthavam

Thu, 20 Sep 2001 10:29:33 +0800

 

Namo NarayNa!

 

A wonderful kainkaryam and as usual a beautiful write-up.

 

Just a small clarification. Adiyen thought that Swamy Deskian did not run

away from Srirangam fearing the attack. But more so to save

"sruthapakasikai". Please do correct adiyen if this is not so.

Thanks & Regards,

 

Jayshree Narasimhan

 

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