Sri Mukkur Swami's Upanyasam Tapes

[Guest guest]

Sri:

 

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

 

Adiyen wishes to offer his heartfelt congratulations to U.Ve. Sri

Rajagopalan Srinivasan Swamin for his tireless efforts in the

magnificent Kaimkaryam of putting together the superb CD ROM on the

life and works of Sri Mukkur Swami. This is a real treat for all

Asthikas. Please acquire a copy of this wonderful CD ROM from Sri

Rajagopalan Swamin.

 

Adiyen wishes to continue the summary of Sri Mukkur Swami's

upanyasam. Having described the greatness of Sri Shuka Brahmam

through the incident with the Apsara damsels, Swami remarked "there

cannot be a greater Brahma jnAni than Shuka Brahmam. His life

exemplified the Vedam salutation Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma." To

illustrate this further, Swami commented "During the Rajasuya

sacrifice of Yudhishtira, Lord Krishna instructed Arjuna to keep a

head count of the number of Brahmanas that partook of Prasadam. To

facilitate this, a bell had been set up, which would ring once as

soon as a large number of Brahmanas had eaten the Prasadam.

At that time Arjuna would record the corresponding number of guests.

Sri Shuka Brahmam arrived and ate only a single grain of rice. The

bell rang non-stop. Arjuna was amazed by this occurence and sought an

explanation for it. Lord Krishna then revealed that a single grain

partaken by Sri Shuka Brahmam was equivalent to crores of learned

Brahmanas taking part in the Tadiaradhanam."

 

Next Swami focussed on Parikshit and pointed out that he was an

extraordinary listener. Swami narrated the circumstances under which

Parikshit was born. "Ashwathama employed the apANdava astra (a weapon

which would render the world Pandava-less) on the womb of Uttara.

However, the Divine Grace of Lord Krishna caused the Sudarshana

Chakram to protect Parikshit, in his mother's womb. As a result the

child in the womb was beholding both the Sudarshana Chakram as well

as the Astra of Ashwathma inquiringly. Therefore, he was named

as Parikshit." One of the modes of the nine forms of Bhakti to Lord

Narayana is ShravaNam (hearing the Lord's glories). Parikshit

exemplifies this mode of Bhakti.

 

Swami continued "The lakshaNam of a listener is reflected in his

ability to comprehend what is being narrated and ask questions with a

view to furthering his understanding of the narration. In this

respect, Parikshit excels again. Parikshit was attentively listening

to Sri Shuka Brahmam's narration of Prayaschitta Karmas. Parikshit

then made an astute observation that Prayaschitta Karmas can only

serve as expiatory rites for sins already commited. However, it

cannot root out once and for all the vasanas that cause one to engage

in sinful acts. To illustrate this better, it is helpful to consider

an elephant being bathed in the river by a Mahout (its controller).

Bathing the elephant cleanses it of the dirt. However, when the

elephant goes to the river bed, it uses its trunk to sprinkle sand

all over its body. Thus, bathing the elephant does not stop it from

becoming dirty. Therefore, what is the means for preventing one from

engaging in sinful acts?"

 

Swami continued" Sri Shuka Brahmam was pleased with this observation

of Parikshit and the resulting question. Sri Shuka Brahmam answered

this through the Bhagavatam salutation "Kechith kevalayA BhakthyA

VAsudeva parAyaNA: Agham Dhunvanthi kAthsnyEna nIharamiva Bhaskara:"

 

Meaning: One can be protected only by Bhakti to the Supreme Lord. In

order to destroy the evil Vasanas that cause one to engage in sinful

acts, it is necessary to have single-minded devotion to the Lotus-

Feet of Lord Vasudeva. One must constantly contemplate on Him. If one

accomplishes this, the sins disappear verily like the winter fog at

the onset of the morning Sun."

 

Namo Narayana,

 

SriMuralidhara Dasan