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Source: The Hindu

(http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/02/13/stories/2002021300240600.htm)

Miscellaneous

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Religion

 

 

Compassion, hallmark of a noble person

 

 

 

CHENNAI, FEB.13. A life wedded to values and the path of Dharma has been

prescribed by the scriptural texts which have also given the code of conduct to

be followed to realise the goal of human birth liberation from rebirths.

This is applicable to all as human birth itself has been hailed as a rare

privilege which must not be frittered away in materialistic pursuits. While

pursuit of one's salvation is the norm, there have been instances of men who

have attained immortal fame because they did not hesitate to sacrifice their

personal welfare for the sake of the larger humanity out of great compassion for

the suffering. The life of Ramanuja immediately comes to mind.

 

He was directed to receive instruction about the esoterics of the Ashtakshara

mantra from Tirukkoshtiyur Nambi. According to his biographical account he was

taught the same only after he approached this preceptor 18 times. He was

cautioned by him to teach the same only to the very deserving. In the spiritual

tradition it is considered sacrilegious to transgress the preceptor's word. But

what did Ramanuja do? He who had received the mantra after such great difficulty

went straight to the tower in Tirukkoshtiyur and taught the mantra to all who

assembled there. When his preceptor chided him that he would be doomed for

transgressing his command, Ramanuja replied that it did not matter as all the

others would attain salvation.

 

In his discourse on the Vishnu Purana, Velukkudi Sri V. Krishnan said King

Pruthu who was a descendant of the great devotee of God, Dhruva, earned great

glory as he ensured prosperity in his kingdom which had fallen into ruin during

the reign of his father Venan. Venan had died without a progeny and the sages

who knew that a land without a good ruler would be ruined, created two

offsprings from Venan's arms. The second born came to be called Vainyan because

of his origin and was named as Pruthu. He was blessed with armour, bow and

arrows by the celestials at the time of his birth.

 

Unlike his father Venan who had been a tyrant, Pruthu was a compassionate and a

righteous king. After he ascended the throne he went in pursuit of Mother Earth

with his bow when his subjects complained to him that they were on the brink of

starvation as the crops had failed. She assumed the form of a cow to test his

commitment thinking that he would hesitate to kill a cow. Seeing his

determination she blessed his land.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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