Hindu Article-God's benevolent grace

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God's benevolent grace

 

 

CHENNAI, NOV.5 . The relationship between God and His creation is

eternal and man's redemption hinges on the intercession of divine

grace. Vedanta Desika in his work, the Sankalpa Suryodaya compares

the divine will to the Sun. Only when it rises and illumines the

devotee's mind does knowledge dawn. Parasara Bhattar questioned the

Divine Mother, Sri, whether Her devotees were more or those of the

Almighty. He himself pointed out that in the case of Rama He offered

protection only to those who surrendered to Him, but Sita beseeched

Hanuman not to harm the ogresses who had troubled Her even though

they had neither sought Her pardon nor refuge in Her. This is a

pointer to Her compassion and the important role She plays in the

redemption of humanity. As the Mother of all beings Her love is

unconditional and Her intercession becomes crucial in man's

liberation.

 

The Lord sought the company of His devotees, said Sri M.V. Ananta

Padmanabhachariar in his discourse. Ramanuja in his Sri Bhashya

mentions Akrura and the flower-seller as exemplary devotees singled

out by Lord Krishna for His grace when He visited Mathura. Even

though He has the company of the Divine Mother and is surrounded by

the eternal beings in His transcendental abode, the Almighty wishes

to reveal Himself in the hearts (as Antaryamin) of His devotees.

 

Peyazhwar, one of the three Mudal Azhwars (the other two being

Poygaiazhwar and Bhudhatazhwar), who was fortunate to behold the Lord

and His consort in the light (knowledge) of the lamp lit by the other

two at Tirukovilur, expresses his wonder and gratitude in his hymn,

the Munram Tiruvandadi, "The Lord resides in my heart like a medicine

for the ills of Karmic hell. He is the ocean-hued Lord residing in

the ocean, the Tulasi garland Lord residing in the heart of the lotus-

dame."

>From the point of view of the Azhwar it did not matter to Him that

the Lord was in His divine abode or incarnated as Trivikrama and

measured the three worlds. It was when the same Lord sought the

company of the three Azhwars and enabled them to behold Him that he

was wonderstruck by His overwhelming grace for Peyazhwar exclaimed

right at the outset of his hymn, "Today I have seen the lotus-dame on

the frame of my ocean-hued Lord. He wields a fiery discus and a

dextral conch in His hands. He has the radiance of the golden Sun."

copy right: the HINDU-daily

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Dear all

The only remedial portion of 'The Hindu" news paper which otherwise is "non

hindu"

 

Sundara Rajan

Yogah Karmasu Kausalam

 

 

B VAIDYANATHAN [vaidyanathiyer]

Friday, November 05, 2004 6:12 PM

advaitin

Hindu Article-God's benevolent grace