Bhakti and Jnana--- WAVE 11-Narayana Sthuthi !

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Nara Sthuthi or Narayana Sthuthi?

 

Should we praise the Humans(nara) or should we sing the glories of

God/ess ( Narayana /Narayani) ?

 

It is my pleasure to bring to you the fascinating story of Sri

AnnamacharyaAnnamacharya, The great Saint Composer from Tallapapaka ,

Andhra Pradesh.

 

Like all saints , Sri Annamacharya only believed in composing

devotional songs of the Almighty God, his ishta nista was none other

than Tirupati Sri Venkatachalapathy.

 

King SALUVANARASINGARAYA impressed with Sri Annamacharya's great

musical talents and spiritual powers offered him the position of a

Guru in his royal court.

 

One day the poet-saint composed a song for his lord in the Madurya

Bhava where the poet saint assumed the form of the beloved of the

Lord. The King was so fascinated by the romantic feelings expressed

in this song that he requested sRI annamacharya to compose a similar

song praising the mighty king. But the humble poet-saint turned down

the king's request saying he will only sing the praises of 'Narayana'

(God) and not of Naras ( humans).

 

The Kings got enraged on hearing this and imprisons SRI ANNAMACHARYA

and binds his hands with iron chains. The poet saint when thrown in

jail in this ignomious fashion cries out to the Lord and asks Him to

free him. The lord on heraing his devotee's cries helps the poet

saint to break the chains that bound his hands.

 

The king realizes his mistake and falls down at the feet of the poet-

saint and begs him to return to the royal court and promises to rward

him with riches. The poet saint advises the king that one should

never insult the Lord's devotee - such an insult is insult to the

lord himself.

 

IT IS SAID NEVER COMMIT A VAISHNAVA APRADHA!

 

kanta phute yei mukhe, sei mukhe yaya

paye kanta phutile ki kandhe bahiraya

 

Just as it takes a thorn to remove a thorn, the offense committed by

the mouth [against a Vaisnava] must be cured with the mouth [by

begging forgiveness]. (CB Antya 4.380)

 

Sri Annamacharya left the king's court and then settled down at the

Tirumal temple and engaged in Sankeertanas and composed many

devotiuonal songs on the lord.

 

In one of his Kritis, the poet-saint laments thus

 

Hithudaina Thiru Venkatesu goluvaka kadaa

Prathi leni naraka koopamuna padavalase

Athani Karunaa rasambu Abbakundaga kadaa

Brathi Maali Nalugadala Paaradavalase

 

It is because of not worshiping the Lord Venkateshwara that I had to

fall into the abyss of hell. It is because I am not able to enjoy the

compassion of the Lord, I have to beg and entreat all dry and sundry

for the sake of my livelihood and run from pillar to post.

 

Kaushalya Suphrajaa Raama Poorva Sandhya Pravartate |

Uttishta Narashaardula Kartavyam Deyvamaadnhikam ||

 

Join me in saluting Lord Venkatachalapati, the lord of Tirumala

hills!

 

HOW TO realize the self ?

 

"bhidyate hRdaya granthiz

chidyante sarva saMzayAH

kSIyante cAsya karmANi

mayi dRSTe 'khilAtmani."

 

(Bhagavatam 11.24.30)

 

Lord Himself says -

 

'When the devotee sees Me (realizes Me), the Self of ALL, the

material KNOT (body, mind, intellect, EGO) of his HEART breaks to

PIECES, all his doubts of avidya, ignorance are dispelled, and

all the accumulated karmas of the past as well as the future are

destroyed.

 

AND REMEMBER

 

krsna rusta ha'le guru rAkhibAre pAre/

guru rusta ha'le krsna rAkhibAre nAre//

 

If Sri Krsna gets angry Sri guru can protect, but if guru gets angry

Krsna will neglect.

 

 

SALUTATIONS TO GURU AND GOVINDA!

 

VANDE GURU PARAMPARAM!