The Sleeping Lord and the Sleepless Devotees

[Guest guest]

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in

..75in">            Srimate SrivanSatakopa Sri Vedanta

Desika Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">

yes">                The Sleeping Lord and the Sleepless Devotees

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">

      There

might be any number of distinctions between Emperuman Sriman Narayanan, who is

the Supreme Lord of the Universe and other deities who form His

adjuncts-“angAni anyA dEvatA:” confirms the Upanishad. Whether in wisdom,

power, strength, prowess, bounties or magnificence, the Lord towers head and

shoulders above all other dEvatAs. His beauty is matchless as is His fame, so

much so that the other deities are dwarfed by His form and attributes—

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">“kANavum uruppolAr

sevikkinAda kIrtthiyAr” says Sri Tirumazhisai Piran. This incomparable glory

extends even to the arcchAvatAra, the form the Lord has assumed at various

divyadesams for our easy access and adulation. In contrast to other dEvatAs,

whatever be His form, whether in Paramapadam, the Milky Ocean or in

arcchAvtara, the Lord appears to prefer a reclining posture, if the numerous

divyadesams beginning with SriRangam are any indication. He sleeps the

care-free sleep of the innocent, whether it be the nAga paryankam (snake bed)

He reclines on in Sri Vaikuntam, the TiruppArkadal or the sand dunes amidst the

crystal clear waters of the Cauvery. Even when the entire world is gobbled up

by the raging Cosmic Waters of PraLayam, the Lord snoozes on, assuming the form

of an enchanting infant, accomodating His unlimited form on a tiny banyan leaf,

forsaking the cushioned comfort of the soft snake bed. During Vibhava avatArAs

too, the Lord doesn’t forsake His beauty sleep and doesn’t wake up till Sri

Visvamitra reminds Him that sunrise is imminent and other deities are awaiting

His blessings—

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">“KousalyA suprajA

Rama! PoorvA sandhyA pravartatE

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in

..75in">  utthistta nara sArdoola kartavyam daivam

Ahnikam”.

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">While we are told

that Sri Lakshmana never slept a wink for the fourteen long years His brother

was in the jungle, ever watchful and vigilant, we do not hear of  Sri

Rama giving up His sleep. Though Sri

Kulasekharazhwar sings a lot of lullabies to the Lord to get Him to doze, it

seems quite unnecessary, considering His penchant for sleep.

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">In the

Krishnavatara too, Arjuna and Duryodhana, who go to Sri Krishna’s palace for

seeking His assistance in their proposed battle, find Him asleep.

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">Knowing His habit

of sleeping on, various Acharyas have composed SuprabhAta stotras for the

various divyadesa Emperumans, to wake Him up in time, with Sri Tondaradippodi

Azhwar leading the ensemble with His TiruppaLLiezhucchi. It appears from this

prabandam that quite a lot of noise is required to make the Lord wake up, with

the tweeting of birds, the loud mooing of buffaloes, the thunderous chorus of

instruments like the YAzh, flute, ekkam, matthali, muzhavu etc, the sweet but

strong choir of KinnarAs, GarudAs, GandharvAs et al, the chiming bells on the

necks of cattle going out for grazing, the Maharshis and other devotees

reciting mantras and stotras from the Shruti and other sources in their

stentorian voices, the commotion caused by the neighing of horses and

trumpeting of elephants on which various deities have come to worship

Emperuman, and so on. There appears to be a virtual symphony comprising of

every imaginable sound, noise and music, amidst which the Lord continues

sleeping, undisturbed.

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">Sri Andal too

speaks of the Lord’s wont to sleep on, ensconced in a four-poster king-sized

bedstead, with a comforter made of the silkiest of cotton, the pleasant and

soporific smell of burning incense and, above all, with the soft and supple

arms of Nappinnai encircling Him in an unbreakable embrace—“Kutthu viLakkeria,

kOttukkAl kattil mEl, metthendra panjasayanatthin mEl Eri, kotthalar poonkuzhal

Nappinnai kongai mEl vaitthu kidanda malar mArba!”.

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">The Lord is in

such deep slumber that Azhwars wonder at the probable cause therefor—“nadanda

kAlgaL nondavO?”  “adiyAr allal

tavirttha asavO?” “padithAn neendu tAviya asavo?”. Is it because of the fatigue

to Your holy feet, which had to traverse all the worlds during Trivikramavatara,

or is it due to your constant travels to rid devotees of their travails, or

could it be the miles traversed on foot over hill and dale during Sri

Ramavatara? enquire Azhwars. Sri Tirumazhisai Piran, perhaps the most outspoken

among Azhwars, commands the Lord to rid Himself of His sleep and reply to his

questions. “Rise and shine” the Azhwar tells the Lord—“kidandavAru ezhundirundu

pEsu vAzhi KEsanE”.

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">There is a saying

in Sanksrit—“yathA RAjA tathA prajA:” ( subjects take after their ruler). If

the king is an idler, we normally find his kingdom full of layabouts, spending

their time doing nothing constructive and preventing those who would like to.

On the other hand, we find that a brave and wise ruler has similar people for

subjects. However, when we consider this world, of which the Lord is the

undisputed and supreme Emperor, we find that the devotees of the Lord hardly

sleep, compared to their Master, who is forever asleep. Thus, while the Lord

sleeps, His devotees are unable even to close their eyes, racked by pangs of

separation and longing for union or reunion with Him. This insomnia affects all

classes of devotees.

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">According to Sri

Nammazhwar, the Lord’s votaries are driven to extreme insomnia, being unable to

sleep at all, thinking incessantly of Emperuman and His endearing form and

attributes and sorrowful that they are missing it every second. Each night for

them is an endless eternity (“neeL iravAi neendadAl”). Others, with little or

no attachment to the Lord are able to sleep well (“oorellAm tunji ulagellAm

naLLiruLAi”), but not those tormented by their boundless love and affection for

the Lord. The night thus appears to them to be a source of anguish (“valliravAi

neendadAl”), being neither able to sleep like normal human beings nor enjoy the

blissful company of the Lord which obviates the need for sleep. The hours of

darkness appear interminable --“neeL iravum Oyum pozhudillai, Or oozhiyAi

neeNdadAl”. Unaffected relatives sleep like a log, unconcerned at the plight of

this bhakta in torment. And what results from this sort of sleepless vigil

night after night? It is loss of weight (“vaigalum vinayEn meliya”) with arms

getting thin as a bamboo stalk, seemingly devoured by Consumption.

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">We may think that

these devotees would be able to compensate their lack of sleep during night by

having a snooze or two during the day: but no, the day is as worse as the night

and thoughts of the Lord torment in the daytime too, without any let. Like some

unbearable affliction, it causes anguish every moment and would be relieved

only by the sight and sound of the Lord, which, alas, are not forthcoming. Not

only does sleep elude these devotees night and day, but tears at the

insufferable separation run down their cheeks in a veritable flood—“kangulum

pagalum kaN tuyil ariyAL, kaNna neer kaigaLAl iraikkum”. Mad with unsatiated

desire for the Lord, the affected person indulges in behaviour that is quite

strange—almost down and out, hardly being able to move her limbs one moment

(“itta kAl itta kaiyaLAi irukkum”), running about the very next 

moment spouting the enchanting names of the

Lord, sobbing unbearably one moment at the thought of the continued separation

from the beloved,  jubiliant the next

moment with joy at the anticipation of the impending reunion with Him. 

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in

..75in"> Those in Paramapadam, one would think, would

be proof to this malady of sleeplessness, being blessed with the constant

company of the Lord and without a care in the world of being separated from

Him. However, one would be mistaken, for the Shruti tells us that the

Celestials never even blink their eyes, leave alone sleep, lest they lose a

single moment of the splendourous sight of the Lord and His ravishing beauty—“

tat VishNO: paramam padam sadA pasyanti sooraya:”. They dare not wink even,

lest it cost them an invaluable second of Bhagavat anubhavam. They are ever

greedy for the superlative sight the Lord affords, preferring to keep their

eyes open constantly, rather than blink, least of all sleep. This is because of

no second’s experience is similar to the previous, the Lord affording infinitely

diverse anubhavam which takes on blissful variety, cofirming Sri Nammazhwar’s

averment, ‘ appouzhudaikku appozhudu en ArAvamudamE!”. And if a nitya soori

makes bold to wink, he loses that second of irreplaceable experience. As a

result, none sleeps in Sri Vaikuntam, except perhaps the Lord, who presents a

magnificent specatcle in whatever He does.

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">If it is any

consolation to us, this has been the state of the Lord’s devotees during His

avatArAs too. As already pointed out, Sri ILayaperumAl slept not a wink during

the fourteen years Sri Rama was in the jungle, always wakeful and vigilant in

the face of lurking danger which manifested itself in the form of any number of

encounters with the rakshasas. “Jahou nidrAncha tandrIncha” says Sri Valmiki, recording

Sri Lakshmana’s selfless and sleepless service in the cause of his elder

brother. It is noteworthy that Sri Visvamitra’s exhortation to rise and shine

is addressed to Sri Rama only (“Kousalya Supraja Rama….utthishtta”), perhaps

indicating that Sri Lakshmana, being ever awake, had no need to be woken up, as

concerned for his brother as always, hovering protectively over the sleeping

Rama, so that even a mosquito did not disturb the Prince’s sleep nor did He

come to any harm from midnight marauders.

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in

..75in"> We thus have it on very good authorty that

once we become sincere votaries of the Lord, sleep automatically forsakes us.

As long as we don’t attain Him, we are obsessed with the thought of seeing Him,

speaking with Him and enjoying His enthralling company, and this robs of all

sleep, night and day. Sri Nammazhwar rules out the possibility of sleep for

such devotees—“kAnnAra kaNdu kazhivadOr kAdal uttrArkkum uNdO kaNgaL

tunjudalE”. And once we do attain Him, the inimitable bliss of Bhagavat

anubhavam prevents us from ever closing our eyes for fear of losing the

experience for even a trice.

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in

..75in"> The “JAgrat Vratam” or sleepless penance

observed on Ekadasi days, as exemplified by NampAduvAn and others, is perhaps

in preparation for the day we would develop the sort of intimacy with the Lord

as to forsake sleep for His sake. It is noteworthy too that according to the

PAnchakAlika prakriyA, whereby the day is divided into five parts in the

service of the Lord (viz., abhigamanam, ijyA, svAdhyAyam etc.), the act of going

to sleep at the end of the day is known as “YOgam”, meaning not deep slumber

with profuse snoring, but a blissful contemplation, with eyes closed, of the

Lord, His magnificent tirumEni and attributes, the infinite pleasure we would

derive in His company once we reach Paramapadam, etc.

yes"> 

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">Srimate Sri

LakshmINrsimha divya paduka sevaka SrivanSatakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra

Mahadesikaya nama:

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">Dasan, sadagopan

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in"> 

0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;tab-stops:24.0pt .5in .75in">