Sri Vishnuchitta kulanandana kalpavalli (part-23)

[Guest guest]

Sri Parthasarathi thunai

Srimathe ramanujaya Namaha

Srimad Vara Vara MunayE namaha

Sri Vanachala mahA munayE namaha

 

In the tenth paasuram, “nORRu suvargam pugugindra ammanAi” Sri Andal

awakens a gopi who has left sAdhana bhakthi and is practicing sAdhya

bhakthi. Sadhana bhakthi is nothing but doing various services to

emperuman in order to show our bhakthi, for e.g., making flower

garlands, lighting lamps etc. These are done considering it to be

the means to attain bhagavat anubhavam. sAdhya bhakthi is considering

emperuman alone to be the only upaya (means) and hence lying down

immersed in thoughts about him without doing anything (“mArbilE kai

vaiththu vuranga prApthi”)

 

Andal says “nORRU” what is the nombu for Srivaishnavas?

 

“vidhu: krishnam brahmanas tatvathO yE tEshAm rAjan sarvayajyAs samApthA:”

[Oh! King Those brahmajnAnis who really understand krishna, have

completed all their vrathas (nombu)] Says the sastras. The same has

been repeated by azhvar as “seidha vElviyar” and as “seidha

seidhavan” by kamban.

 

But then does this not apply even to the Srivaishnavas outside who are

awakening this gopi? Yes it does apply. Instigated by the great

enthusiasm to attain the divine krishnAnubhavam they are knocking at

the doors of everyone who hasn’t joined them yet. Here their act is

not done considering it as a means to attain emperuman. Even for

those who practice sAdhya bhakthi karma, jnana bhakthi is there.

Karma will be in the form of bhagavat kainkaryam. Jnanam is the

knowledge that makes them realise their sEshatva svaroopa. Bhakthi

is bhagavat ruchi.

 

In the previous paasuram andal showed that Srivaishnavas also like to

live in the company of friends and relatives (those who aid them in

bhagavat/bhagavata kainkaryam). Srivaishnavas need not be sanyasis,

aloof from the world. They love satsangam, ghosti of bhagavatas.

They do practice karma (kainkaryam/service to emperuman and his

devotees). They earn the knowledge (artha panchaka jnanam) and they

are filled with bhakthi (para bhakthi, parajnana, paramabhakthi).

 

(To be continued)

 

Azhvar emperumAnAr Jeeyer thiruvadigalE sharaNam

Adiyen ramanuja dAsee

Sumithra Varadarajan