A few thoughts on Smt. Subha Narayan's"Question on Draupadi" - Part 3

[Guest guest]

Dear Shri Sudharsan swAmi,

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptin on draupadi's will-power and

ultimate compassion in condoning aswathAmA.

 

However, this made to ponder over the larger issue of saraNAgathi.

The question "Does one's basic character change after saraNAgathi?"

came up to my mind.

 

The basic character appears to remain so before and after the saraNAgathi.

 

Let us take a case. In case of sri sugrEvA, who surrenders to sri

rAmA, sri rAmA even forgetting His grief, retrieves the kingdom from

vAli after vAli vadham. What happens later? sugrEvA completely

forgets the presence of his saviour and spends his time with thArA.

It is another matter that iLaya-perumAL goes and reminds sugrEvA his

duty.

 

The point here is, sugrEvA requested for kingdom from sri rAmA and he

got it. At that point he should have been a reformed one. ONce, the

purpose of the saraNAgathi was over, his character did not change.

 

Let us take the case of sri vibhEshanA. He also surrendered to the

Lord. However, in tune with his inherent character, his love,

affection and devotion towards the Lord did not change.

 

Let us see another case, though not directly in the context of

saraNAgathi. sri gOvindhaswAmy had the divine vision of sri

thiru-vENkatamudaiyAn.What happened, all his desires in this world

should have become naught at that point of time. However, the Lord

observing that he has still some lingering desires grants him

guarantee of mukthi after he fulfills those desires in this world.

 

I think it would not be out of context to see that the basic character

and saraNAgathi do not have any nexus.

 

The serpant sumukan surrenders at the feet of Lord. Sri thirumangai

mannan describes this : "nanju sOrvadhOAr venjina aravam" periya

thiru-mzohi 5-8-4;

When a devotee approaches the Lord, he should be worshpping HIm.

Instead, the serpant spitting venom with vengance is specified here.

Sri periyavAchAn piLLai mentions that " The finer print here is that

nobody is ineligible for saraNAgathi'--idhil palithadhu ennavenRAl

saraNAgathikku arhar illAdhAr illai engaikkAga.

 

Sri kAcnhi PBA swAmi in his dhivyArtha dhEpikai "nanuvenjinam"

pAmbin iyaRkai kodumaiyai viLakkuvana. idhanAl saraNAgadhikku

adhigArigaL AgAdhArillai enbadhu thOnRum.

 

Thus, having seen all these, on notices that the basic character need

not necessarily change before and after the saraNagathi.

 

This is my humble understanding.

 

dAsan

vanamamalai padmanabhan

 

-----

[Guest guest]

Oppiliappan, Padmanabhan <aazhwar@v...> wrote:

> Dear Shri Sudharsan swAmi,

>

> I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptin on draupadi's will-power and

ultimate compassion in condoning aswathAmA.

>

>> Thus, having seen all these, one notices that the basic character

need not necessarily change before and after the saraNagathi.

>

> This is my humble understanding.

>

> dAsan

> vanamamalai padmanabhan

------

 

Dear swAmin,

 

It is so nice of someone so knowledgebale like you to participate in

this very important and absorbing thread of discussion. As usual,

you have showered with us many interesting and useful quotes from

scriptures. Thank you so much.

 

If "saraNagati" has really no impact on human character or

behaviour, then what human purpose does it serve and what

theological utility does it have?

 

A doctrine that does not touch the heart and mind of a person, does

not make of men and women better human beings than before, and first

in this world here even before it readies them for the world beyond,

Sir, such a doctrine strikes me as an empty, sterile one.

 

In spite of your very strong views to the contrary, I must humbly

submit that it is really difficult to believe that the 5 cardinal

elements of "saraNagati" -- änukulasya sankalpam, pratikulasya

varjanam, kaarpanyokti, mahaviswasam and gOptrutvam -- when wholly

embraced by one in life cannot bring about profound and lasting

change in character/behaviour and that a person after 'saraNagati'

continues to be the same person he/she was before the event.

 

The reasons why I opine so has already been dealt with in my 4

postings on the subject. Hence I won't belabour the points again.

 

THank you and deep regards,

 

dAsan,

Sudarshan