Srimath Azhagiya Singar 79th Thgirunakshathram Celebrations : Dec 10, 2005 at Bangalore

[Guest guest]

SriPedia abhaya pradana saaram

Additional thoughts on AbhIthi Sthavam's First SlOkam

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In the previous posting , we studied the general meanings of

the first slOkam of Sri Abheethi Sthavam .

 

In this posting , we will reflect on the deeper meanings of

the first slOkam .

 

The first slOkam of SrI Abheethi sthavam defines three items right away

and pays tribute to that MahA Purushan , ParandhAman , PurushOtthaman

(RamaasakhamKimapi Maha: adheemahE):

 

The one who destroys all fears on seeking His protection in this world is

saluted as " Iha yajjushAm abheethi: ).

 

The one who is filled with fear on abandonment by the Lord is saluted as "

iha yadh-avadheerithAnAm Bhayam).

 

The Lord under whose command are those , who generate fear and freedom

from fear are referred to as " Jagadhi Bhaya-abhaya vidhAyina: yannidEsE

stiTA:). He is the controller and ruler of all these forces

and the empowerer . They are all enabled by Him .

 

That Lord is the One , who uttered on the sea side the famous abhya

PradhAna vaakyam , which Swamy Desikan paraphrases in the second slOkam of

Abheethi Sthavam :

 

" Sakruth praNatha RakshaNa praTitha Samvidha:"

 

Even those who sought His protection ONCE ( Sakruth praNatha ) , He

protects without fail. He has declared this as His vow publicly on the sea

side ( RakshaNa praTitha samvidha:) so that no one has any confusion about

His praTij~nai.

 

This vow to protect those , who sought His protection are of many kinds as

they sink in the deep ocean of SamsAram : Some are "mitha Buddhis" engaged

in the enjoyment of alpa sukham (siRRinbham) of the world. Some are deeply

stuck in the mud of Ajn~Anam (false knowledge about Tatthva Thrayam).

These are " bahuLamOhabhAjA:". They do not think about the fruits of

auspicious and inauspicious karmas and ( atarkika hitha-ahitha krama

visEsha vrutthi: ).

 

They do not realize directly or through SadAchArya Upadesam that

SaraNAgathy to You will free them from fear from all quarters and at all

times ( Tasya kadAchana kudascchana kvachana Bhayam na syAth). Such a

bhAgyasAli, who has performed SaraNAgathy at Your Sacred Feet does not end

up in narakam or become exposed to the influence of the servants of Yama

Dharaman , who is Your servant ( na tasya yama vasyathA narakapaatha

bheethi: kutha: )

 

Oh Lord RanganAtha! For those , who wish to cross the ocean of SamsAram

( thriguNa langhana udhyOgina:) there are fearful times in which they slip

from their chosen path of seeking Moksham ( skhalath samaya kaatharee

anubhavantha:). At those times , You as the forever-alert Lord about their

protection (kaatharee haraNa jaagarUkan) give Your hand as the One , who

has vowed to rescue them (kara-grahaNa DhIkshithan) from such calmities

and protect them without fail. For You , the rescuing of those , who seek

Your protection (praNatha rakshaNam) is like the effort to protect Your

own Self (SvarakshaNam iva bhavathi).

 

Swamy reminds the Lord of His vow that He broadcast over the noise of the

waves of Raama Sethu in Abheethi Sthavam this way:

 

"sakruth prapadhana sprusAm ABHAYA DHAANA NITHYA VRATHEE"

 

One who has declared during RaamAvathAram that it is His eternal vow to

protect those , who sought His refuge through the act of Prapatthi.

 

Swamy also reminds the Lord that He is afraid to reject the SaraNAgathan

independent of the magnitude of trespasses the jeevan might have committed and

salutes the Lord in this context as " SaraNAgatha praNaya bhanga bheethan ". On

seeking the refuge of the Lord's sacred feet , they are freed from the three

kinds of FEARS and attain Moksham ( Bhavath padha SamAsrithA: bhaya vimukthim

aapu:). Abhayam is described as Bhaya Vimukthi here. He gives the Abhaya

PradhAnam and those object of His infinite DayA , get Bhaya Vimukthi. The

SaraNAgathan says : " ayam bhara: Thvath paadhamoolE samarpitham" (The

responsibility of my protection is placed at Your sacred feet) and the Lord, who

has been waiting to hear this plea takes over immediately the act of protection

that is sought. The Lord is the abode of all auspicious attributes( Prakrushta

guNakan) and with His inviolable power burns away all the fears of the suffering

SamsAri once and for all. The object of such abundant mercy (the PrapannAs) join

the assembly of those , who perform pallANDu for Him ( jitham tE Vaadhina:).They

join the list of PrapannAs like PrahlAdhan, Dhroupathi, GajEndhran , VibhIshaNan

, the GopAs and the Gopis , AmbharIshan and a host of others , who have recieved

already abhaya PradhAnam from our Lord .

 

Srimath Azhagiya Singar ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam ,

Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan

 

P.S : Dear SishyAs and AbhimAnis of Sri Matam : Please support

the upcoming Thirunakshathram of Prakrutham Srimath Azhagiya Singar

and contact me for details .Thanks .