Srivachana Bhushana # 3

[Guest guest]

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Sutra 6

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These two [itihasas] establish the greatness of the

purushakara and the greatness of upaya.

 

purushakara literally means the maker of the purusha.

It signifies the one who mediates between the jiva

(the individual Self) and the Supreme Self. The

doctrine of mediation is central to the theology of

Srivaishnavism.

 

upaya ‹literally "the means" indicates the method

or path which leads to moksha of liberation from

suffering and rebirth.

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Sutra 7

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[The traits] essential to the purushakara (Lakshmi)

are: compassion, total dependence [upon the Lord]

and not being subservient to another [other than the

Lord].

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Sutra 8

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The Goddess' first separation revealed her compassion.

Her total dependence [on the Lord] is revealed in the

second separation. The final separation revealed her

non-subservience to another.

 

In the SriRamayana Saga Sita is separated from Rama

three times:

(1) First she was abducted by Ravana and imprisoned

in Lanka

(2) After her liberation Rama sent her to the forest

to undergo, the fire-ordeal because his subjects

doubted her chastity and

(3) Finally she left the earth at the end of the

incarnation.

 

She demonstrated her compassion by first liberating

the maidens held captive and secondly by granting

mercy unasked and unsolicited to the 700 odd

demonesses that tormented her by protecting them

from the wrath of Hanuman.

 

She demonstrated dependence on her Lord by being

obedient to Him without question when He suggested

that she might have failed in her fidelity during the

period of her imprisonment; she tolerated the second

separation and underwent the fire ordeal. This is a

much debated topic in Hindu circles because of the

seeming cruelty of Rama in rejecting Sita because

others doubted her fidelity. The Srivaishnava

acharya¹s opine that it was done in order to confirm

Mother Sita¹s total dependence upon her Lord Rama.

 

Finally, she demonstrates herself as not being

subservient to anyone other than her Lord when she

desired to leave the earth and her beloved Rama when

the purpose of her incarnation had been achieved.