na:yakana:i - tiruppavai:16

[Guest guest]

Srimathe Ramanujaya namaha!

 

Srimathe Viswaksenaya namaha!

In the 16th pasuram ‘na:yakana:i’ two attributes are used, both of which refer

to Sri Viswaksena who protects the ‘ra:ja bhavan’ in parampadam. Sri Vishvaksena

is the supreme commander of armed forces of Vaikuntta. Only on his approval can

someone enter Vaikuntam.

 

What is Day?

 

Realizing Sri Krishna and our relationship with Him is day. Once that day dawns

on us there will be no more nights. The last janma that a jiva gets is that of

a human being. We did not seek this birth but we got it because Bhagavan gave

this to us. He is present in us as antarya:mi. Because of karma we do all these

activities. Because of His extreme krupa which never depletes, He is always with

us. Bhagavan gives us the jnanam, He makes us do his sankeertana, He makes us

realize the true self, He gives us satsang, He makes us do Tiruppavai, He gives

us the company of elders. Once the inquisitiveness to know the truth ignites in

us then it is the dawning of the real ‘day’ in our life.

 

The life seems like an infinite set. Irrespective of what we possess, we see

some sort of deficiency in it. We want to do some saadhana, effort. Through

learned people we should reach a Guru and know the mantra and mantra:rdha. Just

as a Lotus blossoms by the rays of sun, our jnana blooms under an acharya with

the influence of the divine attributes and divine qualities.

 

The doors of our hridayam are sealed by a big lock called ahamka:ra. Only a

true guru knows the secret code combination to open this lock. After opening the

doors, acharya enters our hrudayam and lights the divine light of jnanam. That

is the end of night. Acharyas make sure the night does not come back.

 

Andal is describing the process of reaching an acharya in this pasuram. This is

the process described in Upanishad. Goda never read Upanishads. The incessant,

unpolluted, unfathomable love towards God imbibes the right process. Knowledge

gained by reading books, saastras on our own is not perfect and may be

distorted. Knowledge gained through the right guru is true and perfect jnanam.

First one should approach and pray the inner circle of people close to the guru.

 

Andal and the gopikas went to the big palace, which Krishna built for himself

with the left over diamonds and the precious gems. Due to the fear of the

rakshasas the guards locked all doors. The Goda delegation knew the secret of

getting their work done by praising them. Nandagopa is the acharya. His palace

is the mantram. Krishna doesn’t like to call the palace His own, instead He

likes the association of Nandagopa’s name with it. Krishna anticipating the

gopikas made sure, by requesting his dad, that a flag be tied to the palace’s

top. The Garuda Dhvajam (flag) brings solace to the inquisitive souls when seen

from a distance. It is like an oasis in the desert. The mere sight of the flag

reminds one that the goal is close.

 

Gopika’s reach the palace. They talk to the watchmen and pray to them to open

the gates and tell them that they were invited by Krishna and mentioned their

interest to witness the beauty of Krishna while sleeping and waking up. The

watchmen were pacified and pointed to the gates. Gopikas said even the doors

would lock themselves up when they touch them due to love towards Krishna as if

they had some finger printing, pattern recognition access system, just as all

the chetanas and achetanas in Ayodhya loved, listened and protected Lord

Ramachandra.

 

Similarly the doors, which we talked about in the first instance, need to be

opened by jnanis who are acharyas. We should not attempt to open them ourselves

as they might automatically lock up instead of opening. After the doors were

opened Andal entered Nanda’s palace.

 

Jai Srimannarayana!

adiyen ramanuja dasaha