A Day in the Life of Our Acharyas - 11

[Guest guest]

Sri:

Srimathe Ramanujaya Nama:

 

During Bhattar's upanyasams in Srirangam, an elderly Srivaishnava who was not a

scholarly person would come by and Bhattar would ask his disciples to treat him

with great respect. A scholar would also come by to Bhattar's upanyasams and

Bhattar would ask his disciples to give him some sambhavana and send him on his

way.

 

The disciples puzzled by this asked Bhattar for the reason behind his actions.

Bhattar told them to wait till the next day.

 

Next day when the scholar came by, Bhattar met him and seated him. He then asked

the scholar "Please explain to us the principle (tattva)". The scholar replied

"This is not easily determined. The Vedas and Upansihads can be interpreted in

many ways such as dvaita, advaita, etc."

 

Bhattar then asked him "Please explain the means (hita)". The scholar replied

"Here too things are not clear, as there were many means such as bhakti, njAna,

prapatti, etc."

 

Bhattar finally asked him "Please explain the goal (prApya)." The scholar again

was unsure saying "There are many goals such as aisvaryam, kaivalyam, bhagavat

kainkaryam, and so on."

 

Bhattar then thanked the scholar and sent him on his way.

 

Next the elderly Srivaishnava came and Bhattar asked him also about tattva, hita

and purusharttha. The elderly person slapped his palm against his forehead and

exclaimed "adiyEn thought that in Bhattar's ghosti everyone would have

conviction in these things. Sriman Narayana is the tattvam, His divine feet are

the hitam and bhagavat kainkaryam is the purusharttham. If people here are not

even sure of this much, then adiyEn will not come to this kAlakshepam any more".

 

Bhattar smiled and told his disciples "Now you know why I treated these two

differently".

 

That is, no matter how well read or well recognized a person is, if they don't

have the right convictions, then there is no purpose in their life. Only with

conviction in the sampradhayam can one lead a true life.

 

Jai Sriman Narayana!