SriVaishnava Qualities to Cultivate - From Sri Ananthazhvan

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SriVaishnava Qualities to Cultivate - From Sri Thirumalai Ananthazhvan

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Sri Parasa Bhattar (a disciple of Sri Ramanuja) once told one of His followers

Nambi to go and learn SriVaishnava qualities from another disciple of Sri

Ramanuja called Thirumalai Ananthazhvan. Nambi obeyed implicitly without any

questions (like why me) and went to Ananthazhvan’s house, where the host was

busy with thadhiaradhana (offering food) to a guest at his house. Nambi was

made to wait for quite a while, but he did so patiently and happily (as he was

doing what his Acharya bid him to do).

 

After the guest departed Sri Ananthazhvan was very apologetic to Nambi and asked

him for the purpose of his visit. Nambi stated the reason for his unannounced

arrival and requested that he be taught SriVaishnava qualities. Without

hesitation Sri Ananthazvan replied:

 

“ It would be like a Crane

It would be like a Hen

It would be like Salt

It would be like YOU”

 

 

Then he went on to elaborate on this qualities-

“Why to be like a Crane”-This bird stands at the banks of a river or a brook

waiting patiently for a big fish to come, while letting go of smaller fishes.

Just like that SriVaishnava learns ordinary day-to-day things patiently, but

should learn esoteric meanings deeply with involvement.

 

 

“Why like a Hen”-It constantly goes through dirt and dust and spoils, but picks

out only grains to eat. Just like that an SriVaishnava should leave out

unnecessary involvements and only pick and practice divine qualities.

 

 

“Why like Salt”- When salt is added to food it dissolves and blends in without

showing off and being prominent. We can eat food without any flavor except

salt. So should a SriVaishnava blend in a crowd but not be loud.

 

 

“Why like Nambi”-He showed extreme patience without ego and obeyed his Acharya’s

command without questioning. He did not feel slighted at his Host for having

made him wait for a long time or leave with anger.

 

 

NOW HOW CAN WE APPLY THIS TO OUR LIVES:

 

>From childhood we go to school to learn a lot of lessons, English, Mathematics,

Science, Geography, History, Computer etc. This happens year after year which

we do persistently to succeed in life. So also when we go to lectures by

Acharyas on Srimad Bhagawad Gita, Ramayana, Vedas, and Divyaprabhandam these are

the fish we should grasp and hold on to.

 

In our day today life we see, hear, speak and learn a lot. But the thing that

has to be heard and remembered is Bhagavath Nama, and when we speak use only

kind gentle words pleasant to other’s ears, learn what you can but remember the

Almighty, because these are the chosen qualities to be practiced.

 

Like Salt, when in a crowd or in front of our Acharyas, God etc., we should show

our humility, humbleness and not be loud or pushy. As in the case of salt, if

not enough we miss it, if too much we avoid it. So should we-in gatherings,

elders should seek us out and miss us if we are not there, at the same time by

rude or crude behavior we should not be shunned. (Like salt).

 

A SriVaishnava waits patiently for either God or His Acharya to salvage him,

instead of trying to prove that one is one’s own savior. Nambi showed this

virtue of patience by waiting patiently to learn good qualities and he was the

chosen one by his Acharya as he had this virtue abundantly.

 

Let us pray to Srimannarayana and our Acharyas to bless us to develop, cultivate

and propagate these sterling qualities.

 

Jai Srimannarayana

 

Ramapriya Ramanuja Dasee