reflections on Azhi mazhai kanna - many thanks

[Guest guest]

Sri Padmanabhan Swamy's guidance has been utterly exemplary. He has

advised me just as my Acarya would- with a mother's love that always

seeks the best for her child. I put forward the following moot-

points to get my thinking further appropriately streamlined with our

purvacaryas counsel.

 

--------------------

 

Swamy Padmanabhan said: "So the question is whether dhEvadhAndhra

bhajanam is acceptable as it at least allows shEShathvam? Here I do

not concur . . . "

 

Respected Swamy Padmanabhan- i wholeheartedly agree with your point,

and fear that the brevity of my note had left room for a

misunderstanding. In my footnote comments, I did not mean to suggest

that for A SRIVAISNAVA, worshiping devas is at least better than

worshiping oneself. As Pillai Lokacharya clearly states in

Mumuksupadi sutras 62-3:

 

"Enslaving the soul which belongs only to Him, to another samsaari is

like giving the oblation from a yagna which is meant for Indra and

other Devas to a lowly dog. More important than being enslaved to

Him, is not being enslaved to another" [trans. TCA Venkatesan,

available on the list archives/ Acharya.org].

 

My intention was not to hint that dhEvadhAndhra bhajanam isnt so bad,

or even remotely beneficial for A SRIVAISNAVA , but that :

 

Out of:

(1) A person who does not know Sriranganath is the Lord and hence

worships other deities and

(2) A person like me who knows Sriranganatha is Supreme, yet

continues to worship his own self,

person (2) is in a more unfortunate (worse) state of affairs than

person (1) .

 

Trying to think where this idea came from, i went back to Swamy PB

Annangaracharya's commentary on Mumuksupadi sutra 81:

 

"Mumuksupadi 81. piRarkkuriyanAnavanRu than vailakshaNyaththaik kAtti

meetkalAm; thanakkennumanRu yOgyathaiyum kooda azhiyum.

Meaning: If a person becomes enslaved to another then it is possible

to shown him the difference between others and the Lord and correct

him. If he is enslaved only to himself (living as I and mine), it is

difficult to bring him to the right path (therefore, it can be taken

that removal of anya sEshatvam is connected to the removal of

svasEshatvam, which is shown by the nama:).

Sri PBA Swami's Sarartha Deepikai: Between anya sEshatvam and

svasEshatvam, it is svasEshatvam that is more dangerous. If a person

is enslaved to another, it means that the person is agreeable to that

idea; then it is easy for Him to show this person His divine

qualities and the difference between Him and others and enslave him.

When a person becomes enslaved to himself, it is difficult to correct

him and make him enslaved to the Lord.

Therefore, as svasEshatva nivrutti is more important than anya

sEshatva nivrutti, it is that which is shown in the nama: part.

[trans. TCA Venkatesan]"

 

Does this not imply that:

A) For a non-Srivaisnava, worshiping minor devas (dhEvadhAndhra

bhajanam) DOES at least allow shEShathvam.

 

Whereas

 

B)for someone like me who has Ramanujasambhandhan, serving oneself IS

even worse than the worshiping of minor devas by the non-Srivaisnavas.

 

If my understanding is incorrect, please put me on the right track.

 

Finally, please allow me a personal note. Not only Swamy Padmanabhan

but Swamy TCA Srinivasaramanujan , Smt. Nappinaai and others have

blessed me with their guidance. Moreover, before posting my original

note, i sought the counsel of one highly illustrious member of this

group. He advised:

 

". . . our intention is not to contradict. It is just an addition or

like adding a spice for the food. If somebody could read in between

the lines, let us correct ourselves with this great satsang".

 

True indeed. Without love, we are nothing at all; and i am deeply

grateful to the Ramanuja List members who have shown me such love

whilst correcting me. It makes me feel privileged to be a member of

this not only learned, but kind satsang.

 

Your grateful servant, S. Ramanujadasan.

[Guest guest]

Sri:

Srimathe Ramanujaya nama:

Dear Srirangapriya Ramanuja Dasan,

 

> (1) A person who does not know Sriranganath is the Lord and hence

> worships other deities and

> (2) A person like me who knows Sriranganatha is Supreme, yet

> continues to worship his own self,

> person (2) is in a more unfortunate (worse) state of affairs than

> person (1) .

 

I don't think you are in a worse state of affairs than I am, who do

not have Ramanuja sambandham!(meaning haven't undergone samaShrayaNam

yet)

 

> B)for someone like me who has Ramanujasambhandhan, serving oneself

IS

> even worse than the worshiping of minor devas by the non-

Srivaisnavas.

 

There can not be a better sambandham(including bhagavad sambandham!)

than Ramanuja sambandham in both worlds! When KuraththAzhvAn went to

have the sevai of NamperumAL,he was not allowed to enter as he was

associated with Ramanuja but later through somebody's good words

kuraththAzhvAn was allowed. But kuraththAzhvAn returned without

seeing NamperumAL thinking that he didn't want to lose Ramanuja

sambandham in favor of NamperumAL! You have that great sambandham and

Ramanuja will struggle for your spiritual welfare(like He struggling

to get back His objects(us))and lead you to Him. Which non-SV has

this bhAgyam,tell me?

 

AzhvAr EmperumAnAr Jeeyar TiruvadigaLE saraNam

NC Nappinnai