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.

 

Azhvar Emberumanar Jeeyar Thiruvadigale Sharanam