SrI UpakAra Sangraham - II (10)

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srI:

 

SrI UpakAra Sangraham - II (10)

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SAdhanAdhikAram

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Section - 7 (3)

(The Favours being done by the Lord to the jIva

who has adopted bhakti-yOga or prapatti)

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Some aspects of post-prapatti life were considered by

SwAmi Desikan in the previous sub-section. Now, in

this sub-section, he refers to different remedies the

Lord does for offences committed by the prapanna jIva:

 

 

(3) prAmAdikam allAthavaRRukku

prAyashcittha-shikShAvishESha-upaklEshangkaLAlE

yathA-adhikAram parikAram paNNumathuvum;

 

The prapanna is generally aware that he is a shESha

(servant) of the Lord, after he has surrendered his

everything including his own protection and salvation

to Him. Hence, he will take delight in serving the

Lord in accordance with the shAstras. It is,

therefore, not likely that he will offend against the

Lord. If, as a result of his past karma which has

begun to operate in the present life, slight offences

are likely to be committed by him without himself

knowing it, such offences will disappear without

causing any stain.

 

“prAmAdikam allAthavaRRukku” -- If the offences are

not due to inattention. That is, the prapanna, in some

situations, commits offences knowing that they wrong.

In such cases what is the remedy?

At the time of prapatti, the person should have

begged the Lord to remove such sins as they lead to

further sins. If he had not, since he is still in

close association with prakriti, certain lapses may

occur even with his knowledge, because of his

deficiency in spiritual qualities. We are reminded of

a couple of verses of SrI Thirumangai AzhvAr which

describe the state of such a prapanna:

 

“cheeRRamuLa Akilum cheppuvan makkaL

thORRakkuzhi thORRuvippAikol enRanchi

kARRatthidaippatta kalavar manam pOl

ARRatthuLankA niRpan AzhivalavA!”

(Periya Thirumozhi, 11-8-2)

 

(Oh Lord holding the wheel! Even if You are angry, I

will tell this to You as I don’t have any other refuge

than You. I am afraid that You may throw me into the

birth-cycle and I stand trembling like the person in a

boat caught in a cyclone.)

 

“thoonkAr piRavikkaL innam pukappeithu

vAnkAyenRu cinthitthu nAnathaRkanchi

pAmpOdoru kooRaiyilE payinRARpOl

thAnkAthuLLam thaLLum enthAmaraik kaNNA!”

(Periya Thirumozhi, 11-8-3)

 

(Oh Lord with lotus-like eyes, I am afraid that You

may not restore me from this wavy river of

birth-circle. That is why my mind is shivering like a

man staying in a house in the company of a terrible

snake.)

But even if such lapses occur, the Lord, the Consort

of SrI, who, by nature is his well-wisher, stands

ready to save him. Therefore, these lapses in his

actions will only be momentary like lightning. The

prapanna will quickly reflect on these lapses and feel

ashamed, repent and perform the proper atonement

(prAyaschitatta).

This is explained in the following verses:

 

“apAya-samplavE sadyah prAyascittham samAcarEt /

prAyascittiriyam sAtra yatpunah sharaNam vrajEt //

upAyAnAmupAyatva-sveekArEpyEtadEva hi //”

(LakShmee Tantram, 17-91,92)

 

(If there is offence, the atonement that is to be done

is only the performance of prapatti again. If, after

performing prapatti for the sake of mOkSha, a man

should perform karma-yOga and the like with the

thought that these are upAyas (to mOkSha), it would

also constitute an offence. In order that the offence

might disappear, prapatti alone should be performed

again.)

 

“aj~nAnAdathavA j~nAlAt aparAdhEShu satsvapi /

prAyascitta kShamsvEti prArthanaikaiva kEvalam //”

(Vangeepura KArikai -520)

 

(Whether a man commits an offence knowing that it is

an offence or does it without knowing it to be one,

the only atonement (prAyascitta) that has to be

performed is to beg thus: “Pardon the offence.”)

The secret of the easy way of atonement is revealed

by Mother SrI SeetA to us through a person who is

considered as the most offensive character ever known,

who is no other than RAvaNa. She is so compassionate

that she gives this advice to him who did the criminal

act against Herself, by abducting Her out of the

meanest and misplaced passion. When even such a

person, who can be called the crime-incarnate, can get

the supreme secret, we, having a strong faith in the

Lord but still committing smaller offences, will

definitely be benefited by this advice, as recorded by

Sage VAlmeeki. So, let us keep these verses in our

mind so that we avoid offences at the start itself:

 

“viditah sa hi dharmajah sharaNAgata-vatsalah /

tEna maitree bhavatu tE yadi jeevitumicchasi //

prasAdayasva tvam cainan sharaNAgata-vatsalam /

mAm cAsmai prayatO bhootvA niryAtayitumarhasi // ”

(RAmAyaNa, 5-21-20,21)

 

(It is well known that SrI RAma knows what dharma is

and is fond of those who seek refuge under Him. Seek

his friendship if you desire to live. Propitiate SrI

RAma who loves those that surrender themselves to Him

and, with pure heart, see that I am returned to Him.)

As stated above, the offender should perform the

prAscitta-prapatti according to his competence.

Thus, the Lord and His consort show the way of

atonement to the prapanna for the offences committed

by him after he has adopted the means of mOkSha.

 

(To continue)

dAsan

Anbil S.SrInivAsan

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