SrI sArasAram--I(49)

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srI:

SrI sAra sAram – I (49)

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I – ThirumantrAdhikAram

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The Significance of ‘nArAyaNanAya’

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SwAmi Desikan now explains how the word. ‘nArAyaNa’ contains in brief the

ideas expressed in the Upanishad:

“‘nara’ Sabda-tthilE SOdhaka-vAkya-arthamum, ‘nAra’ Sabda-tthilE

kArNa-vAkya-arthamum, ‘ayana’ Sabda-tthilE upAsana-vAkya-arthamm

samgruhItam.†–

There are three types of statements in the Upanishads. They are: 1)

‘SOdhaka-vAkyas’ – statements of determinative nature; 2) ‘kAraNa

vAkyas’ – statements revealing the cause; 3) ‘upAsana-vAkyas’ –

statements indicating the means to attain the goal.

1) The first type of Upanishad statements help clear the doubts that may arise

in our mind as to whether the Lord Who is the cause of everything would have the

defects of the effects. Here, the word, ‘nArAyaNa’, contains the component

word, ‘nara’. We have seen that ‘nara’ means the sentient being which

does not decay. Hence, this word contains the message of the determining

statements of the Upanishads.

2) The second type of Upanishad statements explains that the Lord is cause of

the world. These are known as ‘causal statements’. The word, ‘nAra’, a

component of ‘nArAyaNa’, indicates that everything appeared from the Lord,

‘nara’. Hence, He is the cause of everything in world. So, the word,

‘nAra’ contains the message of the causal statements of the Upanishads.

3) The third type of Upanishad statements shows that the Lord is

the means of attaining ‘mOksha’. The word, ‘ayana’ indicates the Lord as

the means of attaining the ‘mOksha’.

Thus, ‘nArAyaNa’ is the epitome of the Upanishad statements.

A question may arise: The syllable ‘a’ in the praNava, the ‘nara’ and

the ‘ayana’ seem to repeatedly refer to the Lord only. What is the need to

refer to the Lord three times? SwAmi Desikan answers this question:

“ISvaranukku prathama-aksharatthilE rakshakatvAdikaLum ‘nara’ SabdatthilE

nityatvAdikaLum, ‘ayana’ Sabdatthil AdhAratvAdi-kaLum thORRukaiyAlE ivai

moonRukkm prayOjana bhEdam uNDu.†–

SwAmi Deikan says that the purpose of referring to the Lord three times through

the syllable, ‘a’ in the praNava, and in the component words of ‘nara’

and ‘ayana’ is different. The syllable ‘a’ reveals that the Lord is the

protector of all; the word, ‘nara’, reveals the fact that He is eternal

without any trace of decay; and the word, ‘ayana’ extols that He remains a

support of all. Hence, the purpose is different in each case.

Similarly, the purpose of referring to the jIva in the mantra is different,

says Swami Desikan:

“ippaDi truteeya-aksharAdikaLilE jeevanukku

cEtanatva-nityatva-vyApyatvAdi-kaL thORRukaiyAlE ivaiyum saprayOjanangaL.†–

The third syllable, ‘m’, in the praNava and the words, ‘nara’ and

‘ayana’, serve different purposes. The third syllable, ‘m’, of the

praNava informs us that the jIva is consciousness itself and has it as the

quality too; the word ‘nara’ indicates the

un-decaying nature of the jIva; and the word, ‘ayana’ reveals that the jIva

remains a place for the Lord to enter and mix with him.

Thus, it is clear that these have different purposes.

(To continue)

dAsan

anbil S.SrinivAsan

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