Bhattar's sarcasm and some Qs thereof

[Guest guest]

We know that Shri Parasara Bhattar, son of Shri Kurathazhvan did not

suffer fools lightly. He was famous for his repartees which were most

often questions directed at the questioner. Such men must needs have a

well defined sense of humour. We come across such an example when Shri

Bhattar is explaining the import of the 65th name Isaanah in his magnum

opus the inimitable Bhagvad Guna Darpana a commentary on Sahasranama.

This is what we see in the English translation of Prof. A.Srinivasa

Raghavan: " Therefore to those who prattle that the Supreme Being is under

the influence of illusion,or of limiting adjuncts, or under-goes

transmutations, or His over—lordship omniscience and other qualities

are adventitious, thrice do I offer the oblation of handful of water

mixed with seasames (i.e. I shall consider them as non-existent and

shall have nothing to do with them). " This is obviously aimed at the

Mayavadins and other dysinterpreters of the vedas. He sarcastically

elevates them to the station of the manes, pithrus. The good professor

interprets thus: Bhattar does not acknowledges their very existence.

They are extinct so Bhattar offers them til and jalam (sesame and

water).

 

This brings up a reasonable query.Actually many questions.

Are the pithrus existent or not?

If they aren't, to whom do we offer tharpana monthly?

If they exist do they have form or are they " aravam " formless?

Are these forms sukshma (latent) or sthoola (patent)?

If they have forms do they have jeevathma and antharyami?

Where does the jeevathma,if present, come from?

At death the indwelling soul leaves the body and as per its karma it

either goes on to the path of darkness or on to the path of light. Where

do the pithrus come in?

Where is the pithruloka, on the dhoomadimarga or archiradi marga?

How long does the peripatetic soul stay as pithru?

can a mumukshu who attains nithyavibhuti be considered a typical pithru?

How long does it take for the jeevathma to reach nithya vibuthi or the

lesser lokas?

What does it do in the interregnum?

Once a person dies, except for the remnant effluvium of the past karmas,

karma vasanas, the jeevathma forgets its previous birth and the attached

gothra,kula,nama etc. So why do we offer tharpana with the full

abivadhana to some thing that no longer exists?

How can the pithrus harm or benefit the living relations when the soul

itself forgets everything connected with the previous birth as told by

the Geethacharyan to Partha?

Once the jeevathma dons a new sharira, body, will it acknowledge its

past bodily relations when it forgets everything else?

Or is this whole exercise, charade is too strong a word, just an

instrument for not forgetting our ancestors?

Can some knowlegeable bhagavtha enlighten this dim witted e-mailer. This

is not kudarka, dasan is interested in comprehending the whole concept

so that the real doubters can be given a fitting

 

reply. Dr.S.Sundar Rajan, Trichy, 14-11-2007.