The Highest Mystery

[Guest guest]

Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha

Srimad Varavara Munaye Namaha

Jai Srimannarayana

 

Dear Bhagavad Bandhus,

 

Pranamams!

Everything must be going on well by the divine blessings of acharya!

 

The other day, we were reading the beautiful book - Life of Sri

Ramanujacharya by Alkondaville Govindacharya and came across a

beautiful passage which explains about the highest mystery.

We were very insipired and thought we should share this with all of

you.

 

..... BEGIN OF PASSAGE ....

 

The Highest Mystery:

 

Sri Ramanujacharya, successfully completed his study of courses of

the Divya Prabandhas from Sri Maladhara[1] under the instructions of

Goshti Purna[1]

 

Mahapurna[1] then suggested to Ramanuja, that there were other

mysteries yet, which if he is desired, he might learn from the

venerable guru Tiruvaranga-Perumal Araiyar.

 

[ What did Ramanujacharya do to learn these mysteries? ]

 

Ramanuja took the hint at once, and from that day forward engaged

himself for 6 months to offer milk daily to Araiyar as a premium for

learning. And to this, he added the service of preparing for Araiyar

a turmeric paste for ablution - purposes,when the adhyayana festival

[2] came around in the year.

 

One day, the preparations were found not quite to Araiyar's liking.

Ramanuja threw it away and immediately prepared it anew.

 

Araiyar was watching this solicitude on Ramanuja's part. " He Loves me

as one may love GOD. He loves me, a son of GOD, as GOD Himself

incarnate " thought Araiyar...

 

[ He called Ramanuja ...]

 

" COME NOBLE DISCIPLE. COME. YOU ARE FIT TO KNOW THE HIGHEST MYSTERY.

BY YOUR SERVICES TO ME, YOU HAVE EARNED IT. HENCE, YOU GET FROM ME,

ALL THAT I HAVE "

 

[ What was that highest of the highest mysteries ? ]

 

Araiyar explains:

Know that God's representatives on Earth (Acharyas) are GOD HIMSELF

visible in that form. Our Shastras(Scriptures) proclaim:

 

" Guru is the Ultimate Reality -GOD Himself; is one's real Wealth; is

the Object of love and our Refuge. He is our Wisdom and the way. Who

preaches such a Saviour is the Saviour of Saviours.. "

 

Know that God Asleep, is Guru Awake; God invisble is Guru Visible and

moving. The gurus bring messages of God. They are God's mouthpieces.

Through them God chooses to teach mankind. Look upon the Guru

(saviour), as GOD Himself on the Earth.

 

Look upon the Guru as:

Madhurakavi Alwar[3] looked upon Nammalwar[3];

as Lakshmana upon Sri Rama;

as Shatrughna on Bharata.

 

This is called " Panchamo:pa:yam " or the fifth and ultimate means of

reaching GOD.

 

They are appointed and sent by GOD to perform the functions and

salvation. They are empowered mediators between Man and God.

Who reject the guru (Acharya), reject GOD - and their salvation is

imperilled thereby !!

This truth is hard to be realized by Mankind..

 

[ Araiyar explains why people find it hard to realize this greatest

mystery !! ]

 

The mankind finds it hard to realize this truth, because of the very

fact that a Guru (Acharya) is moving with them, living with them, and

sharing with them all their joys and sorrows. This very intimacy and

closeness gives rise to contempt (towards the acharya)!

 

THOSE WHO CAN STEER CLEAR OF THIS DANGER OF DENIAL, CAN ONLY PIERCE

THROUGH THE VEIL OF THE VISIBLE SYMBOL OF THE GURU..

 

Hey Ramanuja, seriously reflect over this truth and be blessed.

 

[ When Araiyar finished elucidating the greatest mysteries ....]

 

Obtaining this truth, Ramanuja became extremely happy

 

..... END OF PASSAGE ....

 

Now, we shall observe a few points which bring out the greatness of

Acharya Bhakti in this passage:

Mahapurna, says " There are MORE MYSTERIES " to be learnt !

Ramanuja did service for 6 months to learn this mystery !

Araiyar being pleased with Ramanuja, is overjoyed and imparts him the

knowledge of the " HIGHEST MYSTERY " as he calls it.

Araiyar calls it a " DANGER " !! to deny an Acharya.

Araiyar says the " Highest Truth " !! - is to accept Acharya as GOD

HIMSELF in visible form!!

Ramanuja's " extreme " happiness at having learnt this secret..

 

Hence, we should never imagine Acharyas to be ordinary souls like us

even though they appear one among us, live with us, talk with us and

share our joys and sorrows. Everything about them is divine and

godly! Let us all surrender and bow to the feet of our great Acharyas!

Let us all " Learn and Practice " what they preached! Let us try to

be " Real and True Ramanuja Dasas/Dasis "

 

..... FOOTNOTES ....

 

1. Spiritual masters of Sri Ramanuja mentioned:

Maladhara - Thirumalai Andan

Gosti Purna - Thirukkoshtiyur Nambi

Maha Purna - Periya Nambi

Thiruvaranga Perumal Araiyar

 

2. Adhyayana Festival - Ceremonial honouring of the 12 great saints

known as alwars.

 

3. Madhurakavi Alwar and Nammalwar are two of the 12 twelve great

saints who were ever immersed in loving contemplation of GOD -

Srimannarayana

 

....................

 

Any mistakes committed are solely due to our ignorance..

We pray to pardon them..

 

Bhagavat Bhaagavata Acharya Kainkarya Rupena,

Adiyen Venkata Vineeth Ramanuja Dasa

Adiyen Deepa Ramanuja Dasi

 

Alwar Emperumanaar Jeeyar Thiruvadigale Saranam!

Sri Chinnajeeyar Swamiji Thiruvadigale Saranam!

Jai Srimannarayana!

 

.....................