Swami Desikan's Sri VaishNava Dinasari: Part 2.2(paasurams: 7-10)

[Guest guest]

Until now , we covered the the three sections

from abhigamanam , upAdhAnam to Ijyai. The ThiruvArAdhanam

takes place after MaadhyAhnika SandhyA-Vandhanam

and ends up with the partaking of PrasAdhams

offered to the Lord at the ijyai by the Sri vaishnavan

and his family.

 

Before we go on to the fourth observances for the day ,

SvAdhyAyam ,I wish to mention that the ThiuvArAdhanam for

the Lord in the most Saastraic manner has been recorded in

the forthcoming AchArya RaamAnujA CD ROM . The items

included with graphics and animation are : BhUtha suddhi,

MaanasIka ArAdhanam ,Paathra Parikalpanam (the proper placement

of the vessels used in AarAdhanam )and the various steps of

the AarAdhanam such as (1)manthrAsanam (2)SnAnAsanam

(3)alankArAsanam (4) manthra pushpam (5)BhOjyAsanam

(6) punar ManthrAsanam and (7) ParyankAsanam . SaatthumuRai

for the ThiruvArAdhanam is also included in this section .

The users of the CD ROM will enjoy the sight of the traditional

Sri VaishNava AarAdhanam in front of the Lord . Delay in

the release of this CD ROM by two or three weeks is due to

the final checks in the ThiruvArAdhanam for its authenticity

by the Aaradhakar of Sri Lakshmi Nrusimhan of AhObila Matam .

That final check would take place at Bangalore during

the first week of August in preparation for the release of

the final version of the CD ROM on AchArya RaamAnujA

during the end of August.We have been toiling on this

kaimkaryam for nearly an year now to make sure that

this innovative CD ROM , the first of its kind for

the Sri VaishNavAs will be not only asthetic but also

be accurate in its authenticity .

 

We will now cover the last four verses of Sri Vaishnava Dinasari.

The first two verses are devoted to the fourth section ,

SvAdhyAyam and the last two vrses are for Yogam .

 

(7) SvAdhyAyam: The Sri VaishNavAs partake the PrasAdham

enjoyed earlier by the Lord and spend their time thereafter

sweetly reflecting on the noble meanings of the three rahasyams

( Thiru Manthiram , Dhvayam and Charama slOkam ) as taught to

them by their AchAryAs.They recognize these three rahasyams

as the distilled essence of the VedAs .

 

(8)SvAdhyAyam: Joyous spending of their time :

After reflections on the three rahasyams ,the Sri VaishNavAs

recite Sri VishNu Sahasra Naamams , excerpts from IthihAsams

and Saathvika PurANams and the aruLiccheyaLs ( blessed

Sri Sookthis ) of the twelve AzhwArs . They will recite them and

will also explain their esoteric meanings to fellow

Sri VaishNavAs .This aspect of Dinasari is known as

SvAdhyAyam and takes place upto evening

SandhyAvandhanam and thereafter.

 

(9)Yogam: After SvAdhyAyam , the Sri VaishNavan engages

in the fifth and the last observance for the day known

as Yogam .He knows that Brahma dEvan writes on the skulls of

the jeevan at birth about what that jeevan with dEham

will experience(bhOgams and sorrows) as a result of

his poorva karmAs . Unlike the one without VairAgyam ,

the mature Sri VaishNavan rejects the perishable

pleasures (alpa sukhams) and goes after the lasting

pleasure of attachment to the Lord's sacred feet

and thereby discredits the Brahma Lipi (the writings of

Brahma dEvan on his skull).These blessed Sri VaishNavaas

have unceasing rememberance(dhruva smruthi) of the Lord's

sacred feet and consider that experience as their joyous

nourishment.They engage in Yogam on the Lord's subhAsrayam

( the meditation on the Lord's divine and auspicious

ThirumEni, which chases away the sins and is easy to

think about).They consider that as their ancient

(pithru paithAmaham dhanam)treasure and reject

the rest of the evanescent pleasures of the world .

 

(10) Yogam: The status achieved by the One observing Yogam :

 

As their meditation (dhyAna yOgam ) progresses , their

mind is inundated with waves of Aanandham (aanandha lahari),

their mind melts ,they experience horripulation and their

eyes turn inward (the height of Yogic saadhanA)and they

are immersed in that ecstatic state. This total engagement

in the aanandhAnubhavam resulting from the enjoyment of

Lord VaradrAjA's ThirumEni is reognized as Yogam .

After that practise of Yogam , they pray to Lord VaradarAjan

to place His lotus feet on their heads

and experience sleep until the next dawn.

 

Swami Desikan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam ,

Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri SadagOpan