Experiencing Swami Desika - 75

[Guest guest]

SrI:

Shrimate Shri Lakshmi Nrusimha Parabrahmane Namaha:

Shrimate Shri Seetha Ramachandra Parabrahmane Namaha:

Shrimate Shri Ramanujaya Namaha:

Shrimate Nigamantha Maha Desikaya Namaha:

Shrimate Shrivan Satagopa Shri Narayana Yateendra Mahadesikaya Namaha:

 

" SrimAn VenaktanAthArya: kavithArkika kEsarI!

VedAnthAchArya varyO mE sannidhatthAM sadhA hrudhi " !!

 

We've been enjoying Swami Desika's explanations as to why the

Lord has no options but to protect the saranAgathA's!

 

In abheeti stavam Swami gives a very interesting and unique reason.

 

" nisarganiranishtatA tava niramhasa: shooyatE

tatastriyuga srushtivad bhavati samhruti: krIditam !

tathApi sharaNAgathapraNayabhangabhItO bhavAn

madishtamiha yadbhavEt kimapi mA sma tajjIhapat !! "

 

Swami Desika states that our Lord cannot hurt anybody. That is

His nature. Swami adds that even the act of creation and PralayA

are acts of Lords dayA only.

 

This is elaborated in the 16th Sloka ( " AsrushtisantatAnAm...) of

dayA satakam.

 

Swami says that from the time of creation, sins done by people

in the world is infinite. People are never tired of doing sins.

So, Lord's dayA devi thinks as to how to make them attain 'nargati'.

To help them break the chain of repeated sinful activities, dayA devi

performs a leela called PralayA. During PralayA, the chetanAs are

without sarIram, Indriyas etc. They are in a sleep stage and are like

achetanas. At this time, (even if they want to) they are not in a

position to do sins. So, they finally relax after continuously under

going happiness and sorrow. Because of a break, the habit of performing

sins will also be broken. Thus the objective of this leela also is to

do good to Jivas. In this world also we see mothers, whose children have

been notorious for a long time. In order to make them rest and also to

make them forget these activities, their mother will force them to lie

down and sleep. Children forget their notorious activities and sleep.

After they wake up these unwelcome activities tend to reduce.

 

The PralayA leela, thus makes people take rest from performing

sinful activities!

 

In the very next Sloka (17th " acidavishishtAn... " ) of dayA satakam,

Swami explains that during the time of PralayA, the creatures neither

have sarIram nor indriyam. Even intelligence disappears. The creatures

are not capable of doing anything and just lie like achetanas. Seeing

their plight dayA devi's heart pains. She thinks as to how these creatures

will reach the right path if they are always kept in the same stage? So,

she again gives them a sarIram and then indriyam and then a clear mind.

This way they get the eligibility to take the right path.

 

Swami says all these are the deeds of Lords dayA. In this world also

we see the notorious children who were made to sleep are woken up by

the mother who packs the eatables etc for them and gives them a word

of advice not to do these notorious deeds.

 

It is hence clear that PralayA and creation are both due to Lord's karuna!

 

In abheeti stavam Swami reestablishes the above explanation.

 

Swami says that whatever the Lord does is in our best interest. He can

never do anything that is not beneficial to us. Some acts might

look unpleasant for a moment, but finally we will realise that the

objective of that act is also our well being .

 

There are acts which are pleasing and enjoyable at the moment. They

are known as priya (pleasing). They may or may not be Hita also.

 

This can be understood as follows:

 

Assume that two men go to a bank. One person deposits $10000 and

the other person takes a loan of $10000 from the bank. When we see

from outside it might look as if the person who has withdrawn the

money enjoys all Luxuries while the other person having deposited

the available money somehow manages his cash flow crisis. Now, though

the latter may appear unpleasant, it is short lived. After some time

we would realise that it is the depositor who is actually benefited

and not the person who has taken the loan!

 

Swami now touches upon another, very interesting trait of our

Lord, viz., His desire to please His saranagatha's and never to

cross or impede their desires. Our Lord is afraid of losing the

friendship and goodwill of His saranagata's. Swami prays to our Lord

not to oppose whatever Swami desires!

 

Swami says that our Lord too has something to fear!!!

 

When we visualise Swami's bhAvam we realise that the " Anukoolya

sankalpam " , of a saranAgatha is two way. Just as how the prapannas

perform only such acts that please our Lord, Swami says that our Lord

also has a desire to please saranagatha's!!!

 

 

" Kavi Taarkika Simhaaya Kalyaana guna SaalinE!

SrimatE VenkateshAya VedAnta Gurave nama !! "

 

....To be continued!

 

dEsikan tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

 

Praveena nAmni Ramanuja dasi

19th Aug 1999