shrI: tattva dIpikA - Part 7

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Sri:

Srimate Sri Lakshminrisimha ParabrahmaNE nama:

Srimate Sri Satakopaya nama:

Srimate Sri Ramanujaya nama:

Srimate Sri Nigamantha mahadesikaya nama:

Srimate SrimadhaathivaN satakopa yatindra mahadesikaya nama:

Srimate Srivan Satakopa Sri Vedantha Desika Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

Srimate Sri Lakshminrisimha Dhivya Padhuka sevaka

Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

 

 

Piratti’s role in creation is equal to that of Perumal

---------------------

 

Another sloka from Lakshmithanthram that describes

Piratti’s role as creator of universe is given below.

 

“eShaiva srujate kAle saiShA pAti jagatrayam |

jagat sa.mharate cA.ante tattatkAraNasa.msthitA ||”

 

(Piratti is the one who creates this universe at the

right time. She sustains the three worlds. In the end,

she dissolves the universe. The “eva” in the sloka

denotes the important role played by Piratti, but

does not deny a role for Perumal.

 

The importance of Piratti’s role in creation must not

be underestimated. Refer to “thau-AvAm sarva kAraNam”

from Lakshmithanthram cited earlier. The “AvAm

sarvakAraNam” can be understood as “sarveShAm kAraNam”

which indicates that they both are the cause for all

sentient and non-sentient. It can also be understood

as “sarvam ca tat kAraNam ca” (we are all of the

different casues for the creation of the universe).

The different causes are, upAdhAna kAraNam (material

cause), nimitta kAraNam (instrumental cause), and

sahakAri kAraNam (supporting cause). Both points

of view are accepted by traditional scholars.

 

Further, refer to “AvishyA.aham aha~NkAram” from

the fifth chapter of Lakshmthanthram cited earlier.

Here Piratti says in her own words that she enters

(anupravesam) into the entity called aha~Nkaram.

 

From these it is clear that Piratti’s role in

creation is equal to that of Perumal and must not

be diminished. Piratti is also a creator in every

way as Perumal, is the view of Sri Pancharatharam.

 

Further, the Upanishad statements:

 

“asyeshAnA jagato viShnupatni -

IsvarIm sarvabhUtAanAm”

 

proclaim Piratti’s lordship over the universe by

naming her singly. Similarly, the Upanishad

statement:

 

“IshAno bhUtabhavyasya”

 

proclaims Perumal’s lordship over creation by

naming him singly. Where there is lordship there

is cause as well. Naming Perumal and Piratti

separately are pramanas for " dvitA vyapatisyAvahe " .

There are many instances where Perumal and

Piratti are named with a single name as the

cause for creation.

 

Piratti’s role in creation was explained clearly

using many slokas from Lakshmithanthram. Finally,

in the twenty-eighth chapter the following sloka

appears.

 

“laakshmyA saha hR^iShIkesha: devyA kAruNyarUpayA |

rakShakassarva siddhAnte vedAnteShu ca gIyate ||”

 

The sloka says, Perumal who is HrishIkesa, with

Lakshmi who is the embodiment of compassion, protects

the universe. Taken in isolation, some interpret

this sloka as Perumal, “in the company of” Lakshmi

protects the universe. But, many slokas quoted

earlier clearly indicate Piratti’s vital role in

creation. The above sloka reiterates this purport

and declares that this is what is said in all the

sasthras and Upanishads. Therefore, those who

are familiar with sasthras must interpret a sloka

in the context of other slokas that appear before

and after it. Otherwise, one will end up misinformed.

This is indicated by the pramanam,

 

“pUrvAparAmR^iShTa: sabdo.anyAM kurute matim”.

 

Therefore, we must understand the above sloka as

a summary of the previous slokas that declare

Piratti’s role in the creation of universe

without any ambiguity.

 

Therefore, the sloka,

 

“lakshmyA saha hR^iShIkesha”

 

summarizes the meaning of the other slokas cited

earlier. The earlier slokas clearly state creation

as one of Piratti’s activities. This slokam states

the same thing.

 

“hR^iShIkesha: lakshmyA saha rakshaka:”,

 

that is, Hrushikesa along with Lakshmi creates the

universe is our position. Others say Hrushikesa

creates the universe in the with Piratti by his side.

Which one of these two is supported by the above

sloka must be determined with the other slokas as

the authority.

 

 

-- to be continued

 

srimad azhagiya singar thiruvadigaLE saraNam

 

-- adiyen ramanuja dasan

 

 

(Translation by P. Dileepan)