Kainkaryam-2

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Srimate Srivansatakopa Sri Vedanta Desika yatindra

Mahadesikaya Nama:

 

Kainkaryam –2

___________________

 

We saw the functions of the tongue as described by Sri

Kulasekhara Azhwar in the Mukunda MalA.

Azhwar’s next prescription is for the mind or

intellect.

“JihvE keertaya Kesavam

Mura ripum chEtO bhaja”

Azhwar exhorts his mind to think constantly of Sriman

Narayana, the destroyer of the asurA, MurA. Of all the

human organs, the mind is perhaps the most difficult

to control, as experienced by even Arjuna, known for

his powers of focusing. Advised by Sri Krishna to

concentrate, Arjuna pleads his inability, finding the

mind harder to conquer than the wind-he laments,

“chanchalam hi mana:Krishna…….tasyAham nigraham manyE

vAyOriva sudushkaram”. One can shut one’s eyes, ears

and keep one’s limbs inactive-but it is almost

impossible to discipline the mind. The mind is simply

awesome (“bheeshmO hi mana:” says the Veda)-it never

thinks what we want it to think, and thinks

continuously of matters we specifically want to avoid.

It is thus difficult to rein in the mind from straying

into forbidden paths, into which it is wont to escape,

ultimately leading to one’s destruction.

To avoid this, Azhwar exhorts the mind to think of

nothing but the Lord and His greatness. And according

to Azhwar, this exercise should be a continuous one,

as he himself remarks in an earlier shlOka in the same

Mukunda Mala- “chintayAmi Harim Eva santatam”(I think

of Hari always). Sri Nammazhwar too urges his mind to

fix itself on the Lord’s lotus feet-“tuyar aru

sudaradi tozhudu ezhu en mananE”.

This is easier said than done, especially for

ordinary mortals like us: when we are unable to think

of Him continuously for even a few minutes, where is

the question of His being constantly in our thoughts?

Sri Tirumazhisai Piran is fully aware of our

predicament, and prays to the Lord-“If at all You

consider granting me a boon, I would only request you

to tame my far-flung, wayward thoughts to concentrate

on Your lotus feet.”

“paranda sindai ondri nindru ninna pAda pangayam

nirandraram ninaippadAga nee ninaikka vENdumE »

The purport here is that rather than our own

insignificant and weak efforts, it is Emperuman’s

sankalpam that makes us think of Him.

 

And how should these thoughts of Emperuman be? We

should not think of Him out of a sense of duty, or

because it is the thing to be done, but with an

intense pleasure-“OrAzhi nenjE ugandu” says Sri

Bootattazhwar.

Azhwars beseech their minds not to forget Him-

(“vidal Azhi nenjE vENdinEn kaNdAi adalAzhi koNdAn

mAttu anbu”

,” MaNivaNNan pAdamE nee maravEl nenjE ninai”

“mAlai maravAdu irainju en mananE”etc.).

Sri Nammazhwar goes a step further and exhorts his

mind to remember Emperuman even during sleep-“tunjum

pOdum vidAdu todar kaNdAi”.

Sri Poigai Azhwar is categorical that our thoughts

should be only about the Lord of Lords, Sriman

Narayana, and not any other deity- “MayavanayE

manatthu vai”.

A mind that does not focus on the Lord and His

auspicious qualities is not worth the name, says Sri

Tirumangai Mannan-

“PuLLAi Or EnamAi pukkidandAn ponnadikku endru

uLLAdAr uLLatthai uLLamA koLLOmE »

 

« ninayAdAr nenju endrum nenjalla kandAmE » etc.

 

Apart from preventing our thoughts from going astray,

does concentration on Emperuman have any positive

effect? It saves us from the vicious cycle of births

and deaths, asserts Sri Bootattazhwar-“ninaippan

TirumAlai neeNda tOL kANa, ninaippAr pirappu ondrum

nErAr”. It also cures us of our usual jaundiced

outlook and insufferable conduct, and makes us

partners in eternal bliss-“poi nindra gyAnamum, pollA

ozhukkum azhukkudambum in nindra neermai ini yAm

urAmai”.

And how does Emperuman reward those who think of Him

always? He becomes a permanent resident in the minds

of such mahatmas-“uLLuvAr uLLatthu uLan kandAi” says

Sri Poigai Piran-“TirumAl vandu en nenju niraya

pugundAn” supplements Sri Nammazhwar. Defining Sri

Nrsimha’s residence, a poet says,” PrahlAda mAnasa

sarOja vAsa Bhringa!” likening Sri Prahlada’s mind to

a beautiful lotus, which is the favourite haunt of the

honey-bee that is Sri Nrisimha.

Enough of the unmindful mind; we shall see next what

kainkaryam is expected of the hands.

Srimate SriLakshmi Nrsimha diva paduka sevaka

Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana yatindra Mahadesikaya

Nama:

=========To be continued===========

…………dasan,sadagopan.

 

 

 

 

 

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