Why do we worship Sriman Narayana?

[Guest guest]

Dear Ramanuja Bhaktas,

 

I am not sure whether this was posted before, but here is a lucid

article that I found on RadioRamanuja.com that explains our

single-minded dedication to Sriman Narayana. I thought you might find

this interesting.

 

I am blessed to share that this article is based on the teachings of

my mentor and friend, Professor M. S. Rangachari of Triplicane, Chennai.

 

adiyen

Mohan

 

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Why do we worship Sriman Narayana?

(From the Vedic Magazine, compiled from the teachings of Dr M.S

Rangachari)

 

One of the fundamental qualities of a follower of Ramananuja

Sampradayam is, although he/she must be completely tolerant of other

religions and beliefs, on a personal level the devotee maintains

exclusive monotheistic devotion to the Supreme Lord, Sriman Narayana,

as ones sole Refuge and Protection. The reason for this is not just

dogma or blind faith, but rather is the result of a logical

understanding of the purpose of spirituality as it is taught in the

Vedas and as it is revealed to us by our Acharyas.

 

For every human being, faith is very essential towards leading a

purposeful and productive life. That faith should be based on sound

principles and should be derived from a proper understanding of the

venerated practices and teachers of the past. Faith such be of such a

nature that it frees one from worrying about the past, the present or

the future, encouraging a person to focus instead on living a

productive and good life, such that not only the individual but all

those around that individual are benefited. To gain such an attitude

that leads to the Good, one must be safe in the knowledge that he/she

is being guided and cared for by the Divine.

 

To have such a faith, one must follow a path that is lucid and

straightforward, free of contradictions and discrepancies.

Consequently, it must be directed towards One Being, One Supreme Good,

One Absolute Truth. That One Being should be all powerful such that

we know that He can easily save us from what would otherwise be an

unending web of accumulated sins that bind us to our false egos and

our material desires. At the same time, that Being should be very

compassionate, forgiving, and accessible, so that we can be rest

assured that we can turn to Him in spite of our sinful nature. He

must also be impartial to everyone such that He readily accepts anyone

and everyone who turns to Him, irrespective of their caste, race,

gender or station in life. He must also possess many charming and

wondrous qualities such that we are easily drawn to Him. And, He

must be one who Loves Us Unconditionally, and who is willing to

receive our unconditional love in return. Such a being would easily

be accepted into our hearts and lives.

 

Given our human foibles, however, even if such a being were to stand

before us at this moment, telling us that He is the One that we are

seeking, our nature would be to doubt Him. So, In addition to all the

Divine Qualities, He must be one whose supremacy has been proven by

what others have taught, and is time-honored and proven. Over the

ages, great people should have consistently worshipped Him, and that

worship should be consistent with the books/revelations that tell us

of such a Person.

 

Our Acharyas teach us that the Vedas, which form the basis of any

Indian spiritual system, emphatically declare that such a Lord is none

other than Sriman Narayana, the Supreme Being Vishnu, the consort of

the Goddess Sri, the refuge of all souls. Great saints and mystics

have worshipped Him through the ages, and have passed on their legacy

to others. Ramanuja adopted this legacy from them, and has shared

this great treasure with all of us through his lineage of Teachers. It

is for this reason, that followers of Ramanuja put their complete

trust in Sriman Narayana as the Way and the Goal of Life.