Sri Vishnuchitta kulanandana kalpavalli (part-23)

January 17, 2005

Sri Parthasarathi thunai

Srimathe ramanujaya Namaha

Srimad Vara Vara MunayE namaha

Sri Vanachala mahA munayE namaha

In the tenth paasuram, “nORRu suvargam pugugindra ammanAi” Sri Andal awakens a gopi who has left sAdhana bhakthi and is practicing sAdhya bhakthi. Sadhana bhakthi is nothing but doing various services to emperuman in order to show our bhakthi, for e.g., making flower garlands, lighting lamps etc. These are done considering it to be the means to attain bhagavat anubhavam. sAdhya bhakthi is considering emperuman alone to be the only upaya (means) and hence lying down immersed in thoughts about him without doing anything (“mArbilE kai vaiththu vuranga prApthi”)

Andal says “nORRU” what is the nombu for Srivaishnavas?

“vidhu: krishnam brahmanas tatvathO yE tEshAm rAjan sarvayajyAs samApthA:”

[Oh! King Those brahmajnAnis who really understand krishna, have completed all their vrathas (nombu)] Says the sastras. The same has been repeated by azhvar as “seidha vElviyar” and as “seidha seidhavan” by kamban.

But then does this not apply even to the Srivaishnavas outside who are awakening this gopi? Yes it does apply. Instigated by the great enthusiasm to attain the divine krishnAnubhavam they are knocking at the doors of everyone who hasn’t joined them yet. Here their act is not done considering it as a means to attain emperuman. Even for those who practice sAdhya bhakthi karma, jnana bhakthi is there. Karma will be in the form of bhagavat kainkaryam. Jnanam is the knowledge that makes them realise their sEshatva svaroopa. Bhakthi is bhagavat ruchi.

In the previous paasuram andal showed that Srivaishnavas also like to live in the company of friends and relatives (those who aid them in bhagavat/bhagavata kainkaryam). Srivaishnavas need not be sanyasis, aloof from the world. They love satsangam, ghosti of bhagavatas. They do practice karma (kainkaryam/service to emperuman and his devotees). They earn the knowledge (artha panchaka jnanam) and they are filled with bhakthi (para bhakthi, parajnana, paramabhakthi).

(To be continued)

Azhvar emperumAnAr Jeeyer thiruvadigalE sharaNam

Adiyen ramanuja dAsee

Sumithra Varadarajan