ThiruvahIndhrapuram RathnAngi Kaimkaryam:Part 39/SrI Raama Navami: Abhaya PradhAna Saaram postings: Part 4

[Guest guest]

SrI:

 

Dear SrI Raama BhakthAs:

 

Today , we will start the study the third chapter of

Abhaya PradhAna Saaram celebrated in the SaraNAgathy Vedam

alias SrImad RaamAyaNam.

 

In this chapter, Swamy Desikan celebrates the LakshaNams/lingams/

chihnmas (distinct marks ) of a MahA Kaavyam (viz) SrImad RaamAyaNam

this way:

 

upakramOpasamhArou abhyAsOapUrvathA phalam

artTavAdhOpapatthee cha lingam Taathparya nirnayE

 

(meaning): For the determination of the central meaning

of a great composition , Six signs are essential:

(1) The beginning (Upakramam)and the ending ( UpasamhAram)

should be focussed on the same theme (2) Stressing number of times

(abhyAsam) that central theme in the body of the work

(3)Saying some thing new ( apoorvam:hitherto unrecorded)

about that central theme (4)To point out the fruits (Phalam)

of the observance of the central doctrine forming

the theme of the work (5)eulogizing /extolling that

central doctrine and (6) pointing out the reasonings

and clues (Yukthis) to support that central doctrine .

 

Swamy Desikan concludes that SrImad RaamAyaNam

of Sage Vaalmiki dealing with the sacred charithram

of Lord Raamachandra accomplishes all these 6 goals

to position itself on the highest level of MahA Kaavyams

and to be saluted as an IthihAsam.

 

What is this central doctrine that dominates

SrImad RaamAyaNam ?

 

It is the matchless , soul-redeeming doctrine of

SARANAAGAHTY so much so that the entire IthihAsam

is saluted as the fifth Vedam: SaraNAgathy Vedam.

It is the central spoke (Lynch pin, acchANi) for

the wheels of the chariot of SrImad RaamAyaNam .

 

This central spoke , SaraNAgathy Dharamam , which

led to Lord Raamachandra being saluted as " DharmO

VigrahavAn " (The embodiment of the lofty /SrEshta

Dharmam of SaraNAgathy ) and the granting of Abhaya

PradhAnam by our Lord in ALL THE SEVEN KAANDAMS OF

SRIMAD RAAMAAYANAM.

 

In the third chapter of Abhaya PradhAna Saaram ,

Swamy Desikan highlights the individual acts

of abhaya pradhAnam for the SaraNAgathAs , who sought

the refuge of Lord Raamachandra. The observance of

His self-avowed SaraNAgahty Dharmam are highlighted in

this chapter with many references to the individual slOkams

of SrImad RaamAyaNam.

 

It is no wonder that great AcharyAs before and after

AchArya RaamAnujA celebrated and taught Srimad RaamAyaNam

to their disciples . Some of them are Thirumalai Nambi ,

the uncle of AchArya RaamAnujA , who initiated his nephew

on the sookshmArthams (esoteric and the inner meanings )

of SrImad RaamaayaNam centred on the SaraNAgathy Dharmam.

In that tradition followed Swamy Paraasara Bhattar ,

PeriyavAcchAn PiLLai and Swamy Desikan down to

the present day VaishNavite AchAryAs.

 

Let us study the 50th slOkam of SrI GuNarathna Kosam

of Swamy ParAsara Bhattar to illustrate his devotion

to SrImad RaamAyaNam . This is the most famous fiftieth

slOkam of SrIguNa Rathna Kosam strating with the words:

" Mathar-Mythili Raakshasi Thvayi--- " . The detailed meanings

of this slOkam are given in the Nov 18, 2001 Bhakthi List Posting:

 

http://www.ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/nov2001/author.html

 

In this slOkam , Swamy ParAsara Bhattar says : Maathar

Mythili ThvayA Raamasya GhOshtee laghutarA " . Your offer to

protect the rakshasis from HanumAn's wrath makes You

superior to RaamA in SaraNAgatha rakshaNam . Your GhOshti

is thus superior to that of Your Lord . He protected

the offending crow and VibhIshaNan ONLY AFTER they performed

SaraNAgathy . You in contrast offered to protect the RaakshasIs

who were tormenting You even before they could perform

SaraNAgathy .Such is the depth of Your DayA to make

RaamAyaNam to be renamed as SitAyaNam!

 

The incidents of SaraNAgathy in the 7 KaaNDams of RaamAyaNam

*************************************************************

Only the Lord , who is SamarTa KaaruNikan is truly

capable of being SaraNAgatha Rakshakan. He should be

both SamarTan (One having the Sakthi) and KaaruNeekan

(One possessing abundant mercy/bhUtha dayA )to be fit

to be the SaraNAgatha Rakshakan . If He is just

a SamarTan , He may not have the DayA to be sensitive

to the appeal of the SaraNAgathan. If he were to be

just a KaaruNeekan, his heart may melt over the plight

of the SaraNAgathan but He amy not have the Sakthi

to protect . Thus He has to be both SamarTan and

KaaruNikan (SamarTa-KaaruNikan). Rest of the gods

fall by the wayside by these requirements standards.

 

In the third chapter, Swamy Desikan lists the different

SaraNAgatha RakshaNam episodes in each of the seven

KaaNDams of SrImad RaamAyanam.These are:

 

1) Baala KaaNDam: The prapatthi of the DevAs

for protection against RaavaNan is an example.

This is at the begining of RaamAvathAram .

 

BrahmA addresses the Lord at the Puthra Kaameshti Yaagam

performed by Sage Rishya Srungar as follows:

 

Siddha Gandharv YakshAsccha tatasthvAm SaraNam gathA:

Thvam gathi: paramA Deva sarvEshAm na Paranthapa

vadhAya Deva chathrUNAm nruNAm lOkE mana: kuru

--Bala KaaNDam : 25.25

 

(Meaning): SiddhAs , GandharvAs, YakshAs have assembled

here along with maharishis and have sought You as their

protector (from the torment of RaavaNan). You are

the Supreme Resort for all of us , Oh punisher of all foes!

Therefore , make up Your mind to descend into manushya

lOkam for the destruction of the enemies of the gods (dEvAs).

 

As SaraNAgatha Rakshakan , our Lord responded positively:

 

bhayam thyajatha bhadram vOhithArTam yudhi Raavanam

hathvA krUram dhurAgarsham dEvarshINAm bhayAvaham

dasa varsha sahasrANi dasa varsha sathAni cha

vathsyAmi maanushE lOkE paalayan pruTiveemimAm

yEvam dathvA varam dEvO dEvAnAm VishNurAthmavAn

 

--Baala KaaNDam : 25. 28-30)

 

(meaning): " Oh dEvAs ! Give up your fear. May auspiciousness

come your way ! I will destroy RaavaNa , the scourge of

dEvAs and Maha Rishis in the battle field .I shall remain

in the world of humans to rule over this globe for eleven

thousand human years . Having blessed the dEvAs with this

boon (and accepting to protect them ), the high-souled Lord

picked AyOdhyA as His janma BhUmi.

 

2) AyOdhyA KaaNDam: LakshmaNa Swamy's SaraNAgathy

prior to the Lord's departure for Vana Vaasam to

fulfill His father's command (Pithru Vaakya ParipAlanam).

 

sa BrAthru charanou gADam nipeeDya Raghunandhana:

SeethAmuvAchAthiyasA: Raaghavam cha MahAvratham

--AyOdhyA KaaNDam : 31.2

 

(meaning): Lakshmanan fell at his elder brother's feet and

held on to His feet tightly and addressed these words

aimed at Raaman and SitA PirAtti.

 

Kurushva Maamanucharam vaidharmyam nEha vidhyathE

kruthArToham bhavishyAmi Tava chArTa: prakalpathE

--AyOdhyA KaaNDam :31.24

 

(Meaning): My revered Brother! Please accept me as Your servant

performing kaimkaryam. There is no deficiency in accepting me

by granting my request . If you concede , adiyEn will gain

the fruit of kaimkaryam , while You would gain the fruits of

protecting the one , who sought SaraNAgathy at Your sacred feet .

 

The SaraNAgathy episodes from AarANya , KishkindhA ,

Sundara , Yuddha and Utthara kaaNdams will be covered in

the next posting .

 

SrI SithA SamEtha Raamachandra ParabrahmaNE Nama:

SrI NaarAyaNa YathIndhra MahA DesikAya Nama:

Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri SadagOpan