SthOtra Rathnam : SlOkma 22 / Part III ( Swamy Desikan's Commentary )

[Guest guest]

SrI:

 

Dear BhakthAs : Today , we will begin the coverage of

the KaalakshEpam of HH Srimath Srirangam Andavan on

the 22nd slOkam of Sthothra Rathnam .

 

The Highlights of Srimath Andavan's KaalakshEpam

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1. aham ( adiyEn) is hidden ( tokki niRkum) in the statement :

" na dharma-nishtOsmi " : (aham )na dharma-nishtOsmi .

(aham ) na aathmavEdhi cha ; (aham ) na bhakthimAn .

 

2. na dharma-nishtOasmi : adiyEn has no adhikAram in karma yOga

anushtAnam . adiyEn does not have the upakaraNams ( tools ,

wherewithalls) for practising karma yOgam

 

3. na cha aathmavEdhi: adiyEn does not possess Jn~Ana yOgam .

Karma yOgam is a prerequisite for Jn~Ana yOgam . without the mastery

over the karma yOgam , Jn~Ana yOgam is out of reach .The kramam

(order/hierarchy) is Karma yOgam --> Jn~Ana yOgam--> Bhakthi yOgam .

The kramam is the gaining of Karma yOgam first through the mastery of

Tatthva Thraya Jn~Anam laid out by Saasthrams . Next comes the control

of mind and gaining of Jn~Ana yOgam through " Parisuddhathma vEdhanam ".

vEdhanam refers to perception of that pristinely pure aathma .

 

4. Thvath charaNAravindhE na BhakthimAn : adiyEn does not have

the bhakthi for Your sacred and most enjoyable Thiruvadi . Oh Lord !

in Bhagavath GeethA , You have said (11.54) :

 

BhaktyA thvananyayaa sakya ahamEvam- vidhOarjuna

jn~Athum dhrashtum cha tatthvEna pravEshtum cha Paranthapa

 

(Meaning) : " But by single-minded devotion (Bhakthi) (alone) ,

O Arjuna, it is possible to truly know Me , to see Me and enter into Me ,

who am of this form , O harasser of foes". Here , the Lord instructs Arjuna

that He can not be attained through meditation ,Yaaga-Yaj~na KarmAs ,

gifts and austerities. Only single-minded devotion with ardour and

intensity (asanchala , dhruDa bhakthi) can permit any one

to know the Lord . Such a person is a BhakthimAn .

 

Swamy AlavanthAr states that he does not possess that type of

Bhakthi to be classed as a BhakthimAn . Without the successful

climbing of the plateaus of Karma and Jn~Ana yOgams , one does

not become an adhikAri for Bhakthi yOgam and for such a person ,

Bhagavath prApthi is out of reach .

 

(To Be Continued ) .

 

Daasan , Oppiliappan KOil VaradAchAri Sadagopan

SrImath Azhagiya Singar Thiruvadi .