Definitions of Terms used in Nyaasa Vidhyaa: Part II

[Guest guest]

Sri:

 

Dear Prapannaas and Mumukshus:

 

In the last posting , we covered upto item 4.1 ( Para included below

for Continuity ) . Today we will begin defining the five angams

(Components) of Nyaasam.

 

4.1: Prapatthi yOgam has five angams and one angi (kavacham) and

hence is known as Shadanga yOgam .The five angams are :

 

(1)Aanukoolya Sankalpam

(2) Praathikoolya Varjanam

(3) KaarpaNyam

(4) Mahaa Viswaasam

(5) gOpthruva VaraNam .

 

Aathma nikshEpam/ SaraNAgathy/ThyAgam/Prapatthi/ Bhara NyAsam/

Bhara SamarpaNam is is the Angi ( the whole/sheath) for all these 5 angams

(Components) .

 

This then is the Shadanga yOgam of Prapatthi serving as a never-failing

UpAyam for Moksham that can be practised by one and all in a trice with

the merciful help of a SadAchAryan.

 

4.11: Aanukoolya Sankalpam is the taking of a solemn vow that we will

behave fully in conformity with Bhagavath Saasthrams. This is based on

the Jn~Anam that the Lord is the Master (Seshi) and the Jeevan is the

Sesha-bhUthan . The Lord is not only the Master for the Jeevan but also

for the entire assembly of sentients and insentients ( Sarva

bhuthangaLukkum

SEshi--Sarva Seshi). This is because of all the sentients (charAni) and

the insentients (acharAni) are the body of the Lord. " CharAcharANi

bhUthAni sarvANi Bhagavath vapu: " Therefore one has to have two

Aanukoolya Sankalpams :(a) Being anukoolan to Seshi , the Lord and

(b) being anukoolan to all entities ( sarva bhoothams) , which constitute

the body of the Seshi .If the Jeevan is not an anukoolan to Bhagavath

Saasthrams or causes harm to the other chEtanAchEtanams forming

the body of the Lord , then the jeevan will committ both Isvara dhrOham

and Bhootha DhrOham .Iswaran will get angry over such violations

and the Prapatthi will not be fulfilled . That is why the two Aanukoolya

Sankalpams together become one of the angis (Components) of

Prapatthi. For all Vaidhika karmaas , a formal Sankalpam is essential.

 

4.12 : Praathikoolya Varjanam: This is a Vow to abjure or stay away from

all that is nishEdham ( prohibited ) by Bhagavath Saasthrams.Varjanam

means banishing or avoidance. The sankalpams of Praathikoolya varjanam

(avoidance of acts prohibited by the VedAs and Saasthrams) are also of

two kinds : Bhagavath anabhimatha varjanam and sarva bhUtha anabhimatha

varjanam . Abimatham means desirable or pleasing ; anabhimatham

means undesirable or displeasing .The Jeevan vows to avoid transgression

of the various acts declared as Prathikoolam . Seshathva JnAnam

( Lord is the Master and Jeevan is the serf and servant ) is behind

this angam of Prapatthi again .

 

4.13: KaarpaNyam : a feeling of helplessnes , destituteness. A feeling

state of Aakinchanyam and ananyagathithvam ( helplessness and

without any resource or recourse to protect oneself). The thought that

one is destitute and has no protector other than the Lord chases away

the pride (garvam) that stood in the way of performing Prapatthi.

The jeevan in this state is described as a KrupaNan . The jeevan

will pray most sincerely for the grace (krupai) of the Lord , will have

anjali- bhaddha hastham ( palms together in a mood of prayer)

and will openly seek the Lord's help as an asakthan ( powerless one).

The idea that he ( the jeevan) is a Svatantran ( independent one fully

in charge of his destiny) would be gone . He comes to the determination

that the Lord alone is his upAyam for Moksham and devevelops

Paratantra Jn~Anam . Garva haani ( the obstacle of egotism) is now gone

with the conviction that he is akinchanan and ananyagathithvan ( no path

for protection except the Lord as Rakshakan ) . Naanya: PanTaa ithi

nischithavaan .

 

4.14: Mahaa ViswAsam: an unassailable faith that the Lord will come to our

rescue and protect us , when we perform SaraNAgathy at His sacred feet .

This is the most important constituent in the anushtAnam of Prapatthi .

There are five kinds of doubts about the Lord as the unfailing Rakshakan

( protector) arise in the Jeevan's mind, which will eat away the ViswAsam

in the Lord as UpAyam for Moksham . These are called Pancha sankhas

( Five doubts) . These Pancha Sankhaas become enemies ( VirOdhis) to

Prapatthi . One should reflect on the inherent (SvabhAvika) dayaa svaroopam

of the Lord and the power of His Consort to intercede on our behalf to

overcome these doubts that plague us to develop Mahaa ViswAsam .

 

4.141: Pancha Sankhaas:The five doubts that assail the mind of

the Jeevan are:

 

(1) Our Lord is Omniscient (Sarvaj~nan) and Omnipotent (Sarva Sakthan) . We

are mighty sinners. Will the Lord of this power and Jn~Anam be accessible

to us ? Worries are about His Soulabhyam and Souseelyam to bless

a Mahaa AparAdhi .

 

(2) Lord gives Phalans according to one's karmaas. We have the Moksha

VirOdhi of huger bundles of sins accumulated from time immemorial .

Will he overlook all these and stil bless us with the grandest of Phalans

(Moksham) ?

 

(3) Will He grant this Phalan (Mahaa PrasAdham) at the desired time ?

 

(4) He has no equal or Superior . We are the lowliest ones weighted down

by our sins . Will He condescend to grant us the grand gift of Moksham?

 

(5) He is the one that does not seek others help to do some thing and is a

Sathya Sankalpan and YathOkthakaari . Will He give a MahOpakAram

in return for the " simple " act of Prapatthi done once and also done

in a trice ( a small measure of time) ?

 

4.15: gOpthruva VaraNam: Choosing the Lord to protect us by means of

a verbal request . This is a prayer begging the Lord to be our Rakshakan.

Propelled by the conviction that is both merciful and powerful to grant

Moksham , the clear-minded Jeevan free of all doubts prays to Him alone .

The Lord expects such a prayer even if He is Sarvaj~nan , Sarva Sakthan

and Parama KaaruNeekan :

 

Sarvajn~Oapi hi ViswEsa: Sadhaa KaaruNikOapi sann

SamsAra tantravAhithvAth RAKSHAAPEKSHAAM pratheekshatE

--- Lakshmi Tantram: 17.80

 

4.16: Aathma NikshEpam as the Angi : This is the placing of the

responsibiliites for one's protection totally at the sacred feet of

the Lord (Aathma NikshEpam). We place the burden of our protection

(bharam) at His lotus feet with clear awareness of our Paaratantryam

( Opposite of Svatantram) and Seshathva Jn~Anam ( Jeevan is the serf

and unconditional servantof the Lord).This is Bhara SamarpaNam

or Bhara nyAsam . Seeking His powerful feet as refuge is described as

SaraNAgathy .

 

With the 5 angams and one angi , Prapatthi becomes a Shadanga yOgam

for Moksha Siddhi .

 

Srimath Azhagiya Singar ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam ,

Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil V.Sadagopan