Acharya Vaibhavam- 74- Concluding post- protocol of Prapannans [Saranagathars].. and Kali Purushan has not entered into the Ashramam at all...

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SrI:

SrImathE Gopaladesika mahadesikaya nama:

 

Dearest all,

 

Coming to the last post of this series: Acharya

vaibhavam... adiyEn wants to share these with you for

the Grand Finale post

 

This is based on Swamy Desikan's RTS SvanishtAbignAna

adhikAram... as to how and what one should behave and

do after Saranagati...

 

A MUST READ and FOLLOW for all of us

 

 

Please forgive me for my free translations (though not

error free). This article elaborated mainly on

" naanEthaan ayiduga " is based on one of the pamphlets

that are released regularly under " Project

Popularization of Swamy Desika's works " by Sri U Ve. C

Seshadri of Chennai. This particular one was released

on the 80th Thirunakshathram of asmadhacharyan Srimad

PaRavaakkOttai Andavan Sri Gopaladesika Mahadesikan

(8.4.2000). This is from Srimad Rahasyathrayasaram of

Swamy Desikan - SwanishTa abhignaana adhikaaram.

(Chapter-14).

 

(This is ONLY intended to remind ourselves of these

Athma guNAs that we need to inculcate and cultivate-

for us, Srivaishnavas, who have surrendered to the

Lotus Feet of Sriya: Pathi Sriman Narayanan. This is

srivaishnava lakshaNam to DEVELOP cultivating these

guNAs.

 

This post is more of my loud thinking to rectify

myself.. Or at least attempt.- start attempting. It is

NOT an overnight phenomenon. It requires us to have

the " real " feeling of " jIvan's " true nature of

belonging to Sriya: Pathi as His sEshan- His vasthu,

His possession- His eternal servant

 

Swarupa nishtai:

 

1. If we happen to listen to the statements

(derogatory) about us, like " He is short; He is dark;

He is of ugly face; He is lame; He is stupid- not

intelligent; He is of low caste " and any other abusive

statements, do not worry. These statements are all for

our body (sarIram) and nothing of that sort relates to

our AthmA, which is permanent, pure always. Hence, we

do not need to scold back or howl at them for such

statement; nor we need to sulk and feel remorseful.

 

2. Further, if someone really scolds or abuses us with

such statements as above, or any other disparaging

remarks against us, feel sorry for him that he

unnecessarily incurs paapams (sins) by such statements

and pray to Emperumaan to have krupai on him (remember

Sri KooratthAzhwAn forgiving Nalooraan).

 

3. Sometime, we may not adhere to saaasthras (I always

fall in this

category) and due to laziness, or exertion, may skip

some deed; if someone finds us with that defect and

corrects us, we should not get angry for being caught

red handed; instead, we need to feel thankful and be

grateful to him for correcting us at the most

appropriate time. (Once ThirukkOshtiyoor Swamy due to

feeling tired, leaned on a pillar in Srirangam temple

during VaikuNTa EkAdashi festival, another person

(like me, waiting to find someone at fault),

approached Swamy and pointed that Swamy should not do

that being an AchArya. (One is not supposed to lean on

and relax in Bhagawath Sannidhi). Immediately Swamy

apologized and thanked him for correcting him. He felt

indebted to him for preventing him do that apacharam

which he had committed without even realizing that he

was doing.) What a quality! -

 

4. Even when one finds us committing apacharams and

tells us, we need to consider as if Emperumaan is

speaking to us through him to correct us and consider

it a Divine will. We should not think of any ill

against such people. Even when it is false

accusations, we should think that Emperumaan is only

testing us for balanced mind to face insults.

 

5. When one accuses without proper analysis, and

without any reason, only based on prejudices, we

should feel delighted that our praarabhdha karma is

getting dissolved by through his such false

accusations and be thankful to Emperumaan for enabling

us get dissolved of our praarabdha karma so easily.

 

UpAya nishtai:

 

1. Except for SarvEshawaran, Sriya: Pathi Sriman

Narayanan, we and our family (wife, children) are not

servants or daasa bhUthars to anyone else.

 

2. Even when we are in the evening of our life, or

suffering from deadly disease, and are going to die,

since we have already surrendered to Emperumaan, we

should feel happy that the time has come to unite with

Him at SrivaikuNtam through archiraadhi maargam.

(soozhuvisum panimugil thooriyam muzhakkina.- TVM

10.9) and gladly welcome death with smiling face. We

should know fully well that we are going to be sitting

on the soft lap of our Father Sri Parama padha nAthan

looking and enjoying His red coral like lips and be

along with His samastha parivaaram.- Nithyars and

mukhthars.

 

3. Having surrendered to the Sriya: Pathi, we should

not worry about our protection and not be scared of

any event happening. He is there to protect us and

whatever happens is His Divine will. (It need not be

what we desire. It will be what He desires for us.)

 

4. Having surrendered to the Sriya: Pathi, we should

not undertake any other means (like bhakti yOgam). We

have surrendered to Him with an unflinching

faith (mahAviswaasam). He has already taken a pledge

to save us from all sins and has assured us Not to

worry. (so why worry?) We should not do some

yaagams /homams or any other karmas simply because it

is going to give us some puNyam, but simply as

Bhagawath preethyartham.

 

5. Having surrendered to the Sriya: Pathi, We should

always think that it is all in Emperumaan's will to

alleviate our sorrows and to grant us something

good until our death. Whatever happens is for good.

 

Purushaartha nishtai:

 

1. Having surrendered to the Sriya: Pathi, we should

NEVER ever seek for material comforts, nor should we

unduly be worried about some problems occurring at

home with our family, - with a thinking that

everything is happening only due to praarabhdha karma.

 

2. By worrying about anything, nothing gets resolved.

It has to happen as per Bhagawath sankalpam. - With

that jnAnam, we should not brood about the

domestic problems occurring.

 

3. If there is some unexpected wealth or comfort comes

our way also (of course through dharmic way), we

should not shun them. We should consider

them as Bhagawath sankalpam and think that that is way

to get rid of (praarabdha karma phalam) puNyams as

they will also be stumbling block for

SrivaikuNTa prApthi.

 

4. We should view both happiness and sorrows equally

with a balanced mind and have ruchi (taste) only for

kaimkaryam to Emperumaan Sriya: Pathi Sriman

Narayanan.

 

5. Having surrendered to the Sriya: Pathi, we should

develop an intense desire (tvarai) for the Paramapadha

prApthi and utter Dwayam, (contemplating

its esoteric deep meaning) at all times.

 

All above qualities are for us, Srivaishnavas, who

have surrendered to Emperumaan Sriya: Pathi Sriman

Narayanan.

 

If we attempt to inculcate and cultivate these guNAs,

Sri AndAL and AchAtya saarva bhouman Swamy Desikan

will be pleased.

 

Any mistake in the above writing is only mine;

anything good is due to the great article written by

the author.

 

Indeed... this series is a great eye opener for adiyEn

[mroe than anyone else].

 

asmadhAcharyan krupai alone has enabled me complete

this. Swami's vailakshaNya kataaksham and daya is the

power.

 

Kali purusha has never ever entered into this ashramam

of Srimad Poundarikapuram Ashramam.

 

During Kaliyugam, where can one go and pay obeisance

to the Lord? No need to worry. There is a Divya Desam

(#1 Divya Desam), Srirangam, surrounded by the

divine river Cauveri (purer than even the river

Ganges- per ThoNdaradippodi AzhwAr) where Lord Sri

Ranganthan reclines most mercifully on the bed of

AdhisEshan. Groups and groups of devotees flock to the

Lotus Feet of Lord Sri Ranganathan and SathsampradAya

YathishrEshtars have established their

Ashramams and mutts in the bank of Cauveri at

Srirangam at the feet of the Lord.

 

Among these Ashramams and mutts, the center kausthubha

maNi like Ashramam is asmadhAchAryan Srimad

Poundarikapuram Andavan Ashramam. This Ashramam was

adorned by the seers and saints at the feet of the

greatest seer Srimad

ParamahamsEdhyAthi Sri Srinivasa Mahadesikan, (the

jnAna, vairAgya, anushTAna sEvathi Srimad

PeriyANdavan, the mukkOl muni).. Having the same name,

Sri Srinivasa Mahadesikan (Srimad Poundarikapuram

Andavan), considering him as the personification of

eternal servitude at the feet of Srimad PeriyANdavan

Himself, established this great Ashramam.

 

The entire srivaishnava community and the whole world

knows that AchAryas having crystal clear jnAnam,

blemishless, faultless anushTAnam, and tremendous

virakthi have occupied the pristinely pure seat as the

beaconing light in this Ashramam. Let us try to

contemplate and be blessed to enjoy few great truths

about this Ashramam.

 

1 Kaliyum kedum kaNdu koNmin- Swamy NammAzhwAr had

happily announced this. Even today, one can see the

truth of this statement of Sri SaTakOpar

in this Ashramam.

 

2.Srivaishnavan always considers YogakshEmam. He

always wishes the well being of the entire humanity,

nay, all beings, even. That too- YathishrEshtars

always are selfless and think of others' welfare only

at all times. Out of such YathishrEshtars, the eldest

among them, the greatest among them in terms of

anushtAnam, jnAnam, VairAgyam etc., is our AchAryan

YathishrEshtar Sri ParavaakOttai Andavan Sri

Gopaladesika Mahadesikan Swamy. He has understood

clearly that only VaidhIka anushtanams are the

protection and savours for this world and if one slips

and does not adhere to his anushtanam, then it does

not do any good to the entire world itself.

 

3. Commensurate with His jnAnam, this AchArya

saarvabhouman shines with His anushtAnam also. Not

only does He adhere and follow the vaidhIka

anushTAanams and karmas; also does He instruct, order

and command all His disciples (who (on their own) come

to His Lotus feet with a desire to learn, get

initiated and have AchArya sambhandham) to follow the

karma anushtAnams in accordance with saasthrAs; - the

manner in which He does this (making sure that the

disciple commit to doing karma anushtAnams) is to be

cherished in our minds.

 

4. AchinOthihi saashthrArtthAn AchArE sthApayathyapi/

swayam AchArathE

yasmAth thasmAth AchArya uchyathE// .. ?Not only does

He preach these saasthrArthams; He practices what he

preaches. (The term AchArya implies: one who acquires

jnAnam by the study of saasthrAs (sacred texts); AND

who by way of imparting this jnAnam to others makes

them adopt the religious life as laid down the

saasthrA- says Sri SMS Chari in his book on

Vaishnavism)

 

5. When we enter into this Ashramam, the first one

that welcomes us is: the Board which advises us to

wash our hands, feet before entering. Not only is

there a board; also there is a water tap to do the

same. Such facilities are so nicely provided by

AchAryan. There is a saying in the saasthrAs that

Kalipurushan enters through a dirty toe.. (or heel)..

The most merciful asmadhAchAryan never ever allows

that purushan to enter through anyone into this

Ashramam. Thus, this is an Ashramam where Kali has NOT

YET entered into.

 

6.All Vaishnavites are firm in their understanding of

saasthrAs that they

should never abstain from doing the most essential

basic nithya karma i.e. sandhyAvandhanam. This

MahAchAryan always advises those who come to the

Ashramam not to leave this nithyakarmA. One who does

not do sandhyAvandhanam and who has stopped doing the

same, gets deprived of and disqualified from doing any

vaidIka karma afterwards. He cannot even enter the

temple. He has nithya theettu. He becomes karma

chaNDALan. He becomes dirty forever. There is also a

board that pierces our conscience and advises firmly,

saying: I have performed sandhyAvandhanam. Only after

performing sandhyAvandhanam, I am entering into this

place This is an excellent strategy (which is

currently being followed in most of first class

Management Schools.. as Leadership covenants.. and

Quality Policy etc.. AchAryan has done it by

displaying this board what cannot be done even by

saying hundred times, by letting their conscience

speak to him. Kali had promised and assured to

ParIkshit MaharAjan that he will never ever touch

those Brahmins who follow their karmAnushtAnams. Thus,

in this way too, Kali has not entered into this

Ashramam..

 

7.asmadhAchAryan does not expect any wealth, or money

or fruits; nor does He expect them to be from high

lineage, or of high education, etc. All that He wants

from those who prostrate at His Lotus Feet to get His

munificent blessings is: they should be doing trikAla

sandhyAvandhanam without fail. If they say,, Yes. I am

doing trikAla andhyAvandhanam, then He gets really

happy and showers His vailakshaNya kataaksham with

paripoorNa aseervAdhams (fullest Blessings). He also

accepts what they offer be they fruits, money

etc. Also He asks them as to what they want the money

or materials to be done with. He spends for the same

kaimkaryams, which they desire. He never enforces His

thiruvuLLam on it. If someone does not do trikAla

sandhyAvandhanam, He does not even ACCEPT their

offerings. He does not even see their offerings and

asks them to give to some sannidhi (He tells them

without hurting them).

 

8.Also He addresses them saying ?If at all you are

coming in future, you should do sandhyAvandhanam daily

without fail. Then I can accept what is offered. He

does not stop with that. He also gives with his

Blessings, a very simple book which gives in great

detail how to do sandhyAvandhanam. Achamanam and

praaNAyAmams are repeated as many times as one needs

to do in a sandhyAvandhanam. There is no need to refer

back even. Those who have not been doing

trikAlasandhyAvandhanams for years together will not

even be able to pronounce those words. For these

people, He has organized for teaching them from basics

and with meanings - through study centers.There are

many now who perform sandhyAvandhanam without fail

after studying in these centers. With such an

AchAryan, who does not look for wealth or money; but

only for sishyAs performing nithyakarmAnushtAnams

withot fail, there can be NO WAY that Kali purushan

can enter into this Ashramam at all.

 

Let us pay our obeisance at the Lotus feet of this

AchArya saarvabhouman Srimad ParavaakkOttai Andavan

Sri Gopaladesika Mahadesikan Swamy and greet Him to

live for hundred more years. Youngsters need not worry

as to where to go for salvation in these cruel days of

Kali yugam. It is Srimad Poundarikapuram Andavan

Ashramam.

 

The above is a translation from Tamil article written

by Sri U Ve Mannargudi Rajagopalacharyar Swamy.

Anything good is due to his article. All errors of

faults are mine.

 

Before winding up:

 

As Bhagyasaalis (fortunate ones) belonging to Sri

Ramanuja dharsanam- our Srivaishnava Sampradayam, let

us remind ourselves of and be proud of

 

Tattvam:

 

(1) Sentient soul- Jeevathman;

(2) achith - Insentient matter

(3) Iswaran- Emperumaan Sriya: Pathi Sriman Narayanan-

sEshi (master- owner) for both Chit and Achit

 

Hitham- (means- way) the Lotus Feet of Emperumaan

Sriya: Pathi Sriman Narayanan, through Bhakti yOgam or

Prapatti (saraNAgathy)

 

AND

 

Purushaartham- Eternal ceaseless service at the Lotus

Feet of Sriya: pathi Sriman Narayana.

 

[Like typical Acharya sthuthi- let us begin with the

first one- similar to KaNNinunchiRuthaambu]

Acharya vaibhavam- 1st post:

 

asmadhAchAryan His Holiness Srimad PaRavakkOttai

Andavan Sri Gopaladesika Mahadesikan swami will be

completing his 25 years in sanyAsa Ashramam by March

2007. Swami is verily like the Sage Vaishta himself.

He is YathirAjar- the king among ascetics. Erudite

scholars, other acharyas have praised Swami on many

occasions for His jnAna, bhakti vairAgya, anushtAnam

and more on His unbounded mercy on the sishyas and

abhimaanis.

 

It is adiyEn’s rash and daring attempt again to lick

the Ganges waters to get myself purified… to post a

page everyday on Acharya vaibhavam..to commemorate

this milestone of 25 years of sanyAsa ashramam. I pray

with all sincerity to the Lotus Feet of Dhivya

Dampathi to bless this kaimkaryam, and only with Their

blessings, acharya anugraham and bhAgawathAs' wishes,

they can be made palatable and all errors and mistaks

are entirely due to adiyEn's lack of or no jnAnam.

 

adiyEn mainly intends this more as an introductory

series for beginners like me to get to know

Srivaishnavam, the glories of our acharyas and the why

and how of Srivaishnavam as far as possible.

 

I am not doing or writing anything new. I will be

basically reproducing the wonderful articles, write

ups already made by erudite scholars. It will be more

of a compilation.

 

It is said in GitA:

tad viddhi pranipatena pari prasnena sevyaya

upadekshyanti tE jnAnam jnAninah tattva darshinah

 

One should fall at the feet of the gurus, serve them,

and ask questions at appropriate times again and

again, to know spiritual knowledge; those seers of

truth will teach you that divine spiritual knowledge.

 

AchAryan ThiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

Regards

Namo narayana

dAsan

 

 

 

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