2 Messages submitted to the Acharya Vaibhavam Conference

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhagavatas:

Please find forawrded a couple of messages submitted to the

" Acharya Vaibhavam Conference " held at Washington DC

on 30th and 31st August 2003.

 

If you have any comments, kindly send them to my personal email:

Ramanbil

Thanks

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

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1. DESIKAMRUTHAM I

PART I OF MESSAGE FOR ACHAARYA VAIBHAVAM CONFERENCE:

AT WASHINGTON DC AREA ON 30th and 31st AUGUST 2003

--

Dear BhAgavatAs:

You have all assembled to pay obeisance to all our Achaaryas.

I wish I were able to be in your company on this auspicious occasion.

Unfortunately, due to unavoidable circumstances, I could not make it this

time. By the grace of Achaaryas, I am sure the function will be a grand

success. I hereby convey my best wishes to you all.

 

“PERUMAAL AND PERIYA PERUMAAL”

Do you know why Lord Sri Ranganaatha of Srirangam is called “Periya

PerumaaL”?

It is because He was the “Kuladeivam” of Lord Sri Rama (who is Himself

PerumaaL).

 

“ANOTHER “PERYA PERUMAL?”

There is another “PerumaaL” who was propitiated by Lord Sri Rama, and so can

also be called, for this reason, as “Periya PerumaaL”

Who is this?

 

It is none other than our Lord “Sri Laksmi Nrisimhar” for whom Lord Rama has

done “MangaLaasaasanam” in his “Sri Nrisimha Panchaamruta Stotram”. This

finds a place in the 47th Chapter of “Sesha Dharmam” in “Harivamsa

PuraaNam”.

 

It will be interesting to note that there is another similarity between

Sri Ranganaatha and Sri Nrisimha.

What is this?

 

Lord Sri Ranganaatha is known as “Krita Yuga PerumaaL”. Lord Nrisimha is

also known to have appeared in the same “Krita yuga” (along with Matsya,

Koorma and Varaaha Avataaras). Thus, it would be proper to consider him also

as “Krita yuga PerumaaL” and “Periya PerumaaL” along with “Sri Ranganaatha”

 

“ADBUTAM AND ATI-ADBUTAM”

While Lord KrishNa’s birth is hailed as “Adbutam” (wonderful), the

appearance of Lord Nrisimha is described as “Ati-adbutam” (wonder of

wonders). We are celebrating the Vaibhavam of Acharyas who have been

performing Tiruvaradanam of this Ati-adbuta Lord Nrisimha in anunbroken

lineage of Achaaryas starting from Aadhi VaNN SatakOpar.

 

AND, WHAT OUR ACHARYAS DO?

Our Achaaryas are so compassionate that they do not wait for anyone to come

up to the Lord for performing Prapatti but carry the Lord on His gestatorium

(portable shrine) voluntarily seeking out the poor souls, from village to

village and indeed to every home and hearth all over the country to

implement His pledge of protection.

 

For example, Azhagiya Singhars right from Aaadhi VaNN SadakOpar are

traveling with Sri MaalOla Nrisimhan all over the country, and other

Achaaryas travel with the Poorvachaarya Paadukas or Sri Hayagrivar or Dolai

KrishNar for this purpose.

 

Who can be luckier than us, to deserve this consideration despite our

defects, deficiencies and disqualifications?

 

If at all, the only qualification is that we get to perform Prapatti through

our Achaaryas.

How simple!

How incredible!

How compassionate!

 

OUTGOING

It is worth noting that in his anxiety to rush to help the suffering souls,

MalOlan, for example, rushes post-haste with only one Sandal on one foot! He

could not wait to wear the Sandals on both feet!

 

Can we, poor souls, imagine any greater compassion than this?

 

INCOMING

There is a reverse case of wearing Sandals on one foot, not for “Going out”

but for “Coming in”.

Do you know what, when and where?

 

This happened in the case of our great Achaarya, Swami Nigamaanta Mahaa

Desika. He was camping at Satyakaalm, during the ravage of Srirangam wrought

by Muslims. One can see (even today) the Vigraham of Swami Desika, at

Satyakaalam awaiting good news of the redemption of Srirangam, in a standing

posture, wearing one Sandal only, in his hurry to rush to “BhoolOka

VaikuNTam”

 

This piece commenced with “BhoolOKa VaikuNTam” and concludes with a return

to BhoolOka VaikuNTam”, because it is the “alpha” and Omega” of our very

existence on this earth.

 

CONCLUSION

Let us pray to our Parama Achaaryas to accept our surrender and take us to

“Sri VaikuNTam”, the “Nitya Vibhhoothi” of the Divya Dhampathis, at the end

of our current life.

 

Till then, let us be granted the bliss of staying in the company of

Bhaagavatas who mutually wish well of fellow Bhaagavtas and enjoy the

KalyaaNa guNas of the Lord.

(Paraspara hitaishiNaam parisarEshu maam vartaya)

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2. DESIKAMRUTHAM II

THE LORD REGRETS!

PART II OF MESSAGE FOR ACHAARYA VAIBHAVAM CONFERENCE

AT WASHINGTON DC AREA ON 30th and 31st AUGUST 2003.

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Once I was discussing with Prakritam Azhagiya Singhar in his Poorvasramam,

how ignorance seemed to be bliss and how reading his “Sri VaishNava

Sadachara NirNayam” book detailing the ”Do’s and Don’ts”, lay folks like us

find it impossible to follow the stipulations to the very letter and

spirit of every aspect of the injunctions and, therefore, could do no better

than regret our inability. In reply, he said that the very feeling of regret

(which he called as “NirvEdam”) we experience was an extenuating factor

(Parihaaram) for this helplessness. He also mentioned that this “NirvEdam”

was not our exclusive preserve but the Lord Himself had His own regrets on

occasions!

 

We will examine some of these occasions:

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BHAGAVAN’S NIRVEDAM

a. IN VARAAHA CHARAMA SLOKAM

The Lord offered only to “remember” a person who took efforts to remember

Him sometime, anytime during one’s lifetime, while in good state of physical

and mental health;

 

StithE manasi suswasthE sareeram sati yO nara: /

Dhaatu saamyE sthitE smartaa viswaroopam cha maam ajam //

Tathas thum mriyamaaNam tu kaaashTa paashaaNa sannibham /

Aham smaraami madh bhaktam nayaami paramaam gatim //

 

His leading to “Paramaam gati” was dependent on satisfying this condition!

 

b. IN GAJENDRA EPISODE,

The Lord ignored the elephant during the 1000-dEvamaana years (not years in

human reckoning!) of struggle with the crocodile and only when the pachyderm

cried “Aadhi-moolamE” was the Lord reminded of His duty to protect GajEndra!

 

For all that, this GajEndra was none other than Indradhyumna in his previous

birth, a great Bhakta of Bhagavaan.

 

Though popularly known as “GajEndra mOksham” did GajEndra get mOksham?

It was the Crocodile that got mOksham, not GajEndra!

 

c. IN RAMA CHARAMA SLOKAM

The Lord offered on the shores of the sea, protection to anyone taking

efforts to beg Him (yaachatE), ”freedom from fear of all living beings”

(abhayam Sarva bhootEbhyO) and no more. He did not offer to grant Moksham!

 

SakrudEva prapannaaya tava asmi iti yaachatE/

Abhayam sarva bhootEbhyO dadaami yEtad vratam mama //

 

When did the Lord say this?

 

When VibheeshaNa rushed to where Sri Rama was camping on the battlefront,

and was literally hanging in mid air, virtually in a limbo. begging

protection, we see Rama engaging Himself in a “Conference call” with His

cohorts to consider the “pros and cons” in accepting or rejecting the

surrender and in offering protection to VibheeshaNa!

 

And, finally, what did He offer?

Nothing more than “Freedom from fear of all living beings”!

(abhayam sarva bhootEbhyO)

Not even a whisper about “Moksham” yet!

 

The story goes that Rama later lamented the delay saying that if VibheeshaNa

had surrendered while being at Lanka, He would have had to rush to his place

with the speed of GaruDa and that VibheeshaNa had spared him this trouble!

He compared Himself to a lame man on whose head waters of Ganga fell at his

place without any efforts on his part!

 

“pankhOr upari gangaa-nipadana”

(vide Abhaya Pradaana saaram, Adhikaaram 5)

 

d. IN KRISHNA CHARAMA SLOKAM,

The Lord in His “Song Celestial” on the battlefield went one step further to

promise relief from all sins (sarva paapEbhyO mOkshayishyaami). And, this

only to one who took efforts to surrender to Him at His feet (SaraNam vraja)

and reassured us (through Arjuna) not to grieve (maa Sucha).

 

When?

Only when this act of surrender was done.

 

Sarva dharmaan parityajya maam Ekam SaraNam vraja/

Aham tvaa sarva paapEbhyO mokshayishyaami/ maa sucha //

 

Do you know why did the Lord make this solemn declaration?

 

This is because, he felt sorry that He had not rushed to Draupadi earlier

when her modesty was about to be ravaged and sent drapes literally at the

11th hour! He ignored her pleadings when she called Him “Dwaarakaa vaasa”

and responded only when she called Him “Hridaya kamala vaasa”.

And, remember that Draupadi was the wife of His dearest PaaNdavas.

 

The story goes that Lord KrishNa regretted this delay, saying that he felt

indebted to Draupadi forever, with ever mounting interest on the debt to her

that He could never ever be able to liquidate!

 

" Govindeti yat Akrandat KrishnA mAm doora vAsinam

RiNam pravriddham iva mE hridayAt na apasarpati " (1)

 

ChoorNIkai 16 of MumukshuppaDi also refers to this:

“ Draupadikku aabathilE puDavai surandadu TirunaamamirE?” (2)

 

e. AND, AS KALIYUGA PERUMAL,

AS LORD SRINIVAASA, He stopped with pointing to His feet (indicated in

KrishNa CharamaslOkam), to clarify where exactly the Bhakta should do

SaraNaagati. (KaNNan aDiyiNai emakkuk KaaTTum verpu)

 

For this, one has to go, seek his " CharaNam " to perform ‘SaraNam”

 

In all the above instances, the Lord offered grace

ONLY when someone took efforts and went up to Him to surrender,

 

In all the above instances, Moksham was NOT granted.

Why?

In the blame game, Can the Lord alone be faulted?

 

- GajEndra did not pray for mOksham

But wanted only relief from the Crocodile.

- VibheeshaNa did not pray for mOksham

But wanted only to get away from his cruel brother.

- Draupadi did not pray for mOksham

But wanted only to save her modesty from being outraged.

- Even Arjuna did not pray for mOksham

But only wanted to know his duties as a Kshatriya on the battlefield.

 

The Lord granted them whatever they asked for!

And, thereby hang a few lessons on our Siddhantam:

 

(1) It shows that Bhakti can confer mOksham

only when the soul is in its ultimate body “Charama Sareeram”, whereas

Prapatti can make our present Sareeram happen to be our “Charama Sareeram”

and ensure liberation at the end of current life itself.

 

Obviously, the above Bhaktas had not reached the stage of acquiring this

“Charama Sareeram”!

 

(2) It also shows that as Mumukshus,

We desire nothing other than mOksham and we seek it through our Achaaryas

who advise us that for a Prapanna, the Lord grants not only mOksham but also

whatever one wishes as “ bonus” (anushangikam) according to one’s deserts.

 

Obviously, the above Bhaktas got what they wanted, no more!

 

For us – the lesson is -

Ask for mOksham and thou shalt be given mOksham!

Knock! The doors will open out for you!

 

(3) It also proves that while the already existing

“Causeless mercy” (nirhetuka kripa) of the Lord is always there as

“SiddhOpaaya”, He needs a pretext (Vyaajam) for granting mOksham, lest He

should be seen as indiscreet in dispensing “mOksham” to all and sundry (both

Prapanna and Non-Prapanna). This “pretext” is provided by the Jivan’s act of

“SaraNagathi”, otherwise known as “SaadhyOpaaya”.

 

As the saying goes, even in the mundane world, success is achieved through

both 100% inspiration and 100% perspiration. This is true in the case of

“mOksha-praapti” and both “SiddhOPaaya” and “SaadhyOpaaya” are needed, as

clearly laid down in the statement-

 

“prapanaath anyEsham na disati mukundO nija padam”

 

Swami Desika gives a striking example about the interaction between the two:

It is true that only the mother breastfeeds her baby out of maternal

affection (vaatsalyam) but she can do so only if and when the baby puts its

mouth on her nipples (sthanyam).

 

This act of “Saranaagathi” is a pretext just like this!

 

Let us provide Him this pretext and in the process, “Save our Souls” (SOS)

--\

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(1) Our thanks to Sri Sadagopan Iyengar Swami for help in recollecting this

quote.

(2) Our thanks to Sri M.A.VenkatakrishNan Swami and Sri K.Devanathan Swami

for help in recollecting this ChoorNIkai.

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