Bhagavath GuNa anubhavam : Part VIII(DramidOpanishath Taathparya RathnAvaLi & DramidOpanishath Saaram )

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Oppiliappan List Archive Nov 1996SarveshAm kila dharmANAm utthamO vaishnavO

vidhi :I

rakshatE bhagavAn VishNu : bhakthAnAm aatma sariravath II

 

Dear BhakthAs of Swamy Na,,AzhwAr :

 

In the section 5.2 , AzhwAr performs pallAndu to Sri VaishNava

Samriddhi or the growth of the VaishNava assemblies . He suggests

that one is really existing by attaining VaishNavathvam. Otherwise ,

he becomes nonexistent ( Abhoothan ) or it does not matter whether

he exists or not. He goes on to state that as a result of

the VaishNava samriddhi , the distinction between parama Padham

and samsAram has disappeared . The kritha Yuga Dharmam of

VaishnaVam has become abundant as a result of

people understanding the Paratvam of Sriman NaarAyanA .

AzhwAr reveals that one should worship those converted by one

as VaishNavas ( Mevi Thozhudhu uyyumin neerE ) .NammaazhwAr

states that all of this auspicious developments happened because of

Lord's DayA arising out of his deep concern for the suffering chetanAs .

He removes the sins of the chetanAs ( agha VimaTanam ) and

descends down to save those suffering souls.

 

AzhwAr conveys the message of the following slokam :

 

yatra ashtAkshara samsiddhO mahA bhAghO mahIyatE I

na tatra sancharishyanthi vyAdhi dhurbhiksha taskarA: II

 

( In the regions where AshtAksharam is recited , there will

be no diseases, famine or thefts. As a result of the abundance

of those BahgavathAs reciting the sacred mantram of the Lord,

the unrighteous Kali Yugam will take on the features of the

righteous Krutha Yugam ) .

 

In the section 5.4 , Azhwaar according to Swami Desikan's

analysis in Dramidopanishad SAram celebrates the Daya

aspect that makes Him take the Vow (DheekshA ) of protecing

this world and its beings ( Jagath RakshaNam ) . In section 5.5 ,

Azhwar reminds us according to Swami Desikan's Dramidopanishad

Taatparya RatnAvaLi that the Lord out of His compassion for the BhakthAs

never leaves their minds . He resides there permanently.

 

Section 5.7 is a grand statement on the Dayaa of the Lord , which

casts Him in the role of Akinchana SaraNyan . He is the Aapath

Bhandavan and Dheena SaraNyan. These Pasurams are about

Thothadri Nathan of Srivaramangai( noRRa nOnbilEn., nuNNarivilEn).

 

Here , AzhwAr describes his state as a weak one without the strength

obtained through the practice of karma or Jnana yogam. As a

result , he does not have the prerequisite to seek Bhakthi Yogam.

He says that his own diagnosis of his grave deficiencies make

him fearful about his salvation prospects. Hence , he cries out loud and

pleads urgently to the Lord to have dayaa for his state and count him for

protection.

 

AzhwAr states here emphatically that he has not performed

any sadhanAs and is not competent to perform them. I have developed

a taste for You and You must help me. The Lord comes to the rescue

after that sincere pleading of the AzhwAr and prayer to receive his

lovable service to Him. In a spirit of joy from the realization of his

prayers being answered by the DayALu , AzhwAr says : " O Lord !

You have come and occupied my heart as if it is the most preferred

residence for You. It is marvellous. Please do not leave me at all " .

 

AzhwAr concludes this section of the fifth decad with a magnificient

statement on the essence of SaraNAgathi. ParAsara Bhattar comments

this way on the pasuram 5.7.10 : " O Lord of Srivaramangai ! You taught me

that I must cling to Your feet as Upaaya. This UpAya will propell me

to my goal. What return shall I render You for having helped me

with this enlightenment ? If I were to place my soul at Your disposal ,

as a kind of gratitude, that soul is already Yours from time immemorial !

O Daivanayaka of Srivaramangai ! WHAT CAN I SURRENDER TO YOU

THAT IS NOT ALREADY YOURS ?

 

Section 5.8 houses the famous pasurams on Thirukkudanthai

AarAvamudhan ( aarAvamudE adiyEn udalam--),

which are the ones associated with the effort of NaaTa Muni to recover

the lost nAlaiyira divya Prabhandhams with the help of NammAzhwAr

at Thirukkurungudi . Swami Desikan points out in his Dramidopanishad

Saaram that these paasurams celebrate His svarasa krutha daasya bhavam.

(i-e) out of His compassion for the BhakthAs , he makes their love for Him

delectable (Bhogyam ) .

 

Section 5.9 deals with His anyOnyam and His proximity to the BhakthAs

to protect them quickly. These paasurams are addressed to the Lord

of ThiruvallavAzh , which I have covered in my postings on the MalayALa

divya desam series. In paasuram 5.9.10 , AzhwAr uses the word

AruL four times , each time meaning yet another aspect of His Dayaa

and grace. They refer to His KrupA , Vaatsalyam, KaruNaa and Preethi .

 

In the concluding section of this decad beginning with " PiranthavArum

VaLarnthavArum-- " , Azhwar celebrates the Energy -giving dayaa of

the Lord, when one is overcome by the SamsAric ills. He recognizes the

Lord as the Sakthi Prathan according to Swami Desikan . In pAsuram

5.10.8 , AzhwAr movingly salutes the magnificient Daya of the Lord this

way: " Whenever I hear about your heroic deeds, my heart melts

in emotional attachment to You . My eyes shed streams of tears.

This tenderness on my part is because of my realization of what

you have been all along doing for the whole of mankind

and the world. " .

 

Thirukuruhoor SatakOpan Thiruvadigaleh SaraNam

 

Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan

 

P.S : Please support the MahA Mantapa Kaimakryam for

Lord HayagrIvan at Thiruvaheendhrapuram Oushada Giri .

Please contact Sriman Soundararajan Desikan Swamy :

 

http://www.Srikainkarya.org