Prathyagaram

[barney]

Prathyagaram

 

Visvamithra the great kingly saint shunned

all desires (probably through practicing Prathyagaram) but just on

seeing a beautiful angel, Menaka, he forgot his aims and fall in love

with her. His action produced two things 1) Adding a colourful trace of

experience to be erased once again, and 2) his morals stored in the form

of spiritual powers were engraved with his revived sensual-weakness.

Hence, whenever we commit a sensual mistake two things happen. So, we

have to seek a two-way remedy to correct this drawback. The traces of

past experience can be cured by Prathyagaram. The already debilitated

morality should be corrected by strengthening the same through Tharanai,

the art of rejection. Thirunavukkarasar had fulfilled the two-way effort

but Visvamithra had not. This two way combat is explained by Saint

Pattinathar as follows:

 

The real seekers of wisdom will,

(For their aim is only divine knowledge)

Wander like ghosts in solitary places;

(Far from the madding crowd in quest of divine wisdom)

Stay detached, as if a senseless corpse;

(If they happen to mingle with common people)

Eat whatever is offered like a dog without choice;

(Since the body is needed for all learning)

Bear a pose of a fox seeking something;

(They seek something that is odd for their fellowmen)

Look upon at women as their mother;

(To avoid the alluring colours their mind can otherwise develop)

Polite to others as though they are related;

(Since Temples they are but lacking sanctum)

[Guest guest]

Hare Krishna,

 

Sage Vishwamitra's 'fall-down' was education for all of us that mystic yoga and austerity does not defeat our ego and material desires. We can only defeat by bhakti.

 

Thirunavukkarasar gives excellent advice, and the best way to make such qualities manifest in yourself is to engage in devotional service to God. That means chant the holy names of God. Just like fire burns whether you recognise it's power or not, so the power of the Holy Name acts regardless of one's lack of faith.

 

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

 

Your aspiring servant.