3

TIRUMALA TIRUPATI DEVASTHANAMS

NEW TRUST BOARD
The Andhra Pradesh Government appointed New Trust Board vide G.O.Ms.No.147
Revenue (Endowments - III), Dated: 27.04.2015. The Chairman and Members took Oath
in the Srivari Temple on 02.05.2015, Saturday at 11.09 a.m. administered by
Dr. D. Sambasivarao, I.A.S., Executive Officer, TTD. The Tirumala Joint Executive Officer,
Sri K.S. Srinivasa Raju, I.A.S., administered the Oath to the TTD Executive Officer and
Ex-Officio Member Dr. D. Sambasivarao, I.A.S. Later TTD Officials gave Prasadams to
them. In this programme Tirupati Joint Executive Officer Sri Pola Bhaskar, I.A.S., Temple
Officials and Employees participated.

CHAIRMAN
Sri Chadalawada Krishnamurthy, (Ex. M.L.A.)
Tirupati

MEMBERS
Smt. K. Lalithakumari, M.L.A.
Vizianagaram District

Sri V. Krishnamurthy
Tamilnadu

Smt. P. Anantalakshmi, M.L.A.,

Kakinada

Sri J. Sekhar
Tamilnadu

Dr. D. S. Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy, M.B.B.S.,

M.L.A., Prakasam Dist.

Sri D. P. Ananta,
Bengaluru

Sri P. Sudhakar Yadav

Kadapa Dist.

Smt. E. Suchitra
Hyderabad

Sri Sandra Venkata Veeraiah, M.L.A.

Khammam, Telangana.

Sri K. Raghavendra Rao

Hyderabad

Sri G. Sayanna, M.L.A.,

Secundrabad

Sri Sampath Ravi Narayanan

Bengaluru

Sri A. V. Ramana
Hyderabad

Dr. P. Hariprasad
Tirupati

Ex-Officio MEMBERS
Sri J. S. Venkateswara Prasad, I.A.S.,
Principal Secretary
Government of Andhra Pradesh,
Hyderabad.

Smt. Y. V. Anuradha, I.A.S.,

Commissioner,
Endowment Department,
Government of Andhra Pradesh
Hyderabad.
4

Dr. D. Sambasiva Rao,I.A.S.,

Executive Officer,
T.T.D., Tirupati.

Venkatadri samam sthanam brahmande nasti kinchana

Venkatesa samo devo na bhuto na bhavishyati

SAPTHAGIRI
Vol. 46

June 2015

No. 01

CONTENTS
BanishmentofSriLakshmana
--A.RaghavendraRao

HonoraryEditor
Dr.D.SAMBASIVARAO,I.A.S.,
Executive Officer
T.T.Devasthanams

Chief Editor & Publisher

Dr.C.SAILAKUMAR
Editor
Dr.K.RADHARAMANA
Printer
M.GOWTHAMI,M.B.A.,
Deputy Executive Officer,
(PublicationsandPress)
T.T.Devasthanams,
TIRUPATI-517507.
D.T.P:ChiefEditor'sOffice,
T.T.D.,Tirupati

TheEssenceofSriVaishnavaCult
--ThirukkudanthaiS.Thiruvengadathan

11

SriMahaBhagavatamofArulaladasar
--Dr.PremaNandakumar

14

SrimanNigamanthaMahaDesikan
--Smt.A.GeetaVeeraRaghavan

17

Yogavaasishta
--KuppaVenkatakrishnamurthy

21

Cheranmahadevi
--R.Subramanian

31

LordKrishna
--Dr.M.Anandharaj

35

Millennium Ramanuja
--Veeravalli

38

TheDivinePeepultreeofDharmapuri
--K.Padmanabha

44

Vedic Knowledge
--AcharyaR.Bakthavatsalam

45

TheDivineLight
--Dr.S.K.Kalyani

47

IdolWorship
--A.Rajendrababu

48

Colour Pages Layout : P. Siva Prasad

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Tirupati-517507,
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SAPTHAGIRI

FrontCover :JYESHTABHISHEKAMTOSRIMALAYAPPASWAMY
TIRUMALA
BackCover :SRIPADMAVATHIDEVI-Utsavamurthy
TIRUCHANUR
TIRUPATI
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MAGAZINE BELONGS TO AUTHOR ONLY. CHIEF EDITOR &
5
5
T.T. DEVASTHANAMS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.

JUNE,2015

THE RESPLENDENCE OF PUSHKARAMS

The Sanskrit word Pushkaram has come from its root word push which means
nourishment. Our body, comprising of five natural elements, is centered for discharging many Duties,
Responsibilities, and for doing Charitable works. It should be nourished as it is one of the main tools
to perform the deeds of Dharma. So it should be healthy and vigorous both physically and mentally.
Then only it can efficiently perform the Divine activities and pitru rituals for the departed souls
particularly during the pushkarams.
The Sanskrit word pushkara means lotus stem, lotus flower and lotus leaf. Ajnani
should have the sense of detachment and renunciation in samsara like a water drop on the surface
of a lotus leaf. Our great saints resolved that performing a holy dip in the pushkar waters of a River
is auspicious when - Jupiter stays in Rasi for one year. It takes twelve years to come around to the
same Rasi. At the first and last twelve days of Jupiter entering and leaving a Rasi, Pushkara, who
resides in the kamandalam of Brahma comes with Jupiter to twelve Rivers. And these days are
pious.
E
D
I
T
O
R
I
A
L

Our mundane world is filled with five elements namely sky, earth, water, fire and air. This
truth is universally accepted. Water is a primary source of life and is the most predominant of all the
five natural elements. According to the Vedas and Puranas, our earth is originated from water.
Science also has proved that the part of water is greater than that of land in the Cosmos. That is
why Electricity is also being generated from water. It is universally acknowledged that according to
the philosophical and scientific literature of the world, there is Supreme Power i.e.,
Nirgunaparabrahma, whose Order or Will, resulted in bringing forth water into existence before
the formation of earth.
It is in practice that all the pilgrims take holy dips in the enchanted and sanctifying flowing
water with a concept of getting immersed in the lake of bliss. Whenever necessary and convenient
for the pilgrims, they congregate at the watery places like Rivers chanting holy mantras depending
on their might, performing holy dips and become auspicious physically and spiritually. For attaining
physical and spiritual purification, chanting mantras, making holy dips and performing thirtha
vidhis from the Himalayas onwards are the regular activities done by the pilgrims during the
pushkarams. The festivals of pushkara belong to this tradition. If a man bathe in such Rivers, he
will get more and more brilliance and brightness. Such radiance is the characteristic of enlightenment.
Eventually, he gets thorough knowledge and wisdom by taking a holy dip in the sanctifying pushkara
waters. He becomes virtuous and is freed from all kinds of sins. Ultimately, he will get salvation
when he takes his holy dip in the Pushkara Rivers because the auspicious looks of Jupiter naturally
fall on these Rivers.
Let us hope earnestly that all human beings take their holy dips and perform the necessary
rituals during these days and become virtuous, healthy, brilliant, purified both in mind and body,
knowledgeable and finally the blessed ones during the Godavari pushkarams that starts from
14th July, 2015.
6

Itisnotintheknowledgeof
many why Sri Lakshmana was
banishedfromthekingdomofSri
RamawhileSriRamacouldnot
livewithoutSriLakshmanaorSri
LakshmanawithoutSriRama.

togetherinanyfightwithdemonsandtheirarcherywaspraisedforits
powerandeffects.

SriLakshmanaisnoneother
thanSesha,thehugesnakeon
whichSriVishnusleptorrested
alongwith SriLakshmi. Sesha
thuswaspartofSrirama.Inthe
sea of milk Sesha served him

SriRamainfulfillmentofaboonofKaikaleftthekingdomandwent
into the woods for fourteen years along with Seetha Devi. Sri
Lakshmanawashisshadow.
SriLakshmanawastherewithSriRamaandSeethaDevitillthey
returnedtoAyodhyaafterliquidatingRavanainamarathonwar.

thusrelentlessly.SriVishnuhad
totakeanavataratoannihilate
demons,especiallyRavana,the
KingofLanka.Ravanawasnot
anordinarydemonbutpropitiated
LordEswaraandacquiredmany
boons from him. He was
immortal but yet there lay the
secretofhisdeath.
WhenSriVishnuhaddecided
to take avatara as Sri Rama,
Sesha begged him to take him
alongtosupporthimthroughout
theavatara.ThoughSriVishnu
explained to Sesha the
tribulations that he would
encounterinBhulokaasevents
tookplace,hewasadamantand
decided to follow Sri Vishnu.
Thus, Sesha was born as Sri
Lakshmana,oneofthebrothers
toSriRama.
SriLakshmanahadeducation
alongwithSriRama.Theywere
7
SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

RamaRajyabeganwithabang.And,people

areeagertoseeyoubackthere.And,hebeganto

livedhappily.TherewasnothingleftforSriRama

explaintheintricaciesofdharma.

orSriLakshmanatodointhecountry.Theirroles

ThewordgotroundthatSriRamawasbusywith

cametoanendthus.

asageandholdingdiscussionshourstogether.So,

Oneafternoon,asagearrivedatthepalaceand

allthosewhodesiredtoconsulthimononesubject

sought interview with Sri Rama. W ith the

orotherremainedoutsidewithenormouspatience.

permissionofSriRama,SriLakshmanalethimin.

Itwasalongwaitforthemforthefirsttime.

Afterafewminutes,SriRamacameoutofhisroom

SriLakshmanawasguardingtheentrancewith

andinstructedSriLakshmana,Lakshmana,Iand

alertnesssothatnobodywouldsneakinsuddenly

the sage who just now came are in threadbare

andcauseembarrassmenttoSriRama.

discussionsaboutanimportantmatteranditmay
takehours.Pleasetakenotethatnobodyhowever

WhenSriLakshmanawasrelaxing,SriDurvasa

importantandpowerfultheymaybe,shouldnotbe

Mahamuni visited the kingdom and soon Sri

allowedtoentermyroom.Nopermissionwouldbe

Lakshmanaandsaid,IwouldliketocallonSriRama

accordedunderanycircumstancesforsuchanentry

immediately.

tomyroom.Ifyoudo,theextremepunishmentof

SriLakshmanatouchedhisfeetandsaidwith

deathwillbeconferreduponyou.

all reverence, O Mahamuni, Sri Rama is in an

Sri Lakshmana was always duty-bound. He

importantmeetingwithonesagewhodroppedafew

said,OKing,Iwillabidebyyourinstructionandwill

hoursago.Hespecificallyinstructedmenottoallow

notpermitanybodytoseeyou.Ishallseethatno

anyone inside however important he is. Please

interruption whatsoever is caused to you till your

forgivemeandrestawhile.Oncethesagecomes

discussions end. I shall further wait for your

out,youarefreetovisithim.

announcementthatyouarefreetoseeanyone.

Sri Durvasa Mahamuni was a personification

SriRamawentinsideandhelddiscussionswith

ofAnger.Healwayswasimpatientanddelivereda

the sage. Thesagewas important to him as he

heapofcursesuponpeople,createdtroubleafter

was none other than Sri Yama Dharmaraja in

troubletotheoneswhoantagonisedhimorargued

disguise.

withhimordidnotlistentohim.Buttheundercurrent
ofphilosophywasthathiscurseswereimminent

Whenthediscussionswereabouttoconclude

andnecessaryfortheYuga.Theyhelpedforloka

SriYamaDharmarajasaid,SriRama,Ihavecome

kalyana(forthegoodoftheworld).

heretoremindyouthatyourAvatarawillendnow.
ThepurposewithwhichyouarrivedinBhulokais

Naturally,SriDurvasaMahamunilosthiscool.

over.YoushouldgobacktoVaikuntamandrest.All

Heangrilysaid,Idontmindwhoisthereinside.I
8

SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

haveanurgentissuetobediscussedwithhim.If

kingdomandthepeoplewillbedestroyedfornofault

youstopmefromgoinginside,Ishalldestroythe

ofmine.So,Icameheretotakeyourpermission.

kingdomandthepeople.Sosaying,hetookout

Thesagewhowaslisteningtoallthissaid,Sri

waterfromhisKamandala.

Rama,Iamleavingnow.Pleasebearinmindwhat

Sri Lakshmana thought, this Muni cannot be

allItoldyou.Hewithdrewsoon.

stopped.And,hewillrightawaycurse.Hiscurseis
Sri Rama nodded to Sri Lakshmana, Please

sopowerfulthatinsecondsthevastKingdomofSri

bring him in. Sri Lakshmana went outside and

Ramawillvanishintothethinair;soalsopeople.If

conducted Sri Durvasa Mahamuni to Sri Rama. Sri

Ipermithim,SriRamawillsendmetogallows.I

Rama touched his feet. Sri Lakshmana came out

willdie.Butmydeathwillhelpsurvivethepeople

and was happy that he would die as the role assigned

andthekingdom.So,IshallgoandtellSriRamaof
thevisitofSriDurvasaMahamuniandhisinsistence

to him had been carried out efficiently. Sri Durvasa

onseeinghim,whatmaycome.

Mahamuni went away after a few minutes.

Sri Lakshmana replied, O Mahamuni, I shall

SriRamacalledtheintellectualsimmediatelyand

seekthepermissionofSriRamaandwillbebackin

addressedthem.TodayafternoonIwasdeliberating

secondstoleadyoutohisroom.

withasageonanimportantsubjectandaskedSri
Lakshmananottosendanyoneinside.Shouldhe

He went inside. Sri Rama who was still in

discussions stopped immediately. He looked

permitanyonetomeetme,hewouldbegivencapital

questioninglyatSriLakshmana.

punishment. But, when Sri Durvasa Mahamuni

visited,heallowedhimbecausehethreatenedthe

SriLakshmanabowedandtoldhim, O King,

peopleandthekingdomofdireconsequences.In

pleaseforgivemeforinterruptingyou.SriDurvasa

other words, he would curse for destruction. Sri

Mahamuniisatthedoorsteps.Heissoadamant

Lakshmanawouldhavenotdonethisinthenormal

thathewouldseeyouimmediatelyonanimportant

course.Butwhenagreatthreatcame,hedecided

matter.Inspiteofmypleadings,hebecameangry
andshoutedatmethatshouldInotallowhim,he

todieforthepeopleandthecountryashecannot

wouldbyhiscursedestroythekingdomandallthe

escape the punishment for wrong doing. Sri

people.Iamdamnscaredashehasnopatience

Lakshmana,asyouknowall,didsomuchforthe

andhewouldresorttocursingwithoutathought.

kingdom and is now definitely in the state of

Itookadecisiontoconcedetohisrequest.IfIviolated

helplessnesstohaveviolatedtheinstructionsofthe

your instructions, as a measure of punishment,

King.Butdoyouadvocatesuchapunishmentto

Iwoulddie.But,ifIdonotallowhim,thewhole

him?Isthereanyway,hecouldbeforgivenandan
9

SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

alternate punishment be inflicted upon him? Please give me your

the matter needs excogitation

unbiasedopinionasyouareallgreatandKnoweveryinchofdharma.

(laboriousthinking).And,wefelt

Iwillabidebyyouropinion.

Sri Lakshmana saved you, the

Allofthemwereshockedattheincident.Theyallcongregatedfor

people and the kingdom in the

afewminutesandreturnedtotheKingandannouncedtheiropinion

process.Indharma,banishment

inunequivocalterms.

fromthecoutrnyisequaltodeath

OKing!SriLakshmanadidnotdoanythingwrong.Hekeptthe

sentence.So,weopinethatSri

safetyandwellbeingofyoursubjectsallalonginhismindbefore

Lakshmanabebanishedfromthe

allowingtherishitoseeyou.However,yourinstructionshavebeen

kingdom.

violatedandthepunishmentsuggestedshouldbecarriedout.But,
Sri Rama was in tears. He
goes by dharma. And he
understoodnow.
Lakshmana! I can never
forget what you did to me, my
family, peopleandmy kingdom.
Asfatewouldhavedecided,you
are banished from my kingdom
forever.Iwillalwaysthinkofyou.
Without, uttering a word, Sri
LakshmanatouchedthefeetofSri
Ramaandsoughthisblessings.
Hewentawaynottoreturn.
It looked pathetic and
unjustified but Sesha had to go
back, curl himself and be there
when Sri Vishnu arrived. Sri
RamalaterwenttoSarayuRiver
andvanished.Healsocompleted
theAvatara and reached
Vaikunta.
10
SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

Introduction:

theirwrongdoingsthatistheviolationofVediclaws

ThetenetsofSrivaishnavismareofimmense

asordainedbyHim,andSri,thedivinemotherofall,

value.Theyhavebeenmainlydeclaredinsacred,

withHercompassionactsasamediatorbetween

by all the Alwars in their holy hymns which are

ParamatmaandJivatma.Shemitigatesthewrath

eulogised as Arulicheyal. The most particular

of the Lord, making the erring humanbeings to

principleissurrenderingallouractionsattheLotus

repentfortheirfollyandsurrendertoHimforHis

feet of Sriman Narayana only. This inestimable

grace.Thiswonderfulandimmensurablenobleact

doctrinehasbeenemphasisedbyThirumazhisai-

onthepartofSriiscalledPurushakara.FurtherSri

PiraninhisNanmughanThiruvandattuinthedivine

theMahalakshmiisonecomingnext,inordertothe

song68referringtothetruenatureofaSrivaishnava

LordHimself.ThegreatnessofSri(Lakshmi),has

as Manandumpuram thozha mandar. This

beenvividlyhighlightedinVedas,Puranas,Ithihasas,

authentic expression had also been made in the

the voices of sages and by the sacred songs of

sangamperiodliteraturedatingbackto5000years

AlwarsandbytheslokasofthevariousAcharyas.

and beyond, giving elaborate references to this

To add, the special rank of Sri next to Sriman

remarkable and valuable point. The features of

Narayana, has been clearly mentioned in Vishnu

Srivaishnava cult cannot be described in full

Sahasranamam

measureasitisanocean.Anyhowletushavea

Tirunamams-thatissacrednames.Comingtothe

glimpseoftheessenceofSriVaishnavacultwhich

nextpoint,atrueSrivaishnava-avoidslust,anger

isportrayedashereunder.

toomuchattachmentinanything,ego,hatredand

continuously

in

many

wouldnotcompareothersintheirstatusregarding
Substancesindetail

health,wealth,educationetc,becausehefeelsand

Attheoutset,itistobenotedthattheprefixto

seesSrimanNarayanaasSarvaantharyamiinthe

Vaishnava is of unique and special value. Sri

soulsofotherhumanbeings.Heiscontentedwith

denotes Mahalakshmi and she occupies an

the position that is ordained by the Almighty

importantpositioninthedevotionaltradition.Sheis

accordingtohispreviousKarmasandisriskfuland

saidtobetheUniversalmotherofallthelivingbeings,

peacefulalways,seekingthenaturalgraceofthe

andontheother,theConsortofVishnuHimself.Itis

Supremebeing.AtrueSrivaishnavaisnotmuch

eventoldthatLordVishnuwhoistheprime-cause

interestedinthe worldlyaffairslikeothers, ashe

and sole protector of the whole Universe as the

thinksoftheLordalways,doinghisdutypertained

disciplinariangetsangrywiththehumanbeingsfor

tohim,havingsomematuritylevelofmind,blessed
11

SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

bytheLordtohim.Hethinksofthesupremedivines

sigh of relief, the snake rounded Embar thrice

act at all times, realising deeply as to how the

showingitsgratitudetohimandwentaway.

Almighty creates the Universe, sustains it and

Koorathalwan,inhisgarden,onedaysawthe

withdrawsit.Hehasthefirmbeliefthateverbeing

oozingofwaterfromthebananaplantainleaf,when

ishavingAtma orsoulandso shouldtreatevery

it was cut from the tree. He could not bear the

onewithequanimitylove,careandregard.Hewill

sufferingoftheleafandheimmediatelyfaintedfor

doeverythingaslucidlyspecifiedbythescriptures

sometime.

on sastras and all his actions will not be

accomplished by the senses of doer-ship which

By this we can know about these above

would lead to rebirth and death again without

Acharyas, Embar, Koorthalwan are the direct

attainingtothegoldenfeetofSriVasudeva.Atrue

diciplesofJagadacharyaSriRamanuja.

Srivaishnavawouldalwaysbeenjoyingthesplendor

Theretwomessagesrevealastohowthetrue

oftheAlmighty,astherewillnotbeanyphysicalor

Srivaishnavasshowedtheircompassionevento

mentalpain,hunger,nofearofdeathoragaincoming

reptileandtreeandthisshouldbecommunicated

tothisearthetc.Hewillbepossessingthequalities

to the whole globe. The Srivaishnava cult clearly

ofSattwicinnatureandhissoleaimwouldbeto

declares that the soul, after death, will be in the

attainmoksha,ItisworthytomentionherethatLord

august presence of Parama Purusha Sriman

SriKrishnainHisBhagavatgeeta,haselaborately

Narayana and never comes back to samsara. In

defined the qualities of Sattwic souls, to be

SrivaishnavaPrinciple,onlythebodyperishes

followed. A true Srivaishnava would not even

butthesoulneverdiesnorgetsdissolved.The

toleratethesufferingsofreptilesandtrees.

realised souls ultimately reach

To quote from the incidents which

Srivaikuntam,asNammalwar

happenedduringthelifeofourgreat

haspointedintheconclusionofhis

acharyasarenarratedbelow.

Thiruvaimozhi as Vaikuntam

Embar was going around to

Pukuvathu mannvan Vidhiya.

plucktheflowersforhisPujatothe

Ultimately after finding a place in

Paramapadam,theblissfulregionsof

Almighty. He noticed a poisonous

Sriman Narayana, He gives

snake on the way and blood

His Darsan always and at

was coming out from its

mouth. He dared to go

all times to the realised

nearthesnakeandtook

soulsandthey haveto

outabigthrowfromits

doKainkaryamsthatis

mouth. Themoving out

nonstoppingdevotional

of blood was stopped

services

andthesnakeregained

supreme

toitsposition.Havinga

Bhagavad Ramanuja
12

SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

to

the

being.

alsohasgivenindetail,thedescriptionelaborately

inhisMumookshupadisacredworkunderDwaya

inhisSriVaikuntaGadhyam.Itistobeparticularly

Prakaranam, Bhagavat Ramanujas philosophy

notedthattheSrivaishnavacultgotstabilizedand

definesparticularlytheunityindiversityamong,all

expandedbyBhagavadRamanuja'spure,nobleand

sectsofpeopleallovertheworldbeyondcasteor

authenticphilosophyofVisishtadvaitha,thatstresses

creed.

thepolicyofprapattithatisabsolutesurrenderto

Conclusion

the Supreme Lord. Here the Lords upadesa

ThevariousaspectsandvalueoftheEssence

containedinchapter18-verse-66beginasSarva
Dharman Parithaija...........

of Srivaishnava cult have been stressed and

"Maa shuchaha is

elaborated in the holy scriptures, of Sri

crystal clear and suggests ways and means to

Vishnupurana,SriRamayana,Mahabharatha,Sri

reachHimwithoutanydelaytherealandconcluded

Bhagavatgita, Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam, Sri

meaningoftheholyslokaisthatLordtakingpityon

LakshmiSahasranama,Arulicheyalandthesacred

alltheJivatmasemphasisesthateveryoneshould

commentariesbyourPoorvacharyasasalsointheir

resigningalltheirefforts,thoughtsanddeedstothe

Stotraratna slokas. In short, the essence of

allpowerfulandsupportingLord,takerefugeinHim

Srivaishnavacultisdenotedastodocontinousholy

aloneandheshallabsolveeveryoneofalltheirsins,

servicestotheAlmightyandHishumbledevotees

thereforeworrynot.ThisLordsinestimableadvice

andtosurrendertotheLordcompletely.Thesetwo

[Gita-Chapter 18- verse 66] at the endhas been

mainandimportant messages have been clearly

taken as a strong root, to the essence of

portrayed by Sri Nammalvar in his holy

Srivaishnavacult.

Thiruvaimozhi Pathigams to Thirumalaiyoppan

beginning with Ozhivil Kalamellam (3-3) and

TheversesintheVedasandUpanishadssignify
that whoever wants to reach Paramatma-Sriman

Ulakamunda-peruvayaa (6-10), in fitting

Narayana,mustobservesomeguidelinesandrules

manner.

whichhavebeenrelaxedbytheLordKrishnafor
the benefit of people who will take birth during
Kaliyuga.ThegreatLordinBhagavatgeeta,before
theadventofKaliyugadeclaredthatSurrendering
allactstomebyyourmind,thinkingofMeasthe
realgoalandresortingtoBuddhiyoga,focusingyour
thoughtseveronMe[Chapter18-verse-57].
Next,theSrivaishnavacultstartsitsprayeras
Lashminatha Samarambam by all giving
prominencetoSrithatisMahalakshmi.Theways
andmeansof atrueSrivaishnava hasbeen fully
explainedbyAcharyaratna,SriPillaiLokhacharya
13
SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

streamingwatersofYamunamadelovelierbygentle

-Dr.PremaNandakumar

b bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb

waveshadavarietyoffishgambolinginthewaters.
The river appeared like another Ganga. Honey-

bbbbbbbb

SRI MAHA BHAGAVATAM

OF
ARULALADASAR

drippingflowers,honey-fedbees,everywherethe
joyofnaturesexquisitemiscellany.Thepoetcalls
tohisaidavarietyofsimilestodescribethescene.

NatureseemedtobeworshippingtheSupremewith

(Continuedfromthepreviousissue)
41.

its array of flowers, so many! Madhavi, Lotus,

TheFlute-PlayerofBrindavan

Kuravakam, Mandara, Patala, the list goes on.

Musicisaddedtothisflowerworshipbythekokilas,

While the entire Bhagavata is fascinating,

theparrotswiththeirfledgelings,thedoves:even

Krishnasstoryisparticularlycaptivating.Thatis

themonkeysaddedtothejoyousnoisebyjumping

whytheTenthBookofthescripture,theDasama

fromonebranchtoanotheringlee.

Skandha, is a favourite for all who follow the

Bhagavatacult.Hereagain,thecantosthattakeup

Asthesunwithdrew,duskcametotheland.It

theflute-playingofKrishnaarealtogetherenchanting.

grewdarkeverywherelikeenemiesconvergingupon

InthePerialvarTirumoliwehaveawonderfuldecad

a landfrom which the King hadgoneaway. But

ontheflute-playingKrishna,whichbringstolifethe

soonthefullmoon,likeakindlykingguardinghis

sceneintheforestsofBrindavan:

people, rose in the sky pouring forth his cool

radiances.Immediatelytheliliesbloomedinfull.All

As Govinda played the flute, his jaw rested

theplantsandtreeswhichwererichwithblossoms

On his right shoulder; his hands crossed,

now sent forth a captivating scent as the gentle

Eyelashes were drawn up; the stomach

southernbreezebegantoblowallovertheplace.

Was drawn in and lips came together;

Krishnabegantoplaytheflute.Asthehandsome

With tresses flying loose, red-lined eyes

Yadava boy played the flute, divine damsels like

Glancing around, their deer-like forms thin,

Rambha, Urvasi, Menaka and Tilottama

The cowherdesses held up with one hand

accompaniedbyinnumerableangelswatchedhim

Their slipping garments, and stood listening.

fromaboveandfeltsadthattheyhadnotthegood
As the tiny fingers stroked the flute,

fortune of being born as cowherdesses. If the

The red face grew intent on the stops

beautyofKrishnaattractedtheheavenlyvirgins,the

And the eyelashes held drops of sweat.

divine musicians like Garudas, Gandharvas,

Varieties of birds flew out of their perches

Yakshas, Kinnaras, Kimpurushas, Tumburu and

And lay around Govinda like dried up plants.

Narada felt forlorn that they could never equal

The cattle spread out their legs,

Krishnainproducingsuchsoulfulmusic,andstood

Bent their heads and stood still, ears unmoving.

stilllistening,asiftheywereportraitsonacanvas.

Arulaladasarhadnaturallyabsorbedthewhole

Arulaladasarsisanextendeddescriptionofwhat

of the Divya Prabandham by theAlvars and his

Perialvarhaswritten,thatalllivingbeingsbecame

cantoontheflute-playofKrishnaisverysweet.It

still,imbibingKrishnasmusic.Helistsquiteafew

opens with a lovely description of spring. The

birds,domesticanimalsandwildanimalslikelion,
14

SAPTHAGIRI

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tigerandbearthathadgrownactionless,listening

ecstasy,theybecameveryproudoftheircloseness

to the music with intense concentration. Having

withKrishna.Thiswouldnotdo!Theyhadtobe

heard the callof the flute in their settlement, the

taughtalessonandmadetoturnbacktonormal

cowherdesses came to the place where Krishna

life.Hesimplyvanishedfromtheirmidstinatrice.

wassurroundedhim.Themusicwassobewitching

Thedancewassoecstaticthateachcowherdess

thattheyranwithoutcaringforthepotsofmilkwhich

hadthoughtKrishnawasdancingstillwithher.Now

felldownandbroke,norwashingtheirhandswhile

allofthemfeltforlorn.Theybegantosearchfor

having food. Who can stop persons who are

himintheforest.Notseeinghimanywheretheylay

overwhelmedbylove?

downasifdead,andagaingotuptorenewtheir
search.Theybeattheirbreastslamentingattheloss

ArulaladasarrepeatsthestoryofChintayantiin

oftheirdearestcompanion.Ifwedosendago-

briefhere.Evenasshewasstoppedbyhermother,

betweentogethim,shemightnotreturn,asshe

ChintayantisheartwenttotheLordsfeet.Adivine

wouldhavefallenforhim,luredbyhishandsome

chariotcamedownandtookherawaytotheregions

personality. Indeed,Arulaladasar draws from Sri

above.Theotherladiesran,notcaringforanyone

VishnuPuranamthe

whowouldpreventthem.Nordidtheystopbyto

incident

decoratethemselvesproperly:
A lady wore in her hand the band
which was her anklet. Another put
her bangle on her feet. The hip
ornament was worn as a
necklace

by

another

cowherdess;
And necklace took the
place of her hip girdle!
Decorating their head with
their silk garments,
They covered their body
with garlands of flowers
Meant to beautify their
crown! They lost
All sense of place, time and
else in the blaze of love.
They were quite lost to themselves
gazing at Krishna.
Accedingtotheirrequesttoacceptthemashis
beloved, he embraced them. As they danced in
15
SAPTHAGIRI

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of

Krishnagoingawaywithoneparticulargopi,and

nowhere,theLordappearedbeforethemandthere

whenshegrewtiredwalking,heevencarriedher

wasagooddealofjoyandtogetherness.Suchwas

for the rest of the distance. This made her very

themannerinwhichthegopissportedwithKrishna

proud;themomentshethoughtKrishnaismine,

onthefullmoonnightofSpring.

heleftheralsoandwithdrewfromsight.

Thissportreferredtoasrasakridahasoften

Thecowherdessesnowfollowedtheimprintof

been decried by critics who do not realize that

hisfootstepsonthesandandevendetectedthathe

KrishnainBrindavanwasjustaboyofsevenand

had shown particular attention to one girl by

thattherewasnothingtocriticisehere.Theeminent

decoratinghertresseswithflowers.Thenthegirl

editorandcommentatorofArulaladasarswork,Sri

herselfwasseenandshetoldthemofallthathad

KannanSwamiwrites:

transpiredbetweenherselfandKrishnaandhowhe

The author has described through the gopis

hadvanishedinatrice.Aftersearchingalloverthe

what is known as Vipralambha sringaram. The

forest,theycametothewhitesandsofYamunas

weepingaccentsofthecowherdessessearching

bankandsattired,playingthegameofkoodalwith

forKrishnaisknownasGopikageethamwhen

thequestion:WillHecomeornot?Andasfrom

theirpridewashumbledKrishnaappearedagain.
RasaKridaisthedancewhenKrishnatookasmany
formsasthegopisanddancedwiththem.Thisis
knownasKuravaiKoothuinTamil.Thereisnothing
eroticaboutit.Itisthejoythatwasbroughttothe
girlsofthesettlementbyacharmingboyofseven
years.
Thispointhasbeenmadeoutbeautifullyby
SwamiVivekananda:
Ah,thatmostmarvellouspassageofhislife,
themostdifficulttounderstand,andwhichnoneought
to attempt to understand until he has become
perfectly chaste and pure, that most marvellous
expansionoflove,allegorisedandexpressedinthat
beautiful play at Brindavan, which none can
understandbuthewhohasbecomemadwithlove,
drunkdeepofthecupoflove!Whocanunderstand
thethroesoftheloreoftheGopistheveryideal
oflove,lovethatwantsnothing,lovethatevendoes
not care for heaven, love that does not care for
anythinginthisworldortheworldtocome?
(tobecontinued)
16

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ItisanestablishedhistoricalfactthatSri

Bhagavan Ramanuja established the doctrine of

VedantaDesikan(SrimadVenkatanathan)is

Vishistadvaitaonvalidgrounds,madeare-orientationof

one of the most brilliant and many sided

the school and made unique contributions the

personalitiesinthemedivalepochofIndian

establishment and development of the doctrine of

philosophy. He is the most celebrated

Vishistadvaita. Ramanuja declared that the Ultimate

scholar, philosopher, saint, logician and

Reality is the Supreme Brahman Sriman Narayana,

systematiser after Ramanuja. He isoneof

characterised by the sentient (chith) and Non-sentient

thegreatestexpositorsofthephilosophyof

(achith)principles.Ramanujaexplainedthestatements

Vishistadvaita.Morethanallthishewasa

ofUpanishadsinaharmoniouswayandproveBrahman

greatdevoteeofGodandallhisutterances
haveemanatedfromhisintensedevotionto
God.HewasauniquecombinationofGnana,
BhaktiandVairagya.SriVedantaDesikanwas
adevotedfollowerofBhagavanRamanuja.
HisBhaktitoSriRamanujawassecondonly
tohisBhaktitoGod.Hewascharmedbyhis
masters style and was totally convinced
thatthephilosophypropoundedbyBhagavan
Ramanujawasperfect.
SriVedantaDesikanisanauthorofmore
thanhundredcelebratedworks.Eachwork
ofthemasterisagreatmasterpiece.Every
work be it a short stotra or an elaborate
Commentaryoradigestorapieceofpoetry
orthecompositioninPrakruthoraRahasya
GranthahasagreatnesstobehisMagnum
opus. But, scholars choose this supreme
classic,RahasyatrayasaramashisMagnum
opus.
17
SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

asSavisheshai.e.characterisedbytheauspicious

for the Vedic statement from the Divya

qualities.RamanujadeclaredbothBhaktiyogaand

Prabandhams and has worked out a harmony

Prapatti(selfsurrender)asvalidmeansforgaining

betweentheSanskritVedaandDravidaVeda.This

Salvation.RamanujahasexpoundedBhaktiyoga

workiscomposedinthemanipravalaStyleandis

asavalidmeanstotheattainmentofGodheadin

easilyunderstandable.Thegreatmasterhasdealt

hisSriBhashya,VedanthaSangraha,GitaBhashya

in a most masterly way the nature and scope of

and others. He has expounded clearly all the

Prapatti,thedifferencebetweenBhaktiandPrapatti,

accessoriesandfinerdetailsofBhaktiyogainthese

theaccessoriesofPrapatti,thefitnessforperforming

works.InthethreeGadyashehasadvocated,the

Prapatti,themadeofperformanceofPrapatti,the

doctrineofPrapattiasadirectmeanstoMoksha.

conduct of a Prapanna in this Supreme classic.

ThoughRamanujawasnotagainstthemethodof

Without this classic of Sri Vedanta Desika, the

UpasanahepreferredPrapattianddeclareditasa

doctrineofPrapattiwouldhaveeverremainedhazy

sufficient means for gaining Salvation. But,

andindefinite.

Ramanujahasnotdescribedalltheminutedetails

SriVedantaDesikahastaughtthoroughlyallthe

andaccessoriesofPrapattiinanyofhisworks.Thus

truths that have to be known necessarily by an

therewereverymanydoubtsandquestionsabout

aspirantofliberationinRahasyatrayaSaram.This

prapattiandthenatureofthisdoctrinewasveryhazy.

RahasyatrayaSaramistheeighteenthRahasyaof

Many issues were in confusion and required

thethirtytwoRahasyaGranthascomposedbySri

authoritativeclarifications.Therewasanurgentneed

VedantaDesika.ThefirstSixteenRahasyasare

toclarifyallthemajorandminor problemsabout

shorterinlengthandtheSeventeenthRahasyais

thisdoctrine.

Guruparamparasara.Itisconsideredasthepart
andparcelofSrimadRahasyatrayaSaram.

Atsuchtime,SriVedantaDesikangavetheworld
thisgreatwork,thefinestfruitofhismaturemind.

In Guruparampara Sara, Sri Desikan

InthisSupremeclassicSriDesikanhasexpounded

emphasisestheimportanceoftheGuruinspiritual

theinnermeaningandsignificanceofthedoctrine

Sadhana. The Guru is a guide who initiates the

ofPrapattiinallitsaspectsontheauthorityofthe

processofspiritualdiscipline,watchestheprogress

threeRahasyas,thesacredscriptures,Puranas,

ofthedisciple,setshimrightwheneverhefailsand

Itihasas,Agamas,DivyaPrabandhamsofAlwars

ultimatelyleadshimtotheachievementofthegoal.

andtheexpositionsofancientAcharyas.Thisgreat

ThebenefactionsoftheGurutoHumanityissogreat

workisalandmarkinthehistoryofSrivaishnava

itcannotbedescribedinwords.Thisgreatworkis

Philosophy. In this classic Desikanavoids direct

startedby Vedanta Desikan with Guruparampara

quotations from the Upanishadic lore as this is

Saraasamarkofgreatreverenceandrespectat

meantforthereadingofallpeopleirrespectiveof

thefeetofGurusforthesuccessfulcompletionof

CasteandCreed.But,hasdrawnparallelauthorities

thiswork.
18

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TheRahasyatrayaSaramhas32adhikarasand

regardingtheconductandbehaviourofaPrapanna

theyareclassifiedinto4parts.

andthegloryofaprapanna.

1)Arthanushasana

The third part Padavakya Yojana" is a very

2)Sthireekarana

importantonewhereinthemeaningsofletters,terms

3)PadavakyaYojana

andsentencesofthethreeSupremeMantrasare

4)Sampradayaprakriya

expounded elaborately in three sections. These

threechaptersforminoneway,thePrimepartor

The first part Arthanushasana contains 22

theMainsubjectofthisgreatwork.

sections starting from Upodghathadhikara and

endswithParipoornaBrahmanubhavaadhikara.

TheMoolamantraenlightenstheessentialnature

InthissectionSriVedantaDesikanhaspointedout

oftheJivatmanasbeingtotallysubservienttothe

the Prime subject matter of this work and the

Lordandthusdevelopsastrongdesireforattaining

purposeitwouldserve.Thisintroductionislikea

the Lord without delay. This is qualification for

motivationforthereaderstoknowwhatexactlyis

performingthemeansofSalvation.

expoundedinthemainwork.

The Dvaya mantra teaches vividly the way of

Inthissectionthereisgeneralstatementofthe

performingPrapattiforattainingtheSupremebenefit

SupremetruthsofTattva,HitaandPurushartha.Sri

oflifetheattainmentofGodhead.

Desikanpointsoutherethattheemancipationof
Thecharamaslokaissignificant,asitprescribes

theboundselfduetothegraceoftheAcharyais

theparticularmeansofsurrenderfortheattainment

thesubjectmatterofthisgreattreatise.Whatallis
tobeknownanddoneforonesownultimategood
is pointed out in a nutshell in this section. The
accessoriesandmodesofPrapattiareexpounded.
Thissectionismeantfortheoriginationofadesire
toknowthetruth.
InthesecondpartSthirikaranathesetruthsare
consolidatedfirmlyin4sectionsbyansweringthe
several doubts that are raised about the truths
propoundedearlier.
The Siddhopaya Shodhana clears doubts
regardingtheSiddhopayawhichhappenstobethe
SupremeParamatmanHimself.
The Siddhopaya Shodhanadhikara clears
doubtsthatmayariseaboutthemenasofPrapatti.
The succeeding two chapters clears doubts
19
SAPTHAGIRI

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ofthedesiredobject.ThusasregardsPrapattiitis

This Supreme classic, Rahasyatraya Saram

demonstratedhereastohowthesethreeSupreme

isaninimitablemonumentofSriVedantaDesikas

MantrasareenshriningallthetruthsofVedanta.

compassiontomenandhisgreatdevotiontoGod.

Thefourthpart"Sampradayaprakriya"consists

The entire Philosophy and Religion stands

ofthreesections.Afterexpoundingthemeanings

harnessedinformulatingthepilgrimspathwayto

of the three eminent Rahasyas in Pada Vakya

God.Theultimatepointofmensendeavourtowards

YojanasectionSriDesikandescribestheprocess

Godliesinselfsurrender,PrapattiandPrapattigets

ofhandingoverthiseminentknowledgefromthe

its complete definition in this masterly guide to

teachertopupilinthetraditionalwayinAcharya

spirituallife.Posterityshouldbeevergratefultothis

Kritya adhikara. The role of Acharya and the

greatPhilosophersaintwholeftbehindhim

characteristicsoftheAcharyaarealsoreferredhere.

thisgreatauthoritativemonument.

The main duty of Acharya happens to be the

propagation

and

preservation

of

Purohit Sangham, Tirumala

the

Satsampradaya,thewellestablishedtradition.

Itisrequestedtofollowtheprescribed
procedureforbookingandperforming
marriagesatPurohitSangham,Tirumala.
Thedetailsgiven below must be
furnishedcompulsorily to the Officer
concerned:

InShishyakrityadhikara,thedutiesandbehaviour
ofadiscipleareoutlined.Thisimportantinstruction
has to be practised by all disciples for achieving
fruitfulsuccessintheirenquiryafterknowledge.The
discipleshouldbedevotedtotheteacherasheis
devotedtoGod.Devotiontoteacheristherootcause

1.

Age proof of Bride and

Bridegroom.

2.

I.D. proof of theParents /

Guardians of the Bride and
Bridegroom.

3.

Present addressproof i.e.,

Rationcard / Drivinglicense /
Passport/VoterI.D.card.

ofallgoodthathappenstoone.
InNigamanadhikara,thereisrecapitulationof
allthetruthstaughtearlierin31sectionsandinthe
endalltheseareofferedatthesacredfeetofthe
SupremeParabrahman,SrimanNarayanadrawing
agrandconclusion.
SrimadVedantaDesikan,atrueSthitaprajna,in

Incase no such photo based I.D.

issued by a Govt. departmentis
available,attestationbyRDO/Tahasildar
isrequired.

theend,statesthattheLordHayagreeva,assuming
the role of an Acharya of the form of Sri Vadi
Hamsambhuvahablessedhim withthisSupreme
teachingandthisSupremeworkisauthoredbythe

Dy.Executive Officer,
Kalyanakatta, T.T.D.

SupremeHayagreevaHimselfandSriDesikanwas
justlikeawriterwhowriteswhatisdictated.
20
SAPTHAGIRI

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PART

YOGAVAASISHTA

NIRVANA (LIBERATION)
-KuppaVenkatakrishnamurthy

(Continuedfromthepreviousissue)
79.

between Rama and Sage Vasishta proceeded

accordingtotheVedicdictum:

SermonGiventoBharadwaj:

Yato va imani bhutani jayante

Bharadwaj: Revered Teacher! Sage Vasishta

Yena jatani ji vanti yatprayantyabhisamvisanti

taughtprofoundKnowledgetoRama.Ramawas
anembodimentofLordVishnu.Didhehavefurther

Inadditionthereisamethodofanalysisofthe

doubtsordidheremainsilentafterobtainingSelf-

essence of Truth based on the three states of

Knowledge?

Wakefulness,dreamanddeepsleepstates.Asit
wasaneasilyunderstoodapproach,SageVasishta

Strictlyspeaking,SriRamawasanincarnation

didnotspecificallydealwithitotherthanmakinga

of the Supreme God. He assumed to have

casualreferencetoit.Ishallexpandonitforyour

ignoranceanddiscussedthematterinsuchgreat

benefithere.

detailforthebenefitofothers.Whatdifficultycould

MyFriend!Youareawareofthesignificanceof

HehavehadinachievingSelfKnowledge?

theFourGreatVedicAphorisms.Inspiteofit,you

What is the fate of simple folk like me? My

areyourownimpediment.Whyisitso?Followthe

practiceisnominal.Myignoranceisquitedense.

techniquesIshalldescribetoyouatleastnowand

ThatiswhyIamveryanxious.

attainaPuremind.
Asamatteroffact,Idonothavetotellyoumuch

Valmiki:Bharadwaj!Ramadidnothaveanymore

aboutthethreestates.Thethoughtthattheworld

doubts.Hewasfirmlyestablishedinquietitude.

istrueiscalledWakefulsleep.Amansaysthathe

Bharadwaj: Sir! I heard through you the entire

isawake. Butintruthheisasleepinignorance.

conversation that took place between Rama and

ThatisthereasonitiscalledWakefulsleep.Ifthe

SageVasishta.Thesurprisingthing,nonetheless,

lightofConsciousnessglowsinhismind,hewillbe

isthatIamstillasIwaswhereasRamaattained

outofignorance.Withtheendingofignorance,the

deepmeditation.Howcanunderlingslikemeget

world dissolves. Hence you should discard

liberated?

ignoranceandlightupthelampofKnowledge.

Valmiki: Bharadwaj! I narrated faithfully and

Prannasti carame nasti

completely holding back nothing from you. Now

Vastu sarvamidam sakhe

ponderoverthematter,mullitoverinyourmind,

Viddhi madhyepi tannasti

and come to a decision by yourself. That is

Snapnavrtta midam jagat

(purva.sarga127,sloka19)

somethingyouhavetodobyyourself.Thedialogue
21
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80. Stages in The Practice Absorption

MyFriend!Worlddidnotexistinthepast.Itwill
not be there finally. Hence it does not have any

(Pravilaapana):

existence in-between too. Yet we see it. Hence

Valmiki:Bharadwaj!Whathappenedtoyourskill

realizethatitisnomorethanadream.

of abstracting the gist after a comprehensive

analysis? Anyways, I shall do it for you. Sage

Past sins are the main reason why we are

Vasishta taught the very same things that were

unabletoappreciatethis,thoughwemayhaveheard

stated in the scriptures like Mandukya and other

itanumberoftimes.Sofirsttakeuptheworshipof

Upanishads.Ishallpresentthesalientpointsina

Brahmanwithattributesinordertobefreedfrom

sequentialorder.

sins.Thesinsofmenarethelassointhehandsof

1. Achievethe Sixvirtuesof Seekingviz. Sama,

Ishwar.PraytoIshwarfortheterminationofsins.

Dama&c.Withtheirhelpquittakingprohibited

Nextcultivatedetachmentandabideinit.Watch

actionsandalsodonotactpropelledbydesires.

the drama of life calmly. Jettison inauspicious

2. Cutdownyearningforsensorypleasures.

misery.ContemplateontheeverBlissfulandPure

3. Keepyourmindgentleandreceptive.

SupremeSelf.Thereisnothingmoretobedone.

4. Acquirestabilityinposture.

Bharadwaj:ReveredMaster!ByyourkindgraceI

5.Purifyyourmindwithcommitmentandtakeup

havelearntwhatallhastobeknown.

repeated recitation (japa) of Aum.

Practice

na vairagyatparo bandhuh

breath

control

simultaneously and sanctify

na samsaratparo ripuh

mind.

(purva.sarga127,sloka

6. W ithdraw the sense

59)

organsfromtheobjectsof

I could understand

theworld.

that There is no better

benefactor

7. Begin the practice of

than

absorption(pravilaapana).

detachment.Thereisno

Awellknownmaximgoes

enemy worse than the

asfollows:

phenomenalworld.
karana vyatirekena
Sir, I have a humble

karyasyabhava niscayah

request.Kindlysummarizethe

pravilapana mityetat
tadananyatva niscayah

essence of the elaborate

teachingofSageVasishta

Between cause and

inafewwordsforme.

effect, you will find that an

22

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effectdoesnotexistwithoutthepriorexistenceofa

thecompositeofsubtlebeings(madeupofsubtle

cause.Apotcannothaveexistencebeyondclay.

panchabhutas).Thenameofthecompositeof

Soproceedateverystagefirmlyestablishingthat

subtle beings is Hiranyagarbha. Absorb the

theeffectisnodifferentfromthecause.Sucha

individual self inside your gross body into

deduction is called absorption. The following

Hiranyagarbha.

statement of Chandogya Upanishad conveys the

c. ThecauseforHiranyagarbhaistheunmanifested

processofabsorption.

(avyakrita)whoismadeupofthreequalitiesand
for whom maya is the adjunct (mayopadhika).

vacarambhanam vikaro

AbsorbHiranyagarbhainAvyakrita.

namadheyam mrttiketyeva satyam

(VIi-4,ChandogyaUpanishad.)

d. ThecauseforAvyakritaistheprimordialsubstrate
forall,PureBrahman.AbsorbAvyakritainPure

Pot is only a name. It connotes a change in

Brahman.

shape.Thetruesubstanceisclay.

e. After having stabilized in the process of

Hence,Bharadwaj,evaluateontheabovelines

absorption,linktheprocessofabsorptionwith

thebody,senses,mind,intellect,theindividual-self

thejapaofAum.Thisisdoneasfollows:

insideetc.oneafteranother.Assessthereasonby
which each one is produced. Resolve with

i. TheasoundinaumisVirat.

unswervingintellectthateachoftheeffectsisuntrue.

ii. TheusoundinaumisHiranyagarbha.

Takeeacheffectasalowerstepandascendtothe

iii. ThemsoundinaumisAvyakrita.

next higherstep (its cause). Letme illustrate the

iv. ThehalfnoteattheendofaumisPure

processforyourconvenience.

Brahman.

a. StartwiththeassumptionthatIamthegross

Soabsorbtheasoundinuandusoundinm

physical body. The gross physical body

andmsoundinhalfnotewhilechantingAum.

comprisingskinandbonesetc.hascomefrom

v. Thereisanothertypeofabsorption.Herethe

the composite god-form, Virat Purusha.

processstartswithpartsofthebody.Itgoesas

Therefore,Viratisitscause.Thegrossphysical

follows:

bodyistheeffect.Hencethephysicalbodyis
a. Soilisthecauseforfleshinthebody.Think

unreal.Therefore,Iamnotthephysicalbody,I

thatfleshinthebodyismadeofsoil.Absorb

amViratPurusha.Contemplatethus.Forthe

thefleshinsoil.

sake of brevity, this process is described as

b. Wateristhecauseforthebloodinthebody.So

absorptionofthephysicalbodyinViratPurusha.

absorbthebloodinwater.

Proceedlikewiseinunderstandingalltheother
forthcomingstepsalso.

c. Theheat,energy,speechetc.inthebodyare
saidtobepartofluminescence(tejas).Absorb

b. ViratPurushastandsforthecompositeofgross

alloftheminthegreatluminescence.

physicalbeings.ThecauseforViratPurushais
23
SAPTHAGIRI

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xii. Absorbthemindinmoon.

d. Life-breathandotherwinds,movementinthe
bodyetc.areknownaspartofair.Absorbthem

xiii. AbsorbintellectinBrahma(Creator).

ingreatair.
f. Bharadwaj! I have narrated the absorption
e. Absorb the space in the body with the great

procedureassanctionedintheVedas.These

space.

arenotmadeupbyme.Thegodlypowersofthe

f. Absorbthesensestoointheirrespectivecause.

composite body have descended as sensory

The cause for the senses is subtle five

mechanisms of the individual gross body.

elements. They are referred to by their

Therefore, appreciate that it was scriptures

respectivegods. Absorbeachof thesenses

whichhavestipulatedaccordingly.

i.

withtheirrespectivegod.Itisdoneasfollows:

g. Thelaststageofabsorptioninthesecondmethod

Thesenseorganearisabsorbedinthesubtle

isalsothethoughtthatIamViratPurusha.Virat

spacecalledtheGodofQuarters.

isalsocalledArthanareeshwar(Ishwarwithhalf
male and half female body). He is the

ii.

Thesenseorganskinisabsorbedinthesubtle

substractumforthefiveelements.

aircalledLightningGod.
h. I have already told you that Virat has to be
iii. Thesenseofvisionshouldbeabsorbedinthe

absorbedinHiranyagarbha.Thereisyetanother

subtlefirecalledAditya.

methodforit.Letmetellyouthatprocedure.

iv. Thesenseoftasteshouldbeabsorbedinthe

v.

a. Thereisanearthtwicethesizeofthecurrent

subtlewaterGodcalledVarun.

universeformedbyquintuplication.Twicethe

Thesenseofnoseshouldbeabsorbedinthe

sizeofthatearthoccursquintuplicatedwater.

subtleearthcalledAswinigods.

Twicethesizeofthatwateristhequintuplicated
fire. Twice the size of that fire is the

(Nowtheactionorgansaretakenup).

quintuplicatedwind.Twicethesizeofthatwind

vi. Thepowerofspeechshouldbeabsorbedin

isthequintuplicatedspace.

fire.

b. Sometextsrefertothefiveelementstobeten

vii. ThehandsshouldbeabsorbedinIndra.

timesbiggerthanoneanother.Thiswillbethe

viii. The legs should be absorbed in the God

case if the calculations are done without

consideringquintuplication.Ihavegivenmy

Vishnu.

description keeping in mind the process of

ix. Theexcretoryorgansshouldbeabsorbedin

quintuplication.

theGodMitra.
x.

[Note:Vedantinsclassifycreationintothreetypes:

ThegenitalsshouldbeabsorbedinPrajapati

1.CausalCreation;

Kashyap.

2.SubtleCreation;and

xi. Inthesamewaythelife-forceinsideshould
beabsorbedintheGodofWind.

3.GrossCreation.
24

SAPTHAGIRI

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The causal creation is the root Nature. The

them isadmixedwith parts ofthe remaining four

veiling power andprojection power that emanate

elements. TheAdmixing of the five elements is

from Root Nature form the subtle creation. The

calledQuintuplication.Theresultantfiveelements

veilingpowerreferstothepropertyofconcealing

arethequintuplicatedfiveelements.

thetrueexistingThing.TheprojectingPowerrefers

8. Apartfromthesecalculations,whatconcernsus

tothepropertyofshowingamultitudeofobjectsin

themostinthissectiononabsorptionisthatone

placewhatactuallyisthere.Becausetheprojecting

elementisthecauseforanotherelement.The

powerisapropertyoftheRootNature,ithasthree

effect is lesser than the cause. We have to

qualities.Thesubtlefiveelementsoriginatefromit.

proceedstepbystepwithabsorption.Thecause

These are also known as unquintuplicated five

forearthbeingwater,absorbearthinwater.Water

elements. Sensory organs generate from their

hastobeabsorbedinfire.Firehastobeabsorbed

sattvaquality.Thefiveactionorgansemanatefrom

inwind.Windhastobeabsorbedinspace.

therajasquality.Theresidualtamasqualitiesexisting
9. Aseekerwillbeleftwiththesubtlebodyatthe

inallofthemgetintermixedwitheachotherinan

endoftheprocessofabsorption.

orderlyfashion.

vasana bhuta suksmasca

Ifwetakesubtleearthasanexample,wehave
todivideitintotwoparts.Onehalfofitstaysasitis.

karmavidye tathaiva ca

Theotherhalfisdividedintofourparts.Intheplace

dasendriya manobuddhi

ofthose fourparts,aneighth partofeachofthe

retallingam vidurbudhah
(purva.sarga128,sloka19)

remainingelementsmergeswithitasshowninthe
figurebelow.

Subtlebodyasreferredtohereisthecomposite
ofthefollowing20entities:
a.Pastimpressions;
b.Fivesubtleelements;
c.Karma;
d.Ignorance;
e.Fivesenseorgansandfiveactionorgans;

Thefigurerepresentsthequintuplicatedearth.

f.Mind;and

ThequintuplicatedearthistheGrossEarthwhich

g.Intellect.

can be perceived by human senses. The subtle

earthcannotbeperceivedbythesenseorgans.The

10.By this process of absorption, the seeker

quintuplicationprocessworksinthesamewaywith

transcendsthegrossadjunctsandreachesthe

respecttotheotherelementstoo.Noneofthefive

individualsubtlebody.Withthis,itamountsto

elementssensedbymanarepure.Everyoneof

saythatthephysicalbodyoftheindividualisgone
25

SAPTHAGIRI

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andonlythesubtlebodyremains.Thesubtle

Itisneitherinternalnorexternalconsciousness.

part of the individual has to be absorbed in

It is neither with consciousness nor without

Hiranyagarbha,whoisthecompositeofsubtle

consciousness. It is also not consciousness

bodies.

solidified.Thewaytorenunciationissuggestedin
theeighthmantraisoftheUpanishad.

11. You may question about how Hiranyagarbha

could becompositeof subtlebodies because

adrsya mavyavaharya magrahya

heisknowntobethefour-facedBrahmahaving

malaksana macintya mavyapadesya

bornfromalotusandhenceheshouldhavean

mekatma pratyayasaram

individual body. It is not difficult to find the

prapancopasamam sivam santa

answer.Hiranyagarbhawhoisthecomposite

madvaitam caturtham manyante

ofsubtlebodiescreatedabodywithfourfaces

Itisnotapercept.Itcannotbetransactedinan

inordertofacilitatecreation.Becauseitisonly

empiricalway.Itisnotareceivable.Itdoesnot

afictionalbody,theseekerneednotworryabout

haveanyattributes.Itcannotbeexpressedinwords.

it.Theseekershouldabsorbhimselfintothe

Itcannotbeimagined.Itistheessenceofnon-dual

formofHiranyagarbha.

knowledge of Self. World dissolves in it. It is

12.Aswehaveexplainedunderthesteps7.(d)and

auspicious.Itispacific.ItisNon-Dual.Itistakento

(e) you have to absorb Hiranyagarbha in

bethefourthstage.TheUpanishadindicatesthe

Avyakrita and Avyakrita in turn into Pure

thingworthy ofmeditationthroughthis sentence.

Consciousness.

Great Sages preach the process of absorption

basedontheseUpanishadstatements.

13. FollowersofSankhyacalltheAvyakritastateas
Prakriti. Vedantins call it illusion (Maya).

15.Meditating thus, the subtle body who is the

Logicianscallitasatoms.Atthetimeofgreat

meditatorshouldalsobeabsorbed.Withthis

Dissolution, the worldly objects merge in

processofabsorption,onehastoalleviatethe

Avyakrita. They will lose any independent

root nescience and experience the Supreme

beingnessthen.Atthetimeofnextphaseof

Brahman.

creation,theycomeoutofAvyakrita.Creation

Bharadwaj!Thatsumsupthevastteachingof

beginswithspace.Dissolutiontakesplacein

SageVasishta.

the reverse order. That is the reason that

Bharadwaj: Revered Teacher! Now I fully

absorption process also goes in the reverse

understandthephilosophy.Iamfreeofthesubtle

order.

body(lingadeha).IamcertainthatIamNon-Dual
SupremeBrahman.

14. MandukyaUpanishadsaysinitsseventhmantra:
nantah prajnam na bahih prajnam

Valmiki:MyFriend!Inthatcaserenounceallactions

na prajnam na prajnam

andbeestablishedintheSupremeBrahman.

na prajnana ghanam

(tobecontinued)
26

SAPTHAGIRI

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Oneofthemanydivinegunasof

onboththebanksofriverTamraparni,thesacredriverthatflows

SriMahaVishnuisVatsalya.Theword

through Tirunelveli and Thuthukudi districts we come across

vatsaminSanskritreferstoacalfand

morethantwohundredancienttemplesmostofthemwere

thecompassionthatthecowshowsto

constructed between 7th and 8th centuries. Although a good

hercalfiscalledVatsalya.Thedevotees

number of temples have been losing their past glory and

oftheLordhavesurrenderedourselves

appearanceandgettingdilapidated,throughthesincereefforts

atHisLotusFeetandtheLordshowers

ofthelocalpeople-dailypoojasareperformedandrenovation

on us, helpless mortals, his total

worksaredone.

compassion His Vatsalya on us.

ThereforeHeiscalledBhaktavatsala.
InSriVishnuSahasranamamwecome
acrossthenamaas,Vatsala(471)and
Bhaktavatsala(736).SriMahavishnu

Duringaperiodinpasthistory,whenthePandyahegemony
declined,severalpartsofsouthernTamilnaduruledbyPandya
kings, came under the rule of Venad (Chera) kings and
Cheranmahadevigotitsnamethroughthisinfluence.Thougha

inhisArchaAmsahastakenAbodein

smalltowntherearegoodnumberoftemplesinCheranmahadevi

thousands of shrines and of these

whichwasknownasCheran Mahadevi Chaturvedi Mangalam

here, He hailed as Sri Bhaktavatsala

Perumal.Onesuchtempleislocated
inCheranmahadevi,16Kmsfromthe
Dt.Headquarters Tirunelveli, on
Tirunelvelihighway.
OnboththebanksofriverCauvery
flowingthroughThanjavur,Tiruchyand
Nagapatnam districts of Tamil Nadu,
there are hundreds of temples with
puranicandhistoricbackground.Many
ofthesetempleswerevisitedandsung
byAlwars andNayanmars. Similarly
31
SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

wellasattheengineeringskillofourforefathersin
buildingsuchamassivewall.Onbothsidesofthe
wall measuring about 3 feet in diameter, granite
stonesoflessthanonefootthicknessarestacked
oneabovetheotherandthegapisfilledwithlime
mortardebrisgivingstrengthanddurability.
Thetemplefaceseastwithrajagopura.However
avimanamovertheSanctumhasbeenaddedin
recent years. At the entrance there is a very
spacious Garuda Mandapam where a rather big
Garuda is sitting with folded hands, opposite the
Garbagriha.AsittingGarudainfrontoftheSanctum
israre.ThegranitevigrahaofSriGarudaisasuperb
workofart.Followingthismandapamweenterthe
SRI BHAKTAVATSALA SWAMY

andwith the advent of Cholas in the area it was

called Nigarili (matchless) Chola Chaturvedi
Mangalam.
Pandyas, Cholas and Venad kings have
contributed to the construction and expansion of
several temples in the area. Sri Bhaktavatsala
Perumaltemplewasaclassicexampleoftemple
architectureoftheirtimes,butcaughtinthetorrent
oftime,thetempleslowlylostitssplendorandwas
neglected.ItwasbroughttolimelightbytheCentral
ArchaeologicalDepartmentandisnowmaintained
bytheDepartment.
The temple of Sri Bhaktavatsala Perumal is
situatedonthesourthernbanksofTamraparniriver
ratherabigonewithtwoprakaras.Theoutermathil
(compoundwall)isincompleteandvisitorscannot

VISHVAKSENA

butwonderattheperfectstructureofthewallas
32
SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

arthamandapamwhereweseeSriVishwaksena,
NammalwarandAcharyas.
In the Garbagriha (Sanctum Sanctorum) Sri
Bhaktavatsala Perumal blesses His devotees in
standingpositionwithhislowerrighthandinvarada
mudra.Hislefthandholdsthegatha.Sudarsana
and Panchajanya adorns His upper hands. The
superblysculptedvigrahaofSriBhaktavatsalaisa
feasttotheeyesofthedevoteesandonecanfeel
thattheLordasSriBhaktavatsalaisreadytoshower

SCULPTURES

HiscompassionandkindnessonusasHischildren.
withalltheparaphernalia.Thestrikingsculptureon

Onthesoutherninnerprakaramthereisanidolof

thenorthernsideisthegomukha-thewaterspout

Sri Yoga Narasimha. The utsava moorthi Sri

forlettingouttheholythirumanjanawaterfromthe

BhaktavatsalarwithSriandBhuDeviarealsointhe

Sanctum.Initsownclassitisastrikingmasterpiece

Sanctum.Theutsavamurthismadeofpanchaloha

ofworkmanshipofthesculptorsoftheoldendays.

arefineexamplesoftheancientartofmakingsuch

Theouterendofthespoutisadoublelotusone

idols.

belowtheother,hangingoutofthemouthofalion
AroundtheGarbagrihaandarthamandapam,

whichagainissticksoutofthemouthofabigger

thereisamoatliketrenchantypicalfeatureand

lionabuttingthewall.Thefourlegsofthesmaller

aswegoaround,wecannotfailtonoticethevery

lion with ornaments, headgear, mane and sharp

intricateworkmanshipoftheoutergranitestructure

teethalladdtoitsintricatestyleandcharm.
TheTamraparniriverflowingclosetothetemple
and the tall tress on the banks, add charm and
serenitytotheplace.Thisplaceisoneofthevery
importantholytheerthaghattasonboththebanks
oftheriver.Thenamepanchangamforalmanac
comes from five main features (pancha+angam)
viz.,Thithi,Vaara,Nakshatra,YogaandKarana.Lord
MahaVishnuisthedeityforallthesefiveangams
andpeopleduringthecourseofmakingasankalpa
precedinganyreligiousceremony-Thithir Vishnu,
thatha Vaara, Nakshatram Vishnur eva cha,
Yogascha, karanam chaiva sarvam Sri Vishnu

GARUDA

Mayam jagath. VyatheepathaYogaisoneofthe

33

SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

FACILITIES TO THE

FOOT PATH PEDESTRIANS

Many pilgrims take a vow to go on foot from

Alipiri to Tirumala through foot path. Pilgrims
can use free facilities and bath at Pilgrim
Amenities Hall at Srinivasam Complex, Opp. to
RTC Complex, Tirupati, 2nd Choultry near
Railway Station, Tirupati and another complex
near Alipiri Bus Station.

TTD runs free buses from Railway Station,

Tirupati to Alipiri.

Pilgrims are requested to keep their luggage in

a box or bag with lock and key facility. They can
deposit their luggage at the Alipiri foot path
luggage centre and obtain a receipt from there.
They can collect their luggage after submitting
the receipt at luggage collection centre,
Tirumala. Their luggage is transported at free
of cost.

Drinking Water and Toilets are available on the

foot path. Pilgrims are advised to go in groups.
Please avoid going on foot from 10 p.m. to
4 a.m.

GOMUKAM

27 Yogas occurring during a month and it is

importantforpitrus(ancestors).Thedayofthisyoga
in Dhanur (margazhi) month is hailed as
Mahavyathee Patha. On this day thousands of
peoplefromfarandnearassembleattheTamraparni
river bank near the temple, take a holy dip and
performtharpanasfortheforefathers.HenceLord
Bhaktavatsala Perumal who presides over this
importanttheerthaghattaisextolledasSriMaha
VyatheethaPathaperumalandtheTheerthamas
MahaVyatheepathaTheertham.Chermadeviitself
iscalledMahavyatheepathaKshetram.
There are frequent buses from Tirunelveli to
Cheranmahadevi and all buses proceeding to
Papanasam go through this place. Besides this
wonderful temple of Sri Bhaktavatsala Perumal,

PRECAUTION

thereareotherfamoustemplesinthetownlikeSri

Pilgrimssufferingfromchronicill-nesslike

RamaswamiTemple,SriAmmanathaSwamiSiva

BP,HeartandLungdiseasesareadvised
nottoclimbupthehillsonfoot.Thereare
3,350footstepsfromAlipiritoTirumala.It
is9k.m.fromAlipiritoTirumala.

temple, SriAppan Venkatachalapathi temple etc.

PeoplevisitingTirunelvelicanhavedarshan
oftheseabovetempleswithinafewhours.
34
SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

that we have to fear about is fear itself, said

We do not really know how fear operates in

Roosevelt. When it is sure that fear cannot be

ourdailylife.Fearisconsideredasthebasicinstinct
of all organisms in the world. Fear helps us

controlled,thenthereisonlyonepossibility.That

sometimesanditspoilsusmanytimes.Theeffects

is,wehavetoknowwhatitis.Wecometoknow

of fear are so unimaginable that it is a must for

aboutitandthenweacceptit.Whenweacceptit

everyonetomanageit.Howcanoneapproachhis

weareabletocomeoutofitandwelearntheways

fear?Whatisthesolution?Hownottogetfearin

oftheworld.Itisgoodifwehavearealspiritual

life?thesearethefewquestionsthatcomeupin

masterwhocanguideusinthetimeoffearandthat

onesmindwhenonethinksoffear.Accordingto

greatmasterisLordKrishna.LordKrishnarightly

BertrandRussell,wecangainwisdomonlywhen

guidesArjunainthebattlefieldofKurukshetrawhen

weareabletodefeatfearinourlife.Buthow?When

hehasfearanddoubtsoffightingagainsthisown

wethinkverydeeplyaboutfear,itisrevealedtous

brothersandrelatives.Thatfeardoesnotendwith

that we cannot control fear. Both science and

fighting but it continues to raise questions about

religion say that fear is not good and they give

deathandlifeafterdeath.LordKrishnaconvinces

differentmethodologiestoescapefromit.Fearis

himbyhiscounselingandmakeshimunderstand

suchapowerfulfeelingthatonecannotcontrolit.It

that managing fear is one way of having good

isasurprisethatitiswewhohavethefearandstill

commandoverlife.

wecannothaveanycontroloverit.Theonlything

To be or not to be; thats the question is a

famous quotation
from Shakespeares
playHamlet.Thereis
ahesitationinhuman
beings at certain
situations in life
whether to proceed
withornot.Arjunas
fear is about the
futureconsequences
35

SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

as he is able to see many of his relatives like

takestherightdecisiontocontinuehisduty,thatis

Bhishma,Somadutta,SalliyanandSaguni;acharyas

his duty as a warrior. This relieves him from his

like Dhrona and Kirubacharya; brother like

fearandanxietyandmakeshimcomebacktohis

Dhuryodhana and friends like Aswathama in the

presenttime.

battlefieldofKurukshetraashisopponents.Heasks

Fearcausesconfusionsandconfusionsarelike

LordKrishnawhyheshouldfightasthereissure

forest fire having enormous destructive force in

disasterforhisopponents.Hisunfailingweapon

them.Itisaseriousproblemforbothanordinary

Kaandeepam falls from his hands in his fear. In

manandaKing. It makesonefeelvery serious

Bhagavadgeeta, we can see his fear and

aboutlifeanditsincidents.Itisgenerallyadvocated

uneasinessaboutfightingfromslokas1.28to1.46.

byallspiritualmastersthatseriousnessisofnouse

LordKrishnaistherepresentativeofpresenttime

toman.Seriousnesscannothelpforanytypeof

andHetriestosweepawaythefearofArjunawho

progressinman;physical,psychologicalorspiritual.

hasthefearofTofightornottofight.Itisavery

Sothereisnootherwaybuttomanagefearinus.

importantsituationinArjunaslifeinwhichhesuffers

Managing time, money and material are also

fromfear.Whenhesaysthatitisverydifficultfor

importantbutmanagingfearisofgreatimportance

himtocontrolhismindthantocontrolthewind,we

asithasthehiddenpowertocollapseeverythingin

are able to understand that fear operates within

oneslifeifnothandledcarefully.

himselfverystrongly.InBhagavadgeeta(1.20),we

From this battlefield scene, we come to

areabletoseethatArjunahasLordHanumaninthe

understand that authority, valour, strength,

flagflyinginhischariotwhoisasymbolofvictory

knowledgeandpowercannothelponefromsolving

andstillheisafraid.ButLordKrishnaasksArjuna

his problems; only a spiritual master like Lord

tofightinthebattlefieldofKurukshetra.Withthis

Krishna can help him. In response to Arjunas

rightcounselingreceivedattherighttime,Arjuna

questionbasedonhisfear,LordKrishnaexplains

36
SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

himwhatisbodyandsoulandwipesouthisfearby

battlefieldofKurukshetra.HeshowsthatHeisa

sayingthatanenlightenedpersondoesnotfeelsorry

perfect manager of fear to take right decisions.

fortheconditionofthebody,whetheritisaliveor

Whenfearisremoved,thingsstarthappeningas

dead.HeconvincesArjunathatthereisnousein

usualanditisallwellattheend.

feelinghappyforalivingpersonorfeelingsorryfor

Anotherthingthatwehavetonotehereisthatof

a dead person irrespective of the depth of the

therelationshipbetweenthediscipleandthemaster.

relationshipwiththatparticularperson.Furtheritis

Thereisnosuspicion,frictionormistrustbetween

hewhoisneutralduringbothhappinessandsorrow

thediscipleandthemaster.Wehavetoremember

willbereleasedfromallthebondsoflifetoreach

thatArjunaaskedforLordKrishnaswisdomunlike

thelotusfeetoftheAlmighty.LordKrishnasays

DhuryodhanawhochosethearmyofLordKrishna

thatonlybodiesperishandnotsouls;sowhatArjuna

assupportinthebattlefieldofKurukshetrawhich

happenstokillinthewarisjustbodies.Aftergiving

naturallypossessthecharacteristicsofblessingthe

alongexplanationaboutthesematters,LordKrishna

goodinafight.Alsofearisrelatedtoattachments

asksArjunatofightassoulschangetheirresting

inlife.Whenfearisdropped,attachmentstoogo

placeswhentherespectivebodiesdieorwhenthey

withthem.Butitdoesnotmeanthatwegiveupour

arekilled.FurtherHeremindshimthatitishisduty

responsibilityoraccountabilitywhenwegiveupour

tofightasheisachatriya.AsLordKrishnaisthe

attachmentsoraspirationsinlife.

reasonforallthereasons,Arjunaneednotworry

Fear should be taken as a reality; it is there

aboutwaranditsconsequences.

alwaysinlife.Butitshouldnotbeallowedtocontrol

Sciencesaysthatfearisakindofenergyand

ouractionsbothindomesticandprofessionallife.

noenergycanbedestroyed.Anenergycanbeonly

Freefromfearmakesusfreefromanxietyandthus

transformedfromoneformto another. Here the

itbecomeseasytomakeplansofourfuturecourse

negativeenergyofArjuna,hisfear,isconvertedinto

ofaction.

apositiveformofenergy,hisfightbythespiritual
masterLordKrishna.Thedepressionandpainout

Answer can be obtained only from the great

ofhisfeararegonethen.Thehardfightgiveshima

spiritualmasterLordKrishna.ThatiswhatArjuna

kindofrelaxationandrelief.Itisclearinthiscontext

didandthatiswhyheissafeandsuccessful.Lord

that Lord Krishna represents pleasure and not

KrishnaraisesArjunafromthestatusofinactionto

seriousnessinlife.Decisionmakingisanimportant

action, from the status of imbalance to self-

managementskillandasuccessfulmanagerisgood

confidence.Whenweunderstandthisandfollow

intakingquickandappropriatedecisionsattheright

ArjunainobeyingthemasterLordKrishna,wecan

timewithoutanyregretsforfutureconsequences.

alsomeetwithvictoryintheKurukshetraof

That is what is displayed by Lord Krishna in the

ourownlife!
37

SAPTHAGIRI

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historyoftheworldmaybecomeunsuitedtolater

Millennium

periods,orun-tastytolatergenerations.Theworld

Ramanuja

issomuchwithusthatasystemofphilosophywhich
deniesitstruthandvaliditydoesnotfullysatisfy.And

-Veeravalli

asinallreligionsandinallmatters,followerscan,
by their half hearted understanding, destroy the

(Continuedfromthepreviousissue)

greatnessofasystem.Theneedwas,therefore,

T he emphasis that Shankara laid was,

feltcenturiesafterthedisappearanceofShankara,

therefore, upon God or Brahman. The first and

forarestatementoftheadwaiticormonisticview,

foremostthingwastoestablishtheGodwhohad

which was established by him with such great

beenforcedtohideHimselfbythematerialist.Sri

polemicfacility.Ramanujawasabletogiveamore

Shankara, therefore, took this upas his mission,

satisfyingview,inonesense,ofthetermAdvaita.

and we all know how successfully he has

The above passages are from D.Ramaswamy

accomplished it. His several works on Vedantic

AyyangarsarticleShankaraandRamanuja,1962.

wisdomandreligiousexperienceareamonument

Dr.K.C.Varadachari,whowasintheChairofSri

(read Edifice as we have called it) to his great

VenkateswaraOrientalInstituteuntilhisretirement

intellect,butforwhichGodwouldhavedisappeared

in 1962, had contributed immensely to

longagofromthemindsofmen.Theswingofthe

Vishishtdvaita.Inthegoodolddaystwoprominent

pendulumnowtookittotheotherextreme.Notonly

scholars, K.C.Varadachari the student and the

wasBrahmanaffirmedandre-postulated,butaspart

master P.N.Srinivasachari (Retired Principal and

ofthesamescheme,thevalidityoftheworldwas

Professor of Philosophy, Pachaiappas College,

denied. Brahmam Satyam and Jagan mithya,

Madras),enrichedVishishtdvaitabypresentingthe

together formed the essence of the doctrinethat

philosophyofRamanujatotheEnglishknowing

Shankarapreached.Notonlythemanoftoday,but

public.PNSadmiresthestudentwhenhesaysthat

evenGodHimself,mustbethankfultoShankarafor

The book as a whole shows that the writer has

having thus re-established His existence, though

Philosophicalgifts.Dr.KCVbeginshisintroduction

withoutname,formorattributes,inaworldwhich

inanaweinspiringmannerthus:

hadcompletelydeniedHim.

ThesystemofRamanujaoccupiesasignificant

Severalcenturieslater,Ramanujacameintothe

and paramount place in the History of Vedantic

world.Hewasbornintheyear1017A.D.Shankaras

philosophicthought.StartingfromtheVedicfountain,

doctrinehadcomeinforalotofcriticisminthelater

tousetheorthodoxphraseormetaphor,therivers

years.WhenitisrememberedthatdifferenceinMata

of interpretation flooded unrestrained in the very

(system)isduetodifferenceinMati(intellect)itwill

divisionanddiversionofSankhya,Yoga,Vaiseshika,

easily be appreciated how a system of religious

Nyya,Mmms,tillfinallyeveryoneofthemwas

doctrinepromulgatedatoneparticularperiodinthe

accepted and rejected in turn by the Philosophic

38

SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

Mind, and in exhaustion turned to the solacing

The approach to a proper understanding of the

grounds and surging oceanic expanse of the

theistic thought must be sought in the actual

Vedanticthought.Butneitherdiditfindtherewhatit

postulations of the seers who have in some

vainly sought after, for wave within wave, and

measure enjoyed the Holy Presence. It will be

inundationafterinundationrevealedanunlimitedand

admitted that the two great seers Shankara and

illimitabledepthandinterior.Itcouldnot(dropping

Ramanujahavedivergedsufficientlyinregardtothe

themetaphorhereafter)sullenlyclosetitselftothe

experiencesoftheUltimateortheAbsoluteorthe

fundamentalassumptions,forneverweretheyeasy.

Brahman,andthetheisticmindofboththeSaiva

Itwasalluring;pleasingintheextremewasthequiet

andVaishnavavarietieshasgraspedatthetruthof

restintheinitialrevelationoftheVedanticaspiration

the Ramanujas statement rather than that of

in theAdvaita ofMyvada. Butsucharest was

Shankara.Themainboneofcontentionbetweenthe
twocaneasilybesaidtobethetheoryofMayaor

apparentlyveryshort-lived.Itwasboundtobeso,it

Worldillusionortotalillusionwhichtheonedenied

could not be otherwise. It promised potencies of

andtheotheraffirmedOurstruggleisrealinthis

immensemagnitudeanditheraldedthedeathof

world. The facts of our bondage and our

ego-centrisminlife,itsbitterandgarneringfruits,in

consciousness of it are also facts of capital

the ocean of a pure chaste and illumed and

importance.Theneedforcrossingovertheturmoil

absorbingExperienceoftheEternalAbsoluteBliss.

of life, tortures of bondage, and limitations of

Butthedemandoftheworldwasnotreplied;after

intelligencearedecisivelyclear.Thepromiseofthe

all, the lure to thought was the world from which

illusiontheoryisthattheseareallunrealandthat

andforwhichitsoughttoexaltitself.Soinitseffort

one should discover the inner Being, the Self of

to conquer what it would enjoy, it could bear no

dividedrest,norbearwithquietudethehymnofhate
againstlifeinitsfuriousonmarchoftime;itwanted
tosubdueratherthandeny,toacceptratherthan
reject;forpowerneedsacceptanceandovercoming,
possessionandglory, notthe punyandimpotent
way of surrender and gloom, quietism and
feebleness. Butthe lure was strongandremains
strong, not only was the recoil from life was real
andpsychological, its votary was a great man, a
pureandmagnificentflowerofhumanity-Shankara.
Beforeproceedingfurther,wemaybringforward
whatKCVhassaidaboutillusionandthephilosophy
ofShankarainthechapter,TheismandIllusion:
39
SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

transcendent light, which is ever shining in our

existsshoulditnotbecalledrealandtrue,for,what

hearts.ThismetaphysicalrealityoftheSelfinus

isthecriterionofrealitybutexistence?

doesonething,itsomehowgrantsusthatstrength

Itmayhavetheattributeofsignificantmeaning

of possession already of that which has to be

but yet there is no need to reject finally unity or

attained,andasitwere, showsout asuggestion

identity,EkatvaThusthehalfheartedconcession

that untruths and falsities and illusions are more

of the Bhedabheda vadins was not accepted. It

easilygotridofratherthanrealobstacles.

strainedtobecountedasanentity,realabsolutely

WhatwasmentionedinparenthesisisAdvaita

andwithoutanyreserveornotatall.Itwasperhaps

inbrief.NowcontinuingwiththeIntroductionwhere

bettertobetreatedaseternallyunrealratherthan

the author KCV traces the post Shankara

betreatedasrealandunrealbyfitsandstarts.In

developments:Butsomethingoughttobedone,

Ramanuja it found its leader, its voice and

thatwasthewilloftheZeitgeist(whichinGerman

effectualityTheinchoateutterancesoftheVedic

means,thespiritortendencyofthetimes).Truth

Realistsfounditslogicalculminationandechoesin

acceptsnodividedrulebetweenitselfandunreality.

thesystemofRamanuja.Ramanujawasthefirstto

Understandingcouldbesatisfied,iflifewouldnot

claimeternalityandrealityoftheworldinVedanta.

bethwartedbymeredenial.Itmaybecalledtrue

(for Vyasa mentions that the world is real in his

andrealandnotameredream,forinasmuchasit

commentaryontheYogaSutras.)Hewasthefirst
to recognise the fundamental unity of Truth,
GoodnessandBeauty.Asitwasexpressedthey
arethethreefoldcordbywhichourwagonishitched
toastar
Thehope of every philosophical attempt has
been and is, if it be worth its name, the ultimate
analysis and synthesis of our experience, giving
legitimatehopesthatmaybeattainedbyusinour
effort to master nature which somehow we feel
fetters.ThisiswhatRamanujaattemptstodoinhis
Philosophy which we shall trace taking as his
authoritativestatementtheBScommentaryknown
asSriBhshya.
CriticismsGaloreonAdvaita
The war of words between Advaita and
Vishishtdvaitacanbecomparedtoalegalbattle
40

SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

fought by legal luminaries representing the

extendingover6columnsdoesnotcontainawhisper

prosecution anddefenseina law-court. Therule

ofamentionofRamanuja.Thereviewerseizesthe

bookthatgovernstheformeristheBrahmaSutra

opportunitytoexaggeratetheantiquityofShankaras

(BS)andthelatteristheIndianPenalCode.Weare

period.Hesays,Beforeproceedingfurther,ithas

aware of winninga casewhenthejudge gives a

tobestatedthatwhileSageofKanchiputtheyear

favorablerulingtothewinner.ButinaVda(debate)

ofShankarasbirthto509BC(provedbythelong

the person defeated or overpowered by merited

andunbrokenlineageofthePontiffsofSriKamakoti

arguments put forth by the opponent should

PeetamfromitsfirstShankaracharya,AdiShankara,

invariablyembracethefaithofthewinner.Itappears

toitsillustrious69th and70thpontiffsofourown

a debate (vda-biksha) took place between

day),somecontributorstothisvolumeacceptthe

ParasharaBhattarandagreatVedantin.Itwenton

later dates assigned to Shankara by the British

foraweekormoreandtheexhaustedVedantinwho

historiansandforeignIndologists.Thereisnoneed

was driven to his wits end, so to speak,

tolookintothecontentsofthisbooktolookforany

acknowledged defeat and became a disciple of

roleofRamanujainthedevelopmentofphilosophy

Bhattar.TheVedantinisnoneotherthanNanjeer,

orcultureofourcivilization.

thefamousauthorof9000-padi.
Thin cloudsof criticismsdoappear in current
ThepolarcontrastthatexistsbetweenAdvaita

times also. We may begin with the salvo that

andVishishtdvaitaliesintheinterpretationofBS

emergedfromSriS.KrishnaswamyIyengar,Editor

and hence any book on Vishishtdvaita should

ofSriVaishnavaSudarshana.In1991hepublished

necessarily project the criticisms clearly and

asmallbookof80pages,titled,TheEpistemology

unambiguously.Nowthatsomanywatershavegone

&MetaphysicsofSriRamanuja-Vindicated.

underthebridge,theAdvaitinsconvenientlyoverlook
thecontroversiesforreasonsbestknowntothem.

Overthepastthousandyearsmanypolemical

Their bias prevents them from uttering even the

workshavebeenwrittenbyPundits...Someyears

nameRamanuja!Wegiveaninstanceinpoint.This

back Sri Jagadswara Sastri of Madras Sanskrit

iswithregardtoabookwhichwasreviewedinThe

College wrote a small work purporting to refute

Hindu dated 9 th April 2002 under the caption

RamanujasSriBhshya.Ipublishedareplytothis

Contemporary Classic in Vedanta and the

workentitledVishishtdvaitaVijayawrittenbythe

reviewersnamegivenasVedamurthy.Thename

latereveredKozhiyalamRanganathacharyaswamy,

of the book reviewed: History of Science,

with my Tamil translation. Sri Jagadswara Sastri

PhilosophyandCultureinIndianCivilization-Advaita

wrote to me that he will write a work refuting

Vedanta, Volume II part 2: D.P.Chattopadhyaya-

VishishtdvaitaVijayaandheisunabletodothe

GeneralEditor,R.Balasubramanian-distributedby

sameeventhough23yearshaveelapsedsincethe

MotilalBanarsidoss.Thereviewofthesaidbook,

publicationofthework.
41

SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

Closeontheheelsoftheabovepublicationthere

texts, of his concepts of evidences, and is worth

was another one: During 1975-76, Dr. R

ignoring,astheoldargumentshavealreadybeen

Balasubramanyam, then Director of the Dr S.

answered

Radhakrishnan Institute for Advanced Study in

Fromsuchcontemptuousreferences(nineof

Philosophy,deliveredthreelectures,underthetitle,

them listed) to Ramanuja and over-praising of

Some problems in the Epistemology and

Shankara,itisclearthattheseinterpretersofIndian

MetaphysicsofRamanuja.Thistimetherebuttal

thoughttothewestconsiderthatasystemofthought

was provided by Prof K.S. Narayanachar on a

ispureandphilosophicifitexcludesGod,Theology

request from the editor Krishnaswamy Iyengar

and Theism, and verbal testimony from serious

himselfandwaspublishedthroughSudarsanam.A

consideration and where these are considered

fewpassagesfromtheaforementionedbookThe

seriously,theymakethephilosophyimpureandits

Epistemology and Metaphysics of Sri Ramanuja-

propounderameretheologianandtheist.

Vindicatedaregivenbelow.

This is an arbitrary and even opportunistic

Dr R.Balasubramanian has found fault with

distinctionunwarrantedbyfacts.Itisinventedonly

Ramanujasphilosophyandpramanaconceptfrom

with the mischievous motive of deprecating

theAdvaitic stand point, repeating the same old

Ramanujas thought and to convert the very

arguments of Shankara, in a parrot-like manner,

deficienciesofAdvaitaintovirtues!IfRamanujaisa

whichhavebeentorntoshredsbyRamanujaand

theist and by the same standards we describe

his followers over the centuries Philosophical

Shankara as an atheist, would Radhakrishnan,

Advaitacametodieitstruedeathinthe13thcentury

HiriyannaorBalasubramanyamacceptit?Whatis

A.Donly,whenAcharyaVedantaDeshikadealtitwith

philosophyifitsjobisnottheharmonisationofall

a fatal blow in his great and magnificent ShataDshani.Refertothe70thverseinYatirajaSaptati:

types of intuitions, moral, spiritual, aesthetic and

WiththeadventofthekingamongasceticsYatiraja

scientific?Whatistheuseofpurephilosophy(ifit

(Ramanuja),allthethenexistingsystemsvanished

everexisted!)ifitmarchesindifferenttothehopes

intothinair-suchastheonesfoundedbyKapila,

andbeliefsofman?Whyshouldreligiousconcern

Kanada, Kumarila and Prabhakara. And the

be dubbed as theological obsession? Look at

utterancesofBrahmaandShivaalsolosttheirflavor

Radhakrishnansatheismwhenhewrites:prayer

andfragrance.Whensuchbigheadsrolled,isthere

andworshipoftheSupremeasIswaradonotlead

anyneedtomentionseparatelythefateofthesystem

tofinalrelease.(TheBrahmaSutra,p38)Wehave

ofShankara?Theverseendsposingrhetoric.The

allottedaseparatesectionforanin-depthdiscussion

booklet under question has no new arguments

onTheologyandPhilosophy.

againstRamanujasposition,hisexegesisofshruti

(tobecontinued)
42

SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

TirumalaTirupatiDevasthanams,Tirupati

The Lord's Blessings as the

Supreme Reward
You may be giving a lot of gifts on the occasion of the birthdays and weddings of your
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43

DivinePeepulTreeislocatedonthemain

road, Odasalapatti Pudur village on way to

Dharmapuri District, in the State of Tamil Nadu.
Especially,onthefullmoonday(i.e.,onPoornima
Day) of every month, hundreds of devotees
congregateatthispioustreefromdifferentnookand
corners of the country, only to worship and seek

longillnessandsomefordevelopingtheirbusiness

benedictionsofthisbeautifullyspreadoverDivine

and some for all their better future. Number of

Tree.Allthevillagersanddevoteesfromdifferent

devoteeswhoareregularlyvisitingthistreeoften

placesarriveoneveryfullmoondayandoffertheir

say,afterworshippingthisholytreeitsolvesalltheir

miteofsevas,poojas,chantseveralsacredhymns,

problems to an end. Some devotees say that it

read sacred books like Puranas, Bhagavadgitha,

dependsupononesfaithanddevotion.Grandpooja

and intermittently chant sacred hymns,

is offered to the holy tree and all devotees are

circumambulate, with folding hands, burn sandal

served with holy Naivedyam and offer Maha

sticks, oil, ghee lamps, tying yellow, red, green

Mangalaharathi,Annadanamisconductedalongwith

colouredclothesandprayforthepiousbenedictions

holytheerthamandprasadam.Numberofdevotees

fromthisholyKalpavruksha.Allvillagerssaythat

sleepunderthisholytreeonthefullmoondaynight,

thistreeisattractingseveraldevotees,whoapply

sincemany devoteessaythatDevatas willcome

turmeric, kumkum, sandal paste and vibhuthi,

hereandblessthedevoteesandmoveaway.The

offeringgarlands,burnsandalsticks,camphoretc.

devoteesareblessedwitheverlastingpeace,good

Devoteesfromallcastes,creed,colour,language,

health andprosperity. Every devotee whoserves

whether rich or poor, offer their prayers, with

selflesslyistotallyblessedwitheverlastingpeace

profoundfaithanddevotion.Manyhugtothistree

of mind.Oh! Devotee, pray beforethis holy tree,

andoften,offershastangnamaskarams,andround

surely,youwillbecomealltroublefree-

thetreewithfoldinghands,chantingprayersand

Your profound faith

With everlasting devotion
Will gain lords mercy berth.

beggingforreliefinseveralmattersfacinginlife.
Someformentalsolaceandsomeforcuringtheir

Om sura lok kalpa vrukshya

Bhakta vaanchita vara pradaata
Samastha shoka nivaranaaya
Anantha ayur aroghya sirisampada
Samastha istaa siddi vara pradataya namoo
namaha
Sarvee jana sukhinobhavanthu, samastha
sanmangala in bhavanthu.
Omshanthishanthishanthihi!
44
SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

Vedas are too numerous and are immortal.

Dharmam CharaforusthemessagesareBhakti,

These were categorised into Rig, Yajur, Sama &

Dharma,

AtharvanaVedasforthebenefitofwholecreations

(Bhagavath,Bhagavadacharya)andSaranagathi.

andwere compiledas Vedantha andSiddhantha

Namasankeerthanam,

service

Therearemanydharmastopracticetoseethe

UpanishadsbyVedaVyasa.TheteachingsofSrimad

truth,therealtruththatisTheKnowledgeofthe

Bhagavatham, Srimad Bhagavathgeetha,

Absolute. We must follow as many of them as

Uddavageetha, Naradha Upadesa, besides the

possibleifnotallWithsincerityanddevotionand

preachingsofYagnaValkiya,JanakaandVashista

alsowithperseveranceToliveweneedsubstance,

allofthesehavebeendistilledintoessentialand

buttheremustbesubstanceinlifetoowiththis

readily comprehensible works by Azhwars,

nobleaimandwithSimplelivingandhighThinking

Poorvacharyasandothersforthegeneralwelfare

somesixprincipleshavebeenenunciatedasthe

of the people and as a direction to the path of

quintessenceofallupadesasandpreachings.

Bhakthi,Gnana,VairagyaYogasbuthas
1. There is no eye or sight equivalent to

alsogiventheknowledgeoffourvedas

education.

whereallanswerstoyourand

2. There is no penance

everyone'squestionshave
been given. The Basic

equivalenttotruth.

concept

vedas

3. There is no satisfaction

Vadha

equivalenttosacrifice.

of

is Sathyam

45
SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

4.Ahimsaisanobledharma

Annamacharya, Thyagaraja, Purandaradasa and

5.Patienceisagreatstrength

othersaints,notableAzhwars,SwamySriDesikan
allarepeoplewhohaveindeedledexemplarylives

6.Toknowthyselfisahighestformofknowledge

and showed us the path to wisdom through

Having summarised the tenets, it was also

Yogashastra,MokshashastraandSankhyashastra.

observed:Doyourduty,donotlookforbenefit.If
Any person who is born with this mind of

youdoyourdutywithaneyeontheend-resultor

superiorGnanaorKnowledgeisaJeevan muktha

selfishlylookingforthebenefitsthatwillcomeoutof

(aselfrealizedliberatedsoul).Eveninthewombof

it,youaremostlikelytohaveindulgedinadharma.

theirmotherstheyareassuchandsotheycome

Fixationontheend-resultofyourdutyisnotintune

intotheworldassuchwithinnateBrahmagnana.

with practice of dharma. We must be without

selfishnessandwithouthauteur,Bhakti,Dharma,

Ordinarymoralscanfollowtheprinciplesenunciated

Namasankeerthanam, Service to humanity,

earlierandtrytogainknowledgeofVedashastras

Acharyas, God and total surrender to the Power

andleadanenlightenedandsuperiorlifestepby

abovethesearecardinalprinciplesthatwemust

steptheycanattainatmananda,satchidananda,

followanddo.Whatwedoweareabletodoonlyat

paranandaandultimatelybrahmananda.Forthis

the benefaction and blessings of Govinda this

wemustappealtoGovindawithlove,humilityand

feeling mustbewithus forever. Ifwe leada life

nayikabhava.Thusevenilliteratepoorpeopleby

havinganimplicitmooringintruthandhonesty,if

falling at the lotus feet of Govinda and intensely

wecarryoutourtaskswithsinglemindeddevotion,

worshipping him can earn His blessings and

ifweparticipateinsatsanghasandpracticedhyana

benefactionandgainknowledgeandrealize

(meditation),wewillattaintruegnana(Knowledge).

theultimategoal(devotion).

JYESHTABHISHEKAMTO
SRIVENKATESWARASWAMY,TIRUMALA
Date

Day

Details

01-06-2015

Monday

Diamond Armour

02-06-2015

Tuesday

Pearl Armour

03-06-2015

Wednesday

Golden Armour

To be performed
in the month of
Jyeshta on
Jyeshta
Nakshatram day

46
SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

Light is a symbol of prosperity, brightness and true

wisdom.Welightlampstodriveoffthedarknessespecially
oil-lampsintwilighttime.Here,Iwanttoshareasmallstory
relatedwiththedivinelight.
Poigaialwar,ButhatalwarandPeyalwarareconsideredas
thefirstthreeAlwarsinVaishnavatradition.Theyconsidered

Poigailightedalampinwhichtheearth

as Ayoni Janmas which means they are not born in a

isabroadplate,mightyoceanastheoil

motherswomb.Theiroriginistracedtothegoldenlotus,

and the furious Sun as the wick.

Kurukkattiandtheredlotusflowerrespectively.Theirbirth

Buthatalwaralsolightedalampinwhich

placesareKanchipuram,MahabalipuramandMylapore.They

theflameisdevotion,zealisoil,themind

wentfromshrinetoshrine,singthefameofLord.Theydelved

isthewick.Inthetwilight,Peyalwarwith

deepintotheoceanofdivinityandlongedforaconversewith

thehelpofthesetwolampssawHimas

God.Hence,theyarecalledAlwarswhichmeansthatone

LakshmiNarayananingoldencolourwith

whodivesdeep.

Conch and Chakra. They grasped the

OnceitrainedheavilyandPoigaitookshelterinasit-out
ofasmallhouseinThirukkoilur.Thesit-outwasaverynarrow

conceptualgoodwiththehelpofthedivine
lamp.

place such it can be accommodated for three persons to

stand,twotositandonetoliedown.Poigaistretchedhimself

Hence, wherever and whenever we

those and after sometime Butatalvar entered there.

lightthelampscanchantthehymnsofthe

Poigaialwargotupandthetwoweresetting.AsthethirdAlwar

Alwarstopasstheignoranceofthisworld.

enteredthere,thethreewerestandinginthedarknesswithout

Thesehymnswillhelpustoeradicatethe

knowingoneanother.Inthatmoment,theyfeltsqueezedby

rootofevilnessfromourheartsandalso

afourthonewhowasinvisible.Realisationsuddenlydawned

help us to light the divine lamp in and

onthemthatGodwasthereandtheybegantosingindivine

aroundus.

ecstasy.

Thereare threetypesofmen inthis

world; some are favourably disposed to
God;someareantagonisticwhileothers,
beingworldlyminded,areindifferent.The
firstcategoryofpeopleareyourfriends;
thesecond,yourenemies.Atthesightof
yourenemies,yourheartshouldtremble
asifyouarefacingacobra,tigerorfire.At
thesightoftheindifferent,youshouldjust
ignorethemasyouwould,whenyoucome
across stocks and rocks. They
areofnosignificanceatalltoyou.
47
SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

harmonisesthefivesheaths,andeventuallyleads
tocommunionfellowshiporGod-realisation.
Upasanachangesthementalfaculty,destroys
RajasandTamasandfillsthemindwithsattvaor
"

Agrossmindneedsaconcretesymbolasa

purity. Upasana destroys Vasanas, Trishanas,

egoism,lust,hatred,anger,etc.Itturnsthemind

prop or alambanaanda subtlemindrequires an

inward.ThedevoteeseestheLordfacetoface,

abstractsymbol.Itisnotonlythepicturesorimages

frees the devotees from the wheel of births and

instoneandinwood,thatareidolsbutdialectsand

deaths, and confer on him Sayujyamukti or

leadersalsobecomeidols.

liberation.
Themindbecomesthatonwhichitmeditatesin

Worship is the expression of pure devotion,

accordancewiththeanalogyofthewaspandthe

reverenceandlovetotheLord,ofkeenyearningto

caterpillar (Brahma Kita Nyaya). There is a

beunited withHim andof spiritualthirsty to hold

mysteriousorinscrutablepower(Achintya Sakti)in

consciouscommunionwithHim.

Upasana which makes the meditator and the

meditatedidentical.

WorshipistheeffortonthepartoftheUpasaka
i.e.onewhodoesUpasanaorworship,toreachthe

IntheBhagavatgeetaChapterXI-54onewillsee

proximityorthepresenceofGodortheSupreme

Bhaktya tvananyaya sakya

Self. Upasana literally means sitting near

aham evam vidherjuna

God.Upasanaisapproachingthechosenidolor

Jnatum drashtum ca tattvena

objectofworshipbymeditatingonitinaccordance

Pravestum ca paramtapa.

with the teachings of

sastras and the Guru
anddwellingsteadilyin
the current of one
thought,likeathreadof
oil poured from one
vessel to another
(Tailadharavat).
WorshipoftheLord
purifies the heart,
generatesharmonious
vibrations,steadiesthe
mind, purifies and
48
SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

ButbyunswervingdevotiontoMe,OArjunaI

done through worship. An object of worship is

canthusbeknown,trulyseenandenteredinto,O

absolutelynecessaryforamantopourforthouthis

oppressorofthefoe(Arjuna).

loveanddevotion.AstheAbsoluteorInfinitecannot
be comprehended by limited adjunct and finite

Anidealdevoteeisone,whorealisesbyallthe

mind,theconceptionoftheimpersonalGodinHis

sensesonlyoneobject,God.HeadornsGodwith

lower,limitedformcameintoexistence.TheNirguna

allhisspiritandheart.

Brahmanassumesformsforthepiousworshipof

Sakshatkaraorthedirectperceptionofthedivine

thedevotees.

formispossibleforthetruedevotees.

Thetermsadhana comesfromtherootsadh,

Patanjali stresses in Raja Yoga Sutras the

which means to exert, to endeavour to get a

importance of Upasana. Even for a Raja Yogi,

particularresultofsiddhi.Hewhodoestheattempt

Upasanaisnecessary.HehashisownIshtaDevata

iscalledsadhaka.Ifthedesiredresultisachieved,

orchosenguidingdeity,YogisvaraKrishnaorLord

he is a Siddha. That which is obtained through

Siva.SelfsurrendertoGod(prapti)isanAnga(limb)

sadhanaissadhya(GodorBrahman).

or(RajaYoga)andKriyaYoga.

Upasana

Eating,drinking,sleeping,fearcopulation,etc.

Upasanameansworship.Itmeanstositnear

arecommoninbrutesandhumanbeings,butthat

God.Onewhodoesupasanaisanupasak.The

which makes one a real man or God-man is the

objectofworshipisupasya.Upasanainabroad

religious consciousness.

senseincludesmeditation,japa,dailyswadhyaya,

PhilosophyofPratima

prayer,stotraetc.Itisoftwokindsviz.Ahamgraha
Upasana or meditation one Nirguna Nirakara

Pratimaisasubstituteorsymbol.Forabeginner

Brahman andSaguna Upasana or meditation on

Pratimaisabsolutelynecessary.Theidolismade

Iswarawithformandattributes.Theformeriscalled

upoffiveelements.Fiveelementsconstitutethe

Avyakta Upasana and later Vyakta Upasana.

body of the Lord. Just as a child develops the

Upasanaisagaingrosssthulaorsubtle(Sukshma)

maternalbhav(masterfeeling)byplayingwithits

accordingtothenatureofAdhikari,hisdegreeof

imaginarymanner,soalsothedevoteedevelopsthe

competence.HewhoworshipsapratimaorMurti,

feelingofdevotionbyworshippingthePratimaand

rings bells, and offers sandal paste, flowers etc.

concentratinguponit.Pictures,drawings,etc.are

doesgrossformofworship.Hewhovisualiseshis

onlydifferentkindsofPratima.

Ishtammeditatesonitandoffersmentalofferings,
doessubtleformofworship.

ScienceofWorship
Theindividualsoul(jiva)desirestounitehimself

Lord Krishna gives a beautiful description of

withhisfather(Isvara)thesupremesoul.Thisis

worship to Uddhava in the eleventh chapter of

49

SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

Bhagavata The sun, fire, earth or clay, water, a

isveryhardtoreachforthosewhoareattachedto

Brahmin,anyimageofMineintheconcrete,clearly

their bodies. Contemplation on the Akshara or

thought out as seated in the heart, may be

Nirguna Brahman demands a very sharp, one

worshippedinMynamesincerelywithsucharticles

pointedandsubtleintellect.

ascouldbeobtainedbyhim(devotee).

The Bhavas in the Bhakti Yoga: TheYoga of

BhaktiordevotionismucheasierthanGnanaYoga

SagunaUpasanaandNirgunaUpasana

orphilosophicalmeditation.

Ahamgraha upasana is Nirguna upasana or

meditationontheformlessandattributelessAkshara

TheGitaGovindawrittenbyJayaDevaisfullof

or transcendental Brahman. Meditation onidols,

Madhurya Bhav.The language of love which the

saligrama, pictures of Lord Rama, Krishna, Siva,

mystic usescannot becomprehendedby worldly

Gayatri Devi etc. is pratika upasana. The blue

persons.GopislikeRadha,Mira,Tukaram,Narada,

expansivesky,allpervadingether,allpervadinglight

HaflizandsimilarothergreatdevoteesortheLord

of the Sun etc. are also pratikas for abstract

canunderstandthislanguage.

meditation. Saguna upasana is concrete

PujaandIshtaDevata

meditation.Nirgunaupasanaisabstractmeditation.
Pujaisthecommonterm forritualworshipof
HearingtheLilasoftheLord,kirtanaorsinging

which there are numerous synonyms such as

his names, constant remembrance of the Lord

archana, vandana, bhajana etc. though some of

(smarana), service of His feet, offering flowers,

thesestresscertainaspectsofit.Theobjectof

prostration, prayer, chanting of Mantra, self-

worship is the Ishta Devata whom the devotee

surrender, service of Bhagavatas, service of

worshipsNarayanaorVishnuorHisformsRama

humanity with Narayana Bhava etc. constitute

andKrishnainthecaseofVaishnavas,SivainHis

SagunaUpasana.

eightformsinthecaseofSaivaitesandDeviinthe
caseofSaktas.

Chanting of Om with Atma Bhav, service of

humanitywithAtmaBhav,mentaljapaofOmwith

Sometimesthedevoteeselectshiskuladevaor

AtmaorBrahmaBhava,meditationonSohamor

kuladevi,familydeitiesforhisworship.Sometimes

Sivoham or on the Mahavakyas such as Aham

in the absence of a guru he selects himself the

BrahmaAsmiorTatTvamAsi aftersublating the

chosendeitywhichappealstohim.ThisisIshta

illusoryvehiclesthroughNetiNetidoctrineconstitute

Devata.

AhamgrahaupasanaorNirgunaupasana.

Animageortheusefulemblemislikelytoraise

SagunaUpasanaisBhaktiyogaortheyogaof

inthemindoftheworshipperthethoughtofDevata.

Devotion.NirgunaupasanaisGnanaYogaorthe

Saligrama stone induces easily concentration of

Yogaofknowledge.Theaksharaortheimperishable

mind.
50

SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

Everybodyhasapredilectionforasymbolorimage.IdolorMurti

There is no reference to

(Vigraha),sun,fire,water,Ganga,saligramaandlingasareallsymbols

worship of idols in the Vedas.

orpratikasofGodwhichhelptheaspiranttoattainone-pointedness

Puranas and Agamas give

ofmindandpurityofheart.Psychologically,allthismeansthata

descriptionofidolworshipbothin

particularmindfindsthatitworksbestinthedirectionsdesiredby

thehousesandinthetemples.

meansofaparticularinstrumentsoremblemsorimages.

Yogins and Vedantins are all

Inpuja,animageorpicturerepresentingsomedivineformisused

worshippers of idols. They keep

astheobjectofworship.Theimageisadored.Animage,asila,or

some image or the other in the

vigrahaorMurtirespresentstheparticularLordwhoisinvokedinit.A

mind.

linga represents Siva. It represents the secondless, attributeless

The mental image also is a

and formless Brahman. The Sruti declares Ekamevadvitiyam

form of idol. All worshippers,

Brahma.TheBrahmanisonealonewithoutasecond.Thereisno

howeverintellectualtheymaybe,

dualityhere.ALingaisshiningandattractivetotheeyes.Ithelps

generateaforminthemindand

concentration.Ravanatheten-headedmonsterpropitiatedLordSiva

make the mind dwell on that

andobtainedboonsbyworshippingtheSivaLinga.

image.
He who gives up all desires
andmovesfreefromattachment,
egoismandthirstfor enjoyment,
attainspeace.
AnIntegralpartofVirat
Byworshipinganidol,Iswara
is pleased. The Pratima is
composedoffiveelementsandthe
fiveelementsconstitutethebody
oftheLord.Theidolbecomesan
idolbutworshipgoestotheLord.
Anidolisapartofthebodyof
the

Lord.

He

does

shodosapacharafortheidol,the
sixteenkindsofpayingrespectsor
servicestotheLord.
51
SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

1. Avahana., 2. Asana., 3. Padya., 4. Arghya.,

RealisationthroughworshipoftheLinga,theimage

5.Snana.,6.Vastra.,7.Yajnapavita.,8.Chandana.,

ofLordSiva.

9.Pushpa.,10.Dhupa.,11.Deepa.,12.Naivedya.,

WhenIdolBecomesAlive

13.Tambula.,14.Niranjana.,15.Swarnapushpa(gift
ToaBhaktaorasage,thereisnosuchthingas

ofgold)and16.Visarjana.Heattainspurityofheart

Jadaorinsentientmatter.EverythingisVasudeva

andslowlyannihilateshisegoism.

orChaitanya.Vasudeva Sarvam lti.Thedevotee

Idolworshipdevelopsdevotion

beholdsactuallytheLordintheidol.

Idol worship makes concentration of man

TheMurtiisthesameastheLord,foritisthe

simpler and easier. This is one of the easiest

vehicleoftheexpressionoftheMantraChaitanya

modesofSelf-Realization.

whichistheDevata.

RegularworshipunveilstheDivinityinthe

VedantaandIdolworship

idol:
Apseudovedantinfeelshimselfashamed
Regularworship(Puja)andother

to bow or prostrate himself

modesofdemonstratingour

before anidol in the temple.

innerfeelingorrecognitionof

ThesixtythreeNayanmar

Divinityintheidolunveilthe

Saints practised Charya

Divinitylatentinit.Theidol

and Kriya only and

speaks.

absorbedandattainedGod
realisation. They were

Divinityintheidolacts
angel,

embodiments of Karma

blessingall,conferringthe

Yoga and all practiced

highest good on those

YogaofSynthesis.

as

guardian

whobowtoit.

Tukaram sings in his

The idol is only a

AbhangaI seemy Lord

symboloftheDivine.He

all pervading, just as

visualisestheindwelling

sweetness pervades the

presenceintheMurtior

sugarcane and yet, he

image. All the Saivaite

alwaysspeaksofhisLord

Nayanmars, Saints of

Vittala of Pandarpur with

SouthIndia,attainedGod

His Hands on his hips.

52

SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

HOW TO MAKE TIRUMALA

PILGRIMAGE A PLEASANT ONE

ImageworshipisnotcontrarytotheviewofVedanta
butratheraproporahelp.

FromRitualisticBhaktitoParaBhakti
Bhakti is of two kinds viz. higher Bhakti or
Parabhakti andlowerBhakti or Ritualistic Bhakti.

RitualisticworshipisVaidhorGauniBhakti.

MukhyaBhaktiorParaBhaktiisadvancedtype
ofdevotion.Ittranscendsallconventions.

The aspirant who worships the idol in the

beginning beholds the Lord everywhere and
developsParaBhakti;hepassesontheRagatmika
BhaktiorPremaBhakti.Hebeholdsthewholeworld

asViratastheLord.Theideasofgoodandbad,
rightandwrong,vanish.HeseestheLordinarogue,

dacoit,cobra,scorpion,ant,dog,tree,logofwood,
blockofstone,sun,moon,stars,fire,water,earth

etc.Hisvisionorexperiencebafflesdescription.
Thedevoteewhoworshipstheidol,hastorepeat
PurushaSuktaandtothinkoftheViratPurushawith
countlessheads,countlesseyes,countlesshands

etc.whoextendsbeyondtheUniverse,theLordor
theAtmanwhodwellsintheheartofallbeings.The
samemanwhoburnsincensescentedsticksand
camphorbeforetheidolsays;TheSundoesnot

shine there nor the moon nor the stars nor the
lightning.AllshineafterHim.Thewaysandrules

The moment you think of a trip to Tirumala,

reserve your Railway/Bus tickets,
accommodation and seva tickets well in
advance.
If you find leisure time stay at Tirupati, visit
local temples.
TTD is plying free buses from Railway station
to Alipiri for the benefit of the devotees who
walk up the Hills.
The pilgrims can deposit the luggage, properly
locked in the counter at Alipiri Foot path,
before they start climbing holy steps and the
luggage will be delivered at CRO, Tirumala.
The service is rendered free of cost.
TTD has also arranged mobile autoclinics for
repairing the vehicles standard on both the
ghatroads.
Better plan up your pilgrimage to Tirumala
during week days and avoid holidays as far
as possible.
All your family members need not wait in CRO
for accommodation. One person can stand
in the 'Q' and others take rest at PAC adjacent
to CRO building where toilets, bath rooms,
tonsuring facilities and lockers are available.
Contact 'Information' counters at Railway
station, Airport, RTC bus stand, Alipiri bus
stand, Vishnu Nivasam, Srinivasam amenities
complexes, Alipiri toll gate and Renigunta
railway station for any information.
Help us to maintain the sanctity and serenity
of Tirumala. Donot come to the sacred hills
for any purpose other than darshan of Srivaru.

ofworship(PujaVidhi)andthesecretsofworship
For further details contact :
0877-2277777, 2233333

thataredescribedintheHinduscriptures
arescientificallyaccurateandhighlyrational.
53
SAPTHAGIRI

JUNE,2015

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SAPTHAGIRI

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