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Vol 03.006 
21 May 2000

In this Issue:
1.  Editorial
2.  AdhvaithA  &   VisishtAdhvaithA on"Tat  Tvam Asi"- Part 3/3 - Sri M.S. Hari
3.  The Role of Guru in Spiritual sAdhaNA - Sri  Anantha  RangAchAr
4.  Bhisma  Sthuthi -  Part 2   -   Sri Purisai  KrishnamAchAriAr's commentary
5.  What is  in this week? List of festivals and events, this week

1.Editorial

Dear BhakthAs:

We  place  in your hands the sixth issue of Volume 3, which houses three articles.

The first one is the third of the three part series on  the  vEdha MahA VAkyam, Tat Tvam asi by Sri M.S.Hari of Singapore. It is very important  for  us  to  understand  clearly  how  Sri  VaishNavite AchAryAs  have  shed  light on the true meanings of this and other vEdha  MahA  VAkyams.  The  second  article  is  by  Dr.N.S.Anatha RangAcchAr Swamy about the indispensable role of a SadAchAryan  in spiritual  pursuits leading upto Moksham. The third article is the second  of  the  series  on  BhIshma  Sthuthi   by   Sri   Purisai KriahNamAcchAr Swamy, the SampAdhakar of Nrusimha PriyA.

We   are   happy   to   announce   the   forthcoming  postings  by Dr.S.M.S.Chari on the  Upanishadic  underpinnings  of  SaraNAgathi doctrine.  Dr.S.M.S.Chari  is  the disciple of one of the greatest Sri VaishNava AchAryALs of recent times, Sri Goshtipuram Swamy.

Subhamasthu,

adiyEn,
Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan, Editor
http://www.srivaishnava.org/sgati/


2. AdhvaithA & VisishtAdhvaithA on"Tat Tvam Asi" Part 3/3
M S Hari

Arguments & Counter-arguments in this Context

Satakopa NamazhvAr, Bhagavat YAmunAchAryA, Sri Bhagavat  RAmAnuja, Srimath  Vedanta  Maha  Desikan are notable personalities who have elaborately dealt  with  refuting  the  AdhvaithA  philosophy  and establishing   VisishtAdhvaithA   philosophy.   Sri  RAmAnuja  has objected AdhvaithA using the Veda  as  authority  and  also  logic wherein he has mentioned seven objections against AdhvaithA called  Sapta-Vidha- Anupapathi, pointing out mistakes in AdhvaithA. SwAmi dEsikan   has  dealt  with  refuting  AdhvaithA  and  establishing VisishtAdhvaithA in  this  celebrated  masterpiece  called  "Satha Dhushini"   wherein  he  has  raised  hundred  objections  against AdhvaithA for which AdhvaithA scholars are not able to answer even for one objection.  Further  the  same  scholar  of  extraordinary intelligence  and  logical  power  has written a book called "Para Matha  Bhangam"  wherein  he  refutes  AdhvaithA  and  many  other illogical  schools  of  thought  in  philosophy  and   establishes VisishtAdhvaithA.  We  will  not  go into the details of the above mentioned refutations but will present some basic  refutations  as essence  from  them.  Now a basic question arises! - Why should we refute other philosophical schools  of  thoughts?  The  answer  is simple.  We  do  not  have  any  intention  to hurt other people's feelings by refuting their philosophical school  of  thought.  Our intention  is  only  to ascertain that the only purport of Veda is VisishtAdhvaithA Sri Vaishnavam  and  it  is  the  only  logically correct  philosophy that has got universal approach that is not at all a sectarian philosophical school of thought. It is to be noted that  in  debates,  arguments,  and   counter-arguments   favoring something  and  refuting  another  thing is the basis to ascertain theories based on a premise.

The basic objection in the form of a question against AdhvaithA is "Why   should  the  Brahman  get  obstructed/covered  by  AvidhyA? AdhvaithA says Brahman is pure knowledge-self  reality  without  a second  entity  and  without  any  attributes. AdhvaithA says that AvidhyA cannot be explained in words  but  it  is  of  the  nature opposed to knowledge-self. How can the pure knowledge-self-reality Brahman  be  obstructed  by AvidhyA which is of opposite nature to knowledge? If AvidhyA's nature itself is to be argued that  it  is of  obstructing  Brahman  and  create  false  illusion of universe composed  of  living  and  non-living  things,  then   a   serious controversy  arises.  That  is,  Brahman according to AdhvaithA is without a second entity. Then from where did this AvidhyA come  to cover  Brahman  and  create  illusion?  If  AvidhyA  too has to be accepted as an entity, then the basis  of  AdhvaithA  gets  shaken -"Chin  MAtram  Brahma"  "Brahman  is  without a second entity" is getting contradicted. If they argue that AvidhyA is not  a  second entity  then it should be an attribute of Brahman. If so "Nirguna" "Brahman is  without  any  attributes"  is  getting  contradicted. Readers!  You  may  just  think  over  this  - why should the real Brahman get itself into the cover of AvidhyA and should  create  a mere  illusion that is unreal as Jeeva and matter? Why should then after get trapped like this, attempt for liberation from this?  If liberation  is  needed,  then  the  entity  to  get  liberated  in AdhvaithA  is the Brahman itself! Why should the Brahman suffer in illusion of Jeeva?

AdvaithA says the universe is unreal, as it is only  an  illusion. So the Brahman does not suffer. This is not acceptable because the universe  is  the  creation of the Brahman as per the Veda and the process of creation is described by it in detail. Saying that  the universe  in  unreal  is  contradictory  to perception through our sense organs also. The real Brahman has no necessity to create  an unreal  universe  and  then  attempt to get liberated from it. Now consider logic. If AvidhyA covers the Brahman and creates illusion  as Jeeva and matter, then is a part  of  Brahman  covered  or  the entire  Brahman is covered? The Brahman has no parts. If it covers the  Brahman  then   it   should   block   the   self-illuminating knowledge-self-reality  Brahman.  This "self- illuminating" is not  considered as an attribute of Brahman as it is told  by  AdhvaithA that  Brahman  has  no qualities. That means AvidhyA obstructs the knowledge-self-reality (swaroopa) itself and creates the illusion. Therefore the entity called "Brahman" itself is lost when  AvidhyA covers  it and cannot be established. AdhvaithA now counter-argues that  the  same  objection  is  possible  to  be  raised   against VisishtAdhvaithA  also.  In  VisishtAdhvaithA,  the  JeevAtman  is knowledge-self-reality, finite in nature. The JeevAtman gets bound in  his  Karma  (results  of his action) in the material world and forgets who he is and thinks he is the body  and  suffers  in  the material  world.  AdhvaithA  says  during  this  phase, the entity "JeevAtman" itself  is  lost  and   it   cannot   be   established. VisishtAdhvaithA  refutes  this  by saying that the karma does not cover the knowledge-self-finite  reality  of  JeevAtman  but  only makes  his attribute knowledge to contract according to his karma. VisishtAdhvaithA   accepts   qualities   possessed   by   Brahman, JeevAtaman  and  matter.  Therefore   the   contraction   in   the attribute-knowledge  makes the JeevAtman to forget his reality and suffer in the material world  as  per  his  karma.  The  AdhvaithA cannot  take  this refutation as "answer" for the objection raised by us because it does to recognize Brahman with qualities.

The Veda says that the Brahman is "Niranjanaha  etc".  Brahman  is Called  "Nirguna" (without attributes) for it does not possess bad qualities or qualities of material world or qualities  that  Jeeva has  like  karma.  This  does not mean that the Brahman is totally devoid of all qualities. It has qualities that are  unique  to  it that  are divine and infinite. If Brahman is to be taken devoid of all qualities, then numerous vEdic verses proclaiming that Brahman has divine infinite  qualities  become  meaningless.  This  cannot happen.  Further  "Nethi  Nethi"  in  the Veda does not negate the qualities of Brahman after saying them. Its meaning is "It is  not only   this   much!  Brahman  is  infinite  with  infinite  divine qualities"

If Brahman itself becomes the Jeeva & matter by illusion, then the bad qualities of Jeeva (being bound by karma, sufferings etc)  and matter (satva, rajas, tamas and changing nature) are applicable to Brahman.  The  Veda  proclaims  that  Brahman is "Untouched by all impurities". This "proclaim" will be  meaningless  if  Brahman  by reality  becomes Jeeva/matter. Still the Veda has declared Brahman as the material cause of the universe. Material cause is  the  one that  undergoes  change  to become an effect. The Veda conveys the nature-reality  of  Brahman  by  the  term  "Satyam".  This  means "NirvikAratvam"  "Unchanging"  nature.  If  the  Brahman  is  also declared  as  material  cause,  don't  you  think   there   is   a contradiction  here?  In  fact  there  is no contradiction. Before creation, subtle Chith & Achith entities as  his  body  attributed the  Brahman. The Brahman wished to create and expanded the subtle entities by giving expanded forms, names, gender,  class  etc.  He gave the Chit, form, name etc., as per the Chit's individual karma that  has  no beginning. Therefore the Brahman is impartial in his creation. After creating, the Brahman entered into all  the  Chith and  Achith  entities  (sentient  and insentient entities) and got attributed by  them  as  his  body.  Therefore  the  same  Brahman attributed  by  subtle  Chith-Achith entities (before creation) as his body became attributed by expanded  Chith-Achith  entities  as his  body  (After Creation). This is the reason why the Brahman is declared as the material cause of the universe. Therefore creation is this which is wished and done by him as expansion of  his  body which  is Chith & Achith entities. As he wished and created, he is also the instrumental cause of the universe. As the Veda  declares that Brahman is all-powerful with transcendental divine powers, he needs  no  accessories  in the process of creation. The Vedas says that the sentient (Chith - Jeeva) and  the  insentient  (Achith  - matter)  and  the Brahman (Iswara - ParamAtman) are always eternal and has no beginning or middle or end. This ascertains the  subtle and expanded states of his body. It has to be carefully noted that only  the  Brahmans  form  (body)  undergoes  the  contraction and expansion as destruction and creation  of  universe  and  not  his reality  (Swaroopa).  Therefore  the Brahman is material cause and also is of unchanging nature. Thus there is no  contradiction.  As the  Brahman  is the soul of the universe, he remains untouched by the qualities of the universe (chith & achith ) as it is his body. The explanation of the nature of body and soul  in  detail  is  in order  here.  Soul  is  the  one  that  eternally  and inseparably  supports controls and owns the body for its purpose. Body  is  the one  that  is  eternally and inseparable supported, controlled and owned by the soul and exists for the purpose of the soul. This  is the  definition  of  soul and body respectively. Generally when we say "body", the picture of it which comes to a  person's  mind  is  "that which has head, legs, hands etc.". If you take the body of asnake,  it does not possess legs hands etc as it is found in human body. The  body's  physical  form  thus  varies  from  species  to species.  Therefore  the  definition  is  not  in  terms  of these physical natures but only of the definition given above holds good as far as the soul-body relationship is concerned. The Vedas  talk about identity of Brahman & Universe by AbhEdha Sruthi Verses. The same  Vedas  talk  about  the  categorical  difference between the Brahman & Universe by BhEdha Sruthi Verses. There appears  that  a contradiction  is present. But there is no contradiction when both these types of Veda Verses are synchronized  using  Gataka  Sruthi that  talks explicitly the body-soul relation ship between Brahman  and the universe. When the Gataka Sruthi is used  to  synchronize, the AbhEdha sruthi verses tell that nothing other than the Brahman qualified by the universe as his body exists. In the same way when the  Gataka  sruthi  verses  are  used  to synchornize, the bhEdha sruthi verses tell that  the  Brahman  who  is  the  soul  of  the universe  is  different  from  the universe which is his body - as body and soul are different  entities  but  they  are  inseparably related.  Therefore  the  entire Veda is without contradiction the one   that   only   meaning   is   the   VisishtAdhvaithA.    Thus VisishtAdhvaithA  explains  the  verse  "Tath Tvam Asi". AdhvaithA views regarding the same are refuted and rejected as they are  not in  accordance  with  entire  Veda  and  also  contradict  logical reasoning.

Conclusion
To  conclude this article, we would like to state that the SAstras especially the Veda that is the ultimate authority  of  knowledge, is  a vast source. It needs to be studied with its six accessories properly  and  practiced  and  interpreted   without   pride   and prejudice.  Only  then  the  purport  of  it  can  be ascertained. VisishtAdhvaithA Sri Vaishnavam is the only school  of  philosophy that has clearly ascertained the purport of the entire Veda.


3. The Role of Guru in Spiritual sAdhaNA
N.S. Anantha RangAchAr

Introduction
*************
It  is  no  exaggeration to say that there is nothing on earth, by paying of which, we could free ourselves from our indebtedness  to an  AchAryan. The benedictions bestowed by an AchAryan is so great that we have to be ever grateful to him. A number of teachers have taught us different things and have given shape to our  lives.  We have to be grateful to all of them.

EkamEvaksharam yasthu guru: sishyam prabOdhayEth
PrthivyAm nAsthi taddravyam yaddavata cAnmi bhavEth

Even for teaching of an alphabet, we can not repay adequately with anything. The Mother is the first Guru and a number of other Gurus enlighten  us on many things. The dharma sAsthrAs declare that one who teaches aathmavidhyA is the  most  celebrated  of  all  Gurus. "AchAryA:  srEshtO  gurUNAm" says the Gauthama Dharma sUthrAs. The AchAryA is one who teaches "Brahma VidhyA"  or  the  knowledge  of Brahman.

The Definition of an AchAryan
******************************
An  AchAryA  is one who expounds the meanings of the sAsthrAs, who practises them himself, who establishes  the  disciples  in  those spiritual practises :

AchinOthi hi sAsthrArthAn AchArE sthApayatyapi
svayam AcharathE yasmAth tasmAdh AchAryA uchyathE

The Uniqueness of an AchAryan
******************************
The  role  of  the  AchAryan  in the field of spiritual sAdhanA is unique. One can not proceed on right lines without  the  authentic guidance  of the AchAryan. The mysteries are not possible of being  known without proper initiation by the AchAryan, who happens to be the custodian of  such  knowledge.  The  mystic  truths  that  are covered   by  the  outward  symbols  are  not  possible  of  being discovered at  all,  if  one  is  not  initiated  by  a  competent AchAryan.  The  six  disciples  pay  their  homage  to  the  great PippalAdhA  in  Prasna  Upanishad  :  "Thvam hi nah pithA yOsmAkam AvidhyAyAh pAram param tArayasi (Thou art our Father, who makes us cross the ocean of AvidhyA)."

The aspirants depend entirely on the AchAryan for practising their sadhanA for spiritual perfection. The method, the content and  the verification processes are all taught by the AchAryan according to the needs and the abilities of the aspirants. The AchAryan will be in  a  position  to  testify  the  Truths  in the light of his own personal experiences.

The Upanishadic references to AchAryan
**************************************
The Upanishads contain number of references to  the  AchAryan  and his  significance.  VidhyA gained through the AchAryan alone would lead one to the greatest good --  "AchAryAdhaiva  vidhyA  vidhithA sAdhishtam prApath" -- says sathyakAma Jaabla to his guru GauthamA (ChAndhOgya  Upanishad).  Though  UpakOsalA was initiated into the truths by the sacred fires, they asked him to gain that  knowledge of archirAdhi gathi and others from the AchAryA -- "AchAryAsthu tE gathim  vakthA"  --  (ChAndhOgya Upanishad). UddhAlakA teaches his son SvEthakEthu that knowledge of the highest reality can  be  got only  through  AchAryOpadEsA. The illustration of GandhArapurusha, blind folded and hands bound, left by robbers in the  midst  of  a terrible  forest,  lamenting  loudly  for  being  unaware  of  the  direction   in   which  he  has  to  proceed,  is  given  here.  A  compassionate person unties his bonds and instructs him about  the proper  direction  in  which  he  can  proceed  to reach his home. Similarly,  the  AchAryA  guides  the  aspirant  after   spiritual perfection  and  helps  him  to  get rid of the cover of ignorance (ChAndhOgya Upanishad). The worldly man suffering under the stress and strain of Aj~nAnam and ViparItha Jn~Anam is very much like the GandhAra Purushan, who was overpowered by the robbers.

The  AchAryan shows the path to knowledge, fills one with faith by his own example, initiates the procedure, plans for his  progress, gives  him  the necessary technique, corrects him whenever he goes wrong, and leads him to the ultimate goal surely and safely.

The Mundaka upanidhad says that one who has  developed  dispassion on  seeing te hollowness of the earthly gains should go to such an AchAryan alone, who is a strOthriyA (one versed in scriptures) and BrahmanishtA  (One  who  has  realized  Brahman)for  gaining   the knowledge  of  that  Supreme  Reality. Swamy Desikan describes the AchAryA lakshaNam in the very first verse of Sri NyAsa Vimsathi:

siddham sathsampradhAyE sthiradhiyamangam srOthriyam Brahmanishtam
Satthvastham sathyavAcham samayaniyathayA  saadhuvruthyA  samEtham
DhambhAsUyAdhimuktham  jithavishayigaNam  dhIrgabhandhum  dhayALum
skhAlithyE saasitAram svaparahithaparam Desikam bhUshNurIpsEth

Swami Desikan says: "The SadAchAryan sought should be endowed with the  following qualities: He must have gained realization; he must be  of  a  firm  understanding,  sinless,  well  versed   in   the scriptures,  established  in Brahman, sAthvic in nature, truthful, endowed with virtuous behavior, free  from  jealousy,  vanity  and other   vices,  endowed  with  conquest  over  his  sense  organs, forgiving, compassionate, corrective whenever there is a lapse and mindful of his and others' welfare".

SvEtasvatArOpanishad  declares  that  the  mystic  truths   reveal themselves  to  only  one who has supreme devotion towards God and intense devotion towards the Guru in the same way:

Yasya dEvE parAbhakthi yathA dEvE tathA gurau
tasyaite kathithA hyArthA: prakAsantE mahAthmana:

Swami Desikan exhorts the aspirants that they should  worship  the AchAryA  even as one worships BhagavAn in the second slOkam of Sri NyAsa Vimsathi :

ajn~AnadhvAntha rOdhAth agha pariharaNAth
athma saamyAvahathvAth, janma pradhvamsi
janma pradha garimathayA dhivya dhrushti prabhAvAth,
nishprathyUhAnrusamsyAth niyatharasathayA
nithya sEshithva yOgAth AchAryA: sadhbhiraprathyupakaraNa
dhiyA dEvavath syAthupAsya:

The AchAryA is the dispeller of the dismal darkness of  ignorance. He removes all of our sins. He makes us equal to himself. He gives us  VidyA jn~Ana that would put an end to the cycles of births and deaths. He will endow us  with  a  divine  vision.  He  will  have infinite  compassion, which will never be stultified. Being of the nature of AnandA, he would ever communicate the same.  On  account of  all  these  factors,  the  AchAryA  is to be worshipped as one worships God. One should never harbour  the  feeling  that  he  is doing  a  good  turn  in  return  to the Guru. The Taittiriya says "AchAryA dEvO Bhava". Treat the AchAryAs as  God  and  ApasthambhA voices the same feeling when he says "Devamiva AchAryAm upAsitha". One must therefore worship his AchAryA as God.

In  our  country,  the  tradition  of   paying   homage   to   the GuruparamparA  is a unique feature. This affords an opportunity to pay our gratitude to the illustrious line of  teachers  that  have guarded  these  truths  and  handed  the  essence  of that supreme teaching. In the  Upanishads,  the  Guru-Sishya  paramparais  that treasured  such  vidhyAs  are  often mentioned. While referring to madhu vidhyA, the ChAndhOgya Upanishad says: "This was  taught  to PrajApathi  by BrahmA. PrajApathi taught it to Manu; latter taught it to people like IshvAku and  others.  The  father  of  UddhAlakA taught  this  to  him, the eldest son - the name of the great sage ShAndilyA is mentioned as the teacher of that  celebrated  vidhyA. Even  the  GitA, the Lord says that this knowledge was handed over from generation to generation through this Guru-Sishya  paramparA. It has been ordained that one should meditate upon the illustrious line of his teachers with reverence and gratitude.

An aspirant is advised to  seek  an  AchAryA  and  gain  authentic instructor  from him to become able to practise spiritual sadhanA. The sinner  Kashathrabandhu  and  the  virtuous  PunDarikA  became liberated on account of their AchAryAs:

paapishtah Kshathrabandhusccha
PunDarikasccha puNyakruth
AchAryAvattyA muktou
tasmath AchAyavAn bhavEth

The  sin  of  Kshathrabandhu  was  not an obstacle to Moksham. The puNyam of PuNdarikA could not take him to Moksham. It was only the knowledge taught by the AchAryan that led them to liberation.
 
It is said that the compassionate Lord Himself assumes the role of the Guru to save erring humanity. Though He exhorted  humanity  in His  incarnations  to  develop  devotion  towards  Him, He was not successful. He had to admit:

AvajAnanti mAm mUDhAh
mAnushim tanumAsthitam

So he thought of a device and came in the role  of  the  Guru  and taught the truth. The Guru succeeded where the Lord failed.

Varieties of Gurus
*******************
There are different types of Gurus. Some are capable of dispelling delusion   even   by  their  compassionate  looks.  They  are  the "DrushtimAtra" Gurus.  This  is  described  as  "AchAryA  drushtyA  mushitha  nikhila  mohah  mukdhaarsana  mAtrENa  kampathE  pAtakam dhruvam". There are"SparsamAthra Gurus", AalinganamAthra Gurus and  kathanamAthra Gurus. The Guru is compared to a water-bearing cloud that  showers  rain profusely. The Guru merely gives his teaching, which may be imbibed by any one in need of it to the  extent  that is  required. He is compared to a boatman, who moves from place to place on the high seas with his boat of knowledge for rescuing the ship-wrecked.  He  is  compared  to  a  gardner  that  knows   the requirements of different kinds of plants and so channelises water according  to  their  needs.  This  is  said to be the exceptional function of the Guru.

The great masters point out that "One should be ever  grateful  to the Guru and one should bring to light openly the glories of one's Guru.  The  manthrA should be guarded and should not be made known to all (Gurum PrakAsayEth dhImAn, manthram yathnEna gOpAyEth)".

May Our AchAryan be pleased  with  us  and  bless  us  with  their graces!


4. Bhishma Sthuthi - Part 2
Sri   Purisai  KrishnamAchAriAr's commentary - translated by V.Sadagopan

Slokam 3:
********
sapadhi sakhivachO nismya madhyE
naijaparayOr bhalayO ratham nivEsya
sthithavathi parasainikAyurakshNA
hruthavathi PArthasakhE rathir maamAsthu

(meaning):  On  entering  the  battle  field,  Sri   ParthasArathi listened  to  His  friend ArjunA's command to position the chariot between the two armies. Our Lord accepted ArjunA as His master and obeyed His command (YathOkthakAri). With His glances  directed  at the  opposing  army  from the middle of the battle field, He stole the "Ayus" (lives) of the KauravA  warriors  and  chieftains.  May that  Lord,  who  is  the  real  cause  for the destruction of the KauravA army stay firmly in my mind!

(Comments): ArjunA's tone when he ordered the Lord to position his chariot in the middle of the battle  field  was  haughty  (sEnayOr ubhayO  madhyE  ratham sthApaya mE Achyutha) Draw up my chariot, O AchyuthA, between the two armies). Our Lord did not  take  offense at  His  friend  and  did  as directed as ArjunA's charioteer (Sri PArthasArathi).

Then the Lord said to His friend, PArthan  :  O  ArjunA  !  Behold these    assembled    KauravAs    (   uvAcha   PArtha   pasyaithAm samavEdhAnkurunithi).  AchArya  RaamAnujA's  commentary  here   is moving  as he describes the Supreme One, who permits Himself to be directed by a haughty one like ArjunA  :  "Sri  Sri  KrishnA,  the Supreme  Lord  --who  is  overcome by parental love for those, who take shelter in Him,  who  is  the  treasure-house  of  knowledge, Power,  Lordship,  Energy,  Potency  and Splendour, whose sportive delight brings about the origin, sustentation and  dissolution  of the  entire cosmos at His will, who is the Lord of the senses, who controls in all ways our inner and  outter  senses,  Superior  and Inferior--did immediately waht ArjunA directed Him to do (to place the  chariot  in the middle of the battle field). AchAryA RAmAnujA gives us a clear understanding of who is the Master and who is the servant. BhIshmA hints in this slOkam that by  mere  glance,  Lord Sri  KrishnA struck at the lives of all the enemies of the PAndavA including him (BhIshmA). Their deaths came later like in a  drama, where actors took on roles.

Slokam 4
********
vyavahithaorutanAmukham nirIkshya
sva jana vadhAth vimukasya dhOsha buddhyA
kumathimaharAthmavidhyayA ya:
CharaNarathi Paramasya tasya mE asthu

(Meaning):  May my mind hold steadily the Holy feet of the Supreme One, who removed the aj~nAnam of ArjunA (deluded about his dhArmic duties) through the performance of His upadesam on  Athma  Tattvam and  Kshathriya  dharmam. May my mind stay always at those feet of the ParamaathmA, who removed the delusion of  ArjunA,  whose  mind was  wrought  with  pain over the prospect of killing his opposing relatives and teachers in the war to ensue and thereby  accumulate sins from those actions.

(comments):  Sri  ParthasArathi  performed  GithOpadEsam  for  the confused  ArjunA  and instructed him that the killing of relatives in a moral war will not generate sins. He also  advised  ArjunA: "You  are  grieving  for those, who do not deserve to be grieved.. These warriors on the opposite side  over  whom  you  grieve  have already  been  killed  by me. You are just an instrument for their destruction.Hence sins will not come your way". BhIshmA  prays  to that  GeethAchAryan  for  the blessings of unflinching devotion at His holy feet.

SlOkam 5&6
**********
svanigamamapahAya mathprathignyAm-
rithamadhikarthumavapluthO rathastha:
dhrutha ratha charaNObhyayAth chalathguhu
Haririva hanthumibham gathOttharIya:

sithavisikkhahathO viseerNadhamsa:
kshathajapariluptha aathathAyinO mE
prasabhamabhisasAra madhvadhArtham
sa bhavathu mE BhagavAn gathirmukundha:

(Meaning): What an anubhavam it is to  witness  the  Lord  jumping down  from  His  charioteer's seat forgetting HIS vow equal to the sacred VedAs to make true MY VOW (that I will make the  Lord  take His  weapon  inspite  of His earlier vow not to use weapons in the war to ensue) and rushing at me like a lion intent on  killing  an elephant! As He jumped down, the earth shook under His weight, his upper  garment slipped to the ground without His knowing it and He rushed towards me with Sudarsanam in His hand. His armour has been punctured by my sharp arrows and He was bleeding from those wounds and He rushed at  me  to  kill  me,  who  was  armed.  That  great Bhaktha-vathsalan, who gave PrANa DhAnam to one Bhakthan (Arjunan) and  fulfilled  the  vow of another Bhakthan (Myself) scored twice with His bhaktha DhAkshiNyam. May that  Mukundhan  be  my  eternal refuge and succor!


5. What is in this week ?

 May 19 - Sri  Bhattar thiru nakshatthiram, Sri perum  puthur Sri
                 Adi kEsavan jyEshtAbishEkam
May 20 - thiru aranga perumAL Araiyar thiru nakshatthiram
May 20 - Sri Ahobila muth 35th jeer,  Sri  Ranganatha yAtheendra
                 mAhA dEsikan thiru nakshatthiram
May 22 - Kanchi Sri Ratha uthsavam
May 24 - srvaNa vrtham, kAnchi theertha vAri
May 25 - Sri  Ahobila  muth 27th jeer Sri VeerarAgava yatheendra
                 maha dEsikan thiru nakshatthiram
May 29 - ekAdasi vratham
May 31 - Sri  Ahobila  muth  39th jeer Sri parAngusa  yatheendra
                 maha  dEsikan  thiru  nakshatthiram,  agni nakshatthira
                 nivruthi