Guest guest Report post Posted December 12, 2001 SrIman! SrI Ranga Sriyam anubadravam anudhinamsamvardhaya/ SrIman! SrI Ranga Sriyam anubadravam anudhinamsamvardhaya// KAvEri VardhathAm kAlE, kAlE varshathu vAsava:/ SrI RanganAthO jayathu SrI Ranga SrIs cha VardhathAm// ====================================================================== SRI RANGA SRI VOL 03 / ISSUE 05 DATED 12th December 2001 ====================================================================== IN THIS ISSUE: 1. “TIRUVENKATAMUDAIYANUM AZHWAARGAL ANUBHAVAMUM”- Excerpts from talk delivered by Anbil Ramaswamy during the Tirunakshatra MahOtsavam of ThiruvEnkaTamudaiyAn and Swami Vedanta Desikan celebrated jointly by “Swami Desika Darsana Satsangam”, “Sri Ramanuja Mission” and the Hindu Cultural Society (HCS), Buffalo, New York on 29th September 2001. This also marked the 5th Anniversary of “Swami Desika Darsana Satsangam and the 1st Anniversary of “Sri Ranga Sri” Electronic journal. 2. “DASAAVATAARA STOTRAM OF SWAMI DESIKA”- PART 1 : AN INTRODUCTION – Anbil Ramaswamy 3. SRI RANGA VIJAYAM – PART 22 – “THAYAR SANNIDHI” >From "Sri Ranga Vijayam" by Purisai Sri Krishnamachariar Swami, Editor, "Nrisimhapriya" (translation in English: Anbil Ramaswamy) 4. "LEARN OUR TRADITION THE EASY WAY"- SAMPRADAYA LESSONS FOR KIDS: GRADE 2 LESSON 10: VEDAS (written in Tamil by Desika Bhakta Ratnam, U. Ve. Seva Srinivasa Raghava chariar Swami under his "Jayamangala Paada Thittam" and translated in English by Sri M.K.Srinivasan Swami of Vedanta Desika Research Center) =================================================================== A STANDING INVITATION IF you are satisfied with the form and content of the Journal, please spread the word among those interested. You may invite their attention to our Web site where all the issues have been archived for public view at: and encourage them to join by sending an email to : -Subscribe Alternatively, You may suggest us the email addresses of friends who may be REALLY interested so that we can directly add them to our mailing list. Dasoham Anbil Ramaswamy, Editor & Publisher, "Sri Ranga Sri" ====================================================================== 1. “TIRUVENKATAMUDAIYANUM AZHWAARGAL ANUBHAVAMUM”- Excerpts from talk delivered by Anbil Ramaswamy during the Tirunakshatra Mahotsavam of Tiruvenkatamudaiyan and Swami Vedanta Desikan celebrated jointly by “Swami Desika Darsana Satsangam”, “Sri Ramanuja Mission” and Hindu Cultural Society (HCS), Buffalo, New York on 29th September 2001. ------ THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TIRUVENKADAM: We are living in “Kaliyuga”. Vishnu Purana portrays the extent of deterioration of standards in this yuga: "In the Kali Yuga, there will be numerous rulers vying with each other. They will have no character. Violence, falsehood and wickedness will be the order of the day. Piety and good nature will dwindle slowly. The man of property alone will be venerated; Power and pelf only would draw devotion. Passion and lust will be the only attraction between the sexes. Women will be the objects of sensual pleasure. Dishonesty will be the bottom line of subsistence. Learned people will be ridiculed and put to shame; the word of the wealthy person will be the only law. People will not live for more than 23 years by the time the Kaliyuga draws to a close. Satva, enlightening goodness will become extinct. No wise man, no true saint, no one uttering truth and standing by his sacred word can be seen on the face of earth. Old people will try to behave like the young and the young will lack the candor of youth. Every one will be indulging in banal vulgarity" A Hindu verse says that “Kaliyuga is so abominable that if a person tells the truth, he will be beaten but if he lies, cheats and bluffs, he will be liked and accepted”. KALI MAHATMYAM says: "Since it is more than 5,000 years since Kali age started, there will be debasement of Caste, decline in religion and Vedic studies, degeneration, violence, ignorance, sorrow, materialism, chaos, evil, absence of devotion, upsurge in lust and anger in general and abuse of virtuous persons" The Kalki Avatara is sure to take place before the end of this Kali Yuga. For reassuring us of His apocalyptic final Avatara, the Lord has appeared meanwhile in Archa form as TiruvenkaTamudaiyan to save the souls of Bhaktas still clinging to values and virtues laid down in the Saastras. As the Lord took Avatara as Nrisimha in Kritayuga, as He did as Sri Rama in Tretayuga, and as Lord Krishna in Dvaaparayuga, He appears as VenkaTeswara in this Kaliyuga in Archa form (till His Avatara as Kalki) There is a famous Sloka which says this: KritE nrusimha bhoothsou TrEtaayaam Raghunandana:/ DvaaparE Vaasudevas Cha Kalou Venkata naayaka:// There is another Sloka attesting to the importance of “VenkaTaachalam” mountain itself. KritE Vrishaadrim vakshyanthi TrEtaayaam anjanaachalam/ DvaaparE Sesha sailEthi Kalou Sree VenkaTaachalam // Meaning: It is said that the mountains of Vrishabaadri, Anjanaachalam, Seshasailam and Venkataachalam are the reputed ones during Krita, Treta, Dvaapara and Kali Yuga respectively. It is said that in the olden days, people used to crawl all the way up without setting foot on the divine mountain. Later on, people used to prostrate before climbing the mountain chanting “VenkaTa vaasinE namah”. Indeed, a salutation to the very inhabitants of the holy hills! Today, we have automobiles to carry us to the top of the hills. May be, not in the distant future, we will have not only cable cars but also even choppers to take us up! Elders used to mention that the very mountain bestows immortality to Celestials (ViNNOr), Liberation to atmospheric beings (VaanOr) and extinguishing sins of terrestrial beings (MaNNavar) “VenkOr amrutha beejam syaath, KaTam aiswaryam dadhaathi cha Paapa vinaasanam karoThi ithi UchyathE” Swami Desika in his “Dayaa Sathakam” says that the “TiruvenkaTamudaiyaan is the Sugarcane; His mercy is the juice; It is He who raises the crop and allows it to flow and solidify into sugar cube in the form of the seven hills”. He goes one step further and implies that while Thaayaar is compassion incarnate and Daya can tolerate sins, the Tirumalai mountain actually destroys sins! PrapadhyE thum girim praaya: Sreenivaasa anukampayaa/ Ikshusaara sravanthyEva yanmoorthyaa sarkaraayitham // Bhagavad Ramanuja says that Lord Sreenivaasa stands on top of Upanishads and proclaims His protection: “Sruthi sirasi BrahmaNI SreenivaasE”. Without “Sree”, “nivaasa” will be meaningless! Bheeshma Pitaamaha in Sri Vishnu Sahasranaamam emphasizes the role of “Sri” when he repeats this “Sri” 9 times: “Sreedha:, Sreesa:, Sreenivaasa:, Sreenidhi, Sreevibhaavan:, Sreedhara:, Sreekara:, SrEya:, Sreemaan” Madhwaacharya also visualizes that the Lord seems to have climbed to the very top of the mountain and stands there looking with His compassion in all directions to protect the world : Drishtvaa Disi Disi sveeyaan dayayaa paalayan iva/ vardhathE viswathas Chakshu: VenkatE VenkaTEswara:// The word “TiruvenkaTam” can mean both “Tiru” and “VenkaTam” or “VenkaTam” blessed by “Tiru”. The word “Vem” means “sins” “kaTam” means “to destroy”. There is a solitaire in Tamil which says: “ Vem koDum PaavangaL ellaam VenthiDa seivathaal Nalla MangaLam porundhum seer VenkaTa malai aanadhu” which means “ Because the mountain incinerates all our sins, it has acquired the auspicious name of VenkaTam” ------ In the next posting, we will enjoy the Anubhavams of Azhwaars. ====================================================================== 2. “DASAAVATAARA STOTRAM OF SWAMI DESIKA”-PART 1 : AN INTRODUCTION – Anbil Ramaswamy ------ WHAT IS AVATARA? We have heard of “Aarohanam” and “Avarohanam” in music. The former means the cadence moving from a low pitch up to a high one; the latter means the cadence coming down from a high pitch to a low one. “Avataara” means the Lord who is in the highest realms of Paramapadam chooses to come “down to earth”. This descent is called “Avataara”. WHO TAKES THESE “AVTAARAS” AND WHO DOES NOT? It is Sriman Narayana who is the “Bhagavan” and none else. Stories of the so called Avataras by lesser deities may be found in Raajasa Puraanas which are less authentic while Taamasa Puraanas are not authentic at all (e.g.) the stories of “Pittukku Mann Sumanthathu” and “Sutta pazham, Sudaatha Pazham” etc. episodes are not vouched by any Saatvika Puraanas and hence should be dismissed as imaginative. WHO IS THIS BHAGAVAN”? Bhagavan has been defined as one who possesses all the six essential qualities of Jnaana (Knowledge), Sakti (Power), Veerya (Valor), Tejas (Brilliance), Bala (Strength) and Aiswarya (Lordship). Ahirbudnya Siva himself says that it is only Sriman Narayana who possesses all these six qualities. WHY SHOULD BHAGAVAN TAKE “AVTAARAS”? Lord Krishna has made it clear in Bhagavad Gita “ Yadhaa yadhaa hi Dharmasya Glaanir bhavathi Bhaaratha/ Abhyuthaanam Adharmasya Tad Aatmaanam srujaamyaham//" Whenever there is a decline in the natural order of the Universe, whenever there is a rise in evil beyond certain limits, I manifest myself” and “Paritranaaya Saadhoonaam Vinaasaaya cha Dushkritaam/ Dharma Samsthapanaarthaayaya Sambhavami yugE yugE//" “To protect the virtuous, to destroy evil and to establish “Dharma’ I recreate myself in every Yuga”. CAN HE NOT DO ALL THESE BY REMAINING IN HIS NITYA VIBHOOTHI? WHY SHOULD HE TAKE THE TROUBLE OF “COMING DOWN” TO US? He can do all these without coming down. But, it is to give us the reassurance that He is with the Sadhus by being in their physical proximity that He takes these Avataaras. The concept of Avataara is a distinguishing feature of Hinduism that is not present in any other religion. God's will is supreme. So, whenever He wants, He can take an Avataara. But, the most important of them all are known as “Dasa Avataara” – the 10 Main Avataaras. He can appear in this world as a concrete person and appear to be in flesh and blood though His body is Suddhasatva. and every such manifestation is called an Avatara He `touches down' earth so that we can `take off' to his high heavens. He `demotes' himself to our level so as to `promote' us to his level. He `descends' leaving his high pedestal to help us leave our mundane existence and ‘ascend' unto him. He ‘steps down' so that we may ‘step up'. He humbles himself to teach us realize how humble we really are. He manifests himself in `ridiculous' forms like fish, tortoise, boar, half-lion, dwarf etc to appeal to our `ridiculous perceptions' and help us `sublimate' our lives "The Impersonal Absolute God, descends as it were to the level of our mundane universe and makes his presence felt. The perfect God takes on, it seems, an imperfection in itself to appear as a living being in order to take us imperfect beings on the onward path to perfection. So, whenever an event takes place (as when the son of God appeared on Earth), the people of that time who had the beatific experience of God's proximate presence worshipped Him as God incarnate. These Avataars are the closest approximation to the divinity for us, who cannot see him in ourselves"1 (1: Dr.V.Krishnamoorthi, Retd. Professor,Pilani) He ‘lowers’ himself in order to ‘lift’ us up; He ‘stoops’ to our level so that we might ‘clasp’ his hands. He ‘debases’ himself in an attempt to ‘ennoble’ us. He enters ‘our homes’ to make us feel 'at home.' with him He ‘condescends’ to make us feel ‘worthy’ of him. HOW MANY TIMES HAS HE TAKEN “AVATAARAS’? “Avtaaraa: asankhyeyah” – Avataaras are countless. There is a saying that the Lord Himself has not kept a tab on the number of Avataaras He had taken! Down from the Vedas to Puraanas, as many as 100 + Avataaras have been identified but only 10 as the main Avataaras. WHY NO AVATAARAS SO FAR IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT IN THIS YUGA IS SAID TO BE WORST? For this, we have to look at the length of Yuga reckoning. Kali Yuga 432,000 human years Dwaapara Yuga (Dwa =two) 2 times Kali = 864,000 Treta Yuga (Tre= three) 3 times kali = 1296,000 Krita Yuga (Kri= 4 ) 4times Kaliyuga = 1728,000 Total 4320.000 or 4.32 million = 1 Mahayuga So, there are- 4 Avataaras in Krita (Matsya, Koorma, Varaaha and Nrisimha) 3 Avataaras in Treta Yuga (Vaamana, Parasuraama and Sri Rama) 2 Avataaras in Dwaapara yuga (Balaraama and Krishna) 1 Avataara in Kaliyuga (the apocalyptic Kalki, yet to be) DO THE AVATARAS HAVE ANY BEARING TO THE MODERN THEORY OF EVOLUTION? We cannot say so exactly. But in a way, we may derive a parallel: First, the creatures that live solely in water (Matsya); Then, those that can live in both water and land (amphibian) (Koorma); Then, those that live solely on land (Varaaha); Then Half-lion and Half-man - a stage between Homo sapiens and animals (Tiryaks) (Nara + Simha); Then, Homo sapiens with short stature (Vaamana); Then, the rough and tough and not so civilized human (Parasurama, Rama with the axe) Then, the Perfect example of Civilized human (Sri Rama, Rama with the bow) Then, one with occupational (say, Agricultural) skills (Balarama, Rama with the plough) Then, Superhuman (Sri Krsihna) Then, the apocalyptic (Kalki) WHAT DOES THE LORD GAIN BY THESE AVATAARAS? The only gain is that He enjoys the fun making this earth - His fun place. If you take the entire cosmos, Vedas say that Paramapadam known as Vaikuntam or “Nitya Vibhuthi” is 3/4ths and this Universe “Leela Vibhuthi” is the balance of 1/4th. WHAT IS THIS “LEELA VIBHUTHI”? This is Lord’s playground. Kambar says: “ulagam yaavaiyum,thaan ulavaakalum, Nilai peruthalum, neekalum neengala alagilaa vilaiyattudaiyaan avn padam saran naangale” Bhagavad Ramanuja in his invocatory slokam of his Sri Bashyam says- “ Akhila bhuvana janma sthema Pankhaadhi leele” (Leele means in play) IS THERE ANY CONNECTION BETWEEN ASHTAKSHARAM AND ITS RELATION TO 10 AVATAARAS? Pranavam has 3 letters a., u. and ma = 3 Na+ra+ya+na+ya = 5 Na+ma: = 2 Total =10 WHY 13 SLOKAS FOR 10 AVATAARAS? Azhwars and Avataaras Abinava Dasa avataaram = 10 Andal + Madhurakavi + Amudanaar = 3 Total = 13 --- To Continue: The Introductory Slokam of Dasaavataara Stotram ====================================================================== 3. SRI RANGA VIJAYAM – PART 22 – “THAYAR SANNIDHI” From "Sri Ranga Vijayam" by Purisai Sri Krishnamachariar Swami, Editor, "Nrisimhapriya" (translation in English: Anbil Ramaswamy) ------ We are now at the entrance of Thayar Sannidhi. At the entrance is a big Mantap where Navraatri Utsavam is celebrated. As we go past this mantap, we see a figure of Anjaneya sculptured on a pillar. Some people light lamps in front of this Anjaneya. People also used to circumambulate this pillar (Pradakshinam) before entering the Sannidhi.Immediately on entering, we come across a 4 pillared mantap where Thayar has her festival of flowers (Poochaathu utsavam). Crossing this, we enter the Sanctum Sanctorum of Thayar (renowned as being ignorant of punishing) (nityam agjaana nigrahaam). Her beauty is beyond description. It is here that Thayar’s Utsavamoorthi enjoys Utsavams. Far behind the Moolavar, there is another Moola Vigraham. It is said that during the Muslim invasion, the local elders caused to erect a wall to hide this Vigraham and that when the danger had passed of, Thayar instructed through the Archakas to remove this wall. After Darshan here and after taking Prasaadams of Theertham, SaTaari, Manjal and Kumkum we come to the outer enclosure and as we take our Pradakshinam, we come across a raised mantap. This is the famous “Panguni Uthra Mantapam” where Bhagavad Ramanuja surrendered at the feet of Divya Dhampathi in “Serthi”. On the pillars of this mantap are engraved figures of Sri Rama, Lakshmana, Hanumaar, Sugriva, Jaambhavaan and the ministers of Vibheeshana – all reminding us of the famous “Vibheeshana Saranaagathi” episode in Srimad Ramayana. There are also figures of several Azhwaars here. ------ To Continue: “PraNaya Kalaham” ====================================================================== 4. "LEARN OUR TRADITION THE EASY WAY"- SAMPRADAYA LESSONS FOR KIDS: GRADE 2 LESSON 10: VEDAS (written in Tamil by Desika Bhakta Ratnam, U. Ve. Seva Srinivasa Raghava chariar Swami under his "Jayamangala Paada Thittam" and translated in English by Sri M.K.Srinivasan Swami of Vedanta Desika Research Center) ------ Vedas constitute the main base of our tradition and culture. Our philosophy is rooted in the Vedas and our religion draws its tenets from the Vedas. They were not written by anyone. They are, therefore, free from the defects usually found in man-made compositions. Vedas are divinely inspired. The Supreme Lord, as Hayagriva taught them to Lord Brahma, who embarked on his job of creating the worlds according to the directions of the Vedic guidelines. Brahma says: “Vedas are my wealth. Vedas are my very eyes, indeed” Vedas are eternal. They do not disappear with time. They are transmitted by word of mouth by Acharya to Sishya. One cannot, rather should not, learn the Vedas from the books by committing them to memory. Not only the letters and the words but also the pronunciation, particularly the long and short intonations are very important and can be learnt with accuracy only by hearing them. Wrong pronunciations will lead to disastrous results. Our country is the only country in the world where word of mouth teaching is kept up for millennia. Every person who is a Brahmin by birth should learn the Vedas, if not in full, at least some portions thereof. Vedic recitation will add to his glory and luster. Being divine,they will impart to him inner strength which is impossible to secure otherwise. Peace and prosperity will prevail where there are Brahmins who chant and are well versed in Vedas. Honoring them is equivalent to honoring the Gods. Vedas sustain Brahminhood which in turn sustains the Vedas. In days of yore, kings used to support Brahmins so that the latter can devote their time exclusively to Vedic chanting and transmission. Emperor Bhoja was well known for his erudition and regard shown to Brahmins. He was a great poet too. Once, when asked whom he would respect the most, he replied, “ The world will prosper only when Dharma or righteousness prevails. What Brahma is - can be known only through Vedas and, Vedas are chanted and protected by Brahmins. So, my foremost regard and respect goes to Brahmins who preserve the Vedas” Rites and Rituals, Sacrifices and Ceremonies derive their sanctity and strength from the Vedas. Even if the ritualistic parts cannot be performed, chanting the Vedic hymns is considered adequate to yield the results of the sacrifices in extreme cases. Vedas were grouped under 4 headings. Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Saama Veda and Atharva Veda by Sage Vyasa who is part incarnation of the Supreme Lord. Each person will have one of the Vedic Saakhaa denoting his genealogy like “Yajus Sakaadhyaayi (i.e) one who follows the Yajur Veda etc. ----------------------- QUESTIONS 1. How many Vedas are there? 2. Why should we learn the Vedas? 3. Mention the greatness of the Vedas? 4. What did Brahma say about the Vedas? 5. Why should we respect the Vedic scholars? 6. What was Bhoja’s reason for respecting Brahmins? 7. State Vyasa’s contribution to Vedas? 8. Why should we learn Vedas only by word of mouth? ===================================================================== _______________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
