Guest guest Report post Posted January 23, 2002 SrimatE Raamaanujaaya Namaha // SrimatE Nigamaanta Mahaa Desikaaya Namaha // SrIman! SrI Ranga Sriyam anubadravam anudhinam Samvardhaya/ SrIman! SrI Ranga Sriyam anubadravam anudhinam Samvardhaya// KAvEri VardhathAm kAlE, kAlE varshathu vAsava: / SrI RanganAthO jayathu Sri Ranga Sri cha VardhathAm// ================================================================ SRI RANGA SRI VOL 03/ ISSUE 14 dated 22nd January 2002 =============================================================== EDITORIAL: Dear Bhagavatas: We have completed the two series (1) on Sri Ranga Vijayam and (2) Sampradaya Lessons. Hope you enjoyed both. We look forward to your comments on the above. IN THIS ISSUE: 1.“. QUIZ PROGRAM 2 - ANSWERS You will remember that quite a while ago, we posed a few queries under our “Quiz Program”. We present below the answers to some of these queries. 1. How did the Lord get the mole called "Srivatsam"? 2. Lord NarAyaNa has names such as "munjakEsan" and "KhaNDaparasu" What do these mean? 3. When and why do Vaidheekas wind the sacred thread around their ear? 4. What does “KalpAntha RAmAyaNam” mean? 5. Do you know that Sri Sita performed SandhyAvandanam? 6. Can ladies do "Pitru TharpaNam"? 7. There is a SlOkam that refers to Sri Rama sitting in "VeerAsanam"> (veerAsanE susthitham) What does this 'Aasanam" mean? ------ Answers to the following Queries will follow in the next issue: Please stay tuned! 8. There are some passages in Srimad Vaalmiki Ramayanam itself which seem to lend internal evidence to conclude that Sri Rama had spouses other than Sri Sita? How is this reconciled with the description of Sri Rama as "Eka pathni vrathan"? 9. Do you know that according to some reports, Hanumaan had not only a wife but also a son? 10. What is “Rama Gita”? =========================================================== 2. “TIRUVENKATAMUDAIYANUM AZHWAARGAL ANUBHAVAMUM”- PART 9: TIRUVOIMOZHI PAASURANGAL – (3) Excerpts from talk delivered by Anbil Ramaswamy during the Tirunakshatram Mahotsavam of Tiruvenkatamudaiyan 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. 3. “DASAAVATAARA STOTRAM OF SWAMI DESIKA- “SRI RAMA AVATARAM” (RAMA WITH THE BOW) Anbil Ramaswamy A STANDING REQUEST The issues have been archived for public view at- IF you are satisfied with the quality and contents of “Sri Ranga Sri”: Tell your friends to join by sending an email to "-Subscribe (AT) (DOT) com" IF not: Tell us, as to how we may improve. Dasoham Anbil Ramaswamy, Editor & Publisher “Sri Ranga Sri” ====================================================================== 1. QUIZ PROGRAM 2 - ANSWERS You will remember that quite a while ago, we posed a few queries under our “Quiz Program”. We present below the answers to some of these queries. ------ 1. HOW DID THE LORD GET THE MOLE CALLED "SRIVATSAM"? Once the foot of Trivikrama came to the place where Bharadwaaja Maharishi was performing Japam, he struck on the chest of VishNu with a handful of water. The spot where he was hit became the mole and this mole is called “Srivatsam”(Authority: Mahaabhaaratham Saanthi Parvam 3.5.2 vide Page 401 of Notes on BalakaaNDam of Vaalmiki Ramayanam by Sri C.R. Srinivasa Iyengar). There is another interpretation found in the same Santhi Parva 3.5.2. According to this, on one of the several occasions in which Lord Siva came to fight with MahavishNu, he aimed his trident (Soolam) at the latter creating a scar on VishNu’s chest and this scar is “Srivatsam” (Vide page 496 ibid.). 2. LORD NARAYANA HAS NAMES SUCH AS "MUNJAKESAN" AND "KHANDAPARASU" WHAT DO THESE MEAN? The fight mentioned above took place when Siva’s trident after destroying the Yaga of Daksha came near Lord VishNu (who had taken the dual role of Nara and Narayana at “Gandhamaadhana Mountain”) and hurt Himon His chest as stated above. Due to its potency, the Lord’s hairs turned green and so the Lord acquired the name of “MunjakEsan” meaning “One with green hair”. The Lord attacked with an ax (parasu) which was broken by Siva. Hence, He came to be known as “KhanTa Parasu” (One with a broken ax) (Vide Page 496 ibid.) 3. WHEN AND WHY DO VAIDHEEKAS WIND THE SACRED THREAD AROUND THEIR EAR? The sacred thread is worn in 3 different positions: (1) Upa veethi: From the Left shoulder going round under the right arm. This is for all “Deva karyams” prescribed in the Sastras. (2) Praacheenaa veethi: From the right shoulder going round under the left arm. This is for “Pitru Kaaryam” prescribed in the Sastras. (3) Ni veethi: This is wearing it like a garland around the neck. This for all were done as per the Vedas, the Brahmins wore in the “Upaveethi” style. While going for easing the bladder or the bowel (visarjanam), the Niveetahi is adopted to prevent any accidental pollution to the sacred thread by touching the ground. Then, why wind it up around the ear? - The ear is said to be the most sacred spot in the human anatomy and it is believed that Ganges flows on the right ear of Vaidheekas. - The ear gets its importance from the fact that it was by “ hearing” that the Vedas were grasped by the Rishis of yore. Hence, the Vedas are known as “Sruthi” (heard). - It is said that the first faculty that a fetus acquires in the womb is that of “hearing”. This is supported by the story of Prahlada who is said to have listened to the stories of Sriman Narayana while being in his mother’s womb and hence became a staunch “VishNu Bhakta” (Authority: “Govinda Rajeeyam” quoted by Sri C.R Srinivasa Iyengar on page 430 ibid.) 4. WHAT DOES “KALPANTHA RAMAYANAM” MEAN? This is one of the several versions of Ramayanam found in “Padma PuraaNam” Uthara KhaaNDam 269 and PaathaaLa KhaaNDam. JaambhavAAn is said to have narrated this story when Rama was holding court. The version bristles with too many deviations from the events recounted in Srimad Raamayanam of Sage Vaalmiki, which alone is considered as authentic. (Vide page 553 ibid. and pages 24 and 25 of Notes on YuddhaKhaaNDam of Srimad Vaalmiki Ramayanam by same author) 5. DO YOU KNOW THAT SRI SITA PERFORMED SANDHYAVANDANAM? Sri Sita is said to have performed Sandhyavandanam including Dhyaanam and Japam (Vide page 97 of Notes on AyOdhya KhaaNDam of Srimad Vaalmiki Ramayanam by Sri C.R.Srinivasa Iyengar) 6. CAN LADIES DO "PITRU THARPANAM"? It is said that in TrEthaa Yuga, ladies were eligible to perform Pitru TharpaNam” (Vide page 202 ibid.) 7. THERE IS A SLOKAM THAT REFERS TO SRI RAMA SITTING IN "VEERASANAM"> (VEERASANE SUSTHITHAM) WHAT DOES THIS 'AASANAM" MEAN? Veeraasanam is a pose in which a person sits with one’s left foot placed on the right thigh. (Vide page 104 ibid.) ====================================================================== 2. “TIRUVENKATAMUDAIYANUM AZHWAARGAL ANUBHAVAMUM”- PART 9: TIRUVOIMOZHI PAASURANGAL – (3) Excerpts from talk delivered by Anbil Ramaswamy during the Tirunakshatram Mahotsavam of Tiruvenkatamudaiyan 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. ------ In the 6th "Pathu", Nammazhwar assumes the role of the mother of the heroine and complains how in her love for Lord TiruvenkaTamudaiyan, her daughter sacrificed numerous precious things that adorned her. This is a very emotionally surcharged decad that catalogues what her daughter had lost and appeals to the Lord that He should not delay His grace anymore to her. (i) “ Maalukku Vaiyam aLantha maNaaLarkku, Neelak karu mEgha nyaayarkku, KOlach senthaamaraik kaNNarkku, - enn kongalar YElak kuzhali izhandhathu SANGHE” (6.6.1) Oh! Lord! In constantly thinking of - - your soft and blue hued form and lotus like eyes - your feet that measured the three worlds, She became head over heels in love with you so much that she has become so emaciated, lean and thin that her bangles fell off her hands! Sanghu = Bangles (ii) “Sanku vill vaaL thaNDu sakkarak kaiyarkku, senkani vaai seyya thaamaraik kaNNarkku, kongalar thaNNan thuzhaai muDi yaanukku, - enn mangai izhandhathu MAAMAI NIRAME” (6.6.2) Oh! Lord! My daughter has fallen for - your ruddy lips and eyes, - your crown adorned with cool and honey dripping ThuLasi garlands and - your manner of wielding your five weapons. In pining for you, she has lost her wonderfully attractive complexion. MAAMAI NIRAM = Beautiful complexion (iii) “niram kariyaanukku neeDu ulagu unDa, thiram kiLar vaai siruk kaLLan avarkku, karangiya chakkrak kaiyavanukku, - enn pirkirun Koonthal Izhandhathu PEEDE” (6.6.3) “Oh! Lord! My daughter has fallen not only for your complexion. She was amazed at - your wonderful feat of devouring the whole world with a small mouth of a baby and - your holding the ever shining, ever vigilant disc. In the process, she lost her concern for grooming her plentiful locks of hair and looks so disheveled as to lose her respectability!” PEEDU =Neermai in Tamizh = Respectability (iv) “ PeeDuDai naaan mughanaip paDaithaanukku, maaDuDai vaiyam aLantha maNaaLarkku, naaDuDai mannarkku thoodhu sel nambikku, - enn paaDiDai algul izhandhathu PANBE” (6.6.4) “Oh! Lord! She is carried away by your exploits such as - your creating the four faced Brahma from your navel, - your taking an appropriate form of a dwarf Brahmachari - your subsequent measuring of the worlds with giant steps to take possession of your property from Mahaabali in a blood-less coupe, - your taking the role of a mere messenger for the PaaNDavas in spite of your Paratvam as revealed in the above feats! You know what? She has lost her very modesty! PANBU = Modesty (v) “PaNbuDai vEdam payantha paranukku, maNN purai vaiyam iDantha varaagarkku, theN punal palLLi enn Devap piraanukku, - enn kaNN punaik kOdhai izhandathu KARPE” (6.6.5) ‘Oh! Lord! She is totally overwhelmed by learning - - how you taught the Vedas to Brahma - how you took the form of a wild boar to rescue the earth from the depth of the ocean and - how as Vaasudeva, you reclined in the milky ocean ever sought after by the celestials She has no thought other than these, with the result that she has lost the powers of intellect to think of anything else! KARPU = Here means Intellect, not chastity .”Seermai” in Tamizh. (vi) “karpaka kaavana narpala thOLarkku, por chuDark kunranna poonthaN muDiyarkku, narpala thaamarai naaN malar kaiyarkku, - enn vir puruvak koDi thOtrathu MEYYE” (6.6.6) ‘Oh! Lord! She is enamored of – - your four arms that are as generous as the legendary Karpaga tree - your crown that looks like a veritable golden hill with green Thulasi covering it - your hand-ends that look like large lotuses with long stalks - your face, eyes and feet look like a garden of lotuses Your appearance has robbed my daughter of her physique! She could have easily conquered the whole world with the charm of her very brows that look like bent bows! (vii) “meyyamar palkalan nangu aNinthaanukku, pai aravin aNaip palliyi naanukku, kaiyoDu kaal seiya kaNNapiraanukku- enn thaiyal izhandhathu thannuDai CHAAYE” (6.6.7) “Oh! Lord! You are bedecked with numerous jewels and look captivating. Added to this are the fragrance, the softness and the coolness of your serpent couch. The beauty of your feet, your hands and your entire frame far exceeds the combined glitter of your ornaments and Adisesha. Having seen your ravishing pulchritude, my daughter’s charm has faded irrevocably.” CHAAYE = Charm also known as LaavaNyam (viii) “ saayak kurundham ositha thamiyarkku, maaya sakaTam udaitha maNaaLarkku, pEyai piNam paDap paal uNN piraanukku, - enn vaasak Kuzhali izhandhathu MAANBE” ( 6.6.8) “Oh! Lord! My daughter is fascinated by - your pulling down the Kurundha tree and killed the demon who took refuge in it - your killing the demon by breaking to pieces the wheel in which a demon had taken shelter (SakaTaasura) - your sucking the very life of the devilish PuTanai under the pretext of suckling her breast for milk so much that she has forfeited her feminine radiance” MAANBU = Feminine gracefulness (ix) “maaNbamai kOlathu emmaan maayak kuraLarkku, sEN suDar kunranna senchuDar moorthikku, kaaN perum thOrratheng Kaakutha nambikku – enn pooN punai men mulai thOrrathu PORPE” (6.6.9) “Oh! My Lord! My daughter is a beauty queen. Her ornaments and make-up enhance her natural beauty. After you entered her mind, she has become indifferent to all these. Due to dejection, she is now a pathetic figure. You know who is responsible for her present plight? It is you who - with great charm as Vaamana grew up to be Trivikrama filling the whole universe and - with your impeccable character by being an embodiment of Dharma as Rama (RamO Vigrahavaan Dharma:) and absolutely lovable disposition (manathukku iniyaan)” (x) “ porpamai neeN muDip poonthaNDuzhaayarkku, marporu thOLuDai maayap piraanukku, nirpana palluruvaai nirkum maayarkku- enn karpuDaiyaaTTi izhandhathu KATTE” (6.6.10) “Oh! Lord! Your handsome elegance is enhanced by the royal crown, Thulasi, flower garlands, sandal paste etc. You are indeed a miracle maker - How come when you fought and felled the mighty wrestlers, you did not suffer even a scratch on your body? - How come you are in all things with forms, names and appearances and yet remain unaffected by their defects? My daughter is very discreet. Yet, she fell for you because of these miracles and has lost all sense of proportion and with it the respect of the world!” ----- We Conclude this series with Swami Desika’s Anubhavam in the next posting ====================================================================== 3. “DASAAVATAARA STOTRAM OF SWAMI DESIKA- “SRI RAMA AVATARAM” (RAMA WITH THE BOW) (The Prince charming-the personification of righteousness) (Anbil Ramaswamy) ------ SLOKAM 8 paaraavaara payO visOshaNa paareeNa kalaanala – jwaalaajaala vihaara haari visika vyaapaara gOra kramah / sarvaavastha sakruth prapanna janathaa samrakshaNaika vrathee dharmO vigrahavaan adharma virtheem dhanvee sa thanveetha na: // MEANING: “ He can, with His bow and arrows wreak havoc on everything and dry up the vast bodiess of waters of great oceans like the fierce fire-force of deluge. His valor is incomparable and unsurpassed. Yet, His compassion is so great that if one were to surrender at His feet for once, He has vowed to afford protection as a matter of principle and policy, whatever the circumstances, even at the risk of His own life! Let that Lord Rama, the wielder of the mighty bow, the Greatest of heroes and who is Dharma personified, save us” BACKGROUND STORY As most of our readers would be aware of the story of Ramayana, we do not propose to retell the story except to highlight some little known aspects in the well-known story. COMMENTS: 1. It may be noted that there is no mention of Ravana in this Sloka. 2. In the first 2 lines, the valor of Rama is spoken of to show His “Paratvam” with reference to the power of His bow (Dhanvee). Since this word pairs with “Thanveetha” (Protect), Swami Desika seems to suggest that He could protect because of the prowess of his Dhanus (bow) 3. In the next 2 lines, His compassion gets mentioned to show His “Soulabhyam” in protecting anyone who surrenders to Him. That is why, SD calls Him (personification of Dharma)“ Vigrahavaan Dharma:” and “adharma virathi” (destroyer of evil) the twin objectives of Avatara Rahasyam. 4. There is a misconception about Rama worshipping Siva in Rameswaram. This is NOT mentioned in Srimad Vaalmiki Ramayanam nor in Kamba Ramayanam. It is Tulasidas who imaginatively introduced this in his “Rama Charita Manas” 5. Another instance of an incorrect interpretation which people make relates to the pious lady SABARI. The popular notion is that she bit the fruits and saved the good ones bearing her spittle for offering to Sri Rama. This is not correct. All she did was to taste a sample of fruit from each tree in her garden and throw away the bitten one but left the other fruits to remain on the same tree, provided the one she had tasted, tasted good. This is because Sabari knew that it would amount to defilement to offer to the Lord the remains of anything that she had partaken earlier 6. The incident in which Sri Rama is said to surrender to the Ocean King that went futile shows that only surrender by a weaker person to a capable person will be fruitful and the reverse will be in vain. Rama had both Sakti, Veeryam etc unlike the Ocean king. 7. Sakruth Prapanna Janathaa = indicates that Prapatti is the ONLY sure means for Moksha- a cardinal concept in our Sampradayam. 8. RAVANA was the brother of KUBERA. He became so powerful that he even made the nine planets to be the steps leading to his throne. Because he attempted to rape RAMBHA, the wife of NALAKUBARA (son of Kubera), she cursed that Ravana's head would be smashed into smithereens if he attempted to rape any woman. Incidentally, that is why he did not force Sri Sita when he abducted her. 9. The most important aspect of Ramayana is the vow of Sri Rama to protect those who surrender unto him. Sri Swami Desikan has aptly described this `Quality of mercy' of the Lord referring to Rama as "KARUNA KAKUTSTHA". He is “Compassion incarnate”. No other event in the entire Ramayanam t brings out this aspect more than the “Kaakaasura” incident in which Indra’s son took the form of a crow and tormented Sri Sita. When King Raghu went to help Indra in a war against Asuras, he did so on condition that he would ride on the hump of a bull and Indra was to act as the bull. “Kakuth” means hump of a bull. Remembering that some ancestor of the Crow (Indra) helped some ancestor of his own; Rama took compassion on the crow and spared its life, taking away only one its eyes. 10. In the hermitage of SUDEEKSHANA, Rama says to Sita that he would not mind laying down his life or deserting both her and Lakshmana but he would never give up his vow to protect those who surrender to him even if it be his arch enemy, RAVANA. 11. He vowed also that He would treat anyone who created trouble for the Satvic Rishis as His own enemies. So, it is for this reason that He killed the Asuras even though they did no harm to Him personally 12. Nammazhwar asks, "Will any one who desires to learn, learn anything other than Rama?” "KARPAR RAMPIRANAI ALLAL MARRUM KARPARO". Why? Because, Rama is fills the minds of anyone who thinks of Him. 13. ANDAL who commenced eulogizing Lord Krishna in her Tiruppavai calls Lord Rama as “manathukku iniyaan”. This is because she reminds Krishna how as Rama the Lord took so much pains to build a bridge, take a whole battalion of vaanaraas, fight fiercely and destroy Ravana and his army. All for the sake of one woman, Sri Sita! She seems to have a dig at Krishna whether he would not take a leaf of lesson from this incident, in the case of the multitude of Gopis who were pining only for His love and affection! 14. The very word Rama is derived from the statement “ramayathi ithi Raamah 15. Swami Desika has written in the Gadya style a great work entitled "MAHAVEERA VAIBAVAM" otherwise known as `RAGHUVEERA GADYAM' in lucid style bringing out the glory of Ramayana. 16. This is a PURNA AVATAR (Complete incarnation) of Mahavishnu himself, Lakshmana that of Adhisesha (couch) Satrugna the aspect of Panchajanya (conch) and Bharatha the aspect of Sudarsana (Chakra). 17. Compassion is also an aspect of the Lord’s leela. -- TO CONTINUE: BALARAMA AVATARA (RAMA WITH THE PLOUGH) ====================================================================== _______________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
