GITA 2.60

GITA 2.60

There are 18 Divya Desams [Kshetrams] in Pandya region. Thirumogur, near Madurai, is one among them. We are going to see the slokas 50 and 51 from here only. This Holy Place has many specialities. The Lord as Sri Kalamega Perumal graces the devotees. Sri Thayar is Sri Mohanavalli. The Chakkarathazhvar [Sri Sudarsana] is very famous here. The Lord is gracing as Sri Ksheerabdi Nathan. Devas and Asuras had frequent fights. With their strength declining, the Devas approached the Lord at the Milky Ocean, and hesitantly stood aside as He was asleep. They prayed to His Consort, Sri Thayar, and She recommended their case to the Lord. The Lord also assented to help them. This Sri Ksheerabdi Nathan was the ancient Lord of this temple. Later on, Sri Kalamega Perumal has been gracing the devotees. Agreeing to their prayers, the Lord churned the milky ocean. The amrut [nectar] produced from the churning, was to be given and there was a tussle between the Devas and Asuras. The Lord taking the form of a beautiful woman, made the Devas and Asuras sit in separate rows, for distribution of Amrut. Nammalwar has composed 11 hymns on this kshetram [10.1]. The Lord took the form of a woman to generate lust. Taking the Amrut and spoon, She [He] served Amrut to the Devas. All the Devas witnessed this event. At that time Brahma, the four faced one, prayed that the Lord out of mercy on the Devas, produced and distributed the Amrut and so, as a memory He should remain in this place [Tirumoghur] as an idol with benevolence flowing like the rain. Agreeing to this the Lord is gracing the devotees as Sri Kalamega Perumal [in Tamil kala megam means dark, rain bearing, cloud]. He is addressed as Tirumoghur Apthan [Dear], Sri Kalamegam and Sri Ksheerabdi Nathan. There is a history that He appeared here at the request of sage Pulastya. Because He consented to Brahma’s request, the vimanam [dome] is called chaturmukha vimanam. All the nine towers in this temple are to be consecrated shortly. We can examine the connection between the Amrut distribution to Devas and the 50^th sloka.

We saw that the person who practices Karma yoga destroys papa and punya. So Arjuna is advised to resort to that buddhi of not aspiring for swarga and other trivial rewards, and of equal approach to victory and defeat. He is talented who performs karma yoga with this buddhi. We saw also that punya is that by doing certain actions we please the God and papa are those actions which displease Him. In Athimanushastavam, Koorattalwan says that in this world punya or papa is related to His feeling of happiness and unhappiness. So we have to avoid His displeasure. But in this sloka it is said that both punya and papa get destroyed. It is ok that His displeasure has to be avoided. But is it not better for us to make Him happy? Why then the punya to be avoided? That is, why we should try to remove His happiness? We should remember that our goal is to reach His feet and get Moksham. For that goal, the ordinary delights in this world as well as, the pleasure in swarga, are all impediments. It is like a person arrested is in fetters. Whether that person will be happy if the fetters are golden instead of iron fetters? So, when Moksham is the objective, both papa and punya have to be avoided. By acquiring punya one goes to swarga and by papa actions, one goes to naraka. In either case, one does not go to Moksham. Therefore, one has to avoid the karmas yielding either punya or papa. If punya was just an entity we could avoid that, but when punya means God’s happiness, should we avoid that also? We will now see the sthala purana of Tirumoghur. When the Devas prayed the Lord to get Amrut for them, He was happy that they had come to Him and got them what they wanted. By immersing the great Manthara Mountain and using great serpent Vasuki as a rope, He churned the milky ocean employing thousands of His hands. Many things emerged as a result of this churning and He distributed them to various Devas. Horse Uchairavas and Airavatham elephant were given to the king of Devas, Indra. Sage Gautama took Ahalya. Amrut was distributed to all the Devas and all went back happily. The Lord should have felt happy that all the Devas were given what they wanted. But the happiness in the Lord was not ultimate or total. Devas prayed Him for Amrut to have immortality. But they never prayed for His feet and permanent happiness in His Company. Had they requested Him, His happiness would have been the ultimate and total. Though He would be happy that we, by doing punya karma, did not go to naraka, He would feel happiest if we seek His feet. By doing jyotish homam one sought swarga and God will be definitely pleased to grant him. But there will be a small resentment that instead of praying for Him, the person had requested only swarga. Though the person has followed the Vedas and performed His commands only, the person has ignored the Vedanta and not aspired for Moksham and to this extent, God will have a small unhappiness. Therefore, karmas, which will fetch punya, have to be avoided. From this we have to learn a minute lesson. If we pray Him to get Him, He is fully happy. But if we pray Him for anything else, He is not that happy. A parent admits his child in a school and dreams that the child should study well and come out with flying colors. But when the exams are approaching, he is not studying and spends his time in games. He shows his skill in games and gets the first prize. The parent will be happy that the child has shown great skill and won laurels. But there will be a lingering unhappiness that he is not studying for the ensuing exams which is more important. This type of feeling will be there in God. So, we should strive for His total happiness.

                                                                  (continued)