GITA 2.66

GITA 2.66

vakulabarane vande jagadabharanam munim
yat krupe uttaram bhagam chakre dravida bhashaya

Nammalwar was born in this World to give devotees like us, the essence of Upanishads, in Tamil. He was wearing a garland made of vakula flowers and so was known as Vakulabharana. The Alwar himself is like an Abharanam (ornament) to this World. He was seated under a Tamarind tree. 

We are now seeing that Tamarind tree. There is a beautiful mantapam (hall) below the Tamarind tree. 

It is believed that from here Swami Manavala Mamunikal preached Tiruvaimozhi. We are going to experience Gita sloka from here. 

A gyani yogi controls his organs. All organs and mind are controlled at his atman. Then, he with the mind, meditates on the Paramatman. 

Nammalwar also, when he was born here, did not drink milk or behaved like usual infants. That infant crawled and got seated in the alcove in the Tamarind tree. From that time onwards, it was meditation only. Alwar spent 16 years in that tree. Sri Krishna departed this World and reached Vaikuntam, at the end of Dwapara yug. Nammalwar was born after some days, at the beginning of Kali yug. In this secluded place, with no inhabitants, he was involved in meditation. When a gyani yogi meditates, an aura of brilliance surrounds him. Thus in this place, near Sri Vaikuntam, a brilliant light was emerging. How was this great gyani exposed to the World? For that only Madurakavi was born, in a place Tirukkolur. When he was in the North, one evening, he saw a brilliant light in the South. He proceeded towards the light source, in the South. As he proceeded, the light beckoned him further South. He crossed Tirumala-Tiruppati also. He crossed Tiruvallikeni, Srirangam and Madurai, and came near this place. He saw the Alwar in yoga in the Tamarind tree. Since Alwar was motionless, with eyes closed, Madurakavi, dropped a stone near the Alwar. The Alwar opened his eyes and Madurakavi was the first to be graced by the Alwar, who was earlier graced by the Lord Sri Varaha Moorthy. Now, Madurakavi wanted to test whether the Alwar could speak. So Madurakavi posed a question in Tamil : Chettattin vayitril siriyadu pirandaal, eththaith thinru enge kidakkum? To this Nammalwar replied with the first words ever came from his mouth: aththaith thinru ange kidakkum!

Both the persons understood the query and the reply. But we should know both! The question was : in this non-sentient body, if the minute atman, ever gets gyana, what will it do? or, what will be its recourse? The reply was: recourse will be the Lord's divine feet and would ever remain there! After this, Nammalwar sang the Four prabhandams : Tiruviruttam, Tiruvasiriyam, Periya Tiruvandadi and Tiruvaimozhi, which are considered equal to the Four Vedas: Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atarvana. There is nothing in comparison with Tenkurukur or Vaikasi Visakam or Nammalwar. 

Now, we will see the 58th sloka, which describes Yataman Samgya. 

yada samharate cayam 
kurmo 'nganiva sarvasah 
indriyanindriyarthebhyas 

tasya prajna pratisthita 

One who is able to withdraw his senses from sense objects, as the tortoise draws its limbs within the shell, is to be understood as truly situated in knowledge.

"One who is able to withdraw his senses from sense objects, as the tortoise draws its limbs within the shell, is firmly fixed in perfect”   

When the atman gyana, controls the sense organs from the sensual objects, like Nammalwar meditated for 16 years, it is the First step. Like a tortoise withdraws its limbs and head inside its shell, the gyani, withdraws his organs from sensual objects. His knowledge is considered steadfast. This is the First step. Here we may have a doubt. Is it meant that we should close our eyes or shut our mouth and ears, when coming across such objects? That is not so. When one sees another, he or she, can easily feel whether one sees with evil or goodwill. Eyes will reflect our honesty and sincerity. Sri Krishna does not accuse such behaviours. Likewise, Sri Krishna is also not barring listening to superior talks or songs. Sri Krishna means control of crooked vision and desire for inferior things. Similarly, we should refrain from bad talks and listening to ill words. Similarly, we should stay away from inferior foods. Thus, one practices his mind and organs from actions which would lead to papa. Like, water flowing downwards, our senses also seek inferior perception. This should be controlled. 

                                                                                     (continued)