GITA 3.42

GITA 3.42

Today (7th September,2007), we are at the sannidhi if Sri Andal and Sri Rangamannar, in Srivilliputhur. This is a great privilege! The vimanam, under which this lecture is being given, is presently called Tiruppavai Vimanm. The sculptures in this vimanam remind us of each pasuram in Tiruppavai. The first pasuram is 'margazhi thingal..'.

The second pasuram is 'vaiyathu vaazhveergal..'.

The third pasuram is 'Ongi ulagalandha utthaman..'.

Fourth pasuram is 'Aazhi mazhaik kanna..'.

Fifth pasuram is 'Mayanai mannu vadamaturai maindanai..'.

 From 6th pasuram onwards till 15th pasuram, it is waking up sleeping girls.

Like this all pasurams are depicted. Finally, the last, 30th pasuram is 'vangak kadal kadaindha madhavanai...'.

 By seeing all these sculptures, our mind is in Tiruppavai, Sri Andal and Sri Krishna. Arjuna wanted to know how to bring the mind to satva qualities. Earlier, Sri Krishna told that gyana is veiled by kama. We also saw that kama was the enemy of Gyana Yoga. Kama was surrounding the Atman. Kama is firmly fixed in the organs and buddhi. Arjuna's next question was, how to remove kama surrounding atman. If we want to see an object, we have to remove darkness surrounding it, by bringing in light. A thief steals an object, when there is no light. Kama is like the thief and it wants to steal our devotion to the Lord, which is the property of atman. To avoid that theft, we should bring in the light of gyana. Kama would like the light to be off, so that stealing is easy. But how to prevent the light - gyana- from being switched off. This is the question. For this Sri Krishna advises practicing the organs, from early stages. This is explained in sloka 41:

tasmat tvam indriyany adau
niyamya bharatarsabha
papmanam prajahi hy enam

jnana-vijnana-nasanam

Therefore, O Arjuna, best of the Bhāratas, in the very beginning curb this great symbol of sin [lust] by regulating the senses, and slay this destroyer of knowledge and self-realization.

Destroy this Kama which is destroying gyana and vigyana. Atman has Two great qualities. They are gyana and vigyana. Atman has praktyatavm, prakasitvam and anandatvam. Praktyatvam means understanding itself (without the aid of any external entity). All inanimate objects do not have this quality. Even a lamp, which illuminates to make others to understand objects, by itself does not know it is a lamp. Whereas, an Atman can understand itself. This is pratyaktvam. A pillar can not be identified in darkness, while a lamp lit is identifiable. Likewise, atman is identifiable by others and so it has prakasitvam. Anandatvam means one's own ally. Atman is ally of itself. Kama conceals all these qualities and Atman is dragged into lower levels of happiness. Next, Kama also destroys vigyanam. Atman is very minute. It does not need the worldly pleasures. So, Sri Krishna wants Arjuna to conquer Kama, which is destroying gyana and vigyana. Arjuna asks how to conquer. Sri Krishna replies that since Arjuna is desiring to conquer Kama and tread on the path to moksham, he should train his organs (including mind) in Karma yoga. The organs, mind and buddhi are all wealth of the atman. They should not be stolen by Kama. It is like nuclear power being harnessed. If it is with good people, it is used for welfare. If it is in the hands of bad people, it is used for destruction. Our organs and mind should be deployed in good deeds. As long as we were seeing all the sculptures and reciting Tiruppavai, our mind and organs were disciplined. Thus as long as they are in Karma yoga, they were disciplined. Therefore, Arjuna should train his organs and mind in Karma yoga only. By directly trying to practice, gyana yoga, we are not giving any activity for the organs and mind. They are passive. This makes them to wander and indulge in lower activities. Instead, if they were engaged in good activities, it would be possible to gradually discipline them and then practice Gyana yoga. That is why Sri Andal engaged Her mind and organs in observing  nonbu (fasting), making garlands for the Lord, performing pooja, etc.  Thus Karma yoga is in engaging our organs and mind in devotion or social welfare or helping the needy, etc. By doing so the papas are expended. If papa is not there, there will not be the vasanai strength to induce Kama. Rajo guna will not be there. This is how Kama, the enemy,  should be conquered, says Sri Krishna. 

                                                                                                             (continued)

nonbu