GITA 3.43

GITA 3.43

Today [10th September,2007], the lecture is from the Sri Andal sannidhi at Srivilliputhur. Here we can see a brightly polished brass plate stand and is called Thattoli in Tamil meaning mirror.

Tattoli with lecturer standing by.

 Daily in the evening Sri Andal will decorate Her with fresh garlands and use this as a mirror. These garlands are used to decorate the Lord next day. This is why She is called Choodikkodutha Nachiar. This is based on an incident in Sri Andal's life. Her father Perialwar would prepare garlands for the Lord by bringing fresh flowers from the garden. Sri Andal as a child used to see Herself, wearing those garlands, in the mirror. Perialwar did not know this and one day he saw a hair in the garland and decided not to present it to the Lord. But the Lord appearing in his dreams asked him to present only garlands first worn by Sri Andal. That is why even now the same tradition is followed. In the 20th song of Tiruppvai [Muppathu moovar..], it is mentioned ukkamum thattoliyum, which means hand fan and mirror. Following this even today during Navaratri festival, it is customary to present mirrors. From Her sannidhi we will see further sloka 42:

indriyani parany ahur
indriyebhyah param manah
manasas tu para buddhir
yo buddheh paratas tu sah
The working senses are superior to dull matter; mind is higher than the senses; intelligence is still higher than the mind; and he [the soul] is even higher than the intelligence.

"The working senses are stronger; mind is stronger than the senses; intelligence is still stronger than the mind; and the kamam is even stronger than the intelligence."

One has to vanquish Kama. Is it alone or is it aided by other associates? Kama steals our sensual organs, mind and buddhi or intellect. This way it ensures that we do not gain any knowledge about Atman. Can we directly attack Kama? It is a gang of four thieves. Kama is the leader and the other three are associates. All the four are not equal in strength. Indriyani = the organs, paranyahu =are strong. they are capable of diverting our efforts in Gyana yoga. Manah = mind, param = is stronger than, indryebya = the organs. Buddhir = intellect or resolute, parah = is more powerful, manasas tu = than mind. Yo = but, sah = this Kama, paratas = is stronger than, buddheh = intellect. Thus there is a grading in strength. Organs, mind, buddhi and Kama are in the ascending order of strength. Just as in a war the commander is not attacked directly first, but his troops, his inner security, etc., here also we can not attack Kama first. Sri Krishna tells organs are stronger, which implies there are other enemies of lesser strength. Suppose, we want to worship Sri Andal in Srivilliputhur, but we are in say, Chennai. Then place becomes an impediment for a good cause. Similarly, though we are in Srivilliputhur, but we want to worship in midnight when the temple is closed. Here, time is the enemy. Organs are more powerful than these enemies as these could be encountered. But these organs could be controlled to some extent physically, like closing the eyes. Mind can not be controlled physically and so is a greater foe. When a person faints, his mind also does not function. But as soon as he gets conscience, his buddhi or intellect functions and drags him away, from nobler thoughts. So buddhi is more powerful than mind. When a person dies buddhi, along with mind and organs get lost. But Kama as a trace or vasanai sticks to Atman and in the next birth it starts the activities all over captivating the organs, mind and buddhi. Therefore, the most powerful enemy is Kama. To defeat Kama, one has to conquer organs, mind and buddhi, and the best way to do that is to cultivate Karma yoga.

                                                                                          (continued)