GITA 6.5

GITA 6.5

Sri Therku Nacchiyar

Sri Varaguna Mangai Thayar

lakshmyA saha hrishikEsah dEvyA kAruNya rUpayA

rakshaka sarva sidDHAnte vEdAntEpi jIyatE

By this sloka, we understand that the Lord protects us along with His Consort, Sri Maha Lakshmi Thayar. It is sweeter to mention this Kshetram as Sireevara Mangai Nagar, instead of Vanamamalai or Thothadri or Nanguneri! Today's [1st January 2008], lecture is from the sannidhi of Sri Varagunamangai Thayar. Nammalwar in his Tiruvaimozhi on this Kshetram (5.7), praises Sri Thayar in every pasuram. That is Her greatness! It is normally the procedure to first worship Sri Thayar before we worship the Lord. With our innumerable sins, He may not even look at us, if we go directly to Him. But, if we first pray to Sri Thayar, then She knows how to convince Him to pardon us for our sins and get His blessings. As told earlier,  the Lord has appeared in this temple on His own choice and so this Kshetram is considered as a Swayamvyakta Kshetram. But Sri Thayar has appeared in this temple long after, Vanamamalai Mutt was established in the year 1447. 

Ponnadikkal Jeer

Vishadavak Sikhamani Swami Manavala Mamunigal, installed Ashtadhik Gajam - Eight eminent Mutt heads. Swami Ponnadikkal Jeer [ the First Jeer] was installed as the Vanamamalai Mutt head. He looked after all the sacred affairs of this Kshetram. He wanted to visit other temples and took a pilgrimage. The present Sri Varagunamangai Thayar was in Tirumala Devasthanam in an independent temple. Devotees there, desired to perform a Kalyanotsavam for this Sri Thayar and Sri Srinivasa of Thirumala. But in the dreams of the devotees Sri Thayar, seated on the Vaksham [Right Chest] of Lord Srinivasa, told them none other than She could be celebrated in Kalyanotsavam with Sri Srinivasa. Devotees were surprised and did not know what to do further. At that time Swami Ponnadikkal Jeer of Vanamamalai Mutt reached Thirumala on pilgrimage. Sri Varagunamangai Thayar, appeared in the dreams of the devotees there and ordered them to request Swami Ponnadikkal Jeer to take Her and install in Vanamamalai temple. Obeying the holy order, the Jeer also brought Her here and She is now gracing the devotees as the Pattamahishi [Royal Queen ] of Sri Deivanayaka Perumal. From then onwards She is considered as the Daughter of the Vanamamalai Jeer and all festivals are performed accordingly. Sri Thayar and the Lord [as the Daughter and Son-in-law] visit the Mutt thrice every year - on the 9th day of Bramhotsavam, on Kanu festival after Pongal and on the Purattasi month Punarvasu star day, the birth day of Swami Ponnadikkal Jeer. With Sri Thayar's blessings we will see the 4th sloka of Chapter 6:

yada hi nendriyarthesu
na karmasv anusajjate
sarva-sankalpa-sannyasi
yogarudhas tadocyate

A person is said to have attained to yoga when, having renounced all material desires, he neither acts for sense gratification nor engages in fruitive activities.

"A person is said to have attained Atman sakshatkaram, when, having renounced all material desires, he neither acts for sense gratification nor engages in fruitive activities."

In the previous sloka two types of persons were mentioned. Arurusha is the one who has not got Atman sakshatkaram but is practicing Karma yoga and slowly ascending towards the goal. Arudha is the one who has already attained Atman sakshatkaram. How are we to spot these two categories of people? If we can identify Yogarudha, the second category, at least then we can deduce the first category. It is, this identification, explained here. Yada = when, arthesu = objects [of desire], na anusajjate = are not attracted by him or he has no desire for those objects. Na anusajjate = nor interested in, Karmasu = the actions or efforts to do a Karma to achieve anything which may give him worldly pleasures. He has no desire to perform any Karma that may lead to worldly happiness. First, he is not interested in the materials of desire or their experience. Second, he does not show any interest even in the efforts leading to worldly pleasures. Sarva =all, sankalpa = desires or wishes, sanyasi = renounced. This is the third quality, that he has absolutely no desire for any worldly pleasures. These three symptoms identify the person who has got Atman sakshatkaam. Sloka starts with yada - when, and ends tada = then. So the person when shows no interest in objects, when does not involve in the activities to achieve worldly pleasures and when he renounces the desire for such happiness, then he is acclaimed to have got Atman sakshatkaram. Here, karma anusajjate - not involving in karma, is likely to be misunderstood. For attaining heavenly happiness Jyotishtoma homa is to be performed. Similarly, to obtain children puthrakameshti homam is to be performed. Is it that such Karmas are not to be performed, meant in this sloka? No, we have already discarded these much earlier. We are talking of those who are practicing Karma yoga. This itself suggests that such lower results are not intended. But, what is intended here is, even for the person after Atman sakshatkaram, worldly necessities can not be abandoned totally. We have to eat, smell and see as we practice Karma yoga. We may not be interested in heaven or other materials, but we have to live to practice karma yoga and so we have to eat and do our daily routines. He renounces the desire to perform any karma for these daily requirements. Secondly, it is possible to think that this person renounces the prescribed duties for him to do daily or occasionally. This is also not correct. One has to perform the prescribed duties till and after he gets Atman sakshatkaram. He abandons any effort required to experience beyond this daily duties. We may think it is very difficult to achieve this status. But the Lord in the 5th Chapter itself has suggested that if we dedicate all our actions in favour of the Lord, then we do not have to worry and doing these actions also would be pleasing. We can do our actions as service to Sri Thayar, then our efforts will bear fruit easily and without any hardship.

                                                                                                  (continued)