GITA 7.23

GITA 7.23

Nammalwar in the pasuram 'kannan kazhalinai...' (Tiruvaaimozhi,10.5.1), says that worshiping the Lord as Sri Narayana or Sri Govinda or by other names, devotees are certain to get Moksham. Two maharishis Gopilar and Gopralayar, wanted to worship the Lord at Dwaraka, at the end of Dwapara yug. To meet the Lord in Person, they started their journey from South. Narada met them near this place and on enquiry he found that both were going to Dwaraka to meet Sri Krishna. But they were not aware that the Lord had finished his avatar and had departed for Sri Vaikuntam. When Narada conveyed this news, the two sages realising that they had missed a golden opportunity, fainted and fell down. Narada pitied on the two sages and after some time when they regained conscience, he consoled them and said that if they could do penance or tapas in this Champakaranya Kshetram, the Lord will appear and satisfy their quest. They bathed in a pond, which is now known as Gopralaya theertham. Then they started their meditation and after a long time, the Lord appeared before them. His first appearance is known as Sri Paravasudeva Thirukkolam. 

SRI PARAVASUDEVAN

He is the Moolavar in the Garbha graham. When the Lord asked them what more they wanted, the sages not satisfied with just one appearance of the Lord, wanted Him to appear in more forms. In Gita, the Lord says that He is flexible to satisfy His ardent devotees. The Lord told them to go around Him [pradhakshinam] and every time, He would appear to them in various forms. The sages started going around Him. They went round 32 times, and in accordance with His statement everything is Sri Vasudeva [वासुदेव सर्वं], He appeared in 32 forms and the last appearance was as Sri Rajagopalan. He is called Sri Vidya Rajagopalan. In Vedas, 32 vidyas are explained to attain Moksham. Each Vidya is a procedure to worship the Lord and reach Him. Prathardhana vidya, Shandilya vidya, Dhouma vidya, Thahara vidya, etc., are some of them. Since the Lord appears as each Vidya, He is calld Sri Srividya Rajagopalan. When grazing the cattle, the Lord used to go with friends and usually He will have His arm around a friend's neck or on a shoulder. With right hand holding the whip needed to discipline the stray cows and calves, a peacock feather on His head, a single cloth used as dhoti and one end of which is used to cover the head as a turban, and left arm on another cowherd friend. After marriage, the Lord continued to have his left arm on His Consort Sri Satyabhama. 

Left foot is on toes, while the right foot is firmly on the ground. Yasoda, while dispatching the Lord for grazing the cows, would decorate Him with ornaments and key bunch. Alwar, in the guise of Yasoda, grieves that 'she' did not provide chappal and umbrella to protect the Child from Sun and rain. The Lord [Utsavar] here has a complete golden armour [தங்க கவசம்]. Renovation works have started and all are requested to participate. We can see the Lord as Sri Santhana Gopalan, as appeared to His parents Vasudeva and Devaki.

SRI SANTHANA GOPALAN

 By praying to Sri Santhana Gopala, childless couples are blessed with noble children. We have in detail seen the history of the temple and the Lord's appearance so as to suit the sloka that everything is Sri Vasudeva. A glance of the Lord here would convey all the meanings of the sloka 19 we have been seeing. Focus of the sloka is Sri Vasudeva and we can realise it by a visit to this temple. Om nama bhagavate vasudevaya [ ॐ नम: भगवते वासुदेवाया ] is called dwadasaakshari or mantra with 12 syllables. Narada administered this mantra to the two sages and, they, in turn, by meditating on this mantra were able to see the Lord. The Lord's name is in this mantra. So, he who understands everything is Sri Vasudeva, reaches Him. But such a person is very rare to be found. Such a person sees Sri Vasudeva in everything and sees everyone as Sri Vasudeva. Vasu means living in everything. Deva means to play. So He is in all and that is just a game for Him. Bhagavate means with the Six qualities - gyana, bala, Aiswarya, veera, shakti and tejas. Sri Vasudeva is pervading all without exception. Alwars have told that all the objects and the pleasure and comfort they give, are all Him only. In an earlier sloka, Sri Krishna told about four types of Bhaktas - those wanting to regain lost needs, those in need of new wealth, those wanting kaivalyam and Gyani, who wants only the Lord and nothing else. But in this sloka 19, He uses a word Gyanavan. Is he different? No. He is the same Gyani but the Bhakti has matured to a great extent. Prahalada saw the Lord everywhere. All the pleasures and comforts of this world are found by him in the Lord.

                                                                                                   (continued)