GITA 10.20

GITA 10.20

TEMPLE GOPURAM

We are in Melkote, the Empire of Sri Tirunarayana Perumal. It is in Karnataka state. From Bangalore, either via Nagamangala or via Mandya, Mysore, we can reach this Kshetram. From Mysore it is about an hour's journey. It is situated on Yadagiri or Yatusailam. Surrounding nature is beautiful. It is called Melkote, because kings used to build forts on the hill here and reigned and so Mel [above] kote [fort]. Also it was the Western side fort and so Mel [short form for merku, west in Tamil]. Since the Lord is Sri Tirunarayanan, this place has the name Tirunarayanapuram. From lord Brahma to Sanathkumara, then Sri Dattatreya, then Sri Balarama and Sri Krishna, have worshipped the deity here. The Lord here was established by Sanathkumara. After very long time, this place got submerged in earth and was hidden. The Lord was thus lost from sight. Like He is hidden in everyone of us, the Lord remained hidden under the earth. In Kali yug, the Lord was not visible to all, for some years. Swami Ramanuja brought out the Lord to the outside world, for the benefit of all.
 Swami Ramanuja was living in Srirangam. Once the King there, Kirumikanda Chola [கிருமி கண்ட சோழன்], out of hatred for Vaishnavam, wanted to punish Swami Ramanuja. Swami Koorathalwan, decided to save Swami Ramanuja. Swami Ramanuja was an ascetic with safron robes; while, Swami Koorathalwan was domestic and had white robes. Swami Koorathalwan tricked by exchanging the robes, and sent Swami Ramanuja with white robes, in the West direction. Swami Ramanuja along with Swami Mudaliyandan [முதலியாண்டான் ] and other disciples, reached Karnataka. Travelling along river Kaveri, and crossing Satyamangalam forests, they reached Thondanur, in Karnataka. He lived in Thondanur for quite some time. Thondanur has a very big lake.  During his stay, once the truman [திருமண்], used to paint on the forehead, was exhausted. Normally, this is available from earth. Painting Namam [நாமம் ], on the forehead is an identity for Sri Vaishnavites and it represented the Divine feet of the Lord. Without tiruman, Swami Ramanuja was veru much worried and he remained on fasting for three days. At that time Sri Tirunarayana Perumal appeared in the dream of Swami Ramanuja, and ordained him to come up the hill Yadavagiri, where the Lord would provide him tiruman and also show the location where the Lord was hiding, under the Earth. When Swami Ramanuja tried to climb, he found the hill was very steep. Earlier, the King of the place Bittaraya Deva, had become the disciple of Swami Ramanuja, who had rechristened him as King Vishnuvardhana. With his help, Swami Ramanuja was able to reach Melkote. First comes Vedadri Pushkarini, near which is Datatreya Theertham.

VEDADRI PUSHKARINI

 Here, Sri Dattatreya recieved safron robe and kamandalam, to become an ascetic. Swami Ramanuja also again took safron robes here.

RAMANUNJA ACCEPTING SAFRON ROBES

 It happened on Thei [தை ] month Punarvasu star day. Even today, a grand festival is celebrated on that day here. He found tiruman nearby and was pleased to decorate himself with the twelve namams. Then he searched for the Lord. Here also the Lord showed him the way by asking him to go along the route of Tulasi plants. He reached in the present location of the garbhagruha. When he dug the earth, there he found the Lord, to the immense happiness of Swami Ramanuja. Immediately Swami Ramanuja remembered the First pasuram of 4.1 Tiruvalmozhi of Nammalwar [Oru Nayagamai oda ulagudaiya andavar...Thirunaranan thal kalanpera chinthithu uymino] [ஒரு நாயகமாய் ஓட உலகுடன் ஆண்டவர் .....திரு நாரணன் தாள் காலம் பெறச் சிந்தித்து உய்ம்மினோ - 4.1.1] and dedicated that pasuram for the Lord here. People run after wealth and property, little realizing they are transient. Only the Divine feet of Sri Tirunarayanan is our permanent wealth and so cling to them, advises Nammalwar. Earlier it was told that in Mannargudi, Swami Manavala Mamunigal dedicated the pasuram, "unnitthu matroru deivam thozhal" [உன்னித்து மற்றொரு தைவம் தொழாள்], to Sri Rajagopala Perumal there. Here, Swami Ramanuja dedicated 'Oru nayagamai' pasuram to Sri Tirunarayanan Perumal. 'Tirunaranan thal' in the pasuram indicates the Divine feet of Sri Tirunarayanan. Sri Nachiyar is seated between the Divine feet of the Lord here.

MOOLAVAR SRI TIRUNARAYANAN

 So, the feet are associated with Sri Thayar. Nammalwar calls upon all of us to cling to these feet, to get redeemed. After taking out the Lord, Swami Ramanuja installed the deity same day. Thus the Lord got established here again. Thus Thei Punarvasu is celebrated very enthusiastically here. Like Sri Varaha brought out Sri Bhudevi, Swami Ramanuja brought out the Lord here!
 In the sloka 20 of Chapter 10, the Lord tells Arjuna that He is dwelling in each and every thing in this Universe; but, only a few realise this. He is residing in our hearts. But how many realise this? Swami Ramanuja was needed to bring out the hidden Lord. There the Lord was in idol form so it could be seen by us; but, to realise the Lord in our hearts is very difficult. In sloka 19, the Lord told that He would list out the more important of His wealth. Now sloka 20:

aham atma gudakesha
sarva-bhutasaya-sthitah
aham adis ca madhyam ca
bhutanam anta eva ca

"I am the Supersoul, O Arjuna, seated in the hearts of all living entities. I am the beginning, the middle and the end of all beings."

Each line of the verse gives a meaning. He tells Arjuna that all the things he perceives are all His property. It is not like what we possess as property. If we have money we can keep it in lockers or in our briefcase, remembering that money is physically different and separate form us. But the property of the Lord is not like that. They are always associated with Him as an integral part. All of them are His body. When atman resides in a body, it gets a name and is identified. Atman as such has no name, but when it is in a body, the body gets a name and atman also is recognized with that name, as long as it is in that body. If we call a person, he turns. Though the name is for the body, without the command of atman, the body will not turn. In a similar way, the Lord is the atman in everything. He is residing in our atman as antharatman and is residing also in the body as atman. Thus, all atman are the body of the Lord. Also, all the materials are His body. Aham = I [Sri Krishna] am, atma = the antharathma or inner soul, gudakesha = vanquisher of sleep [Arjuna]. Gudaka means sleep, isha means commander. Sarva bhuta = in every living beings, asaya =hearts, sthitha = established or dwelling. Our body obeys our commands, and so our body is our property. Like this, He is the inner atman in every atman or living beings and so all are His property. All are to obey His commands. This is called sareera-atma bhava or the relationship of the Lord being soul and all souls of all livingbeings (from lord Brahma to tiniest bacteria or gene) are His body. In the next line He says the cause-effect relationship. Mud is cause and pot is effect. Gold is cause and ornaments are effects. Similarly, the Lord is the Cause and all others are effects. Aham = I [Sri Krishna] am, adi = Cause for creation, madhyam ca = also the sustainer or protector of all created, anta eva ca = even the end at the time of Pralayam , bhutanam = of all living beings. He is the Cause for creation, sustaining and destruction, of all. This is called karana-karya bhava or cause-effect relationship. He is the supporter. He is the Commander. He is the Proprietor. He is the Leader. Nothing is not in His control or ownership. If we clearly understand this, then it would be easier to understand the list He is going to deliver from sloka 21 to sloka 39.

                                                                                                  (continued)