GITA 10.36

GITA 10.36

Sthithemanasi susvaste shareere sathi yo nara:

Dhatusamye sthithe smartha viswaroopam cha mamajam|

Thathastham mriyamanamthu kaashta paashana sannibham

Aham smarami matbhaktham nayami paramam gathim||

This sloka was rendered by Sri Varaha and is known as Varaha charama sloka. He says that when a person's body, mind and all other faculties are functioning properly, and if he surrendered unto Him [Sri Varaha] with Universe as Body, then He would remember that person in his death bed even if he is like a log or stone, and take him to His abode of Vaikuntam. The Lord remembers the saranagathi made long back and gives us better status. This is the greatness of Sri Varaha. Alwars and Acharyas and their predecessors Rishis and sages have praised Sri Varaha. To redeem us, this Earth and give us protection, the Lord took the form of a wild Boar. In Sanskrit it is called Varaha [ वराह], Vara means exalted, aahhati means taking out or lifting up. Since He took out the Mother Earth and lifted to a high position, He is Sri Varaha. There are many Varaha Kshetrams. Adi Varaha, Moola Varaha, Kola Varaha, Yagna Varaha, Bhu Varaha and Varaha are the many names in those places for the Lord. Sri Mushnam is the Kshetram for Sri Varaha and it is a swayam vyakta Kshetram. We have arrived at Sri Mushnam, also known in Tamil as Thiru Muttam [திரு முட்டம்]. It is one of the swayam vyakta Kshetrams. That is spontaneously appeared one. There are many Kshetrams established by Devas, Sages and Kings. But this Kshetram has not been established by any external agency and has come into being on its own. This is called swayam vyaktam. Eight holy places have this unique feature: Vanamamalai, Sri Mushnam, Sri Rangam and Thirumalai in South India and Salagramam, Badarikashram, Pushkaram and Naimisharanyam in North. The Main Gopuram welcomes us.

PUSHKARINI

It is Seven tier Gopuram. Lots of sculptures of dancing girls can be seen. 

MAIN GOPURAM

Afer crossing the Gopuram, we arrive at the 100 pillared ancient mandapam. To its left we can see Swami Ramanuja sannidhi, Sri Andal sannidhi and the well-decorated mirror room [கண்ணாடி அறை]. Then we can see Sri Venugopala sannidhi. At the centre are the Dwajsthambam and bali platform. Then we come to the spectacular Purusha sooktam mandapam. All the pillars are carved with beautiful sculptures. Bringing out the main idol of the Lord below an anthill and renovating the temple was done by Achutappa Naik. He and his three brothers - Achutappa Naik, Anantappa Naik, Govindappa Naik and Kondappa Naik - are all sculpted on Four pillars. Because of them, this large temple has been built. Around the temple, we have Sapta Kannika sannidhi, Vishvaksena sannidhi and Swami Vedanta Desika sannidhi. We also see the sannidhi of Thirukkachi Nambi [திருக் கச்சி நம்பிகள்]. Coming around we enter the main sannidhi of the Lord. Demon Hiranyaksha abducted Sri Bhooma Devi [Mother Eart] and hid inside the ocean. The Lord took the form of a gigantic Boar and after defeating the demon lifted up Sri Bhooma Devi between His pair of canines. A type of root korai kizhangu [கோரைக் கிழங்கு] is offered to the Lord and is unique to this temple.

KORAI ROOT PRASAD

 It appears that is liked by pigs. After redeeming Sri Bhudevi, the Lord made Her sit on His lap and comforted Her. Sri Bhudevi after thanking the Lord for redeeming Her requested the Lord to suggest means for the millions of devotees to get redeemed and reach Him. As told in the beginning, the Lord said that in a simple way they should meditate, sing in His praise and prostrate [தூமலர்த் தூவி, வாயினால் பாடி, மனத்தினால் சிந்திக்க]. Sri Bhudevi appeared as Sri Andal and taught the simple ways of devotion. Moolavar is Sri Bhuvarahan and Utsavar is Sri Yagnavarahan. Sri Amruthavalli Thayar is gracing in a separate sannidhi.

MAHA MANDAPAM BEFORE GARBHAGRUHA

 In the garbha gruha, it is eka bhera or single idol. In many temples, the Lord is seen wit Sri Thayar or other idols. Garbhagruha has been divided into 64 segments and at the centre, called brahma sthanam, the Lord's idol is installed.

MOOLAVAR SRI BHUVARAHAR

With the pride of having redeemed Sri Bhudevi, the Lord appears standing with only Two hands, on His waist. The same Two hands are also holding discus and conch. His face is turned South, while the Body faces West.

 We will now see sloka 36:

dyutam chalayatam asmi
tejas tejasvinam aham
jayo ’smi vyavasayo ’smi
sattvam sattvavatam aham

"I am also the gambling of cheats, and of the splendid, I am the splendour. I am victory, I am the adventure, and I am the strength of the strong."

Chalayatam = among the wickedness in wicked people, asmi = I[Sri Krishna] am, dyutam = gambling. Tejasvinam = among bright people, tejas = glow, aham = I [ Sri Krishna] am. Jaya = victory [among successful], vyavasaya = resoluteness [among endeavoring], sattvavatam = among the noble persons, satvam = quality of satva, aham = I [Sri Krishna] am. Gambling is a game. Swami Ramanuja while commenting, poses the question whether Sri Krishna could call Himself as gambling? The Lord creates all good and bad, like Ravana and Vibheeshana; or, Prahlada and Hiranyakasipu. Swami Desika in his commentary says that there are Two types of gambling: sajiva dyutham and nirjiva dyutham. They are, gambling with living things as stakes and non-living things as stakes. Game of chess is nirjiva dyutham. While horse racing is sajiva dyutham. Game played just as a sport is better than a game played with high stakes. The Lord is nirjiva dyutam. There can be many deals which might incorporate mischief to cheat others. The Lord is only the sport, which is better than those deals. Sri Krishna indirectly points out that by playing, with stakes as not only property and kingdom, Arjuna's brother played with Draupati and the brothers as a wager; and, this had resulted in the present situation. Any game has to be played as a sport. There are many persons bright with pride, as the Sun, by their actions. In them, He is the brightness. Among successful people, the Lord is the Victory. In fact, Sanjaya is going to tell this point itself at the end in the sloka yatra yogewara krishna...That is where Sri Krishna is, Victory is there. In any action the determiantion to complete is important. This should grow if impediments are encountered. The Lord says He is the Resolute in such actions. The Lord says He is the high-quality mind in noble and broad minded persons.

                                                                                                      (continued)