GITA 11.14
What do we learn from the Viswaroopam of Sri Krishna? He is Iswara among iswaras. That is God among gods. Isvara means Commander, Controller and Leader. 'Ish' means commanding and 'warat' means the skill possessed naturally. This can be seen in our daily life also. Children are commanded by parents; subjects, by King. But here the Lord Commands each and everyone, including the commanders we see in our life. There is no Iswara above or equal to Him. This is what we learn from the Viswaroopam. Aptly, we learn about Sri Parameswara from Parameswara Vinnagaram. Vinnagaram means the abode of Sri Vishnu or Vaikuntam. Parameswara Vinnagaram proclaims that He is the Supreme Lord, to His devotees. The Lord in the ground tier is Sri Vaikuntanathan.We do not have permission to photograph the Lord in the garbhagruham and so we see the Lord's image replica on the wall.
SRI VAIKUNTANATHAN |
Large idol in sitting pose, the Lord graces. Right Leg is folded and kept on the seat, while the left Leg is on the ground. Right arm is in Abhaya mudra and left arm is pointing to His Feet, for us to cling to Them. Upper Two Arms are holding discus and conch. Displaying His tall Crown, the Lord is gracing alone. Nearby there are no Consorts, sages nor Nityasuris. We saw in the last sloka that others borrow from His brilliance, for their illumination, while He does not depend on others. 'Kunta' means a deficiency, and 'vikunta' means without any deficiency. This is a very superficial interpretation. So, in Vaikuntam, our knowledge will have no deficiency. In this Universe, our knowledge is very much reduced. The moment atman reaches Vaikuntam, the knowledge it possesses is complete and fully enlarged. Utsavar is accompanied by Sri Sridevi and Sri Bhudevi.
THE UTSAVAR WITH CONSORTS |
We can also worship Sri Vaikuntavalli Thayar [ஸ்ரீ வைகுந்தவல்லி தாயார்]. The Lord displays Abhaya by the right Arm and the left Arm is in Kati mudra, where the left Arm is on the Lap, assuring us that once we surrender unto Him, He will reduce the ocean of samsara to knee deep. We can also worship Sri Andal.
SRI ANDAL |
Nearby, another smaller Utsavar could be seen.
SRI VARANTHARU MANIVANNAN |
He is Sri Varantharu Mamanivannan, described earlier. He is the Utsavar of Sri Ranganatha in the Second Tier. The Sri Ranganatha here varies from the Sri Ranganatha of Srirangam. In Srirangam, the Lord is reclining with Head in the West, Feet in the East, back to North and facing South. Here, the Lord is reclining with Head in the North, Feet in the South, back to East and facing West. Sri Devaraja Perumal also was facing West. In Kanchi region, perhaps, excepting one Kshetram, in all other temples, the Lord faces West. It is said that the Lord is having His head in the North direction, to enhance the life period of King Parameswara Pallava. Tirumangai Alwar mentions Two Pallava Kings in his pasuram - Pallavan and Villavan. These Two were born to a King and they meditated here and worshipped the Lord. The temple architecture clearly reveals the enormous services rendered by Pallava Kings. The vimanam here is Mukunda vimanam [முகுந்த விமானம்].
MUKUNDA VIMANAM |
Mukunda means capable of granting Moksham. 'Mu' means Mukti, 'ku' means place and 'dha' means capable of granting. Thus the Lord below Mukunda vimanam grants Moksham to those seeking.
We will now see sloka 13:
tatraika-stham jagat krtsnam
pravibhaktam anekadha
apasyad deva-devasya
sarire pandavas tada
pravibhaktam anekadha
apasyad deva-devasya
sarire pandavas tada
"At that time Arjuna could see in the universal form of the Lord the unlimited expansions of the universe situated in one place although divided into many, many thousands."
(continued)
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