GITA 12.13

GITA 12.13

SRIPERUMBUDUR MAIN GOPURAM AND DWAJASTHAMBAM

In Ramanuja Nootrandadi [இராமுனுச நூற்றந்தாதி], Swami Tiruvarangathamudanar [திருவரங்கத்து அமுதனார்], repeats the name of Swami Ramanuja in all pasurams and praises him. In that name 'Ra', 'ma' 'nu' and 'ja' - Four letters [as in Sanskrit] are there; similarly, in the Lord's name 'Narayana', Four letters are there. Our elders asked a question as between these Two Four lettered names, which was more useful to us? Only Ramanuja name will be beneficial to us, they say. Though the Lord's name Narayana is beneficial, commentators say that all had a complaint against Him. Though we are all born as per our past Karma, the Lord, if He so desired, could have redeemed us and made us avoid birth and enjoy eternal bliss; but He is allowing us to be born and suffer. That is He is responsible for our sufferings and He is also responsible for our redemption, if we surrender unto Him. But Swami Ramanuja, toiled to get us Moksham alone. He is not responsible for our sufferings in samsaram. Thus the name Ramanuja will yield only benefits and so it is superior to the name of the Lord! The Lord helps those who qualify to reach Him; while Swami Ramanuja has paved the way for all to reach Moksham! Without any qualification for Moksham, by sheer surrender to Swami Ramanuja, we are sure of Moksham! Thus Swami Ramanuja is an embodiment of mercy and compassion. This is what the author says in Ramanuja Nootrandadi. It is no wonder, therefore, that Thousands of devotees come to Sriperumbudur, every Tiruvadirai star! They witness the Tirumanjanam of the great Acharya. The splendour of it can be felt only by a visit to Sriperumbudur.

TIRUMANJANAM

 We will now enter the temple and see the tall Dwajasthambam. In Krta yug, the Lord was served by Adisesha, the leader of serpents. As in the pasuram 'senral kudaiyam.. [சென்றால் குடையாம், இருந்தால் சிங்காசனமாம் ...]', Adisesha serves the Lord in His various activities: as an umbrella, when the Lord goes out; as a throne, when He is seated; as a pair of sandals, when He is standing and walking; as a bed, when He is reclining; etc. In Treta yug, he served the Lord as Ramanuja, that is the younger brother of Sri Rama - Lakshmana. When the Lord was in exile in forests for Fourteen years, the Lord and Sri Sita slept, but Lakshmana was always vigil and served without a wink of sleep! In Dwapara yug, he served the Lord as Balarama. In Kali yug, Adisesha was born as Swami Ramanuja. His original name, christened by his parents, was Ilayazhvar [இளையாழ்வார்]. Unlike the Lord, Who had a dark complexion like the rain-bearing cloud, Swami Ramanuja was very fair.

 In Chapter 12, the Lord has mentioned the many desirable qualities for His devotee, and it appears each one of such qualities, was exhibited by Adisesha in his many incarnations. We have to see sloka 15 of Chapter 12:

yasman nodvijate loko
lokan nodvijate ca yah
harsamarsa-bhayodvegair
mukto yah sa ca me priyah

"He for whom no one is put into difficulty and who is not disturbed by anyone, who is equipoised in happiness and distress, fear and anxiety, is very dear to Me."

Yasman = at whom, loko = the World, na advijate = is not afraid. The Lord says that He likes that person, of whom, the World is not afraid. His activities threaten none. It is not that a son is not afraid of his father, but a total stranger he is and he causes no fear in anybody. People are scared of certain persons, as they might harm them. The devotee of the Lord is liked by everyone and his activities enthuse others. Lokan = at the World, na advijate ca = also not afraid. The Lord likes that person, who is not afraid of the World. Because this person, the Lord's devotee, pleases the World. He is also not afraid of the World, or to put it in other words, the World does not do anything to scare him. If we do harm to others, then others scheme to take revenge and so we are scared of others. These Two qualities - we like the world and the world likes us - have to be developed. Our talks and deeds should be friendly and helpful. We should never harm others with our words or by actions. A Karma-yogi will desire peace only. We are afraid of the world if we are greedy or commit undesirable acts. By greed, we might have amassed wealth. Then we try to preserve them by illegal methods. All these will make us afraid of the World. Either we are not greedy or if we have accumulated wealth legally, we should distribute and lessen our burden, which will keep us in peace and happiness. We should be greedy in acquiring knowledge, Bhakti and other superior qualities. No one would ever steal them away. We have to amass those which would not cause us worries. Harsa = happiness, amarsa = sorrow, or anger out of sorrow, bhaya = fear, udvega= any such urges, mukto yah = whoever is free from. This person, whom the Lord likes, does not jump with happiness nor brood in a corner or shouts in anger and is not in fear. When we are to get a huge wealth we feel happy; and feel sorry or angry, if that is halted or delayed; also we are in fear in anticipating, etc. Sa me priya = he is liked by Me [SriKrishna]. A person without these qualities is liked by the Lord. Swami Ramanuja lived like that. He was a leader among sanyasins - Yatiraja. Without likes and dislikes, he redeemed everyone.

                                                                                                               (continued)