GITA 13.25

GITA 13.25

When the Lord rescues us, He does not do it alone but along with His Consort, Sri Mahalakshmi. Tradition is to first worship Sri Thayar, in any Divya Desam. Sri Thayar helps us in pardoning our mistakes, reducing the Lord's displeasure on our actions and joins us with the Lord. Today's [10th February 2009] lecture is from the sannidhi of Sri Vedavalli Thayar, in Sri Parthasarathy temple in Tiruallikkeni, one of the Kshetrams of Thondai Mandalam.

UTSAVAR SRI VEDAVALLI THAYAR

 Once, when Sri Thayar and the Lord were in Tiruparkadal [Milk Ocean], there was a dispute between Them, and Sri Thayar left the place. She came to the Earth and decided to reach the Lord from Brindaranya Kshetram. Sage Brighu was meditating here and She appeared as his foster Daughter! The sage brought Her up as Sri Vedavalli. The Lord also appeared as Sri Ranganatha and married Her. Sri Ranganatha is Sri Mannatha or Sri Ennai Aludai Appan (என்னை ஆளுடை அப்பன்). Tirumangai Alwar presented 10 pasurams on Tiruallikkeni, in his Periya Thirumozhi. In the second pasuram, vedatthai vedatthin suvaippayani [வேதத்தை வேதத்தின் சுவைப் பயனை... 2.3.2], the Alwar mentions the name Ennai Aludai Appan[என்னை ஆளுடை அப்பன்]. Mannatha is the Sanskrit equivalent of this name. It was Sri Thayar, Who told that the Lord was Her Ruler [ஆளுடை அப்பன்], and so the Lord got the name Ennai Aludai Appan. This Divine marriage is celebrated as a festival in a grand manner. Every Masi Sukla paksha dwadasi day, this Divine marriage is celebrated as per Vedic rituals. Every item in such marriages like stepping on grinding stone [அம்மி மிதித்தல்], look for Arudati star [அருந்ததி பார்த்தல்], walking seven steps together [சப்தபதி], etc., are all enacted perfectly. It is a sight from which we can learn how Vedic marriages are to be celebrated. Besides, Sri Thayar also graces in the Navaratri festival. She graces the devotees from the Tiruvaimozhi mandapam. The ninth day of this festival is entirely dedicated to Sri Lakshmi. All these incidents are piously read in the Pallava festival in Panguni month, as Stala Purana. The last day of this festival is Panguni Utthiram[பங்குனி உத்திரம்]. On that day Kalyanotsavam is celebrated. Thus on Two days, this Divine marriage is celebrated. We should note that Sri Vedavalli Thayar is the Consort of the Lord as Sri Ranganatha, and Sri Rukmini is the Consort of the Lord as Sri Venkata Krishnan.

 With Her blessings, we will now proceed to sloka 25. We have to remember that the Lord told about Viveka gyana [analyzing knowledge]. That is to understand Atman is separate and different from the body. Sri Krishna has been telling about the methods to view Atman and the body as separate entities. We had already seen that, by such analysis and understanding, Atman is different from the body, we avoid further rebirths. This is attained by those who have mastered Karma yoga and Gyana yoga and such knowledge is fully matured. Others who have not succeeded in mastering these yoga, but who are practising Karma yoga and/or Gyana yoga, slowly practice the mind and are able to ascend and understand that Atman is different from the body. Now sloka 25:

anye tv evam ajanantah
srutvanyebhya upasate
te ’pi catitaranty eva
mrityum shruti-parayanah

"Again there are those who, although not conversant in spiritual knowledge, begin to worship the Supreme Person upon hearing about Him from others. Because of their tendency to hear from authorities, they also transcend the path of birth and death."

Shruti-parayana = determined in listening. This sloka is for people like us, who have not started Karma yoga nor we are in the midst of Gyana yoga and never in the stage where we would have reached the advanced and matured Karma yoga and Gyana yoga stage of Yogam. So what is the course for those who do not possess any of these? We have to begin from some point. That is listening to the kind words of elders and scholars. Their teachings and advice should flow through our ears and touch our heart and brain so that we could practice them. Thus the basic need is to listen to noble words of great persons. Such listening slowly purifies the mind by removing sins and the person gets transformed to get involved in Karma yoga and reach the stage to understand Atman is different from the body. Anye tu = others, ajananta = ignorant of perfroming, evam = these [Karma yoga and Gyana yoga mentioned in the previous sloka], anyebhya = from others [Acharyas, Scholars and noble persons], srutva = listening well, upasate = devote [in Atman]. Te = they, shruti-parayana = deeply interested in listening, api = even, mrityum = this samsara [of living in this Universe], atitaranty eva = are not crossing? So, even those who are interested in listening to great people's advice and teachings, cross this samsara or rebirth cycle. Thus the Lord tells that even those who do not have any knowledge of Karma or Gyana yoga can find a method to cross this samsara, by listening to scholars. Purpose of this sloka is to emphasize listening to others, always. We should be enthusiastic to listen to the good words of scholars. So many holy lectures are being arranged at so many places. These are happening for a very long time. What are those people, gathered in Thousands, going to achieve? The answer is in this sloka. We have to set apart some time in our busy schedule, to listen to noble scholars. Wherever there are lectures about the Lord and His devotees, we should ensure that those words are heard. Nammalwar says that he has got the Lord established in his heart, through his ears - meaning, he has been listening to the words spoken about the Lord. It is no wonder that Tiruvalluvar says that of all the wealth, wealth of hearing is the best [செல்வத்துட் செல்வம் செவிச் செல்வம்..தலை]. We should prostrate to great devotees and seek their advice. Even when we are incapable of doing anything, if we constantly listen to scholars, our mind will be refined. If we listen to bad words we are likely to follow bad practices. Thus even those, unfit to practice any yoga, listen to Acharyas and get reformed. Vibheeshana advised Ravana but in vain. We can say that we are surrounded by good things if we get opportunities to listen to the words of good people. It is, therefore, requested that wherever good things about the Lord and His devotees are being lectured, we should try to listen to those words. Just like the food we eat, is processed and digested, without our efforts, even during our sleep, good words listened to will without our knowledge, perform good things for us and make us cross samsara. Shruti also means Vedas and so interest in Vedas is also prescribed; and, appropriately, we are facing Sri Vedavalli Thayar!

                                                                                                             (continued)