GITA 14.4

GITA 14.4

Today's [2nd March 2009] is from the sannidhi of Sri Varadaraja, on the banks of Thakkan Kulam. Kanchi is considered as the leader among all Kshetrams of Thondai mandalam. Sri Thevaperumal [ஸ்ரீ தேவப் பெருமாள்] is gracing in Kanchi. Everyone desires to see Garuda seva of Sri Devaraja of Kanchi, on the third day of Brahmotsavam. Swami Doddayacharya used to go every year to Kanchi and worship Garuda seva.

SWAMI DODDAYACHARYA

 Once Swamy Doddacharya was indisposed and so he could not visit Kanchi to worship Garuda Seva. On that day, he came in the early morning to Thakkan kulam and was feeling sorry he could not visit Kanchi to worship Garuda Seva, but started imagining the procession in Kanchipuram. He became emotional and regretted very much for his inability to be present in Kanchi to watch the Garuda Seva. There, at Kanchi, the Lord arrived at the Western gopuram (from where the procession will start into the streets of Kanchi) on that day and noticed that His dear devotee Swami Doddayacharya was not present. The Lord decided that Swami Doddayacharya should not miss the Garuda Seva, and so, just as He appeared to Prahlada, He appeared on Garuda at Thakkan kulam. Will the Lord even stop his procession for the sake of a devotee? Yes, the Lord is for the devotees. His processions, festivals, prasadams, etc., are all for the sake of devotees. This is told by Swamy Koorattalwan. Even His Vaikuntam is for the devotees. Thus He appeared to Swami Doddayacharya, to the disbelief of that great devotee! At the same time, He was not seen in Kanchi! Swami Doddayacharya praised the Lord in Five slokas in Devaraja Panchakam. This incident is even now enacted every year on Garuda Seva day. When the Lord on Garuda reaches the Western gopuram, for a couple of minutes, He is hidden from view of the public, by the large umbrellas and it is called Doddayacharya Seva. Sri Utsavar is also Sri Varadaraja. 

He is accompanied by Sri Sridevi, Sri Bhudevi and Sri Perundevi Nacchiyar. We can also see a wonderful Sri Lakshmi Narasimha. We can see Swami Ramanuja. We can then see Swami Doddayacharya, in standing pose, with a long beard, like Swami Koorattalwan.

 Now we will see sloka 3 of Chapter 14:

mama yonir mahad brahma
tasmin garbham dadhamy aham
sambhavah sarva-bhutanam
tato bhavati bharata

"The total material substance, called Brahman, is the source of birth, and it is that Brahman that I impregnate, making possible the births of all living beings, O son of Bharata."

Sri Krishna tells Bharata [Arjuna] that He creates the Universe. We might get a doubt. Why should the Lord talk of creation in this context? Our topic has been the association of the Three qualities in samsara or our body, and this association develops desires and make us have rebirths on and on. The Lord, but now, says that He only created all living beings including lord Brahma and an obscure grass, from Moola Prakriti. In Moolaprakriti, these Three qualities are an integral part. Since the bodies are formed out of Moolaprakriti, the Three qualities are also in the bodies created. The Lord is going to explain how the Atman is bonded in this body, which has in-built Three qualities. In this sloka, the Lord tells about the stage before all living beings are born. Mahad brahma = large, vast and enormous Prakriti, yoni = cause [for all living beings], mama = is Mine [Sri Krishna's]. We had seen earlier how the entire Universe emerged from Him. Tasmin = in that, sarva bhutanam = every living being are, garbham = impregnated, dadhamyaham = by Me [Sri Krishna]. In this very vast Moola Prakriti, the Lord impregnates all living beings. It is like when male and female intercourse, the semen of the male is impregnated into the female womb. The Lord fertilizes Moolaprakriti with Atman of all living beings. From such impregnated Moolaprakriti, all living beings, starting from lord Brahma to a tiny insect or worm or grass, get created. Sriman Narayana is the cause for the creation of impregnated Moolaprakriti. Aham dadhami means the Lord says that He fertilizes Moolaprakriti with the entity of Jeevatman. By this, the Sankhya philosophy is condemned. According to Sankhya philosophy, enunciated by sage Kapila, only Prakriti and Atman are responsible for creation and the Lord has no role in that process. But Sri Krishna categorically says here that He fertilizes Atman into Prakriti. Tata = hence [by this fertilization of Atman in Prakriti by the Lord], sarva-bhutanam = all living beings, sambhava = births, bhavati = happen. Thus the Lord fertilizes all Atman into Prakriti. From this impregnated Prakriti every living being is born. There is another doubt in this sloka and it has the answer also. We will see that question and answer later.

                                                                       (continued)