Paarthasaarathi (Revival)

Paarthasaarathi (Revival)

Gopikaa Geetham

Gopikaa Geetham

RAMARPANAM-50

File 50.

Dated : 7th June, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

 VisvAmitra SuprapAdam :

 Thirumangai Azhwar got the AshtAkshara Maha Mantra by an act of dacoit. He says:

 Mandhiraththai MandhiraththAl maRavAdu endrum

vAzhudhiyEl vAzhalAm mada nenjamE.

 meaning  the Lord Himself a Mantra who again revealed by His name specific Mantra, makes the meditating human a fulfilled soul.

Achitvat PArathandriyam is the touchstone character of such a human.  This is well explained by the story of PonnAchi, ardent wife of PilLai UrangAvilli dAsar.

 PonnAchi once was sleeping in her house. A VaishNava entered her house with intent to steal any valuable that would help his BhAgavada Thathiyaradana vow.

He laid hands on the lady's ear rings.  PonnAchi to facilitate the BrahmaNa, turned to her other side such that he will help himself of both the ear rings. Unfortunately, He fled the place in fear of being caught.  Next day her husband enquiring about the ear rings, chided her saying that she should have remained like a rock or dead wood to have helped the Sri VaishNava really. 

 Sri Rama, VisvAmitra and LakshmaNa walking one behind the other had to rest for the night.  The two laid down on the bare ground with the fallen leaves making their bed as against the comfort of Royal Podium. 

 Sri Rama too would like to demonstrate achitvat pArathandriyam in this way, as a student undergoing Gurukula vAsam,  so that we ordinary people will follow His footsteps.

 Just before the day break, VisvAmitra woke up first and was moved by the sight where Rama and LakshmaNa were deep asleep.  He felt Himself a gifted soul and to initiate them in the daily oblations, He woke them up with a couplet of song,  which even today is sung in every temple to wake up the Lord.

 Kousalya suprajA Rama, poorvA sandhya pravarthathE

Uthishta NarasArdoola karthavyam DaivamAnikam.

 PeriyalwAr  following VisvAmitra rendered SuprapAdam  to Sri Krishna as

 Ayar ERe ammamuNNa thuyilezhAyE.

 The Lord in human form cannot also miss the duties designated in the Scriptures.

VisvAmitra knows Rama is none other than the ParamAtma and still He obliges Him to do the nitya nemityaka karmas without exception so that the world will follow without an eye brow being raised.

Rama too enacted the way His Guru directed without a word of resent and therefore who else can be our role model in the day to day life.

RAMARPANAM-49

File 49.

Dated : June 6th, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

 Achit vat pArathandriya prakatanam.

 

LakshmyA saha RushIkEsaha: DEvyA kAruNya rUpayA  |

Rakshaha: sarva sidhAnthE vedAnthEbi geeyathE ||

 It means that Goddess Lakshmi  by mending the JeevAtma and obliterating all his sins  make him worthy of the blessing by the Lord.

 Here Rama is all set to unite with Sita and sage VisvAmitra has to make that happen.

 As ordained by VasishtA, Dasaratha and Kousalya request Rama, LakshmaNa to be brought where they were present.  When they arrived the two blessed them by kissing their forehead and then helped them in the hands of VisvAmitra.

 VAlmiki puts it as if they were handed over like an inanimate object were to be given conforming to the achitvat pArathandriyam of the two.

 Dathow Kusika PuthrAya suprEthEna anthrAtmA.

 The same sentiments were expressed by Alwar and Andal in the following verses respectively :

 Dayaratharku magan thanai andri matrilEn thanjamAgavE.

 Nandagopan Kumaran.

 ukkamum, thatoLiyum thandu un MaNALnaiyum thandu etc.

 ukkam = hand fan. ThatoLi = mirror. MaNALan = KrishNan.

 Andal treats KrishNa as if an inanimate object like the hand fan and the mirror to be given away with all the right of chose in possession and chose in action.

Sri Rama as well as Sri KrishNa  loved such dispositions with respect to their parents and their Consort.

Having gotten the two, VisvAmitra walked away in a haste and for about 1.5 yojana or 15 miles approximately equal  22 KM distance along the banks of the river Sarayu.  From there it was hard hit dry belt  forcing thirst, hunger and exhaustion.

 

Hence the Sage taught them two the sacred Mantras by name Bala and Athibala, chanting of which will void hunger, fever, bodily distortions, sleep, dizziness and the bad omens of the sudra devathAs. With that Rama and LakshmaNa became so strong that no one can win or equal them in all the three worlds.

 
Our Bala, Athibala mantras are Acharya bhakthi and Bhagavat prApthi

RAMARPANAM-48

File 48.

Dated : June 5th, 2012.

 Jai Sri  Ram.

                                                               _

Dasaratha's Nays and Visvamitra's Ayes

     _      _

Chandhogya Upanishad compares the eyes of the Brahman to that of a  fully blossomed lotus flowers in the following verse :

                          _            _                        _

Thasya yatha kapyasam pundarekam eva akshiNi :

The lotus blossoms at the sight of the Sun.  Rama's eyes blossoms at the sight of His devotees. He wins over all of them with those captivating beautiful eyes and the enemies by His valor. So the simile is the apt one in physical and real terms.

                                          _                        _  _                   _         

Dasaratha recalling RavaNa and Marecha, Subhahu's mite expressed that He would

                                                               _

not even, as a human, fight the Rakshasa.  Then what to speak of Rama.

                       _           _                          _                    _

na yudha yogyadam Asya pasyami saha rakshasaihi

                          _

 na yudha visharada :

                          _

na Ramam nethu marhasi .

So concluded Dasaratha, meaning :

                                         _

Rama is young. The Rakshasas are grown up and cruel.

                                                       _

Rama stands for Dharma.  Rakshasas ever go the Adharma way.

Rama can fight in the Day. They in the night.

Rama is straight forward. They are crooked.

                                                                                                           _

Rama fights parched on the floor. They are capable of maya- yudha  and fight deceiving the eyes.

But Visvamitra is great by Himself.  Had learnt all the astra, sastras from

             _                              _                  

Kruthasvan and Prajapathi Suthan.

                             _                                    _

He has the tapo-sakthi  to un-do the Rakshasas and so Rama need not be sent, thus concluded Dasaratha.

Visvamitra got up from His seat with anger. His hairs swirled; lips folded; tongue fluttered, hands aggrieved; The Devathas in the Heaven got frightened.

            _                         _                      _                         _           _    

mithya prathijna Kakusth: suki bhava sa bhandava : 

                              _

So saying, Visvamitra started leaving, when Vasishta intervened to say the following to Dasaratha :

A promise had been made to offer Visvamitra whatever He would ask for and to go

                                                                                                            _

back on that promise would be un becoming of an Ikshvaku King.

na dharmam gathu marahasi so advising Vasishta asked Dasaratha to send Rama

with the Sage who Himself can protect the Yajna yet Rama is requisitioned not to benefit Himself but to Rama in many ways.

 Visvamitra knows many of the war field weaponry which even the Gandharvas, Yakshas, Kinnaras, great Nagas, the Devas, Rushis, Amaras or Rakshasas are not capable of. All those would be taught to Rama, if only He is sent with Him.

So Dasaratha after listening to what Vasishta said did not hesitate to send Rama as desired.

Hence always give with a feeling of returning and not as though, doling.

RAMARPANAM-47

File 47.

Dated June 4th, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

 Periyavachan Pillai advocates Dasaratha's stand :

 In His efforts to deny sending Rama with Visvamitra, Dasaratha spoke the following :

 Asya yudha yogiyatha rakashasaha na pasyami - Meaning thus :

 Una shodasa varsho :

 1. Rama is so young and tender that the milk He gulps would show through His neck;

2. Aged less than16 would mean that He had not attained majority to deal in affairs of a major, making Him ineligible to go for a war;

3. Not yet conversant with elephant mount, horse mount or even in archery needed for battle proficiency;

4. The bud He fashions over His head is too small to even tie a knot;

 Mey Rama:

5. He is not Bhargava Rama, Mey-Dasaratha Rama. May be that Visvamitra had come to a wrong address instead of  going to Parasu Rama ;

6. That Rama, whom Dasaratha, possessively claimed shall not be required by Visvamitra;

7. That Rama, whom Dasaratha feels bonded, shall not stand a separation;

 Rajeeva-lochana:

 8. That Rama so frail and beautiful as water Lille that deserve to beautify one's hair shall not be held as a load bearing ring on the head;

9. That Rama who deserved all the pampering, should He fight un-equals;

10.That Lotus eyed Rama, could He keep awake if at all He fight the active-by-night rakshasas.

 Na pasyami :

 Unable to see one good reason to send Rama, Dasaratha deject fully declined and Visvamitra none too was ready to listen.

 Possessiveness leads to deprivation and un-acquisitiveness to bestowment.

RAMARPANAM-46

File 46.

Dated : June 1st, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

Dasaratha's reasoning for not sending Rama.

Visvamitra clarified to Dasaratha that the Yajna He is attempting is for 6 days and that He would require the services of Rama just for 10 days. So better He would send the Lotus eyed Rama with Him.

Dasaratha, after recovering from the faint like situation on hearing Visvamitra request, took the cue from what He said and reacted specifically thus :

Unashodasa varsho Mein Ramaha rajeeva lochana: meaning

My Rama, Lotus eyed one, is not even 16 years old
and so He would not be fit to go for a fight, as per the yudha sastra.

rajeeva lochana: further meant that as the Lotus flower shuts to itself at the setting of the sun, so also Rama's eyes would prefer to sleep after twilight and so cannot fight the nisacharas, those who wander in the thick of night and attack the Yajna site.

As per certain calculations, Rama's age at the time of Visvamitra's visit was just 12 years. Whereas Dasaratha meant to say that Rama was 16 years or less of age. It may look like a contradiction. In fact Dasaratha's intention here was not to suggest Rama's  correct age but was to emphasis that 16 years or less would make Him  ineligible for the war of the kind Visvamitra requested His services.

Namalwar at the age of 16 took Madhurakavi Alwar as His disciple and gave away saraNagadi sastra in the form of 4 Divya Prabhandam to be palm-scripted by Him. So also Rama, in less than that age, walked behind Visvamitra as disciple to master the Dhanur Veda.

Namalwar saved the three worlds by His writings, holding His Sastra paNi  and Rama by hittings from His Bow as Sastra PaNi.

So, let us beseech the Alwar to behold Rama.

RAMARPANAM-45

File 45.

Dated : 31st May, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

 VisvAmitra reveals MahAtma Rama.

Rama is VishNu's incarnation. Though in human form He is a Mahatma and a Satya parakrama:

 Veda Aham etam purusham mahantam - These words of the Upanishads are reproduced by Valmiki through Visvamitra.

 Dasaratha's thinking was that Rama, His son and about 12 years old, is better known by Him than by Visvamitra, who had just then arrived to ask for His help. In that context Visvamitra emphasizes to say

 Aham vedmi Mahatmanam, Ramam satyaparakramam meaning He alone knows the way Rama to be known and not really Dasaratha.

 Swami Periya Vachan Pillai explains Sage Visvamitra's dig at Dasaratha in the following many ways :

 Rama is perceivable by jnana as instrument of sight and not by the external eyes. So doth Visvamitra, a Jnani and not Dasaratha,  an a-Jnani

 He is accessible to those who bend and bow and not to those who are the recipients of such salutations. So, Visvamitra knows  and not Dasaratha.

 He is touched by those in karmanushtanam  symbolized by the wearing of  dharbai (pul-crafted grass ring) and not to those wielding a bow (vill). The former symbolize kainkaraya bhavam. The later ahankara sambhavitam. So, Visvamitra knows  and not Dasaratha.

 He is approachable by satvic qualities and not by rajasa or tamasa dispositions. Visvamitra by penance and control of senses is a Satvic. Dasaratha being a King have to be rajasic if not tamasic to quell His enemies. So, Visvamitra knows  and not Dasaratha.

 He occupies a pedestal position before an arti, garbing  naichya bhavam. The King occupies the thrown before His subjects, displaying prabhutvam.  So, Visvamitra knows  and not Dasaratha.

 He is attainable by Yoga, control on senses and distanced by bhoga, indulgence in sensual pleasures.  So, Visvamitra knows  and not Dasaratha.

 He yields to Brahma kama and distanced by loukika kama.  So, Visvamitra knows  and not Dasaratha.

 He grants moksha to the dharma charis.  Grants arta-kama to the opposite.  So, Visvamitra knows  and not Dasaratha.

 All the universe His child, so thinks Visvamitra. Rama His child, so thinks Dasaratha.

So, Visvamitra knows  and not Dasaratha.

 Visvamitra had known the Brahman, as not comprehendible. So He the knower. Dasaratha mistakes the un-comprehendible as comprehendible, in the form of His Son.  So He knoweth not.

 kO itha veda ?  Vedas fail in themselves. And the Brahman too of Himself.  Iyatha rahitvam means one cannot limit Brahman to 'He is this' "He is this" like. He is above all these would be right way to comprehend.

 Mahatma means no end to His fame nor any body greater than Him, Paratvam. Rama means He is all that simple and easily accessible, soulabyam.

 The one who do not possess this knowledge is the ignorant and the other the true knower.

RAMARPANAM-44

File 44.

Dated : 30th May, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

 VisvAmitra reveals the MahAtma, Rama :

 Having decided to send Rama, LakshmaNa with VisvAmitra, Dasaratha led the hands of the two into that of the Sage and started saying :

 You are now their father, mother, guide and the well wisher too. VisvAmitra responded with the assurance of care and concern for their good and felt doubly rewarded for getting the two at the request of one, the eldest.

 A parallel can be drawn in respect of NAdamunigal who went in search of the 1000 verses of Thiruvoimozhi sung by NamAlwAr, was blessed with 1000 plus 3000 verses of Divya Prabhandams rendered by rest of the AlwArs as well as the other  3 works by NamAlwAr Himself.

 This side of the RamayaNa story, VAlmimiki describes thus :

 VisvAmitra addressed Dasaratha saying you are the jewel among the humans and the King of Kings. You promised to offer whatever the request I make. In the Yajna I planned, MArEcha and SubhAgu are the hinderers. Give me Your Son, Rama, who looks like you and who fashions a bud in His head,  to fight those two, as I cannot fight, curse or cause to anger when initiated in the Yajna.

 Do not hold Him back under fatherly compulsions. Grate fame awaits Him, by conquering MArEcha and SubhAgu.  As I will teach all Mantra, Thantra , Sastra sAstrAs,  do not stop from these things happening to Him.

 Dasaratha was saddened by the Sages' request, as Rama was blessed after 60000 years of craving and He bing the only son of Kousalya made things wore for Him to oblige.

 VisvAmitra, reading the Kings mind started expiating that what He knew of  Rama, Dasaratha did a little of  it.

 Aham vEdmi MahAtmAnam, Ramam satya parAkramam

 These words of VAlmiki are the reproduction of the Vedic chant

 VedhAha mEtam Purusham MahAntam.

 Which VasishtA as well as the other Sages assembled will agree but why not you Dasaratha,  so quizzes VisvAmitra.

 Swami Periya VAchAn Pillai, who had written commentaries on selected verses of RamayaNa, under the head ''thani slOkam'',  deals in great details about this particular RamayaNa sloka.

 The Devoted get to know the Vedas, not the Veda brushtAs.

RAMARPANAM-43

File 43.

Dated : May 29th, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

 Dasaratha regains and rewards :

 Rama is no doubt the ultimate savior of mankind. He offered Moksha to Sabari, JatAyu and to the people as a whole of AyOdhya including the ant and plant lives there. Next to Him, there is the one who is bestowed with such a magic of turning the ordinary to an extraordinary. He is none other than Sri Ramanuja. Those who repose faith in Him as the one and the only resort for Moksha do not fail either. For this reason, He is adored as 'VishNu LOka Mani Mantapa mArga dhAyi.'

 With His recommendations we further move on to the Ramayana slokas.  Kambar lucidly signifies further story thus :

 Sage VisvAmitra explaining the 6 day long sacrificial Yajna that He had arranged, requested  Rama, the dark complexioned, to go with Him, to ward off the evil doers in the form of TAtakEyi, MArEcha, SubhAgu.

 Dasaratha, as if struck by a thunder reacted cold and explained that Rama is young, knows not how to fight the rAkshasas, so therefore offered Himself in His place and promised to undo the rAkshasas or even Shiva, Brahma or Indira who ever pitched against Him.

 On hearing the words of denial, Sage VisvAmitra grew wild. His eye brows rose in anger bordering the high of His fore head. The effect of which was felt by the three worlds as if the chatur yuga was shortened. The birds, the animals, the snakes all took to safety. The Devas, Indira all feared what a catastrophe await them.

 To defuse the situation, Sage VasishtA intervened to tell Dasaratha that many a good thing await Rama, when He goes with VisvAmitra and that He will be enriched with Knowledge and wealth.  As all the rivers, many a wives to the Sea Lord, reach their husband, so also great things await to happen to Rama, He said.

 Convinced and without any rumblings, Dasaratha offered to Send Rama as well as LakshmaNa along with VisvAmitra, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.

Elderly advise weighs the best, when personal judgment intrigues.

RAMARPANAM-42

File 42.

Dated : May 28th, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

 VisvAmitra compliments Dasaratha.

 Rama's fame knows no limits. Its dimension as high and unshakable as the Himalayas in the north and as deep and boundary less like the Indian ocean in the south.  He, a Mahatma and in fact an AvatAr of  ParamAtma, who descended concealing all His magnificence to suit a human incarnation.

 However much He conceals His ParamAtamNitvam, Sages like VisvAmitra do get to know of Him.  The purpose of VisvAmitra's visit to AyOdhya was twofold.  One was to reveal to the world who Rama really is. The second was to unite Rama and Sita in a Wedlock.

 The Sage was  elated at the reception given to Him by Dasaratha and praised Him in tall words. When the Devas and Sages needed protection usually they do go to KailAya, Satya LOka or the ThiruppArkadal,  the abode of Shiva, Brahma and that of VishNu.  If for some reason they fail then the last resort would be, Dasaratha that is You, so said the Sage.

 Thereafter, when Dasaratha hesitated to send Rama , the enraged VisvAmitra asserts to the King how ignorant Dasaratha was and how best He knows all that Rama Can do for Him etc.

 Aham vedmi MahAtmAnam :  VisvAmitra declares that He alone doth know Sri Rama as a MahAtma and not Dasaratha, may be because He the Sage and Dasaratha, a King trying to limit Rama in a lesser circle of a Son to a longing father.

 Disgusted at the denial by Dasaratha to send Rama, VisvAmitra in a fit of anger prepared to leave, then at that point of time, VasishtA intervened to convince the King to oblige the Sage for the sake of the Good that await them all.

 Dasaratha complied with whatever VasishtA said without any hesitation and offered to send Rama, LakshmaNa the two together with Him.

 That is the power of  elders advise especially in matters of general good weighed against personal good.

RAMARPANAM-41

File 41.

Dated : May 25th, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

 Swagatam to Sage VisvAmitra :

 Lord Rama is granter of  boon to all, and so a Varadha.  Sage VAlmiki regards King Dasaratha a Varadha as He the granter of Rama Himself.  Namalwar also says so in His verse : "vallarakar pukkazhinda Dayarathan petra maragatha maNiththadam".

 Idol worship is recorded from the days of ThrEthA Yuga as there were instances of Sri Rama offering prayers to Lord Ranganatha on the eve of His crowning as Prince. 

 Similarly, Sri Andal in Her Thiruppavai, verse 6, confirms that the Hamlet where Nanda Gopal lived was there a Temple dedicated to VishNu, the God associated with Garuda - "pullarayan koil".

 Our interest is that Rama was meticulous in oblations while KrishNa in Leela sugam, the one to follow and the other to relish.

 Now coming back to RamayaNa,  as King Dasaratha was pondering over the marriage of His four children,  Sage VisvAmitra entered the Palace, with plans of His own and that in the end will help the King's way too.

 Dasaratha was overjoyed at the arrival of the Sage and VAlmiki describes as it were 

 The lost wealth was regained;

Rain returned to a draught stricken country;

Amruta was found by the Devas.

All the three simile do not go with Dasaratha in as much as

He had no occasion of losing His wealth;

His rule was such that there had been no draught in His Kingdom;

He was not a DevA, to taste Amruta either.

 Then what could compare to His joy was

 A barren women giving birth to a child after a long wait, which absolutely was true in His case.

 As the Sage came to His door steps, King Dasaratha rose from His seat and offered argiya, pAda, Achamanam to welcome Him with reverence and  promised the Sage to fulfill whatever desires that warranted His journey looking for Him.

 But, what VisvAmitra is up to is not known until another episode begins. So let us wait.

 Athithi dEvO bhava : This concept applies to any visitor, more so in respect of elderly and reverential.