BG2.60

We are at Thirumogur temple today [11^th May, 2007]. Nammalwar praises the Lord in Thalathamarai Thiruvaimozhi. We have no refuge other than His feet. The Lord is called Thirumogur Apthan. This place is called Mohanapuri, because the Lord took the Mohini incarnation. This place was originally called Mohiniyur and then over the times got mutilated and became Mohiyur and then Mogur. We see here the statue of Manmatha, regarded as the most handsome male. But even that Manmatha felt ashamed at the beauty of the Lord. His beauty can fascinate our mind. Apthan means he who is very dear to us. He does only good for us. Like the clouds shower rains, He showers His benevolence on us. The next sloka, 51^st one and the Thirumogur Apthan and His eminence are closely related.

karma-jam buddhi-yukta hi
phalam tyaktva manisinah
janma-bandha-vinirmuktah
padam gacchanty anamayam

"By thus engaging in devotional service to the Lord, men free themselves from the results of work in the material world. In this way they become free from the cycle of birth and death and attain the state beyond all illness [by going to Vaikuntam]."

Amayam means illness and anamayam means the place or position without illness. That is placement in Vaikunta. The one who does the karma yoga with his buddhi or consciously, reaches the place free of illness i.e.anamayam. Men discarding the karmas by which they will obtain inferior results, and by doing the karma with buddhi or intellect- that they will not do a karma for ordinary rewards but for the highest reward of Moksham, the karma is done as a devotion to God- will get the superior results. For this they are to be released from their shackles or bandham and obtain the never-to-return position. The birth and death are shackles and the karma yoga destroys these or anishta or undesirables. Then, gets the ishtam or desirable of the highest reward of Moksham where one does not face any miseries. Padam can mean the feet of the Lord or His abode, Sri Vaikuntam. By combining both we can interpret that by clinging to His feet we can reach His abode, Vaikuntam or Moksham. By seeking refuge at His feet our fetters or bandham in this world are eliminated. For this we have to perform karma yoga without aspiring for inferior rewards and with conscience that it is done as a devotion to Him. Like the same type of food, however tasty it might be, produces aversion, by doing karmas for inferior rewards our birth gets repeated and produces distaste. Whereas in Moksham He appears afresh every moment and our experience also is fascinating every moment. Namo namo bavati jayamanaha – so says Upanishad. He appears afresh every time we look at Him. The Lord is decorated everyday differently and it fascinates us every time we look at Him. Ornaments, attires, garlands, vehicles and even the prasad are changed daily. He is purana or very ancient but at the same time He appears anew everytime and graces us. Such persons attain Moksham. The Lord of this place does this important duty of getting us the Moksham. We can see how an atman goes from a body to Moksham and how Thirumogur Apthan is helping the atman in getting that highest reward. In Chandogya and Brihadaranya Upanishads and in Alwars’ hymns Archiradi marg is explained. Atman is residing in a very minute form in the heart. Let us assume that after innumerous births all papa and punya have been expended. After this the journey of the atman starts. All the shackles of papa and punya acquired not only in this life of 70 or 80 years but of the innumerous birth cycles experienced by the atman and which have been there binding us to this world are to be cut off now. Just as His birth removed the shackles in His parents Vasudeva and Devaki, karma yoga with dedication to His feet cuts off these bondages. There is a small hole on the top of our head. When a child is born this spot can be felt but later as the child is daily bathed, skull covers this spot. This spot is called Brahma ranthram. From the heart to this Brahma ranthram there is a nerve called sushoomna nadi. Normally this passage is dark and one day the Lord illuminates the entire path for the atman to take the journey. Out of the 101 nerves, the Lord identifies the sushoomna nadi as the route for the soul to take the journey. The soul with His help now pierces the Brahma ranthram and goes on archiradi marg. The Lord gives the atman a minute body to escape as the body made of the five elements is cast off in this world. Archit means jyoti or light. This brilliantly lit up route is there to the atman. Just as a person struggles when from darkness he is brought to bright light, the atman also is dazed. Now comes the Sri Kalamega Perumal. He is also called Sri Marga Bandhu or Vazhithunai Perumal. As a friend and guide Thirumogur Apthan will lead us on this grand voyage. Like the clouds, He sprinkles water, which is His compassion, on the entire route to make the Atman feel comfortable. Nammalwar wanted to reach the Holy Feet of the Lord and remain in service in Vaikuntam. We also can cling to the lotus feet of the Sri Kalamega Perumal praised by Alwar. Such is the splendor His idol and all should come here and experience the bliss.