asmat tvam indriyany adau
niyamya bharatarsabha
papmanam prajahi hy enam
jnana-vijnana-nasanam
"Therefore, O Arjuna, best of the Bharatas, in the very beginning curb this great symbol of sin [lust] by regulating the senses, and slay this destroyer of knowledge and self-realization."
Today [10th September,2007], the lecture is from the Sri Andal sannidhi at Srivilliputhur. Here we can see a brightly polished brass plate stand and is called Thattoli in Tamil meaning mirror. Daily in the evening Sri Andal will decorate Her with fresh garlands and use this as a mirror. These garlands are used to decorate the Lord next day. This is why She is called Choodikkodutha Nachiar. This is based on an incident in Sri Andal's life. Her father Perialwar would prepare garlands for the Lord by bringing fresh flowers from the garden. Sri Andal as a child used to see Her wearing those garlands in the mirror. Perialwar did not know this and one day he saw a hair in the garland and decided not to present it to the Lord. But the Lord appearing in his dreams asked him to present only garlands first worn by Sri Andal. That is why even now the same tradition is followed. In the 20th song of Thiruppvai [Muppathu moovar..], it is mentioned ukkamum thattoliyum, which means hand fan and mirror. Following this even today during Navarathri festival it is customary to present mirrors. From Her sannidhi we will see further sloka 42:
indriyani parany ahur
indriyebhyah param manah
manasas tu para buddhir
yo buddheh paratas tu sah
"The working senses are stronger; mind is stronger than the senses; intelligence is still stronger than the mind; and the kamam is even stronger than the intelligence."
One has to vanquish kamam. Is it alone or is it aided by other associates? Kamam steals our sensual organs, mind and buddhi or intellect. This way it ensures that we do not gain any knowledge about atman. Can we directly attack kamam? It is a gang of four thieves. Kamam is the leader and the other three are associates. All the four are not equal in strength. Indriyani = the organs, paranyahu =are strong. they are capable of diverting our efforts in Gyana yoga. Manah = mind, param = is stronger than, indryebya = the organs. Buddhir = intellect or resolute, parah = is more powerful, manasas tu = than mind. Yo = but, sah = this Kamam, paratas = is stronger than, buddheh = intellect. Thus there is a grading in strength. Organs, mind, buddhi and kamam are in the ascending order of strength. Just as in a war the commander is not attacked directly first, but his troops, his inner security, etc., here also we can not attack kamam first. Sri Krishna tells organs are stronger, which implies there are other enemies of lesser strength. Suppose, we want to worship Sri Andal in Srivilliputhur, but we are in say, Chennai. Then place becomes an impediment for a good cause. Similarly, though we are in Srivilliputhur, but we want to worship in midnight when the temple is closed. Here, time is the enemy. Organs are more powerful than these enemies as these could be encountered. But these organs could be controlled to some extent physically, like closing the eyes. Mind can not be controlled physically and so is a greater foe. When a person faints, his mind also does not function. But as soon as he gets conscience, his buddhi or intellect functions and drags him away a person from nobler thoughts. So buddhi is more powerful than mind. When a person dies buddhi, along with mind and organs get lost. But kamam as a trace or vasanai sticks to atman and in the next birth it starts the activities all over captivating the organs, mind and buddhi. Therefore the most powerful enemy is kamam. To defeat kamam, one has to conquer organs, mind and buddhi and the best way to do that is to cultivate Karma yoga.
2 comments:
Dear Sri. Saranathan
Adiyen would like to congratulate U for having caught up with the current presentation , despite your busy schedule , otherwise , intervened. Note that U are posting the notes mostly in mid nights. Your kainkaryam to Bhagavathas is well appreciated. May Krishna bless U with sound health to carry on this work , for His satisfaction.
Incidentally , U must have seen adiyen's article in Purattasi issue of Nrismhapriya ( Tamil version ) , titled " Kannanukke aamadhu Kaamam".
Regards. Adiyen , Ramanuja Dasan , G.Sampath.
Dear Sir, Sorry for my long silence. We came here at Srirangam on 7th and I was busy with many engagements. Yesterday I could search and find this month Nrusimhapriya and I went through your article. Sincerely. if you had not told me that it was your article, I could have mistaken to have been pennd by a great vidwan. I am not flattering, but the article is of a very high class. I will conyinue to search for your articles in all issues and thanks for information.
Adiyen, saranathan.
Post a Comment