BG6.35

In the treasure of India, Srimad Ramayanam, we find many saranagatis [ultimate surrenders]. Some of the saranagatis bore the desired results. But some others did not yield the results. We are in the temple of Sri Adi Jagannatha Perumal, in Thiruppullani. Presence here is soothing to the mind and revealing so many truths. Today [12th February 2008] the lecture is from the sannidhi of Sri Dharbasayana Rama. It is one of those very few temples where one can worship the Lord in all the three poses - standing, seated and reclining. We worshiped the seated form in Sri Adi Jagannatha sannidhi. Sri Dharba Sayana Perumal is in reclining pose. All Alwars were attracted by the Reclining pose of the Lord. In the reclining pose there are many types like Bujanga sayanam, Bhoga sayanam, Manikka sayanam, Veera sayanam, Udyoga sayanam, Ardha sayanam, etc. The Lord graces in the Sthala sayanam in Sri Mahabalipuram, known as Thirukkadalmallai. In Sirupuliyur, the Lord is Sri Krupasamudra Perumal and is in the sala [maya] sayanam. Here He is reclining on a bed of dharba grass. He practiced saranagati at Samudra Raja, from here. Vibheeshana sought surrender at the feet of Sri Rama and he was granted. In the entrance to the garbagruha, we can see Vibheeshana on one side and on the other side we can notice Samudra Raja and his wife. Inside the garbagruha at the feet of the Lord, only Anjaneya can be seen. The Lord's consorts are not present here. Along with Anjaneya, we can see the three sages [Pullava, Kanva and Kalava], who worshiped the Lord here. The Lord has one arm as a pillow to rest His head and the other hand is stretched. On the top all the devas [gods] are looking with awe at Sri Rama, Who grants asylum to those surrendering, lying in surrender to the King of oceans. Facing east, Valmiki says in Srimad Ramayana, the Lord is presenting Himself like an Ocean facing another ocean. The Lord is an Ocean of all auspicious qualities and the other ocean is mere salt ocean. His Majesty was like that of an ocean. Three days He remained waiting for Samudra Raja to come and fulfillHis request. Then He got angry and ordered Lakshmana to bring His bow and arrows. He even mounted the arrow on the bow, and just at the nick of time Samudra Raja hurriedly came apologising and crying saranam,surrender]. Swami Koorathalwan in his Atimanushastavam, asks a question on this episode of Ramayana. Sri Rama in the guise of an ordinary human being acted well in crying over Sri Sita's abduction, Jatayu death, etc. But, Swami Koorathalwan asks, how come Sri Rama made saranagati to Samudra Raja? Another thing is that though He had vowed not to utter untruths, for the sake of His devotees He would break that vow also. Standing on the Southern shores of the country, Sri Rama was about to direct a missile on the ocean. When, the King of oceans said surrender and apologised, immediately Sri Rama said that He wanted to discharge the arrow on any enemy of the King, he desired to be destroyed. What a change of mind just for the word surrender! Wonders Swami Koorathalwan. This truth should dawn in us. Though we might have sinned much, a mere word of surrender or saranagati, would redeem us and the Lord will never punish us. King of oceans utilised the opportunity and wanted Sri Rama to destroy his enemies in Dhruvapunyam, a region of his kingdom. Dhruvapunyam was thousands of miles away in the North west, past Rajasthan and other regions. Sri Rama acted accordingly and destroyed the enemies of Samudra Raja. An inter continent ballistic missile [ICBM], long ago was launched by Sri Rama! Swami Koorathalwan asks, when Sri Rama could direct a missile to an unseen place thousands of miles away, what prevented Him from directing a missile at Ravana in Lanka, so near the coast? Instead, He preferred to cross the seas by building a bridge and fighting with Ravana and his army for seven days and then recue Sri Sita. For the three days He was on the darbha bed with mind in concentration and not drifting away. Similarly, we also should not allow our mind to waver. Now the 34th sloka:

cancalam hi manah krishna
pramathi balavad drdham
tasyaham nigraham manye
vayor iva su-duskaram

"For the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krishna, and to subdue it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind."

Arjuna continues to say that he does not find it easy to control mind. Can we drift away thunder storm by a hand held fan? Mind is wavering and running after so many things like a thunder storm. How can we control it? Cancalam hi mana = mind is unsteady [ there can be no doubt on this for anyone, is indicated by the word hi], pramati = agitated, balavad = very strong, drdham = resolute or determined [in pursuing objects the sense organs desire]. So mind is unsteady, very powerful, agitates the person and with determination runs after the sense organs. Nigraham = to master or control, manye = such a mind, tasyaham = is like, vayor iva = controllinga thunder storm, dushkaram = is impossible. All the four yogis described by Sri Krishna are having sama darshanam. To get this they must see the atman sans body. For that yoga or dhyanam or meditation is necessary. To meditate, mind is to be disciplined. A mere order or reprimand will not discipline it and Arjuna lists its formidable qualities. Desires are never steady and change with person to person, time and place. We do not eat the same menu and want change it daily. It agitates the person by advising the obscure good things in bad activities. Truth will appear as false and vice versa. This is pramati. Mind is more powerful than any of our organs. Even highly learned persons would be brought down by mind. Its determination to pursue things is remarkable. Obstinacy is a result of this quality of dhrudam. Such a thunder storm like mind, how anyone can tame? Only the Lord can bless us to have our mind controlled.