BG 14.10

To worship Sri Kesava Perumal, we are at Mylapore. We are welcomed by the Rajagopuram. We prostrate at the tall Dwajasthambam, opposite which is Sri Kesava Perumal sannidhi. To His right side is Sri Mayuravalli Thayar. The Lord is gracing entire Mylapore, with Sri Mayuravalli. In Sanskrit Mylapore is called Mayurapuri. As we go round, we come to the sannidhi of Sri Sudarsana. As we go further round, we come to the place where the Lord graces Adyayanotsavam. We enter to worship the Lord. The Lord is in standing pose. Similarly, Sri Utsavar is also in standing pose. We can see the bewitching smile on His face. He seems to tell the devotees that just chanting His name would remove all sufferings. We worship the Lord with Sri Ubhaya Nacchiyars. As we come out we see the beautiful image of Peyalwar, who appeared as the third Alwar. He is seated, with folded hands, worshiping the Lord and his two predecessors. He is with beautiful nose and always chanting lips. The Lord is known by many names like Sri Savana Kesava, Sri Mayura Kesava, Sri Adi Kesava, etc. Sages like Brighu performed savana yagna. They desired to see the Lord as Sri Kesava. Thus the Lord is known as Sri Savana Kesava. A plant is known as mayuram. There was a King Sumanaga in Surya dynasty. Since the King was blessed with this plant, the Lord is known as Sri Mayura Kesava. Since the Lord is present from ancient times, He is called Sri Adi Kesava. The Lord had blessed both Surya and Chandra dynasties. Chandra [Moon] bathed here to wash off his sins and so the pond is called Chandra pushkarini. This name got mutilated to become Chitrakulam [சித்திரைக் குளம்] in Mylapore. Nammalwar says that the blackness of the Lord's hair, is darker than the darkness in the night of Amavasya [New moon day]! By worshiping such a dark haired Lord, our tamo quality, usually symbolized by black color, will vanish. Normally, light is used to drive away darkness; but here darkness dispels darkness [tamo quality]! Now, the Lord tells in sloka 8, the nature of tamo quality and how it perpetuates the bondage of atman in samsaram:

tamas tv ajnana-jam viddhi
mohanam sarva-dehinam
pramadalasya-nidrabhis
tan nibadhnati bharata

"O son of Bharata, know that the mode of darkness, born of ignorance, is the delusion of all embodied living entities. The results of this mode are madness, indolence and sleep, which bind the conditioned soul."

Bharata = offspring of Bharata dynasty [Arjuna]. The Lord tells Arjuna four points: what is tamo quality, why tamo quality is exhibited, what happens because of tamo quality and how tamo quality binds us in samsaram. So in this sloka we can see tamo quality, its cause, its operation and its effect. Tamas tu = while tamas quality [here the word tu differentiates tamas quality from satvam and rajas; one might manage satva and rajo qualities, but tamas quality is very dangerous], ajnana-jam = is off shoot of ignorance, viddhi = understand. Ignorance is misunderstanding and is opposite of Gyana, which is understanding a thing properly and truly. Agyana is not merely not understanding, but understanding in the wrong way! By understanding one as another is viparita gyana [விபரீத ஞானம்] or misunderstanding. This tamo quality emanates from ignorance or agyana. Sarva- dehinam = all bodies are, mohanam = in delusion [here mohanam does not mean faintness, but adopting practices and beliefs opposed to Dharma]. Gyana should be what is in accordance with Vedas. Here, Sri Krishna tells that tamas quality, will make the person to interpret wrongly Vedas and adopt wrong practices. Delusion is not accepting Vedas' orders or misinterpreting Vedas. From agyana or misunderstanding truth, is born tamas quality, which induces delusion and follow beliefs and practices opposed to Dharma. Pramada = carelessness, alasya = laziness, nidra = sleep, tan = these, nibhadnati = bind [in samsaram]. In our conversation, we appreciate a thing by telling 'pramadam'. But in Sanskrit, pramada means carelessness! Carelessness makes us to do all our duties wrongly. Vedas prescribe do's and don't's to various people at various times. They are rules and regulations. Carlessness would make us to do things wrongly and bind us in samsaram. Alasya is laziness. Some of us are to perform pooja early morning. If laziness is there, this is delayed and so we accumulate papa and get bonded in samsaram. Nidra is sleeping. Dharma shastra says that during sunrise, we should not be asleep. Our intellect or buddhi is bright in early mornings. But many follow late sleeping and skip early rise! Thus sleep prevents us from doing good things. We have to have sleep, which rests some organs. More sleep and no sleep are never good for us. There are many stages in sleep: jagrata or woken up stage, swapna or dreaming stage, sushupta or sleeping stage and turya or uniting with God and enjoying stage. In this last stage only we get the true rest and recharge for our organs. On some days we get up totally refreshed. If this is not there, then our sleep has been not proper. Mere duration of closing the eyes will not refresh and recharge our organs. Thus long sleep is an exhibition of tamas quality. We will not do what is to be done and vice versa, and do things at unscheduled time. Thus misunderstanding gives rise to tamo quality. Tamo quality would enable delusion and misinterpretation of Dharma. Delusion will result in carelessness, laziness and sleep. These will result in wrong actions and bind us in samsaram.