BG 14.11

Today's [11th March 2009] lecture is from Sri Madhava Perumal temple at Mylapore. Ma indicates Sri Thayar Sri Mahalakshmi. Dhava indicates the Lord of Sri Mahalakshmi. Alwars say that by chanting the Divine name Sri Madhava, no sins will ever accrue to us. Sri Thayar removes all our sins and joins us with the Lord. Temple has a very colourful Gopuram. After entering, we see Dwajasthambam and the broad corridor or prakaram [பிராகாரம்]. On one side we see Santhana pushkarini. Those childless, bathe in this pond and worship Sri Kalyana Madhava, and are blessed by Sri Amrutavalli Thayar, to have children. As we go round the temple we see Sri Amrutavalli Thayar sannidhi. She was brought up by sage Brighu and later married Sri Kalyana Madhava. The Lord churned the milk ocean with His thousands of hands and distributed the Amrut to Devas. At thet time Sri Thayar emerged out of Amrut and came to Mylapore and was brought up by sage Brighu, and later married Sri Kayana Madhava. Going round further, we see the important sannidhi of Sri Varaha. Every monthe He graces Thirumanjanam and is worshiped by all. During examinations time, special poojas are arranged and the prasad is distributed to students. Continuing to go round, we come across Sri Andal sannidhi. Sri Kalyana Madhava resting His head on Sri Andal's lap, is a very famous festival. In Srimad Ramayana, in Chitrakootam, Sri Rama was similarly resting His head on Sri Sita's lap. As we continue, we see sannidhi of Sri Rama, where Sri Rama graces along with Sri Sita and Lakshmana. Further, is the sannidhi of Hanuman. A unique feature in this temple is the sannidhi of Sri Chellapillai [Sri Selvapillai]. Earlier we saw that Swami Ramanuja was in Melkote, Karnataka, for Twelve years. The Lord of Melkote is Sri Chellapillai. Between His feet is Sri Mahalakshmi Thayar. Annually, Yatiraja Sampat Kumara utsavam [festival] is celebrated. We can see the portrait of Sri Chellapillai seated on the laps of Swami Ramanuja. During adyayana utsavam, the Lord graces in variety of appearances. We can then see the Lord appearing as Sri Gitacharya, preaching Arjuna seated behind in the chariot. The Lord of the temple is Sri Kalyana Madhavan. Sri Utsavar is Sri Aravinda Madhava, in standing pose, with discus and conch in the upper arms and lower arms are in abhaya and kati mudras. With the blessings of the Divine Couple, we will see sloka 9 of Chapter 14. In this temple, Peyalwar is in standing pose with folded hands. Opposite Peyalwar is the sannidhi of Thirumazhisai Alwar, Fourth among Alwars and who was converted by Peyalwar. If we have the blessings of Peyalwar, it means our darkness of ignorance is dispelled. In the last Three [6th, 7th and 8th] slokas, we saw how satva, rajas and tamas qualities immerse us in samsaram. Now the Lord summarizes them in sloka 9. In each previous slokas, the Lord mentioned the special features of: satva guna and its effects of Two [Gyana and Ananda] in sloka 6, rajo guna and its effects of Three [ragam (sexual desires), trishna (material pleasures) and sangham (love for relatives)] and tamo guna and its effects of Three [pramada (carelessness), alasya (laziness) and nidra (sleep)]. In sloka 9, the Lord, summarizes and tells the main effect of all the Three qualities. In satva guna, for example, it is Ananda or Sukha is more important. Sloka 9:

sattvam sukhe sanjayati
rajah karmani bharata
jnanam avrtya tu tamah
pramade sanjayaty uta

"O son of Bharata, the mode of goodness conditions one to happiness; passion conditions one to fruitive action; and ignorance, covering one’s knowledge, binds one to madness."

Sanjayati = propels. Each quality propels us in something. Satvam propels in sukham or comfort. Though earlier Two effects, Gyana and Ananda were mentioned, Gyana is pursued to have Ananda or comfort. Rajas quality propels into action. Lust, passion and love make person to act and so action is important in rajo quality. Tamah tu = while tamo quality, jnanam = Gyana or intellect, avrtya = is covered or hidden [from seeing the true nature of matters]. This results in pramade = carelessness. All our prescribed actions will be done improperly. Carelessness is more severe than laziness and sleep. All the Three qualities propel us in their respective effects [satva in sukham, rajas in activities and tamas in carelessness] and the associated actions perpetuate us in samsaram. To get out of these, worshiping Sri Amrutavalli Thayar and Sri Kalyana Madhava, is the only way. We will now take leave of this temple.