BG 14.21

Ghushyate yasya rangayatra dine dine
Tam aham shirasa vande rajanam kulasekaram ||
This sloka glorifies Kulasekara Alwar. He was born n Thiruvanjikalam in Masi-Punarvasu. He is regarded as the reincarnation of Kaustubha [கௌஸ்துபம்], the bright centre-piece jewel on the chest of the Lord! As the Lord is, so he was. Daily he used to listen to Ramayana. For this he had employed many scholars to lecture on Ramayana. One day, the lecture was about the fight between 14,000 Rakshasas on one side and Sri Rama, alone, on the opposite side, in Janasthanam! King Kulasekara, thought he was in Sri Rama's time, and immediately ordered his army to follow him to help Sri Rama, and proceeded to the ocean! While Sri Rama lived in Treta yug, Kulasekara Alwar lived in Kali yug. Forgetting the difference of Thousands of years, out of shear Bhakti, Kulasekara Alwar, was about to travel to defend Sri Rama! The lecturer realizing the mind of King Kulasekara, immediately said that Sri Rama destroyed all the Rakshasas in one muhurtam [about 45 minutes]! The lecturer further said that Sri Rama is with Sri Sita. On hearing this Kulasekara Alwar could see Sri Rama and Sri Sita gracing him! Kulasekara Alwar got pacified and returned to the palace! Thus he regarded Sri Rama's problems as his and so he is also addressed as Perumal! Kulasekara Alwar had composed Perumal Thirumozhi, taking Perumal from his title! It consists of 105 pasurams and praises Sri Srinivasa, Sri Govindaraja of Thillai [Chidambaram], Sri Rama, Sri Krishna, Sri Ramganatha, the Lord of Thiruvittuvakkodu [திருவித்துவக் கோடு], etc. He had a daughter, Sri Serakulavalli, and was married to Sri Azhagiya Manavala of Srirangam. Even now on Sri Ramanavami day, the Lord appears together with Sri Serakulavalli Nacchiyar. He used to plan to go to Srirangam daily from this Kshetram. Today's [25th March 2009] lecture is from the sannidhi of Kulasekara Alwar.



It is a great fortune we could visit the temple on his birthday - Masi Punarvasu and so could see all the celebrations here. On this day Alwar is taken in procession near Sri Mukunda temple and graces Teertavari [தீர்த்தவாரி]. He is bathed in sacred water, milk, honey and blend of fruits, etc! Then the Alwar is taken to the pond for three dips! Then the Alwar returns to his sannidhi and along with the Lord, he listens to the sweet chanting of his pasurams by devotees. Swami Manavala Mamunigal praises this day as the celebration by good people! Now we will see sloka 19:
nānyaṃ guṇebhyaḥ kartāraṃ yadā draṣṭānupaśyati
guṇebhyaś ca paraṃ vetti madbhāvaṃ sodhigacchhati 14.19

By this sloka the Lord tells how an atman should think. How does one understand that satva quality is developed and dominant in oneself. In the beginning of this Chapter in Swami Alavandar's summary of Chapter 14, in his Gitarta Sangraha, we saw how these three qualities bind us. Upto sloka 18, the Lord told this aspect to Arjuna. Jeevatman is not the doer or atman is not responsible for actions. Then who? The combination of the Three qualities enable atman to do any action. By nature atman never acts. But under the influence of the Three qualities, atman acts in a body. This is the second aspect in this Chapter. The Third aspect is, how to get rid off the influence of the Three qualities. The Lord is going to explain this from sloka 19 to sloka 26. We have already seen how the Three qualities keep us bound in samsaram. Now, we are to see, how these qualities only are responsible for actions and not atman. The Lord calls that person in whom satva quality has well developed and is dominant, as drashta - looker. Are we and others, not seeing? The Lord says that only the person with satva quality sees the atman in its nature! For others looking will not be clear. Drashtan = [one with] satva quality, na pasyasi = does not see or look, like this. How? A Jeevatman sees, gunebhya = qualities, anya = different, kartaram = as doer. That is, person with well developed satva quality, does not see the atman as doing actions, but the Three qualities. Here, the Lord makes a point that for atman to act, it is the Three qualities only and nothing else. An atman in mukti or a muktatman never does any action, as it is the nature of atman. But when the atman has not reached mukti and is ordinary jeevatman like us, it is in a body formed from prakruti, inherent with the Three qualities. This concept should be well understood and borne in mind always. We should strive to cross the influence of the Three qualities. Gunebhya = from the Three qualities, param = superior, is atman, vetti = so, understands. This person with satva quality realizes that atman by nature is not responsible for actions and the Three qualities are cause for all actions. This way one should look at him. Then only will he understand that atman is not responsible for actions and atman is different from qualities. This way he should detach himself from tha actions. Person, who crosses the Three qualities, will never indulge in any bad actions. Does it mean we can disown our bad deeds? If Gita is properly understood and the nature of atman, the Three qualities and dedication of our actions to the Lord are properly grasped, then one will never act wrongly! Mad bhavam = My [Sri Krishna's] nature, sa = he, adhigacchati = attains. That is, such a person, attains the nature of the Lord. The Lord's nature is unalloyed with miseries and sins. Most superior nature is attained. There is an important question to be answered, for which we will wait!