Deivathin Kural Series - 150

Om Namah Sivaya.

Deivathin Kural # 150 of 10 Feb 2007.

1. These e-mails, are chapter wise translations of the lectures given by, Sri Chandra Sekharendra Swamigal, of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. Every day, after the daily Puja, He used to talk, on various aspects concerning Hinduism. These are published, in Tamil, by Vanady Padippagam, T.Nagar, Chennai, as Deivathin Kural, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each.

2. To-day's talk is titled, 'Kaalayil Thirumaal, Maalayil Mahaadevan' that is, 'Vishnu in the Morning and Siva in the Evening', in pages 687 to 689, of Deivathin Kural, Volume 1.(This is the fifth successive e-mail, on the subject of Devotion for Siva-Vishnu.)

3. To pay obeisance to Siva and Vishnu, there is an age old traditional rule. To conduct ones worldly affairs fairly and properly, we should pray to Vishnu, who manages the world. To turn your mind away from the worldly affairs and focus it inwardly, you should pray to the Samhaara Moorthy, Siva.

4. Accordingly, Mahavishnu excels as the Emperor of the Universe. Parameswara, is the pauper king! Let us take stock of their possessions. Siva has odds and sorts of items, that no one cares for such as, ashes, skin of the elephant, erukkan poo, thumbai poo, oomathai, skull bone and snake, to decorate Him. They are all priceless, because no body would buy them. Mahavishnu wears, golden crown inlaid with gems, pearl necklaces, diamond ear rings, yellow silken clothes, garland with 'kousthuba mani'. They are also priceless, because no body could afford them. Above all, Mahavishnu has as His wife, the Goddess of all wealth and affluence, Mahalakshmi. Paramasiva has the leafless 'Aparna' as His consort. She is the one who fasted abnegating even dry leaves, to seek His favour.

5. From this, it is clear that we should pray to Vishnu, for worldly benefits and to Siva, for dispassion. It does not mean the opposite however, that Vishnu cannot give us Gnanam or that Siva cannot bless us with worldly riches. The difference in approach is for the clarity of our understanding. On this basis, everyday morning, as we get up from the bed, we should spend a few minutes chanting, "Hari Narayana, Hari Narayana". In the evening, we should chant, "Siva, Siva". A very easy method of great value. A must for all people of all ages!

6. In the morning, the world retrieves itself from sleep and wakes up. The Sun raises with an ever expanding brilliance. Everybody from the ants, birds, animals and human beings, get involved in their activities. So in the cool mornings, we should chant the names of Mahavishnu, who is of the colour of clouds pregnanat with water, ready to shower its blessings.

7. In the evening, everybody returns home after the day's work is over. The cattle get back to their sheds. The birds are back in their nests. The Sun is also settling down in the western horizon. As the world tucks in, for a much needed rest, it is time to think of Siva, who gives the peace of Gnana.

8. The microcosm and macrocosm are basically of the same material. So there is an inviolable connection between the inner and outer world. In the time before the sunrise, as the birds start chirping, with a clear intention that the whole world should be happy, it is easy to think of Mahavishnu. Similarly, as the world closes shop, and darkness encloses the hemisphere, we should also be pulling back our senses in the inner peace and sit down to meditate on Siva.

9. Though we may think of God as Vishnu in the morning and as Siva in the evening thus, we should never forsake the conviction that they are one and the same. We sleep in the night dress. We do our prayers in a different get up. We go about our business wearing a suit and a coat. For various actions and jobs, we have a different rig. But inwardly the person is one. Swami is also one only.

Sambhomahadeva.