Deivathin Kural Series - 152

Om Namah Sivaya.

Deivathin Kural # 152 of 15 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, 'Irandu Rajakkal' that is, 'Two Kings', in pages 693 to 695, of Deivathin Kural, Volume 1.(This is the seventh successive e-mail, on the subject of Oneness of Siva-Vishnu.)

3. Mahavishnu is handing over Meenakshi to Sundareswara, in marriage. This has been displayed in sculpture very beautifully, in Madurai. Ambal is depicted as the sister of Padmanabha and consort of Parameswara, to make it clear to our minds and heart, the futility of differentiating between Siva and Vishnu; and Saiva and Vaishnava, followers.

4. All the power is in Brhmam. By that power only, all universal activities take place. Brhmam is Parameswaran. The power is Sakthi or Ambal. The brother of Ambal, is the C.E.O of the world that is managed! All that differentiation, is for our understanding and not in their being. Brhmam, Brhmam's power and its application; cannot be different. Amongst many gods, these three are the 'Ratnathrayam' or the 'Trio of Gems', says Appayya Deekshitar.

5. Even if you say that, 'the peaceful inactive Brhmam is Siva and the Dynamic Executive is Vishnu', such a statement will be acceptable only partially. As though to emphasise this point, we note that there are two Kings. One King is Rangaraja and the other is Nataraja. For Vaishnavas, Temple or Koil is only the Sri Rangam temple. Similarly for Saivas, the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple is the only Koil. Both Ranga Raja and Nataraja are standing facing the South, squarely looking at Yama, as though to get rid of the fear of death, from the minds of the devotees.

6. Rangam means, 'arena' or 'sabha', a place of activity. So also the Nataraja temple known as the 'Sabhai' and He is known as the 'Sabha Pathy'. Amongst the two sabhas, in one Nataraja is doing 'Nrtya' or the 'cosmic dance'. In the other, 'Jagat Paripalaka' or the C.E.O. is sleeping very peacefully. This is completely contrary to what we understand the roles of Siva and Vishnu to be! Whenever we think of the functions of God, as three or five or eight, all that is for our limited understanding only. We should not think of God as being divided in to so many parts. This is what both these Rajas, 'Sabhapathy and Ranganatha', indicating to us. They are both acting as though, they are doing each other's jobs. The Chief Executive, supposed to be most active and dynamic, is sleeping; and the 'Terminator', who is supposed to absorb the entire Universe, back into His Self, is doing the cosmic dance.

7. There is one more, South facing God! That is Dakshinamoorthy. He is completely silent, peaceful and quiet. He is of the shape of God-essence. His Chit/Aware being is the Ambal or Shakthi. It is this Sat-Chit-Aanandam, that has become, the 33 crore Gods, all the life-forms-animate as birds, animals, creatures, plants, germs and Human beings; all the matter-inanimate as mountains, rivers. oceans, lakes, ravines, stars, planets, sun and the moon. We in India, who are endowed with this traditional understanding, should have it etched in our memories eternally. Siva and Vishnu are total. Another form of Ambal / Shakthi, is Vishnu. We are to understand that, they are not to be thought of as different entities.

8. The inner power of all that moves is Shakthi. Without Her blessings, we are dead bodies. Even thought processes, are due to Her power. There is no logic in thinking that any of this is our capabilities. Let us come to understand that, we are but an infinitessimal sub-sub fraction of that. Without a trace of pride, let us feel that, despite all that, we are still a part of Her, 'a part and not apart.'

9. To feel so, to know this to be so, is the most important merit of Human qualities, 'gratitude'. This is pooja or obeisance. This is the ritual bath, that removes the dirt of pride and cleanses our hearts and soul!

Sambhomahadeva.