Deivathin Kural Series - 158

Om Namah Sivaya.

Deivathin Kural # 158 of 23 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. To-day's talk is titled, 'Mahangalukku Aruliya Mahalakshmi', that is, 'Mahalakshmi Who Blessed the Mahatmas', in pages 723 to 734, of Deivathin Kural, Volume 1.

2. Mookar has sung as to how, Kamakshi has showered gold in Kanchipuram, in 'Mooka Panchasathi'. He says that she did so in 'Thundira Desam'. Thundira Desam, is what is known as Thondai Mandalam, where Pallava Samrajyam's capital Kanchipuram is located. Some of you may know that, there is village bearing the name, 'Pon Vilainda Kalathur'.

3. Mahalakshmi, who rained gold for the sake of Adwaita Sthapaka Acharyal Sri Sankara, in Kaladi, also did the same for Visistadwaita Acharyal Sri Vedanta Desikar. He was an expert in all the Upanishads, which are the end of Vedas, that is, Vedantam. He had a special name as, 'Nigamanta Maha Desikan'. Nigamanta is the same as Vedanta. He was also known as, 'Sarva Tantra Swatantrar'. Mahavishnu, in the form of, 'Hayagreevar', with the face of a horse, was Vedanta Desikar's Ishta Devata. They were each other's favourites, on speaking terms. He did not keep any money or materials, for Himself and so lived on 'uncha vrithi', that is, living on daily alms. Anyone who is great, is likely to have enemies, if only out of jealousy of their name and fame. He had such enemies, who wanted to prove the title, 'Sarva Tantra Swatantrar', wrong.

4. There was an idiot brahmin boy, who was finding it difficult to get married. If you have no money and no education, who will give their daughter in marriage? Vedanta Desikar's enemies thought that, they could embarass Him, through this fatso of a fool. Their plan was this, "We will make this boy go and beg Vedanta Desigar, to give him money enough to get married. Desigar is very poor. He cannot beg on this boy's behalf. Neither can He afford not to help this boy. He will be thoroughly embarassed. Then we will be able to question Him, as to how He can afford a title such as, 'Sarva Tantra Swatantrar?'. They motivated the poor brahmin boy accordingly, to go to Vedanta Desigar and request Him for money for marriage.

5. (From this, another point comes to my mind, which though has no direct relevance to the story being described, has enormous social significance. That is, during that time, hardly 700 hundred years back, it is the boy's family who had to pay, to get a girl in marriage. Dowry was not a social evil those days, as is prevalent now, when you have to give a girl away in marriage, with enormous money too!)

6. Vedanta Desigar realised that, this is the handiwork of some who were against him. He took pity on the poor boy. He prayed to Goddess Mahalakshmi, by a song which is now famous as, 'Sri Sthuthi'. There was a shower of gold. He gave it to the brhmachari boy. Even mischief mongers contrivances can only result in enhancing the name and fame of great Mahatmas. Both Sankarar's and Desikar's prayers were responded with a rain of gold. One is an Adwaita Acharya and the other is Visishtadwaita Acharya. Theirs is a heart of gold, prayer is sincere and the response of Mahalakshmi is similar.

7. There is another great soul, who got Mahalakshmi's parama anugraha. That is Vidyaranyar, another Adwaita Acharya. Even amongst acharyas, He holds a special position of eminence. He has the honour of having written the commentary on all the Vedas. His works on Astrology(Jyotisham), Medicine(Vaidya Sastram), Righteousness(Dharma Sastram), Economics(Artha Sastram) and Literature, are so great that, He can be given the Noble Prize, in absentia even now(if some body is ready to do research in to that and bring out His deservedness). His name itself is 'raison d'etre' for His greatness. Vidya - Aranyar. Aranyam means forest. As a forest is full of flora and fauna, He is verdant with so much variety of multi dimentional knowledge, information, material and capabilities in Vidya that, He is called Vidyaranyar!

8. I do not know whether the researchers and analysts will accept my story. The trouble is that, these History people are always shy of accepting anything with 'mystery', though we do keep on hearing about wonders beyond the grasp and comprehension of scientists. The story follows.

9. In the early stages of His life, Vidyaranyar as a young poor brahmin, took intense austerities and prayed to Mahalakshmi. She responded with Her 'Darshan'. However, she told Him that though she is very pleased with his 'tapasya', she could not help him, in this life term. Telling that She will grant his prayers in his next life, she disappeared! Vidyaranyar, was to get such reputation in His later life as a 'Second Sankara'. True to His potential, He did something 'smart', that Adi Sankara had done earlier. What is that smart thing that He did?

10. You may know what Adi Sankara did to get His Mother's permission, to take sanyasa. He had gone to bathe in the river with His mother. Purposefully, He got Himself subjected to the crocodile's bite. Mother was in a panic. He told His Mother, "Amma! Do not panic. If you just now give me permission to take Sanyasa, the crocodile will leave me. Because, Sanyasa is like taking re-birth! In this life, as per my fate, I am supposed to be grabbed by the crocodile. That fate will not affect me in my next life." Thus by His cleverness, He could get out of the clutches of the crocodile and get His Mother's permission for renouncing the worldly life! The crocodile left Him unscathed.

11. When Mahalakshmi told Vidyaranyar that, He is not fit for wealth and aishwarya in the present life, He thought of repeating Sakaracharyal's tactics. He immediately took sanyasa. He told Lakshmi Devi, "Amma! I have taken sanyasa just now. This is my next life. Make me rich!" She also showered all the wealth on Him, as per Her promise! All around there was gold and precious stones lying around. Looking at them, the Sanyasi Vidyaranyar got unbearable disappointment and sorrow! "Oh, No! I have duped myself! My purpose was to get rid of my poverty. Now having declared myself a sanyasi, I can't even touch all this wealth! What a stupid man am I? Had I but suffered this life in silence, I could have enjoyed all this in my next life!" Saying this He started crying.

12. Not only Vidyaranyar; many of us pray to God for unwanted things, without giving a thought to the consequences. Once our wish is granted, then we become aware of our stupidity and feel, "Why did we have a wish of our own? Why did we not leave everything to God? Now we have a generation of unavoidable complications. God knows best, as to what we need. That is why, it is said that, 'anything easier getting in to than, getting out of!'." Since Vidyaranyar was a very intelligent person, soon He recovered. He could understand that, Mother has played like this with a purpose.

(to be continued)

Sambhomahadeva.