Deivathin Kural Series - 164

Om Namah Sivaya.

Deivathin Kural # 164 of 01 Mar 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, 'Deviyin Thiruvadi Dhyanam', that is, 'Meditation on Mother's Feet', in pages 749 to 751, of Deivathin Kural, Volume 1.

2. There are three main functions of God. They are Creation, Nurturing and Destruction. The last 'Kruthya' of destruction, may not be misunderstood. Since all that is created is not from an outside source, at the time of 'Pralaya' at the end of creation, all is re absorbed. What is destroyed is not some thing of a material or life form; but the 'seperateness'. To do these three major jobs, the same Paramatma, takes three forms as Brhma, Vishnu and Rudra. With form, it has to have characterstics of colour, shape and distinctive traits. When this figure three is crossed, the cause of all this, is the Fourth, Parasakthi, the power behind all. That is 'turiya'. If we merge our minds in the 'turiya', we are released immediately.

3. As we are too involved in the ways of the world, there is no time to think of the 'turiya'; there is no maturity for 'mantra dhyana' and 'roopa dhyana'. 'Turiya' is anyhow beyond our scope now. Let us look at meditation on 'Mantra / Roopa'. Maturity comes with practice. So to gain practice, we have to start. That is the first step, which will be taken if it is interesting and pleasant. There is such a first step in the direction of 'Adhyatma', meaning, self study! That is the lotus feet of Ambal! We can start this straight away, with no hesitation or second thought.

4. If we can think of its beauty and pleasantness once, our minds will want more and more of it. Thus if we do this all the time, 'Janani' will grant 'Janana nivirthi'. Initially we can read slokas that talk of her qualities and greatness. So the first step is 'parayanam', or reading; then 'japa', that is, chanting mantras. When we are chanting or doing dhyana like this, in our inner minds, the only residual thought should be, "Mother! Let me keep at it, till there is life in this body. You grant me that, even at the moment of death, I should be thinking of Your Feet only." Thus as we carry on doing this every day, at that split second of our death too, the thought will be with us and we will be rid of the cycle of repeated birth and death, merging in Her Feet forever.

5. Devi and Guru are one. Their 'thiruvadi' is one. The adornment in their feet is 'Paduka'. Devi's and Guru's Paduka is the same. As per Sastra, we are to meditate on Guru Paduka, in the 'Chandra Mandala'. As per Sastra, Amirtam pours from the Moon.

6. The Sun may have brightness of its own. He gives us the light. Still that heat, makes us thirsty. It makes us sweat. Ambal's brightness gives light as well as removes 'thaapam', meaning a feeling of 'wanting or missing'. Ambal's light is like that of the Moon. It removes 'thaapam' and makes us feel wholesome. Amirtham does that. Ambal's glance and lotus feet do that.

7. We who live in the tropics have a preference for coolness. Europeans would say the opposite. For them responsiveness is being warm hearted, because of obvious reasons of their avearge temperature being very cold. If not recieved properly, they will call it a 'cold reception'! A person who is cruel would be known as 'cold hearted'. Amma's feet are cool. Ambal removes our fretfulness and cools us, as the rays of the pleasant moon. In many places in the religious literature, Ambal is said to reside in the 'chandra mandala', that is the 'region of the moon'. Let us meditate on Her feet and attain to permanent, everlasting happiness!

Sambhomahadeva.