Deivathin Kural Series - 181

Om Namah Sivaya.

Deivathin Kural # 181 of 10 Apr 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, 'Pathi Bakthiyum Guru Bakthiyum Vazhangum Devi', that is, 'Devi Who Instills Devotion to Ones Husband and Guru', in pages 843 to 848, of Deivathin Kural, Volume 1.

2. It is natural that, when you develop devotion to Her, you also imbibe devotion to your husband. Because She is extremely devoted to Her own Husband, Parameswara. It is easy to love someone who loves you. It is more difficult to love someone who is not easily loveable. In Vaikundam, where all wealth is plentifully available, and Vishnu is Himself very good looking and also fond of dressing up handsomely, if Lakshmi is fond of Her hubby, there is nothing to write home about. But here, this husband is often frequenting the cremation grounds. He wears a tiger skin and a garland of skulls! He goes about scrounging alms from all and sundry, with a begging bowl. It is more difficult to be devoted to such a husband as Parameswara! When She was born as the daughter of Daksha Prajapathi, as Dakshyayani, Her father was openly disrespectful to Parameswara.

3. "Instead of being a daughter for Daksha, who is discourteous to my Husband and bearing such a father's name as Dakshyayani, it is better to commit suicide!", so saying, She jumped in to the Yaga fire and sacrificed Her Body. Her real name was 'Sati'. Dakshyayani was only a sobriquet. That is why, we find a word in English dictionary, 'suttee', meaning, 'a Hindu custom in which, a widow gives up her life by climbing the husband's funeral pyre.' Her Love for the Samhara Murthy, Smasana Vasi, Parameswara, was not burnt by the fire of Yaga Kund. She took birth again as Parvatha Raja Putri, Parvathi. From a very young age, She took to very tough 'Tapasya', for attaining Parameswara's hand in marriage. After they were married, the very fierce, "ghora ghora tharebya :", Rudra, became the Parama Mangala Siva.

4. There is nothing more auspicious and sacred, than Ambal. They say, "Sarva Mangala Mangalye". By being united with Her, He also becomes pleasantly wholesome. The embodiment of Pathivrata and 'Sowmangalyatvam', Ambal is Maha Sumangali. 'That is why, despite eating the 'Alahala' poison, Parameswara is hale and hearty', says Acharyal in Soundarya Lahiri. The 'ear stud', 'Kumkuma' sindur in the center point between eye-brows, 'Karukamani' mala around the neck; are the Lakshana or indicating-marks of a Sumangali woman.

5. Ambal is wearing a ear-stud, not of gold, but a small piece of palm-leaf, rolled in to a tiny cylinder. Ear-stud is known as Thadangam in Sanskrit. The palm leaf ear-stud is, "thalee palasa thadangam". I suppose, earlier on all ladies shunned too showy accoutrements. Palm leaf in Tamil is, 'panai olai'. Though later diamond ear-stud became the norm, it continued to be called the 'vaira olai'. This indicator of auspiciousness, is never to be removed from Her ears. Parameswara should be forever. Even the mighty poison of 'Alahala' did not affect Him. Acharyal says,"Amma, this is the salubrious greatness of Your Thadangam that, the Alahala poison made no difference to Parameswara's well being!". Acharyal, who got the 'Siva Chakra and Sri Chakra' inscribed on the right and left Thadangas of Akhilandeswari in Thiruvanaikkaval, in South India, says, "thava janani thadanga mahima".

6. The reason why the poison has no effect on Parameswara, is that, Ambal is with Him ever, as the counter to all negativity, as the antidote for all poisons. Veda vakyam Rudram says so, "To the ogreish You, there is 'Sivaa' in You, who is the salubrious herb for the whole world, as well as Yourself". It says in the original, "sivaa viswaha beshaji, sivaa rudrasya beshaji". She, who causes Her ogreish 'ghora ghora tharebya :' Rudra, in to the 'Eternal Mangala Swarroopi', is the one to pray to, for devotion to Husband and Guru, that is 'Pati Bakthi and Guru Bakthi'.

7. For woman, husband is the guru. In olden times, with the intension that, before Kama can enter ones minds, Gayathri chanting should already be started, boys used to be given 'upanayanam' and initiated into Gayathri mantra and sent to a Guru for 'Guru Kula Vasa', before they reached the age of eight. At the same age of eight, the girl was married to a suitable match. So for the girl, husband was guru too. Love and carnal desire had no chance to enter her mind even. That was, say another five years later, when she came of age. So for woman, Guru Bakthi and Pati Bakthi, meant the same. Ambal who is an epitome of these two aspects of devotion, will grant this to the girls who pray to Her.

8. Baghawatham says, that Gopika women, observed this 'Kathyayani Vrata', or 'Pavai Nonbu', for a period of one month in Margazhi or Mrigaseersha, for obtaining Krishna or Krishna-like husband. In Sanga Kala period, this was known as, 'Amba vadal'. 'Vadal' in Tamil means emaciation. For one month period they virtually maintained such strict vow of abstinence, in devotionary activities of Ambal that, ' Amba vadal' is very apt. Even now-a-days, young eligible girls do, 'Gowri Pooja'. This is quite prevalent in Andhra Pradesh.

9. Whatever be the Husband, he should be considered as God and surrender oneself to Him! That is the QR or qualitative requirement in a Pativrata Nari. Once body, mind and soul, has been surrendered, then it should not be changed. That man does not have to be the ideal husband. Let him be whatever. Once the mind has been totally surrendered, there is no need for keeping anything of our own, including opinions, assesments and evaluation. This is a state of completely negating the ego and ahankara. Thereby, the woman opens the doors of Moksha, for herself. Our surrender is more important than, his worth. When a woman does that, through that husband, God grants her all that anyone can wish for, including husband's devotion. Nalayini's husband was ugly and strange. But she had the power to stop the Sunrise. Her husband did not have and could not have had, any such power! It is easy if the husband is already capable, balanced and humane. When he is lacking in the qualities, still if the woman thinks, "Our worth is in our being devoted despite the seeming drawbacks. I am not to think of them as his faults, but as a test of the strength of my character", she will still excel.

10. The case of our attitude towards the Guru is also similar. Once we have accepted someone as our Guru, we are not to keep on assessing his worth. When everything is God, certainly, the Guru is God only. When we try to assess others, we assume the role of a judge, with insufficient data-base. In the context where we are required to do so as a duty, we may try to make an intelligent guess. Not in the case of a Guru. If our love and devotion is worth it, bad can turn out to be good, like the 'Ghorebyah ghora ghora tharebyah Rudra', becomes 'sarva mangala Siva', by the devotion of Ambal.

11. She also comes as the Guru. The whole of the Mayaloka, that is the world, is due to Her. To lift us from being too mired in worldly involvement, She comes as the Guru. The Sadhakas who are endevouring to raise the Kundalini, bring their Prana Shakthi to the top of their head and percieve Ambal's feet in the full moon. They call it the 'Guru Padukabyam'. Kalidasa too says that She displays Her greatness in the form of the Guru, "desika roopena darsitha abyudayaam".

12. "So Easwara frequents or even lives in grave yards or cremation grounds? Let Him do so. Does He dance around with ghosts and spirits? Let Him. Does He do Samhara dance? That is alright. Does He go to all sorts of places, poorly clothed and beg for alms? It is OK. Once a husband, a husband for ever. My Love is not going to go waste. If my father does not respect my this husband, it is preferable that I sacrifice this body, which is indicative of being his daughter!" So saying, She gave up Her body in Daksha Yagnya! She will grant us 'Guru Bakthi and Pati Bakthi'.

Sambhomahadeva.