Deivathin Kural Series - 182

Om Namah Sivaya.

Deivathin Kural # 182 of 17 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, 'Ambal Irukka Ahambhavam Ane'(this is to pronounced as in 'cane'), that is, 'When Mother is there, How can there be self Pride', in pages 849 to 854, of Deivathin Kural, Volume 1.

2. There is no logic in feeling proud of having done anything. Where have we got brains, strength and capabilities from? All the power in this world for all actions, are from one source only, including ours. Without that, we cannot even breath. We who pride ourselves, that we have done this and that, should pause one moment to question ourself as to whether we have the capability to retain our breath, even one second longer, when it is about to depart from us? We are not capable of doing so, for even one extra second! Then all our power becomes a dream. When we think about it, we can easily see that, Ambal is like an ocean of power. Whatever we do, is by a small fractional drop of that ocean, that too got by Her Grace. Then to feel pride for ourselves, is being utterly foolish. Her 'Anugraha', increases by multiples, proportional to our realization of our infinitesimalness.

3. Avatara Purushas too, have tought us the importance of humility and humbleness, by displaying true 'vinaya' in their life. (Avatara in Sanskrit means descent of divinity as a human being. Though as per Adwaita siddhanta, the whole universe is God, including all animate and inanimate things and beings, Avatara is special in terms of the degree of Presence, Awareness and Bliss, i.e., Sat Chit Anandam or Satchidanandam.) In Tamil this quality is known by the word, 'adakkam', which can be translated in English as, 'contained and humble'. The Kavya Purusha, Sri Ramachandra, lived as a simple but exemplary human being, within the parameters of Dharma, Sathya and Sastra. When I think of His humility, I think of an idea, which may sound strange to you. Normally, many of us feel bad that we were not born during His time. But I feel otherwise. You know why? Rama as a Kshatriya, respected all Rishis, Acharyas and Veda Experts to whom, He prostrated repeatedly. Had I been a Mata Adipathi, He would have done that to me too, making me squirm embarassedly! Thank God, that now I can prostrate to Him, any number of times.

4. I am saying so because, it was Vishnu who was born as Sri Rama. He was an epitome of humbleness. He did not play hard to get, because He was an Avatara. He was full of empathy towards the common man's concerns. He cried when seperated from Sita; He bewailed when Lakshmana swooned; He got violently annoyed with the King of Oceans. Just to put the common man at ease with themselves, Avatara Purushas often play act, as though they are affected by the ups and downs of life. Like the movements of hands and legs, they will let their mind also play about, while retaining their inner calmness. Though recognising their Godliness inwardly, they will not make a show of it. If Rama was a role model for the quality of, 'vinaya', the Superman Anchaneya, though very powerful mentally and physically, remained a true 'Ramadasa', while effortlessly making the impossible, possible.

5. Similar is the life of Adi Sankara Baghawath Padal. I do not know if there was a greater Avatara than Him. He was Parameswara's Avatara. Lived only for some 32 years. But what all has He achieved! He walked around the whole of India three times, covering all the present day States. Starting from Kerala, He covered Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Maharashtra, Punjab, Gujarat, Kashmir, Himachal, U.P., Uttaranchal, Assam, Orissa and Kanyakumari, walking on foot, overcoming ethnic and language barriers. He reestablished the Vaidika Religion. Contradicted over reliance on Karma Kanda with materialistic overtones. He established the pride of place for Adwaita amongst religious intelligentia. For the common man, He established the 'Shanmada', of Saivam, Vainavam, Souram, Ganapathyam, Koumaram and Saktham.

6. He was a great gnani, poet, organiser, devotee, achiever, debater and religious leader, roled in to one. He established the religious peetams in, Kanchi, Sringeri, Kashmir, Jyotishmath, Dwaraka and Puri, in different parts of India; which by itself is a definition of what is the spread of the country. In Cambodiya, in a stone carving in Sanskrit dated, eight hundred years back, it is written that, "In His lotus feet, all the great learneds hover like bees":- 'nissesha moordali mala leedangri pangajat'. That write up calls Him, 'Baghwan'. This is an indication that His fame and name were known across the oceans. The intersting point to note is that, such a man, could have had some pride, rightfully entitled. But, He was truely humble, because of His devotion to Ambal!

7. Set aside, all His other achievements. Authoring, 'Soundarya Lahiri' alone was enough to justify pride of literary and devotional greatness. Neither before, nor later, such a beautiful garland of exquisite poems have been strung together, making a wholesome work of art! You can never tire of reading and studying that 'granth'. But He never ever thought that, He has written it. He says in the hundredth poem, starting with the words, 'pradeepa jwalabi :', "You are the 'vak' devata. As we show neerajanam with lighted camphor to Sun; or offer 'argya' to Moon with the water that oozes out of 'chandra kanta stone'; and offer the sea water to the ocean as argya; it is your words that have become this stotra". We can only say, 'good point well brought out'! Let us understand the above underlined sentences.

8. First He says, that She is the 'vak' devata. She is the God of all words and meanings, spoken or written. So, He cannot and does not claim authorship!

9. On occassions when we do pooja to the Sun, we wave the lighted camphor to Him. In the bright sunlight, the light of the camphor looks faded. Do we illuminate the Sun? It is His power, that is all the power and energy in whatever form, anywhere on Earth or even anywhere in the solar system. It is His light that we show in gratitude to Him!

10. After the eclipse of the Moon is over, it is a tradition to offer 'argya pradana', to the Moon. While doing so, instead of normal water, if you can offer the water that oozes out of the 'chandra kanta stone' it is ideal. (KTSV says, "I have literally seen this. There is a Siva temple in Mudgaon in Goa, on top of an isolated hillock. The Siva lingam is made of Chandra Kanta Stone. On full moon night, as the moon rises, its rays fall on the stone lingam, causing the stone to shed some water. Periyaval indicates that He had neither seen, nor had come across anyone who had seen a chandra kanta stone!") It is this liquid, that is offered to Chandra the Moon, in oblation. As the Moon light enters the stone and causes it to ooze out, it is Mother's grace permeating him to cause the out-pouring of 'Soundarya Lahiri'.

11. He gives yet another example. "As the ocean is given an oblation of its own water, I am praising You with with Your own Sthuthi", He says. If you visit Rameswaram, as Rama did Samudra Pooja, before going to war with Ravana, we are also required to do that. As a part of the 'sixteen tired' ceremony, to bathe the Samudra Raja symbolically, we lift the water of the ocean with both our hands and offer it to Him! Ambal is the ocean of letters, words and meaning. Like we offer the handful of water, to the ocean, with all reverence, He offers a liitle bit of Her's to Her! It is not His, but the Ocean's.

12. 'As the Chandra Kanta Stone will not ooze out water, without Chandra's rays falling on it, without Her Grace, not a word can be even thought of. As we take a handful of water from the Ocean and offer it for it's bathing, from the Ocean of thoughts, words and ideas, all that we write are Her's. To think that thereby we are describing Her greatness, is like lighting up the Sun with the light of camphor!' This is the purport of the 100th sloka of 'Soundarya Lahiri'.

13. When even Avatara Purushas have been so beholden to Ambal, what business is it of ours, to feel even an iota of pride? When the world praises us that, we sing well or talk eloquently or write fluently; it is but natural to think no end of ourselves. That is when we should pause to ponder, as to whether we deserve the praise! When we identify that, the cause for all our greatness is Mother's Grace, we can apply some moderation. Then we can offer all that praise back to where it belongs, without carrying the head weight. If we feel that we have no pride, that is also pride only! We have to be extremely careful with this flattery and praise on the face. Pride and ego should be given no quarters to flourish. However much we may be cautious, given an opening, pride will assume mammoth proportions, without our being aware of its entry. Here also She is the way. The more we offer all praise in oblation to Her, Her Anugraha will flow and keep flowing!

Sambhomahadeva.